Do You Have to Cut Your Hair Short After 60?
There’s a common belief that once you reach a certain age, often around 60, it’s time to cut your hair short. I’ve heard it all: “It’s more flattering,” “It’s easier,” “Long hair is for younger women.” And while that may have been the thinking a generation ago, I don’t subscribe to that rule and never have.
In fact, the older I get, the less interested I am in rules that tell me how a woman should look.
We change as we age, of course. Our faces, our bodies, our hair. But instead of seeing that as a reason to shrink into someone else’s version of what’s “appropriate,” I see it as an invitation to figure out what feels right for me. And if you’re reading this, I hope you’re doing the same.
So, let’s talk about the idea that women over 60 must cut their hair short. Where it came from, what matters more, and how to choose a style that makes you feel like the best version of yourself because that’s really what it comes down to.
The Origins of the “Short Hair After 60” Idea
This mindset didn’t come out of nowhere. For decades, short hair was tied to aging gracefully, being practical, or even looking “respectable.” I suspect it also had something to do with maintenance because shorter styles are simply easier to manage for women with busy lives and changing hair textures.
But times have changed, and so have we. Women in their 60s and beyond are more visible, vibrant, and style-conscious than ever. We’re no longer trying to fade into the background, and our hair shouldn’t either.
How My Hair Has Changed and What I’ve Learned
My own hair has changed with time. As my hair has become finer and drier over the years, I’ve had to adjust my routine.
A moisturizing shampoo and conditioner make a noticeable difference. I’ve dabbled with lots of shampoos and conditioners but never found one I like as much as Olaplex. They’re highly moisturizing and leave my hair feeling healthier and looking shinier.
I’ve had short cuts that made me feel polished and put together. I’ve also had styles that felt too severe or high-maintenance for my everyday life. It’s taken some trial and error, but through it all, what I’ve discovered is that how I wear my hair matters far less than how I feel wearing it.
Is Short Hair Easier After 60?
Short hair can be wonderfully freeing. A good cut can highlight your cheekbones, define your jawline, and add a little lift, both to your face and your mood. There’s no denying that a fresh bob or pixie cut can feel modern and intentional. But it’s also worth noting that short hair often needs regular trims to keep its shape, and some styles require more daily styling than people expect. So, while short can be easy, it’s not always easier.
Can You Keep Long Hair After 60?
Absolutely. The idea that long hair is only for the young is simply outdated. If you love your hair longer, and you’re willing to care for it there’s no reason to cut it. You’ll want to protect your hair from heat and dryness. A gentle detangling brush helps prevent breakage, and I recommend using a good heat protectant like this one.
Longer styles can be incredibly flattering, especially with soft layers, face-framing angles, or a natural wave. If your hair is healthy and you enjoy wearing it longer, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to justify it.
Some women I know wear their long silver hair in a bun, a braid, or just loose and soft around their shoulders, and they look fantastic! It’s not about trying to look younger. It’s about looking like yourself.
What About the In-Between Lengths?
Not ready to go super short, but not loving long hair either? You’re in good company. Medium-length hair can offer the best of both worlds. Shoulder-length cuts, long bobs, and softly layered styles often strike a balance between ease and polish. They’re long enough to pull back if needed but short enough to feel light and manageable.
This is the length I return to again and again because it works best for my fine hair, it’s practical for my lifestyle and still feels feminine.
Ask Yourself These Questions
If you’re considering a change or feeling pressure to cut your hair because of your age, ask yourself:
- Do I feel like myself in my current haircut?
- Am I ready for a change or do I feel like I should make one?
- Is my stylist giving me options that suit my lifestyle and face, or just following convention?
- What styles have made me feel confident in the past?
The answers may surprise you and they’re far more valuable than any blanket advice about what a woman “should” do at 60.
And here’s a tip: talk to a stylist who listens. The right stylist will consider your hair texture, your face shape, and how you live your life, not just your age.
Not-so-funny story…
When we moved to our new town, I tried a local stylist whose salon was filled with women my age and older. She nodded the whole time I described the highlights and cut I wanted, which felt reassuring, so I assumed we were on the same page.
We were not. I walked out with a style and color that added two decades to my appearance, which made me very careful going forward.
What About Gray Hair?
I know many of you are also navigating the shift to gray. Some women choose to cut their hair short to ease the transition, while others grow it out slowly, blending it with highlights or letting it grow in naturally.
