I hope this isn't too silly, but the reasons I have decided to let my hair grow are kind of strange.   I have always been very uncomfortable with my appearance, especially my hair.  When I was growing up, my mother and sister were always criticizing my appearance and it has made me very self-conscious.  Not to bad mouth them, I think they meant well, but I have curly hair and they don't and I don't think they understood how hard it was to manage.  I'm rarely comfortable getting my hair done and almost never like the hair cuts I get. 

So here I am -- 55 years old with gray hair-- and I've decided to let it grow.  I pull it back with a clip and, honestly, I think it makes me look rather plain, but  that's what I look like and I'm okay with that!  It feels good to have it off my face, and I don't have to fool with it any more.  I am concentrating more on my makeup and earrings and just leaving my hair out of the equation for now.  I hope to have more fun with it when it gets longer.  Surprisingly, I was visiting my son last week (he's 26) and he said Mom, I like your hair, it makes you look,  I think he said, elegant -  or something like that.  And it's funny because that's how I feel with it this new way.  So I guess there's more to hair than meets the eye! 

Hi Bikerbraid.  Thanks for the encouragement.  One of the things I'm enjoying is the return of my curls.  Until about a year ago, between dying and blow drying my hair, I hadn't seen a curl in years!   I thought I had lost them.  But yesterday I washed my hair and let it air dry, and behold, there were some ringlets!

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Congrats on the rediscovery!

Hi silvermane!  I think long hair on an older woman is fantastic (i'm 44).  I saw a lady just the other day, with long waist length hair--it was totally grey and it was hanging loose.  I thought it was gorgeous and inspiring!  All of us have varying reasons for growing our hair long; none of them are wrong or right.  They're simply ours.   

I'm totally amazed at the thoughts I have been having about all this hair growing stuff!  How taking good care of my hair seems to be so important to me now.  If I want it to be beautiful and healthy, I can't take it for granted.  It's kind of like a hobby, but it's also a lesson about caring for the rest of me.  I'm having a hard time putting into words what I mean, but I'm telling you, it's really blowing me away!

I'm so VERY grateful that this forum is here.  The kindness you all express to one another is so encouraging.  I'm so glad to be a part of it.

Many people have an "awakening" experience after discovering boards like this.  They never gave much thought to their hair before, but those who have LONG hair must think about it a lot, or the hair will never get to the extreme lengths.  As a person learns how to care for their hair, they also realize that the whole body is a part of the process and you must take care of it as well!

Welcome to this new level of enlightenment.  I hope you enjoy your journey. 

I also bought myself a beautiful pair of earrings today.  I felt a teeny bit guilty because of the price, but when I 'fessed up to my husband about the cost, he said "I was going to buy the very same ones for you for St. Patrick's Day!!!!   Of course he wasn't, and it was so sweet of him to relieve me of my guilt.  What a gem!

really nice hubby   Great job at finding the shampoo at a cheaper price......love that