Any Opinions on Length, Style and Color Options for the Gorgeous Over-40 Set?

[Royal Glory]

Hello Ladies,

Anybody confessing to being over 40 on this forum? Personally, I am proud to be in my late fourties. I have been told that I look much younger than I am. (When I went to my 20-year high-school reunion, I was voted "Most Unchanged".)

I want to continue to age gracefully and to remain healthy, vibrant, feminine, sexy, fashionable ...all that. That is why I take care of myself ...including my hair.

I was wondering what your thoughts were about graying gracefully if that is the route a woman chooses...or about safe, natural ways to cover the gray, especially in relaxed hair.

Also what opinions do you have on youthful, yet "age-appropriate" lengths and styles?

Of course every woman's style is hers alone and that uniqueness doesn't have to drastically change just because she's not 25 anymore or just because someone else thinks it should.

 

[goldensensation]

I believe that most elegant styles are universal (with regard to age). I am 22 and for the longest I kept trying to tell my mom to gray gracefully, but she started early... maybe right around 30? Anyway, her grays are centered around the front of her hairline. If she were to let it grow in naturally, she would have hair JUST like the bride of frankenstein. Personally, I think that it would look kinda nice, but I might feel differently if I were the one graying, yanno? We now use henna on her hair and it colors well. The commercial hair dyes used to thin her edges.

 

[Royal Glory]

Hello Ladies,

Anybody confessing to being over 40 on this forum? Personally, I am proud to be in my late fourties. I have been told that I look much younger than I am. (When I went to my 20-year high-school reunion, I was voted "Most Unchanged".)

I want to continue to age gracefully and to remain healthy, vibrant, feminine, sexy, fashionable ...all that. That is why I take care of myself ...including my hair.

I was wondering what your thoughts were about graying gracefully if that is the route a woman chooses...or about safe, natural ways to cover the gray, especially in relaxed hair.

Also what opinions do you have on youthful, yet "age-appropriate" lengths and styles?

Of course every woman's style is hers alone and that uniqueness doesn't have to drastically change just because she's not 25 anymore or just because someone else thinks it should.

Wow! No takers? No ideas? How about sharing what looks you admire in women who are 10, 20, 30 years older than you? ...your mothers... or aunts, etc.

 

[Royal Glory]

I believe that most elegant styles are universal (with regard to age). I am 22 and for the longest I kept trying to tell my mom to gray gracefully, but she started early... maybe right around 30? Anyway, her grays are centered around the front of her hairline. If she were to let it grow in naturally, she would have hair JUST like the bride of frankenstein. Personally, I think that it would look kinda nice, but I might feel differently if I were the one graying, yanno? We now use henna on her hair and it colors well. The commercial hair dyes used to thin her edges.

Thanks for responding Goldensensation.

 

[Cichelle]

I'm not there yet, but I'm not far!

My first opinion is that you are never too old for long hair! I don't care what anyone thinks. I plan to achieve my hair goals and keep it long forever.

About gray: I was going gray at my hairline. Just gray wisps here and there that recently started to get more numerous. I thought of just letting my hair go gray gracefully because I didn't want to color it and risk damaging my hair. Then I found henna and haven't looked back.

I have seen people with long silver hair that looked so beautiful. Maybe one day that will be me.

I think people should defy hair "rules" or conventions that don't suite them. For instance, last summer I was rocking two ponytails. I know people were thinking I was too old to be wearing them. But I didn't even care.

 

[Radianthealth]

I am not in my 40's but I don't buy into the idea that shorter hair looks better on women over 35, especially since I find that Black women tend to age a little more gracefully than other races JMHO.

I love to see any race of woman with long healthy gray hair. I do think I will dye my gray hair, I have heard that Biggen is a good product for women with relaxed hair.

I think I will let my hair go gray maybe when I am 60...then again maybe I won't

 

[Robin41]

Over 40 checking in here! My opinion is to each his own. I've seen some loverly older ladies with longer hair and for some reason, those with long gray or silver hair are the ones I admire most. I have an aunt in her 70's who wears her hair in a long braid down her back and I love it.

I've been trying to cover my gray but I'm thinking about letting it do its thing and seeing how it looks. If it doesn't age me too much, I'm keeping it and hoping it gets really silvery and pretty.

As for age-appropriate styles, I'm a bit more conservative there than with length. I don't wear, can't wear and won't wear youthful styles so I can't stand a stylist trying to gel my hair up or flip it up into something a 20-year old would wear cause that's not for me. As I get older, simpler is always better and the faster I can get out of the house, the happier I am.

Hope that helps!