I’ve chosen to embrace my gray gradually, and I’ve found that soft layers help add dimension and movement. But again, this is a personal choice. What matters is that you like how it looks and that you feel good about the process You may also enjoy: Color or Go Natural? What’s Right for Your Hair After 60?
Hair Inspiration at Any Length after 60
Short styles:
Think chic bobs, soft pixies, or layered crops with movement. These can bring out your bone structure and highlight your features in a lovely way.
Medium styles:
A shoulder-length cut with subtle layers can feel both modern and effortless. This is often a great choice if you want some length without the bulk.
Longer styles:
Soft layers, gentle waves, or a sleek ponytail can all look intentional and flattering. If your hair is healthy and you enjoy wearing it long, don’t let anyone talk you out of it.
A Few Products I Recommend for Healthy Hair After 60
I’ve tested quite a few products over the years, and these stand out for how they support healthy, manageable hair:
A good round brush is the unsung hero of a good blow-dry. I use it when I want a smooth, polished finish without a lot of fuss. The ceramic barrel helps speed things up, and the ion technology makes a noticeable difference in keeping frizz under control. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and gentle on my hair, which matters more and more as my strands have gotten finer with age. I have this in several diameters depending on the amount of bend I want in my hair.
Olaplex has become one of my go-to haircare lines. I typically use their No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, but I rotate their Blonde Enhancing Shampoo into my routine about every fourth wash to keep brassiness at bay.
I also really like their No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner. It adds moisture and softness without making my hair feel heavy or limp, which is no small thing when your hair is fine or aging. Every product in the line is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and gluten, and they’re cruelty-free, which makes me feel just as good about using them as my hair does.
Speaking of volume, I swear by these velcro rollers. My ultra-fine, thinning hair needs all the help it can get, and a few moments in these rollers after I dry it or while I shower gives it a nice lift.
You can find a few more hair favorites I’ve used and loved in these posts:
Letting Go of Outdated “Rules”
Here’s the bottom line: you don’t have to cut your hair short at 60. You don’t have to do anything that doesn’t feel like you.
Style at every age is about knowing yourself and honoring what feels good. That includes your haircut. There’s freedom in aging when you let go of rules that never really served you in the first place.
So if you love short hair, go for it. If you’re holding on to your length and it makes you feel beautiful, keep it. If you’re somewhere in between and still figuring it out, that’s perfectly okay too.
Have you kept your hair long or gone short and loved it? I’d love to know what’s worked for you. Share your story in the comments below.
I had long hair until i had my children. Then cut it my husband said he liked it that way so for years i had it short but covid hit and I did not get it cut for over a year and have since then I’ve kept it shoulder lenght and it’s naturally curly and I get a lot o complements and I feel so much better about myself
My husband has Alzheimer’s is in a memory care facility but likes my hair;hahahaha I’m 72 years old
Audrey Hepburn and her long hair in her later years was lovely. She wore it in a long braid during her UNICEF visits to Africa. She wore it in an elegant bun at events. Thanks for the thoughtful article Jennifer.
Jennifer – I love your posts – they are helpful, honest, positive, and affirming. I’m 76, have fine, straight gray hair and find that with my face, a longer, shoulder length is most flattering and easy to care for (wash and airdrop). I wish you would do a post on ‘hair toppers’ (or whatever they are called) for those of us who are losing hair at the crown. For now I have decided to ‘wear my age proudly’ but sometimes wish for a little help!
Thank you for your posts!
Eileen
I’ve heard very positive things about toppers. I’ll see what I can find.
I’m 58 and my hair right now is the longest it has been since college! It has gotten so curly since menopause that my stylist and I have decided that I need the length to help weigh down the curls. I love having the option to wear it up or down.
Hair length isn’t aging in and of itself, we notice all aspects of a person’s appearance. Is the hair healthy , clean , and suit the person. Are their clothes, and accessories up to date? Do they have suitable makeup on? It reminds me of decorating a room ,all aspects work together to make it pleasant.
Great post. Finding the right length and style for your hair is something I consider very important. Having the right style and cut makes feel good and happy! My hair has been cut in a bixie for the last few years. A bixie is a combination of a bob and pixie! Yes it’s a real thing. I like the longer layers and shorter length. Short hair, though, can be a lot more work than long hair. A bad bad hair day is hard to hide!
