Lifestyle

Long Hair over 50 From Crayola to Chanel

Long hair vs short hair when you are over 50. Why should we allow a number to define how long our hair should be? Where did the idea come from that older women look ‘inappropriate’ with long hair? Or that once past a certain age us ‘old girls’ should chop our hair off and wear shorter styles?

I for one will be keeping the length of my locks for as long and as long as I like. Neither my age or society will dictate otherwise.

From Crayola to Chanel keeping long hair over 50 — Pic above is of me when I was 30 taken in central park New York…I was chanel crazy back then it was the early 90’s, .

Long hair and other styles of my Youth.

From Crayola to Chanel, I am lucky to have had straight, thick hair for all of my life. Now I am in my fifties my hair is thinning slightly, but I regard that as a part of this wonderful ‘circle of life’ i.e, not much to be done about it. I will start to take vitamins and make sure I eat my greens but I always have done that, so nothing much will change. I am embracing my age this year and thanking my body for bringing me this far. Allow me to urge you to do the same? It feels so good!

I am not precious about my hair, I have worn it permed in the 80’s and had a pixie cut in the 90’s just like Victoria’s spice girl style after her bob! In-between it has been bobbed, layered and of course I lived in the ‘Rachel’ cut for a while. I have to admit to even being partial to a ‘fergie’ bow or two…

From Crayola to Chanel, I am lucky to have had straight, thick hair for all of my life
Ashley Cramp

I am embracing my age this year and keeping my hair long

How I care for my Midlife long hair

However, for most of my life my hair has swung happily below my chin. I prefer it that way. It is easy to look after and extremely versatile. I rarely blow dry it as the heat dries my ends. I find the longer it is the less it needs washing, dry shampoo or a pony tail will suffice. A good conditioner and some frizz ease spray takes care of the fluffy bits.

Coloured vs grey long hair?

Let me just say, I will fight the grey until my grave, but having said that I have seen some stunningly beautiful silver/white/grey women and I include my Mother in this list.

Whilst researching this subject I even found a model agency that specialises in these stunning older women I guess they would be beautiful what ever colour their hair is. Grey is just not a colour that would suit me.

I have noticed that now I am in my Fifties, I am no longer afraid to try new things including colour for my hair, after all if I don’t like the cut, it will grow out and if I don’t like the colour it can be changed, right?

“I am embracing my age this year…”

It also feels good not to have worry about what your friends/peers will say, Do you remember the first day back at school after a new haircut or style, the comments from everyone sharing their unsolicited opinions, oh the horror!

Fringes

The trend for fringes come and go. I will throw some controversy in here and say that straight fringes can slightly date an older woman perhaps a layered fringe would be more flattering think Jennifer Aniston! I realise straight fringes are easy to hide behind if you are older, you may even think they cover those frown lines but I disagree. The older I have become the softer my fringe, but please do remember this is only my opinion, I do not mean to preach at or offend anyone.

Pic of me at 6 and 21…with fringes and growing out a perm!

I for one will be keeping the length of my locks for as long as I like! Neither my age or society will dictate otherwise.

Celebrities with long hair, leading the way into their 50’s and 60’s

My two favourites are: Susan Sarandon now age 70 (who I once saw along with Tim Robbins when I was visiting NYC, she is as beautiful in real life as in the movies) and Julianne Moore 56, both redheads!

Look at these amazing women: talk about long hair don’t care…!