Have you noticed that women of a certain age all seem to cut their hair short at some point? Is it because they want to or because it’s what’s expected of them?

Recommended Video From a classic bob to a pixie cut, shorter hairstyles are flattering on mature women but it shouldn’t conclude as the be-all and end-all.

We love to see variety in women from their 40s, 50s and up, so here’s a look at why the hair chop tends to appear at a certain age, plus some alternative (long hair) options.

Advertisement

Why Do Older Women Cut Their Hair Short?

As we age, there are many ways our hair ages as well. And so, older women turn to the scissors to snip their hair short and sport a hairstyle that is much easier to combat the effects of aging and simpler to style in the mornings. Here are some ways our hair changes with the years.

It loses pigment. One of the clearest signs of aging is that our hair changes color, most commonly turning gray or white. We lose melanin (what gives our skin and hair its color) pretty quickly as we age and can begin graying by our 30s.

It changes texture. After years of exposure to environmental damage and hair products, cuticle cells become weakened meaning the hair produced in our later years now appears rougher and more prone to damage.

Advertisement It thins. When pigment is lost, hair becomes finer. And as hair regrowth slows as we age, women’s hair can quickly go from full and thick to thin and brittle.

Instagram / @rocylook

Do I Need to Cut My Hair Too?

While there may indeed be reasons to go short, society has become accustomed to expecting a more polished, mature hairstyle on women from a certain age on. From it be a new mom or a woman just turned the 5-0, women drastically cut off their locks thinking that it is what they “are supposed to do” at some serious milestone in their lives. If you want short hair and it’s easiest for you, go for it! But there are plenty of women who keep their long hair well into their 50s, 60s and beyond.