I’ve never heard of a bixie…googling now
I am my early sixties and have hair past my shoulders which I have trimmed and coloured regularly. My friends mother (80’s) is constantly telling me older women should not have long hair and must have short hair. I think it’s carried through from her generation. Sadly for her I row my own boat and will keep my longer hair as it is a part of who I am.
I’m glad you row your own boat Sonya! We all need to
I wore my hair in a pixie for quite a while. It was wash and wear hair which was great while I was working.After I retired I tried to let it grow but was not successful until I found the right stylist and that made all the difference! It was a long process but worth going through. My hair is a little past my shoulders now and I have no desire to go short again. Also, I will be 70 next year!
A good cut makes all the difference – even with long hair. 🙂
Great post today, Jennifer. I am at a crossroads with my hair-straight and wiry, grey at the sides! I need a new style and your column has given me the boost to make an appointment and just go do something about it. Appreciate the tip about the hairbrush.
I love your column and have made purchases based on your recommenations.
Thanks,
Kathie
Thank you for the post. I swim 5 days a week with hair that has gotten thinner as I get older. A bob has been the best cut for easy care, styling options and frames my face nicely. Your post was timely and reinforced my decision to not go pixie!🧚
I find a pixie isn’t flattering on every face shape either.
Hi Jennifer, I really enjoyed your post today on hair over 50. I am 67 and decided two years ago when I retired to stay at a layered medium cut with curly hair, less fuss and a few good recommendations from my hair stylist has helped tremendously. You’re right about having a good hair stylist that will l listen and give good advice is a treasure. I haven’t addressed the gray yet, hard to let go my warm reddish brown my darling hair stylist manages to produce every month 😊 Thank you again for the great insights you keep providing!
Jeannie
Though I never wore my hair long when I was young, I have been the last few years (I’m 62). For some reason it makes me feel more youthful! (Still adding blond highlights, too, as I have most of my life)
Following rapid weight loss, my hair has thinned, and I wear it blunt cut. When it comes back to life, I’m looking forward to adding a few layers – looks fun with a few waves added.
Thanks for another great column; you always provide something to think about! 😊
Congrats on your weight loss!
I have traditionally had long hair, and most of the time in a ponytail. I went pixie cut for a few years, but during and after covid, I let my hair grow out, both in color and length. My long grey hair had a different texture from the hair of my youth, and I just found it too difficult to maintain. I still have the grey, but I’ve moved on to a bob style now which I like a lot. I am fortunate in having a stylist who has been with me for over 20 years now and who understands me and my hair.
You are fortunate!
I am one of the lucky ones with hair that’s neither too thick or too thin, with curls and waves, even at 65. I’ve learned that it is just best to let my hair do what it does and not try to fight it. Last year, I went from shoulder length to just below my ears because I felt like it. I’m considering growing it back out again. Or not. But always, always, there will be layers. Otherwise it is unhappy and then it makes me unhappy.
My hair currently is the Jamie Curtis cut only with longer fine bangs. Mine is mainly white with streaky silver mostly in my wavy back. My stylist for years told me yesterday that she was moving up to Denver to be near family, especially her grandchildren. So hugs and well wishes and dread at finding a new stylist as good as she is with my baby fine and thin wavy hair. I’m 80 but no one seems to believe me when I say it. It is good genes from my mother who was 100% Finnish although she was sure that she was Swedish. DNA doesn’t lie. I’m glad I did it. Back to hair. I loved my long hair for many years. But as it turned white it got even finer and harder to style. So I slowly went shorter after the pandemic with my current stylist. She gave me a Bob similar to yours. I got tired of it in my eyes and mouth from our constant wind coming down off of the mountains. So I went all the way to a Jamie Curtis pixie. I found that just a little too short and now it is a little longer with feathery bangs and just more length overall. It is very easy to style with a comb and my fingers after using Aussie mousse max hold to give it volume and lift.
Sydney
It’s a fine line between too short and just right!
I love short cuts on so many women, but not on me, because I have a very round head and face and I feel like a pumpkin! For years I stuck to some kind of bob at or slightly above shoulder length. Just in the last year, seeing so many women my age wearing their hair longer and smooth, I’ve grown it out a few inches past my shoulders, side-parted with some long layers to control the thickness. It feels fresh to me (although having been a Jersey girl in the 80s I have to remind myself that it’s stylish now for hair to be smooth and relatively flat- it’s not supposed to be big!).
Lol! I love your sense of humor 🙂
Jennifer, can we have some info on your purse? Birkin?