 

[LynnieB]

Thanks for responding Goldensensation.

chiming in so you don't feel so alone hehe.

i'm 44.

i don't really have any absolutes when it comes to hair and age except being natural.

i think i've seen it all on all ages (funky colors, styles both 'laxed and natural, lengths) some simply gorgeous and others best rocked in ones' hallway closet - WITH the lights out

i think alot depends on your personality, your facial features, your "youthfulness".

i've seen some of the meanest set of salt and pepper locs, fros and braids on folks in their 50's and 60's.

these days i wouldn't be afraid to experiment (and i know i won't, not for a one second) with different looks and would only stop if my kids started giving me the ole double barreled fisheye .

 

[mango387]

My mom started to grey when she was in her late thirties (LHCF, you better not blame me ). At that point, her hair looked like Cruella DeVille (101 Dalmations), and I liked it. Now, my mom is 59 w/ thick chin length salt and pepper hair. She either wears a swingy bob or a rollerset. Guess what? People still think she is in her forties, and she's been through a lot-multiple surgeries, recent death of mom, etc. If I grey like her and I am over the age of 35, then I do not plan on coloring it.

 

[Royal Glory]

chiming in so you don't feel so alone hehe.

i'm 44.

i don't really have any absolutes when it comes to hair and age except being natural.

i think i've seen it all on all ages (funky colors, styles both 'laxed and natural, lengths) some simply gorgeous and others best rocked in ones' hallway closet - WITH the lights out

i think alot depends on your personality, your facial features, your "youthfulness".

i've seen some of the meanest set of salt and pepper locs, fros and braids on folks in their 50's and 60's.

these days i wouldn't be afraid to experiment (and i know i won't, not for a one second) with different looks and would only stop if my kids started giving me the ole double barreled fisheye .

Glad to meet you! You're right about the kids and their looks! That is the true gauge. Thanks for chimin' in.

 

[adw425]

We've PMed, so you know this already...My gray is in my hairline right smack dab in the middle of my forehead. I color about every four months with Bigen oriental black. My gray comes in very slowly because of my mineral intake.

I am not one of those people either who thinks that women over 35 or 40 should have short (should cut their) hair. I have always loved long hair. I used to have long hair (smile) and, if the creek don't rise, will again.

There is a lady who works here who has the most beautiful just below shoulder length, salt and pepper hair. She wears it parted on the side and straight and swingy. It and she are beautiful - shiney, healthy hair/clear, smooth skin... She takes very good care of herself and I have admired her for years. She is probably about 60 now, but an ageless beauty because her healthiness and vibrancy just leap out at you, if that makes any sense.

I am 46. People tell me all the time I look no older than 35 and I know I don't look my age but looking 46 is fine to me because I am 46. I don't have any kids to look at me cross-eyed if my hair is looking crazy. Sometimes, though, my Cinnabon (golden retriever mix) tilts his head to the side and gives me that "look" when I put on conditioner, then my plastic shower cap and then get under my ion hood dryer (the one that looks like you are from outer space) but that is probably because I look like an alien....

 

[Royal Glory]

We've PMed, so you know this already...My gray is in my hairline right smack dab in the middle of my forehead. I color about every four months with Bigen oriental black. My gray comes in very slowly because of my mineral intake.

I am not one of those people either who thinks that women over 35 or 40 should have short (should cut their) hair. I have always loved long hair. I used to have long hair (smile) and, if the creek don't rise, will again.

There is a lady who works here who has the most beautiful just below shoulder length, salt and pepper hair. She wears it parted on the side and straight and swingy. It and she are beautiful - shiney, healthy hair/clear, smooth skin... She takes very good care of herself and I have admired her for years. She is probably about 60 now, but an ageless beauty because her healthiness and vibrancy just leap out at you, if that makes any sense.

I am 46. People tell me all the time I look no older than 35 and I know I don't look my age but looking 46 is fine to me because I am 46. I don't have any kids to look at me cross-eyed if my hair is looking crazy. Sometimes, though, my Cinnabon (golden retriever mix) tilts his head to the side and gives me that "look" when I put on conditioner, then my plastic shower cap and then get under my ion hood dryer (the one that looks like you are from outer space) but that is probably because I look like an alien....

Hi again. Take a look at the long haired beauty on 2cute2be4gotten's spinoff thread: If you're 35+. I don't know how to link it yet and I don't recall who posted the photo.

 

[Miss*Tress]

Here's a link to the picture.

 

[adw425]

I've been haunting this and the 35+ thread since it was posted. That was a truly awesome head of hair that was posted in that thread. All I can say is WOW! Also, so many 35+ ladies on the forum with such long beautiful hair. I thought most of those ladies were in their 20s and early 30s - again, all I can say is wow...

 

[Royal Glory]

Here's a link to the picture.

Thanks for the link!