Over 40 Hair: Oh, the Conundrums!

I have hair issues, people. I think this is because I was spoiled by good, thick hair when I was younger — hair that I could do anything with — but now it will not cooperate with me at all. (Oh, woe is me, right? Trust me, I’m fully aware that this is a petty problem, but let’s continue anyhow, shall we …)

So, for a long time, wearing a short pixie cut worked for me. It was super quick, but it still looked like I had a “style.” Here is a picture circa 2009, when my nephew Benjamin was born. Okay, so this isn’t the best photo of this haircut since it doesn’t look like I had bothered to to even shower that day! But you can see that it’s very short — especially the front, around the forehead.

It is that shortness in the front that made growing it out very slow (read “painful.”) It’s been years now and that front part has still not yet hit my chin in length. Here is a “grow out” stage photograph with my hair in a bazillion different lengths, circa 2010. (Also, because I considered my hair a lost cause at this point, I didn’t bother to get it coloured or highlighted so it’s a bazillion different colours too!)

However, despite the annoyance of looking at my hair everyday, I still kept growing it out because I somehow imagined it would make me look younger to have long hair. Like Jennifer Aniston. You know, because she and I have just soooo much in common. Holy delusional.

Note her gorgeous chiseled facial features. Me, not so much. I have a very round face. Even when I was much thinner, I had chubby cheeks!

Here is what I looked like when the lengths started to get even, circa 2011. (My hair is not this straight, the hair dresser styled it for me and of course, I was never able to replicate it. Don’t you hate that?)

I didn’t mind it this length, actually. But I still persisted. The thought of a ponytail was so enticing … I just could not get past that ponytail dream! Even if I could not have Jennifer’s look, perhaps, thought my-still-delusional-self, I could do more of a long, wavy Debra Messing look? Here is what I look like with Debra’s hair planted on top of my head:

Thinking that I could get my hair this long, this thick, and this wavy took the delusional cake. My over-40 hair is sooo thin and wispy (as you can see in the “before” image or in this post) and I am starting to give up hope that it is even capable of growing past my shoulders.

So here are my hair conundrums for your commentary:

• Do you think certain hairstyles are a no-no after a certain age? (Besides celebs, of course. They are exempt from everything. Including pregnancy stretch marks it would seem.)
• If I give up my quest for long hair, how much will I regret the versatility and sheer practicality of getting that elusive ponytail?
• Has your hair changed as you’ve gotten older? And if yes, did you change your style to accommodate it?
• How frequently do you go to a hair salon? (I am not good with upkeep commitments, I’m afraid. But hair can really make a difference in how I feel so I’m thinking I need to put more effort in on this front.)