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’.
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.
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(Celebrity photos by PR Photos)