A Look at Long Hair and the Mature Woman (2)

Older woman with long hair
Photo: Nadino/Shutterstock
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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 depicted with long hair. All of the representations of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, show her with long, wavy, and flowing hair. It is romantic and feminine.
 
We are taught from an early age that long hair is associated with youth and beauty. Look at our fairy tales; Rapunzel was so envied 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 in an attempt to reach her.
 
We are taught that long hair is something to be desired and envied, because of its indication that the woman who has it is more alluring and sexy. For many women, due to the lessons they 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.
 
Another reason many women choose to have long hair is that it takes more effort to care for properly, and a woman who wears long hair that looks good is a woman you know spends time on her appearance and likes to be appreciated. This usually won't be a conscious decision, but the desire to be appreciated means that a woman is more than willing to put in the extra effort in order to ensure the attention.
 
Long hair is also versatile and can be worn in a wide variety of looks and styles. With long hair, you don't have to just have it hanging down; you can wear it up in elaborate and intricate styles, or a simple, smooth twist. You can add curls for an ultra-full, voluminous look, or you can flat iron it for a super-sleek style. This doesn't even consider the in-between styles available with long hair: half-up styles, ponytails, braids, etc.
 
Senior woman with long gray hair
Photo: Instaphotos/Canva
Tips for Healthy Mature Hair:
 
As a woman ages, hormonal changes and even genetics can mean that the hair begins to grow differently, or can become drier and less manageable. Because of this, you need to meet the hair’s changing needs and compensate for some of the inevitable deficiencies:
 
•  Be sure to use a gentle shampoo with humectants and a moisturizingconditioner to keep the hair hydrated. You will also need to add shineproducts to your styling routine, such as spray laminators, and anti-frizz serums, since maturing hair tends to lose its luster.
 
•  Avoid using all-over hair color as your sole source of color, particularly if you are starting to gray. The color results tend to become flat and the hair looks bland. Instead, choose dimensional color services featuring highlighting and lowlighting to create variation in the hair color, ensuring a more natural-looking result. In addition, don't fall for color trends, such as chunky colors and the like. More natural coloring techniques will make the hair look more youthful.
 
•  Have your stylist add layering to the hair in areas where you need it according to your face shape. Rounder faces should have layers at the top of the head to create height, while narrower faces should have layers along the middle lengths to be styled outward and create a wider silhouette. You can use layers around the face to soften features or mask an overly large forehead, and add asymmetrical elements (side partings and angled bangs) to compensate for angular or overly balanced features.
 
•  Finally, be sure to maintain your overall health. This includes getting proper nutrition, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough exercise. A healthy body will be better able to grow healthy hair.
 
The bottom line is this: Age is no longer a reason to limit your choices in hairstyle. Any woman, regardless of age, can have long hair that is healthy, vibrant, and strong. So, keep your youthful locks no matter what the calendar says.
 
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