I don't know if it's just wishful thinking on my part, but it seems that I've been noticing a lot more women with long grey, silver or white hair lately.  And I don't mean spinster types either, I mean well-dressed women with long, shiny, well taken care of hair.  Do you think perhaps the point of view that women above a "certain age" shouldn't have long hair is finally changing?  Anyone still hear "you're too old for long hair" anymore?

I am pushing 50  and have hair almost to my waist  .  I have had a number of people ask when I will be cutting my hair, as I am getting too old for long hair.  I usually tell them I don't feel old yet, so I will continue to let my hair grow.  I have also noticed more older women with longer hair.  Let us hope that there will continue to be enough of us who don't listen to those who wish to pass judgement on us and do what pleases ourselves.

No,unfortunately not-at least not here in Germany.I don´t know a single woman with longer than-at the most-mid back length hair,neither at work,my friends nor among my relatives.All the older ladies I have seen(around seventy or so)have the same short,permed hairdo,a pity really,because I think long,silver hair is just beautiful.
I wear my hair up most of the time,if I wear it down I get to hear quite a lot of the women-over-thirty -should-cut-their-hair comments.(I´m 35).Really quite annoying,since I take very good care of my hair and it´s very healthy.But that might be just Germany,maybe there is a change now in other countries.
Anne-Marie 

That´s a great reply-I will try it next time 
Anne-Marie

I agree - anyone should be able to have hair any length they desire.  Long hair is NOT just for young people.  My grandmother had a braid that was to her waist when she died at 86(and not a grey hair!!).  I had no idea how long it was until then because she always wore it in a bun or braided and wrapped around her head.  The funeral home asked the family to assist with styling her hair as they were not familiar with handling hair of that length.

Good for you!  It is important to have self-confidence and assurance.  Good luck in achieving that long white braid (but not too soon on the white!)

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Young Leia,
Perms and short cuts have their place.  Some of us are blessed with hair that covers our head and grows to wonderful lengths.  Not everyone is so fortunate.  Some will cut and perm their hair to better deal with thinning hair.  Also, arthritis in the hands, wrists and shoulders can make styling hair painful.  We should respect and encourage everyone to make choices that they are comfortable with and make them feel good about themselves..

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It always amazes me when people say they do not have the time to take care of long hair.  I find it takes less time and is much more enjoyable.  I can choose a quick easy style for the day (a bun with hairstick), or complex (twisted sides into a single braid).  But with their shorter styles, if they don't do the hair gel, hair dryer, styling routine every day, they look a mess!  They spend more time on their hair than I do!

Ooh I saw this English woman yesterday, and her hair was short and permed but PURPLE!! I was so amazed, and my mother said it's quite popular these days!  !

Hey, we're not going anywhere, the LHB has been around since 2000!

Before convincing yourself that it's your diet that is making your lose your hair, I suggest you have your thyroid checked.  Hair loss is a common problem with thyroid issues.

Once you have determined there is no medical cause for your thinning hair, you might want to try using some mousse at the roots or maybe even some uncolored henna only at the roots (assuming your hair isn't dry) for added lift.  If your hair can tolerate occasional blow drying, try bending over at the waist and lifting your hair at the roots as you dry.  And of course, you might want to try Rogaine for Women (or a more reasonably priced alternative).  I know guys who swear by Rogaine for Men!

Just from the number of views to this subject--almost 600--I would say there are a lot of women who want to keep their hair long when they get older.  It may seem like society feels women of a certain age should keep their hair short, but I think that opinion is of women who have bought into the short hair thing and misery loves company.   I've never had my hair real short, but I I wish I hadn't cut it at all.  Another reason--women when they get older have temperature issues--heat--sweats, etc.  It drives them crazy and they cut their hair hoping that will make them feel better.  Longer hair is easier to care for and offers many more options for styling than short hair--from no styling to whatever you want.  Short haired women don't have those options.  There are always professional updos if you have the need to look professional, and if you want to look romantic--there's nothing more romantic than long hair--everybody envies long hair--some may tell you how beautiful it is, the jealous rest will tell you your hair is too long for your age.  What's important is that your hair is healthy and looks cared for.  On the graying note--if you decide you don't want the gray, just do your roots every so often with something gentle to your hair--the roots can handle the treatment better than the rest of your hair.  Women who already have very long hair and don't want the gray can benefit from this the most because the hair you already have is untreated.  I'm almost 49 and I hope that this encourages the women nearing that point in their age that they are tempted to cut their hair (but don't really want to) to forget getting into that cycle.  You will never regret it.  I'm in the very early process of--let it grow, let grow, let it grow.  If I get to the point that it is hard to care for because of arthrisit or something else, I have two long haired daughters close by that I will call on.  My grandmother died in her late 80's--her hair was a beautiful white silk down to her waist--I only knew this when we started caring for her and had to undo her tiny bun to wash her hair.

I was sitting in a Burger King the other day and I
saw two older ladies about seventy or so ( I can't tell
age) sitting in another booth.  Both were nicely dressed.
The first one had the typical older lady hair style, at
least for this part of the country (upper Midwest USA) short,permed
hair.  The other woman had what looked like must have
been at least waist length hair put in a braided bun.
I figure it must have been pretty long by the size of the
bun.  Both were completly grey.  I thought the lady with
the bun looked so elegant.    I hope I can wear my hair
long when I get older and go gray, if it doesn't get too
thin.   (My Grandma got very thin and had to wear
wigs and hairpieces.)

I turn 40 this year and have no intentions of cutting my hair.

Never, I hope! Age is just a state of mind.  I'm 48
but still feel like I'm about  30!

I definatly want a long grey ponytail. In my family we grey early but the color is so beautiful its a light grey unique color its cool. My great granmother has long beautiful hair. She used to have the short permed look but she decided to grow it  If you ask me it looks a lot better.

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Heh, that'd be interesting..."when are you EVER going to grow this out?"

If someone did that to them they would be mad. I guess they assume a long haired person wants a perfect strangers hands in thier hair.

Where do you guys all live that you see older women with long hair?  I live in the southeastern USA and I have never ever seen a lady with long gray or white hair!  However, my younger sister (she's 10) and I (i'm a highschooler) have already decided that, when we get old, we are not chopping our hair off like every grey haired woman we know.
Oh, I also agree that long hair does not take as much time to style as modern-cut short hair does.

I was watching 20/20 Monday night and noticed that correspondent Lynn Scher (sp??) has let her hair grow out. Lynn always had very short blonde hair but now it comes down to her shoulders and I think she is in her mid to late 50s.