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Let It Grow!
A Look at Long Hair and the Mature Woman
We’ve all heard the theory that a woman past a “certain age” should never wear long hair, but
should rather have a more “age-appropriate” hairstyle. Of course, what is “age appropriate”? The truth is that in today’s world, age is
little more than a number and should have nothing to do with a person’s sense of style. Just look at the ladies above:
Elizabeth Hurley (41) – At 41, Ms. Hurley (Austin Powers: International Man of
Mystery, Bedazzled) is now entering the category of “mature women”, but that hasn’t slowed her down. Still sought after as an actress
and model, her long hair shows she’s still sexy, vibrant and downright ‘hot’.
Bernadette Peters (59) – While Bernadette Peters will long be remembered for her
role in the Steve Martin comedy, The Jerk, she has made a name for herself as a true performer on the Broadway stage. She’s won two Tony
awards and been nominated for five others. With her trademarks curls, Ms. Peters is still a stunning woman at 59.
Bebe Neuwirth (48) – This 48-year-old actress of TV (Cheers, Frasier) and the
Broadway stage (Chicago) is a far cry from the icy character she portrayed on television. Her long sable curls prove that even an older
woman can still smolder.
Stevie Nicks (58) – Always one to buck the system and convention, songstress
Stevie Nicks is still one of the most beautiful women of Rock and Roll history. Her long-layered-locks are something even women half
her age would envy.
Susan Sarandon (60) – The oldest of the actresses shown here, Susan Sarandon has
played everything from the innocent ingénue in Rocky Horror Picture Show, to the sultry older woman in White Palace. Whatever the role,
she’s an amazing actress and her blazing red hair always starts a fire onscreen.
Valerie Bertinelli (46) – Valerie became a household name as the plucky younger
daughter in the ground breaking sit-com One Day at a Time. Later in her career, she became the “Queen of the TV Movie” and has been
considered one of television’s most beautiful women. From a beautiful youngster to a gorgeous woman, she still looks astonishing at 46.
No one can look at these women and say that they shouldn’t wear their hair long. In fact,
these women could wear pretty much any hairstyle they choose. Their age doesn’t matter, their hair is healthy, the color vibrant, the
styles are flattering. What more does anyone want from their hair.
Why the Change?
So, you may be asking “Why the change; what makes the rules different now?” The answer is
simple. Half a century ago, a woman in her 50s or 60s looked very different than women of similar age look today. They didn’t have the
medical and cosmetic techniques we now have that help to preserve health and youthful vigor.
These days, we know that things like UV radiation and cigarette smoke can prematurely age the
skin and can lead to looking older than your years, so most women take steps to avoid of counter these factors. We also have cosmetic
treatments like laser rejuvenation and botox therapies to stop the development of fine lines and wrinkles and help to preserve the
healthy look of younger skin.
Because women today look younger for their age, the rules change. You don’t need to do
different things with the hair to draw attention away from other unflattering features (such as frown lines and brow furrows). Women can
wear their hair long and the only factor to consider is whether or not the style flatters them.
Why Long Hair?
Long hair has always been seen as portraying the image of Beauty. Look at Art throughout
history. The beautiful maiden is always seen with long hair. All of the representations of Venus: the goddess of love and beauty show
her with hair that is long, wavy and flowing. It’s romantic and feminine.
We are taught that long hair equals youth and beauty from an early age. Look at our fairy
tales. Rapunzel was envied so much for her beautiful long hair that she was locked away in a tower. The mere sight of her beautiful
hair inspired the young prince to risk his life to try to reach her. We are taught that long hair is something to be desired and
envied, because of it’s indication that the woman who has it is more alluring and sexy. For many women – because of the lessons
learned while young - wearing their hair long at a mature age is a subtle way of telling the world around them that they are still
sexual and desirable beings.
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