It only looks like a Birkin, but it’s from Kohls here
Your hair looks especially pretty in the most recent photos. I think you said you went to a new salon (Aveda?) My hair is slightly shorter than yours/ white and grey/ very thin and dry. I wear it shorter than when I was younger, not because of age, but because it looks better shorter. I’m 74 and let it go grey about 20 years ago after 25 years of coloring it. I take a cytotoxin for a chronic cancer that makes my hair thin so I can’t do anything about that but I’m going to try the olaplex shampoo, I hope it makes my hair look as nice as yours! Thinking of going to a different stylist, my current one does a good haircut but isn’t very encouraging about trying anything new, telling me I have ‘chemo hair’ and there isn’t much to be done to help it.
She does not sound helpful. Find a stylist who hasn’t given up on you and your hair. Her lack of talent is the issue
I’ve had short hair since I married 47 years ago. I love it. But I don’t wear it in an old-fashioned style. I like long fringy bangs. I get lots of compliments and people asking where I get my haircut so I guess it’s working for me. I’ve tried to grow it out several times and I just can’t get past the over the ear part so at 73 I think it’ll stay short in the future.
J – though your fashion advice helped me dress with success for a destination wedding, in styles a bit out of my comfort zone, I most appreciate your sharing of women’s issues of hair loss/care, beauty, skincare, invisibility, especially vetting the products you have personally tried. My hair stylist said since the pandemic, many women have embraced their grey/silver/white strands. It’s awesome to see “perennial” women rocking pixies to ponies! Cheers 2U!
I just posted, I forgot to compliment you on your new style. it’s gorgeous
Thanks Nancy
Really good post, thank you! I’m 57 and regularly get compliments on my hair, especially the color. Mine is just beyond shoulder length with a chin-length face frame, and about 5 years ago I stopped coloring it and let it be natural silver with a just a touch of highlight to brighten it up. I’ve debated about whether to go shorter, and sometimes my stylist has brought it up just above my shoulders at my request, but for now I’m pretty much leaving it as is. (Also, I really like only paying for a trim every 12 weeks, which would not be the case with a short cut! 🙂
Great post! I had short hair for decades and ended up growing it out during the pandemic. I discovered that longer hair was so much easier for me since it is very straight and will not hold a style for long, especially if it’s damp outside. I use the same brush and products that you do and they are terrific. My hair is just below my collar bone and a bit longer in the back. For me, I was lucky when I found a stylist in my age bracket with hair similar to mine. She knew exactly what I needed.
You are lucky!
This article is so timely for me . I’m 77 years old and in the process of growing out my really short grey hair . I went grey during the pandemic and love it , but recently had a yen to grow my hair long enough to wear up or braid it . I’ve been waffling about whether I’m too old but your thoughts really help , thank you . I always enjoy your musings and fashion advice .
You. Are. Not. Too. Old!
Finding the right stylist is so key. I feel like the cuts I have been getting lately are just not working for me. I started with shoulder length hair and keep getting it cut shorter but I am never satisfied. All cuts have been variations of a bob that don’t have enough movement and the layers lay flat without definition. Yours looks terrific by the way. I will give your rollers a try and hopefully this will give me more movement.
The rollers are a game changer for me
Hair can be such a big deal for women, especially women 60+. I’m 73. I was able to see my hair in different lengths having lost my hair to cancer 8 years ago. Bald was so much fun! Had a cut yesterday, My hair is variegated in color. I highlight in between and tone the other times. Right now it is working. My style is a bob, though each time it looks a little different sometimes falling at or below the jaw line. It works, though I often think short would be good, but the upkeep would be horrendous…all those cuts. With clothes wear your crops, skinny, wide or straight leg jeans, long skirts, denim skirts, etc. Who cares … It’s a personal choice…like you said go with what makes you feel good. Don’t let people make you feel invisible! Keep rocking your own style! Shop your closets ladies, anything goes if you like it!!!
Great post!! It really is all about being comfortable in your own skin and doing what feels right personally isn’t it/
Yes it is!
I say wear the length and color that you feel expresses you! I have seen gorgeous gray in every length and style. I have a very short pixie in naturally stark white and I love it, but it takes a cut every five weeks. My three products are Just Nutritive Shampoo ( and conditioner), Kevin Murphy Easy.Rider for the first styling after shampoo, and Kendra Platinum Silk Gloss for the next two days of styling first thing in the morning. It takes under 5 mins to dry and style, though.
