Older Women Shouldn't Go Long
Break It: Long hair after 40 doesn't automatically make you look older, but since hair thins as you age, pump up the volume with layers and movement around the face. "Poker-straight styles are too harsh," says stylist Byron Williams, who has worked with Demi Moore.
As recently reported in The Daily Mail, according to a poll of 2,000 women over 40, when a lady reaches the age of 46, she must chop off her long locks in favour of a more mature, age-appropriate 'do. She must also stop wearing ponytails, ditch the extensions, and put an end to heavy bleaching and visible regrowth.
The pros explain. “It's true, a lot of clients at 40+ prefer their hair to be no longer than shoulder length. The reason varies, but it's mostly due to having brittle-looking or thinning hair," explains Katie Allan, owner and director of Mayfive Hair (opens in new tab).
For older women, keeping your hair youthful (without trying to look too young) will make you look and feel younger. Long hair can make you feel youthful. If your hair is very healthy and shiny, long hair shows it off. There are many ways to wear long hair, including braids, ponytails, upsweeps and more.
Long hair drags your face downwards and emphasizes the unpreventable sagging that will occur after 40. It does not suit their face shape. Women with an oval or long face shape can pull of long hair much better. The hair tends to thin out after 40 so it is hard to keep the hair looking voluminous and healthy.
Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.
Hair growth rate naturally slows down with age, that's to be expected. More significant hair loss is attributed to changes in hormone levels, especially as women approach and reach menopause. An underactive thyroid is often another major cause.
What happens to your hair in your 40s? Everyone's aging experience looks a little different, but there are a few general changes to look out for. “People in their 40s may notice their hair becoming thinner, drier, and more brittle,” says Dr. Green.
As you age, your hair may continue to grow, but the growth will become slower, and the follicles that were once coarse and thick will often become finer, thinner and lighter in color.
Hair length depends on your personality, at any age. An elegant short haircut can, of course, look absolutely fabulous. But if it's well cared for, long hair on an older woman can be just as beautiful, as long as it looks authentic and suits her.
What length of hair is considered long? If your strands reach past your shoulders, it's considered long. You can opt for a mid-back length cut or grow it out to your tailbone for extralong hair.
Hair growth rate slows at midlife and beyond—it spends less time in the growth phase and more in the resting phase, which means it will grow more slowly, and won't be able to grow as long as it once did.
Just like a person's skin, hair goes through five specific signs of aging, says AGEbeautiful. They are: thinning hair, wiry gray hair, graying hair, dryness and dullness.
There's no age limit on a haircut. Anyone, of any age, can and should wear their hair however they please. With that being said, it's common for women over 40 to commit to a shorter haircut.
You might hear it called female pattern baldness. But women rarely lose all their hair. Instead, their hairs tend to get sparse and give their scalps a see-through look. It usually starts in midlife after 40, and sometimes earlier, and continues through your life.
Take Care of Your Scalp to Stimulate Hair Growth
"That said, not washing your hair too frequently, avoiding color, harsh processing and chemicals, as well as massaging your scalp can all help to stimulate growth."
Drinking enough water each day replenishes your skin's tissue and cells, allowing for younger and healthier looking skin. Another key to maintaining a youthful appearance is to simply get some rest! When you sleep, your body continuously releases hormones that promote cell turnover and renewal.
Skin brightening treatments, like Microdermabrasion, Light Peels, Micro Laser Peels, or the Clear & Brilliant Laser treatment all help patients to look 10 years younger or more, with just a few treatments. These treatments can be used in order to combat the signs of aging in the face, such as: Wrinkles. Age spots.
Some research indicates that a woman's hair length doesn't significantly affect her attractiveness. Other research shows that men do perceive long-haired women as being healthier.
A cropped cut can be a way to show the world how strong you are. "A woman with short hair is perceived as confident — not having to hide anything,” says Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, author of “Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior – Anytime, Anyplace.”