Your Stylist: Are you ever ‘too old’ to be rocking long hair?
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Resident Image stylist and market editor Melissa Magsaysay soothes your sartorial woes in the weekly Your Stylist blog column
Question: What hairstyles are good for long hair for this season? When is it too old to be rocking the long-hair look? I’ll be 37. Thanks! JM, San Jose
Ok, first of all, I don’t believe any age is too old to be rocking long hair, and if there were such an age, it certainly would not be as young as 37!
Although a lot of older ladies I see tend to have shoulder-length hair or shorter, it is by no means a faux pas to keep your hair long as you age. Take a look at women like Anjelica Huston (age 59) and Demi Moore (age 47) and Sarah Jessica Parker (age 45), who have gorgeous long locks that only add to their elegance. Also Jennifer Aniston (though a bit younger at 41) has long blond hair. As you may recall, her hair in a shorter incarnation was once dubbed the “Rachel” (Season 1 of ‘Friends’), a look that launched a thousand shag cuts through the 1990s. She is still pretty famous for having amazing hair, which she currently wears straight, blown out and of course, very, very shiny.
As far as some fun styles you should try this fall, there are a couple that both celebrities and fashion-savvy girls have been wearing from the red carpet to the street. Actress Kate Mara recently sported a fishtail braid that fell to one side of her head, giving her an asymmetrical hairstyle that looked easy and chic. She wore it with a cocktail dress to add some edge to her pink, feminine frock. But this style is a cute way to keep hair out of your face on more casual days.
Some women also have tried the Holly Golightly look, piling the hair on top of the head for a pulled-back, retro ‘do. Both Salma Hayek and Molly Sims recently wore their hair in a coiled bun perched high atop their heads. The look really shows off a beautiful face and high cheekbones.
Ultimately, you have to wear your hair in a way that flatters your features and face shape. Trendy styles are great to try, especially for a fun night out or for an upcoming holiday party. But go with what makes you feel good and compliments your overall look.
-- Melissa Magsaysay
Send your style queries to melissa.magsaysay@latimes.com
Photos, from top: Demi Moore, left (credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press) Anjelica Huston (Matt Sayles, Associated Press) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images). Kate Mara (Charley Gallay / Getty Images). Salma Hayek, bottom left (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images) and Molly Sims (Kevin Winter / Getty Images).