Which picture is of your new haircut? They all look lovely.
Tomorrows post shows my new cut in the blue dress. It doesn’t look different which suits me just fine
That style of hair is very flattering on you- a great choice!
Regardless of what length of hair women over 60 choose, making sure
it’s trimmed and kept healthy is top on the list. I love layers and bangs for women over 60 as it added interest to the areas around the face.
I cut my bob into a pixie to grow out the gray. Then the pandemic hit and i had quite the grow out when salons reopened. I ended up needing a new stylist and she does great pixie cuts. So went with that and then back to a bob. My hair really changed with the gray and the back became kinda curly. So back to a pixie, which for me works. She has a way of cutting it so i don’t look like a pinhead (especially the rest of me is not pixie sized lol).
After wearing my thick curly hair shoulder length for the past few years, I was ready for a change, so I went back to a short pixie cut and I’m very happy with it. I totally agree that we should choose our hairstyle based on what we like and what feels good, not on rules or what anyone else thinks.
This post really hit home with me. I’m still recovering from my last haircut, 2nd time actually…two different stylists. My long time stylist left the area a few years back and boy am I struggling. I like my hair just touching my shoulders with some layering and like my bangs long. LOL…I don’t know what I have now! I use Olaplex too but desperately need products for volume. You use Kevin Murphy? What do you recommend in that line?
Thanks for an encouraging, positive post. I like the “letting go of rules that never served in the first place” Sooooo true!
I love all Kevin Murphy. Try his Mousse and Doo Over
My grandmother had long white hair that she braided and wound around her head. I’m not sure when women of a certain age started cutting their hair. No matter the length, the hair needs to have style and not just hang there.
I’ve learned from you tube watching that it’s often more flattering for the length in front to be slightly longer than the length in back to prevent a droopy appearance in the jawline profile. I’ve found this to be very true on my own face. It also makes it easier to style and give the effect of longer hair. I also had my stylist give me what she called an undercut at the nape in the back last time, which totally eliminated that bottom layer from flipping outward. I have a style similar to yours and I love it. Ironically, I feel a lot of pressure to “embrace my gray” from friends who know my feelings about advancement for women and accepting our true selves. I had black hair in my youth, and feel very washed out by pastels in clothing. My eyebrows are black. I’ve been getting lowlights and love them, and I think just because we are “allowed” by marketers to be gray now doesn’t mean we must be, if we feel more authentic with color. High contrast ladies often struggle more, I think, with getting the balance right as our skin and hair ages.
You do not have to go gray!! Don’t let anyone pressure you if you’re not ready.
I so agree with your post. Just be yourself!! During Covid I chose to stop colouring my very dark brown hair . How freeing after dyeing every 4 weeks. During the transition I let my short hair grow out and started wearing my hair up in a bun. My hair came in white with a bit of a dark streak in the front. I love it and it is “ me”.
Thanks for this post.
Your haircut is very flattering.
I am 68 with a messy blonde pixie. So easy to maintain.
I enjoy reading your posts every day. God Bless You as you inspire us.
Great suggestions! Thank you, Jennifer. Dealing with thinning hair.
I’m so sorry Linda. I now swear by oral Minoxidyl! Ask your DR
I found I have to adapt to a style that the stylist knows how to cut after many bad experiences bringing in Pinterest photos and getting a cut that is nowhere near the photo. That means a bob with some face framing layers. It gets cold where I live so I do like some length and not too much texturizing. I used to get blond highlights but found they just faded out and were unrecognizable so have been totally natural for the past many years and it is so easy. I’m just happy to still have plenty of hair and have my own pair of scissors to fix any questionable cuts I’ve gotten. Your haircut is very flattering.
I admit to “adjusting” my hair cuts quite often.
I always enjoy your posts, but especially the ones concerning skin and hair. I seem to have the same issues you do regarding hair, and I have tried so many different products trying to find the right one to help with my ultra fine and thinning hair. I hate to think how much money I have spent, and still haven’t found the right one. I will now try the Olaplex (what’s one more..ha). I am also on the search for the right products to use to add a little oomph after styling.
Try using a little dry shampoo. It works wonders for me.
Hi Jennifer! I really like your new style. I always had long curly hair until my 50’s and menopause hit. I decided to go chin length as my hair was starting to thin, eventually settling on a short bob. It’s easy to maintain while traveling. I am 69 and no gray hair yet, still rocking my blonde!
