Aww. I got a message from my mom yesterday saying that she'd gotten her hair cut. It was probably about tailbone length, silver on top and brown underneath, thick and straight. She got it cut to collarbone/chin length with layers. I'm sure it looks great, but it was really impressive hair. She decided it was making her look old.

When I was a kid she had it quite short and dyed red, which suited her, but she decided to grow both the color and length out maybe 6 or 7 years ago, which was kind of a big surprise, I thought! But in the end I thought it was cool that she had such different hair. Ah well! Now I'm growing mine out instead.

That's really sad. :( I know that hair is a very personal thing and people should have it how it makes them feel best, but it's very sad that she thought it made her look "old." Part of me wonders if other people were pressuring her to cut it... Maybe when she sees your long hair, she will decide to give it another try.

Awwww! Sounded like such amazing hair too! If I ever cut mine short (no plans to :wacko:), I think I would have to do it in stages, I wouldn't have the nerve to go from TB to chin in one cut!

*cringe* I'm trying to dissuade my mother from doing the same thing . . . she has TB-length silver hair. But she grew it by accident, sort of, and has been talking about cutting it. I'm not best pleased.

I do hate the idea that long hair makes women look older. I have never, ever, in my entire life seen it actually work that way. Ever.

I'm sorry she cut it! But if she really wanted to and she feels prettier and younger looking, then I'm happy for her.
I do feel it's a shame though that long hair seems to = older looking in so many cases.

I don't get that myth of long = older looking. I guess it depends - a granny-looking updo might make you look more like a granny, but so does the poodle 'do!

For me, long hair makes me look younger - that and the bangs. But I act young, too, and will when I'm old. Attitude is everything!

I've given up on being sad when other people cut their hair. I can only control what I do with my own.

For me, long hair makes me look younger - that and the bangs. But I act young, too, and will when I'm old. Attitude is everything!

*nodnod*
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. :rockerdud

Yeah, the looking older thing didn't make any sense to me, either. It was only a couple days after her birthday so maybe she thought it was time for a change, or she was more sensitive to feeling older or something. I'm sure it will be lovely at collarbone-length, too. I just hope she took a picture of it before she cut it!

Here is the only pic I have of it down -- where she is being crazy!! Heee.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91882683@N00/144353703/in/set-72057594048296386/

From May 2006, so it was somewhat longer than that when she cut it. She started growing it at almost pixie cut in 2000 or so -- grows fast!

I've given up on being sad when other people cut their hair. I can only control what I do with my own.

Amen.

And Katze - Paul is magnificent! Can't you imagine a field of those war horses, mounted by gleaming armored knights, rampaging down upon lines of foot soldiers, blinded by the dust, sweat and torrential fear?

Is he yours?

A note on the photo of your mom. First, what gorgeous hair! How could she have cut it off when it was so beautiful????

Second, I wonder if the pose doesn't give some insight into how your mom might have been thinking about her hair. I thought at first that it must be Halloween and she was doing a "witch" imitation.

Then I saw it was in May, so her "witch" may just have been how she was beginning to see herself in her hair? A wild guess, obviously, as I don't know your mother.

However, if she was already thinking her hair was presenting a negative image to the world, then add the birthday which always reminds us that life is inching away, for someone leaning towards dissatisfaction, it could have been the push over the edge to the beauty shop (now, there's an oxymoron for ya!)

Out of curiosity....did she donate the hair and would this have had some bearing on her decision to cut?

"Then I saw it was in May, so her "witch" may just have been how she was beginning to see herself in her hair? A wild guess, obviously, as I don't know your mother."

Well, maybe -- but as someone else posted, growing up is optional, and my mom is a super-young older person, if that makes any sense. She doesn't worry a lot about what other people think of her, and she acts as silly and playful as she wants. (As do I!) I think that was what was going on in that picture -- we were at a get-together at someone's house and she took down her hair to show off how long it was, and then when I tried to take a picture she started goofing around for the camera. I do think it may have had to do with some dissatisfaction/need for change, though. I've definitely done the same thing -- cut my hair short at the beginning of college, stuff like that.

