"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands... " 1 Thessalonians 4:11
********
When you write in a blog for over 8 years it can be rough finding subjects you've not already exhausted.
Well, I finally found one. Namely, long hair on women over 40.
Good gracious! Throughout the years I've watched people react with such vehemence on this subject, most of them insisting that no decent, smart woman over 40 would wear her hair long. Do a google search on long-haired older ladies and you'll find 45,000,000 rantings, most of them negative. Most (know-it-alls) say, nothing ages a woman more than long hair.
I say mind your own business.
No, really. A woman's hair is her business and even the Bible calls it her crowning glory.
What brought all this on? Well, as I told you, Tom and I are currently watching Alias reruns until we become bleary-eyed and must stumble into bed. Anyway, two of the actresses, one over 50, the other past 40, have long hair and both look incredible. Gorgeous. And in the case of Patricia Wettig, I'd even say downright luminescent--though, ok, part of it, I noticed, came from superb lighting inside her psychiatrist office. But hey, does 50+ Patricia's long hair age her into some old hag not to be taken seriously?
Uh, I think not. And here's the other woman I spoke of, Lena Olin, who was 47 at the time of her appearance on Alias:
If ever there were perfect examples that people should just zip their lips on this subject of older women wearing long hair, well, here are those examples.
If a woman's long hair makes her feel terrific, she should wear it long. And of course, if she feels great with it short, she should wear it short.
But everybody else, I feel, should just keep their opinions to themselves on this very personal subject. And if they did this simple thing? This world would become a tad friendlier, better place with fewer hurt feelings. We feel overwhelmed to bring about huge changes, but so often it's such small things which could--and do-- make all the difference.
If only we'd remember...
********
"And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering." ... 1 Corinthians 11:15 (NLT)
"She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." ... Proverbs 31:26
*****************
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." ... copied
"The eyes of full-time critics are blind to so much beauty." ... Debra
************
If I had long, pretty hair, I'd be tempted to keep it, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd wow. Thanks to Tom for working for the young Dad so he can be with his family on Christmas. Children are only small once. That must make you proud, Debra.
I completely agree 110% :) I have seen some beautiful long hair dos on older women..and some Very older women and they looked fabulous!! Actually I am envious too. My hair is thinning so I am jealous of anyone with full hair let alone long gorgeous air!! :-) I loved Patricia Wettig in Thirty Something when it was on tv. Her hair has always been that swishy type that moved as she walked and was so shinny and beautiful! I love all the barrettes and such you can wear when you have long hair too. Oh yes..the length of your hair should be up to you... no matter the age. Isn't this a silly thing...really now, ... years and years ago who would have told your grandmother that her long hair had to be cut off?? I mean she might have worn it in a pretty bun during the day [to keep it out of her way while she worked} but at parties and such she would wear it long. And Grandpa loved it too!! Long hair was what most women seemed to be seen with only two generations or less ago.... Am I right? Sarah
ReplyDeleteI love long hair but I am drawn to short hair styles, so I keep my short. I am not one to spend alot of time on my hair anyway, plus it is so thick and heavy I get headaches when it's long. I say to each her own! :)
ReplyDeleteBonnie--yes, I'm always proud of Tom. :) Thanks for being sweet!
ReplyDeleteSarah--we're thinking alike here (again) and I liked Patricia Wettig in thirty-soemthing, too. :)
Tracy--the strange thing is that I keep my hair long because it requires no time. Weird, huh? I'm glad you say 'to each her own' because that's the point I was trying to make: we should not tell others to cut their hair just because we think they'd look better that way. :)
Thanks, Ladies! Blessings, Debra
Debra, what a timely post! At the end of September I decided I'd had my last haircut for a while.... one reason was because (yes, this is true!) I saw a photo of you and your hair was gorgeous! Another was me remembering what fun it was (years ago) having long hair and all the fun stuff you can do with it - or not do with it!! The third was thinking of my dearly departed grandmother who never - and I truly mean never - cut her hair. As a Mennonite, she believed that hair was a woman's crowning glory. She always wore her long hair in a cute little "grandma" bun when I knew her. I remember being amazed when she'd take it out of the bun and saw how long it was! My hair is THICK and wavy. Grandma's was thin and very straight. It's okay. I'm going to give "Long Hair as a 50-something" a try. Another thing that may be of some interest is watching hair tutorials and all the fun and easy stuff you can do with long hair! Can't wait till mine gets past this VERY awkward stage!
ReplyDeleteI so WISH my thinning hair was NOT thinning...then I too could have long hair again...it just looks too unkempt when so thin. When I was young I had gobs of thick hair...even could sit on it when my first child was born...but never that long again...too much work when dealing with all the rest of my life. Hubby will never forget my long auburn hair...but we have to wait for the next life until I can have that again I am afraid!! So you who have thick long hair are indeed blessed!!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby often worked for other guys too...and since you are all grown up now, and no kids, why not? Good plan!!
Elizabeth now in VA