Hi Jennifer, thanks for this post – it is such an important topic! My hair affects how I see myself more than any other aspect of my appearance. When I first retired I decided to grow my hair out a bit, since I now had the time to work with a new style. But I never felt like a longer style was successful or felt like “me.” So I scoured Pinterest and came up with something similar to my original style, but updated. My stylist has been really good about working with me when I want a change, however subtle it might be. I appreciate so much your product recommendations, since my fine hair is thinning!
Thanks for your thoughts. I am 77,look 65, am petite and am growing out my curly hair because that’s how I feel good. Nature gave me a headful of great curls…why should I hide them? And longer is easier for me. However, I can tell some well meaning friends are hinting at my cutting it because that’s the rule. No thanks. Your article has given me further resolve to keep going. Thanks
There are no rules. They may secretly envy your hair. You rock it the way you want to.
Thank you for that powerful message! When we let go of these unwritten rules about how we should dress or live our lives, we open the door to acceptance of ourselves and others.
Yes!
Do what makes you feel happy.dont try to please others but urself.
Love this post! I choose to wear my hair short as mine is fine & thin like yours but curly. Everyone should be able to wear their hair how they want at any age!
I really get aggravated at people who say you shouldn’t do something at a certain age!
I do too! We need to march to our own drummer and rock looks we like.
I have long hair right now and straighten it or curl it. Sometimes I wear in a pony tail. I tend to wear a bob if I get tired of the length, but my husband always votes for length!
Do what makes you happy and comfortable.
Perfect timing as I’m on my way for a haircut!! Thanks for the info and encouragement not to go short as my age number increases😀
Great post, Jennifer. I have recently gone from a pixie cut (30+ years) to a short bob. I am still working on determining the length I want this bob to be😀 But, I am liking my hair longer. I like your idea of soft layers to soften the overall look and feel. Finding the right stylist is the biggest pain I’m finding out.
It really is. I find a longer bob pretty flattering and I do like having a bit of hair around my face.
I wanted to love Olplex. My hair is white and I often use a purple shampoo and I had heard good things about Olaplex. When I looked in the mirror after my first shampoo my hair was purple! I had to wash my hair about 4 more times to get most but not all of the purple out. Even then it was still faintly purple at the temples. I contacted Olaplex, did I use too much? Leave on too long? No response. I contacted them again, no response. I finally returned the product. My hair was soft and shiny, just purple.
Oops! That’s not good
I have thought your hair looks great in every post but your new cut is smashing! I especially love the photo from the side that shows your hair moving in the breeze. You found a great stylist! I think all women have been through at least one unfortunate stylist. I have followed my current stylist to four salons! Now she finally owns her own so hope I won’t be searching again anytime soon.
I went short when my gray transition was almost complete. I’ve let some of the layers around the face get longer over time but I’m keeping it on the short side. My hair is very thick and coarse and short is just looks better on me. I have plenty of friends in their 60s and 70s with longer, colored hair and they look beautiful. I think it’s all about the hair texture and the skill of the colorist/stylist.
I agree Mary
I’ve worn my hair in a soft pixie and a short bob. I think the pixie is more becoming on me. I have a small face and so it suits. I keep it wispy in the back neck line so it is more feminine. I’m 71 but still have quite a bit of dark blonde mixed in with my white, so it has depth. And, I’m fortunate to still have thick hair.
We all have to do what makes us happy – go grey or dye, wear it long or short or in between. Just keep in mind what it does to your face. Long can sometimes pull your face down while a too short pixie can be severe on a mature lady.
As someone who wore my hair short for most of my life, at age 68 I decided it was time to let it grow out. I turned gray in my 40s so watching it morph into longer styles while embracing my natural color has been so much fun. It’s now down over my shoulders and I visit the hairdresser every 6 weeks for a trim and to add some layering. Who would have thought that being able to wear a ponytail now at age 70 would evoke so much joy? Too much trouble? Not at all. As we mature, we should be mold-breakers and (wizened) risk-takers who enjoy our lives and our looks. I, for one, smile when I look in the mirror. I’ve earned every one of those lines and wrinkles. And, thank you for the hair care tips!!
I love it…wizened risk-takers!
I recently changed salons & stylist for the reasons you’ve noted. My previous stylist was a great “cutter” but never heard my desire to have a change over the last two years. The first thing the new stylist asked was for me to tell her what I loved and hated about my hair. We then discussed multiple options!