Fabulous hair. Tell her I said, "Awesome." She really has the beautiful hair gene. It would look good in lots of styles. The color is beautiful. Hey, she can always grow it out again if she wants. Remember Honeymane? She had almost floor length and cut it and said she's starting over again.

How your mum feels about herself is important. If a new cut gets her where she wants to be then great. I'll bet it looks real pretty on her.

My hair doesn't have as much silver as your mum's does, but I'm shooting for that look. I have more gray than my own mother, and my father has almost all white/silver. Recently I looked in the mirror and the most awful thought entered my mind. Maybe I won't get all the silver I planned on. lol! Maybe I'll end up somewhere in between my mom and dad. Haha! Because I think my dad was grayer at the age I am, than I am. I'm going to have to ask him.

Regarding your mom feeling her age. You didn't mention a number but I'm going to be 48 this year and I've seen the aging in my skin and in the muscle tone of my arms change right before my eyes it seems. I am not used to my own self. It's not easy watching the changes in your body. Even if I were to exercise my arms daily, the skin is not the same as 5 or 10 years ago. Heck, it's not the same as two years ago.

I guess sometimes we just need change. Ive done it myself before I went from tailbone lenght to 2 inches...lol. It seems crazy to me that I would do that now. Ive worked really hard to get where Im at now. I dont believe I would ever cut it again.

My goodness qatipay! When I saw the picture of your mom, I gasped! You must tell her that she has/had some of the most beautiful hair I've seen.

I do understand the need for a change. Getting older is not for the faint of heart and it is something I deal with everyday. Your body is changing but your mind is still frisky. At times, it is hard to live with. Changing your hair is something you have control over. Changing those wrinkles....well....that is very hard.

Long hair makes you look older? In my opinion, THATS a myth. I know a lot of people seem to believe it does (mainly older people for some reason) but IRL I have never found that to be true.

Quite the opposite actually. Cutting it off to look ''younger'' makes you look older. It's too obvious for starters. Long hair on the other hand, gives you a more ''girlish/childish'' look.

Of course, this is just MY opinion. :)

Oooh, your Mom has lovely hair. I think society, at least todays society cant
wrap long hair on older ladies around its brain. Such a shame, because in days
gone by it was the norm. And in other countries its still the norm. sigh. :( Heres
for going against the flow8). I bet your Mom will grow again.


Deb

Yes, her hair was (and probably still is) beautiful. Collarbone isn't too bad. I bet it still looks great. I think sometimes women just want/need a change and no matter how many new updos you try, a cut seems to "refresh" you. At least my experience. I've just learned from here on out, it's the whole idea of going to a salon that can be (not always mind you) pampering. So getting just a trim can give you that "new and fresh" feeling as well. If she decides to grow out again, she'll be starting at a good length! (i'm a little biased of course... ahem.)

If my hair was that long I don't know if I could go and just have it all cut off. I had my hair at about armpit lenght and got 3-4 inches cut off and I bawled and freaked out. I can't see cutting that much hair off.

Her hair was beautiful! If she's happy with it shorter, after all it's her choice. I don't think I would ever do such a drastic cut with hair like that! I wouldn't even cut mine once I get it that long!

Katz, I love your siggie pic!

Ooooh. I could not do that. Her hair was fab.

She can always grow it out again if she wants, but that awkward inbetween length is worse and worse as we get older, IMHO.

I hope she's happy with the cut.

Gatipay- Your mom has beautiful hair. I showed my 10 yr old son the picture and asked what he thought of it. He looked and said "WOW. That's beautiful." I asked him if she looks old and he said no.
I'm sure your mom is happy and looks just as beautiful with her new do. It's a shame though that society considers long hair on older women wrong. I know I have my days when I want to chop my hair off. Sometimes I think I look old and haggard with it down. I'm 49 and I don't feel it. I still act silly and have fun. (Plus I have 4 kids- 17, 15, 14 and 10) They help keep me young.