I had short hair for all of my working years. I thought it looked okay and it was easy to wash and style every morning. When I retired, I decided to let it grow to a medium length and I got so many compliments! (I started to wonder then what people really thought about my short hair! I looked at old pictures of my short hair and really didn’t think that haircut did anything for me!!). I do spend more time now styling my hair but I don’t mind—it feels more like me!
I wore my hair very, very short for a few years and when I look back at pictures I’m horrified! My hair looked like a scull cap and totally out of proportion with my large square jaw. Yes, I’m my worse critic, but it was really unflattering.
My hair is just like yours, baby fine and thin. I have such a hard time with stylists as well. I find a good stylist, stay with them and then they move or decide not to do hair any longer and I search and search for someone new who can cut my hair properly! We moved to Victoria in 2021 and I found someone after 18 months of trying different stylists only to have her get pregnant and take an 18 month leave! I have since found another stylist to replace her and my other stylist is about to come back from maternity leave…what to do, who to stay with?!?! I find the length at just above my shoulders is the best for me. If it hits my shoulders it gets stringy looking and I lose any shape to the cut. I do still highlight my hair as well. I use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner to try to make it look thicker.
I grew my short layered hair out several years ago . I got tired of haircuts every 5 weeks, curling iron, dying it more often, etc. I am over 60, and have a shoulder length bob, no dye, and silver /white hair. I enjoy the freedom. My hair looks like yours, Jennifer. I can wear hats now that my hair is showing. I find longer hair more versatile. I don’t have layers at the moment, but may add them back in at some point. I had straight hair, medium coarse hair before grey, and now it is fine silky, slightly wavy. I have had to rethink all hair products. I use weightless conditioners and shampoos on my hair, or they will make my hair flat. I use a rosemary shampoo and conditioner .
I think my hats look better because you can see some hair poking out.
I cut mine short while growing out my color. I’ve settled on a shoulder length straight bob that’s blunt on the bottom. My now salt and pepper hair is one of my most striking attributes and it suits my sassy self very well! I’m over other people policing how I look.
I love your attitude Shari!
Thank you Jennifer for these wise words. I agree that women should wear their hair however they are happiest. Pressure shouldn’t be put upon them to conform to someone else’s ideas of how they should look. Healthy hair in a style that suits looks so good. Whatever I am wearing I don’t feel happy unless I am happy with my hair. I will be sixty in a few months and have no plans to change my long bob. Grey hairs aren’t very obvious at the moment but I hope to embrace the grey as it gets more apparent. Thanks again.
nope, you definitely do not have to cut your hair after 60. That’s one of those outdated beauty “rules” that people used to push, usually based on old-fashioned ideas about aging and what’s “appropriate” for older women. MY hair — MY rules. Thank you for sharing!
YES!!
Excellent article Jennifer. Something I’ve noticed is the way I’m treated with short, white hair. Over the past 4 years, I’ve been bald twice from chemo and have gone through many, many hairstyles in the growing out process. The first time it was growing in, it looked like an intentional short pixie, then slightly longer pixie and was quite stylish. I played up the edgy look with bold earrings and accessories and felt like a slightly different version of me. Then when my hair was long enough to wear below chin length, I would get even more admiring looks and compliments on a daily basis from woman (and a few men) of all ages. Nobody called me “maam” or asked if I needed help.
This time after chemo it is growing in baby-fine and very curly. It is still quite short and even with my stylist shaping it, it still looks like a haircut for a very old lady. Even though I dress stylishly, I am treated like an old person when I’m out. People stop to help me when I’m grocery shopping. Cashiers ask if I need help getting my parcels to my car and the worst one yet – when I was buying myself a white denim jacket at The Gap, the sales girl asked if this was for my grand-daughter! I wear my silver, staggered bob wig more often now.
Thanks for sharing this your powerful and personal story Yvonne! It’s fascinating to hear how a hair style changes people’s behaviors. You’re such a beautiful and stylish lady! I hope your hair turns a corner and am just so grateful you’re through this round of chemo! xo
Years ago I went “natural” and never regretted it. Would I look younger if I colored? Yes, but color always went brassy on me and was unflattering.
Then, after 30 years of short haircuts, I decided to grow it. Well, I love it so much, it’s getting longer! I get regular trims, and it’s below my shoulders. I recently had a ( younger) man tell me I look like Michelle Pfeifer!
I mostly use Aveda Invidia products.
Wowza! Your hair sounds great.