Rapunzel, is that you?
Perusing the latest red carpet snaps featuring the world’s most recognisable women, you might think so. At first glance, long, flowing locks seem like the latest beauty status symbol, displaying the ability to have a stylist on call and the budget to imperceptibly augment natural hair with flowing extensions.
But there’s something interesting that’s happened over the past few years. It’s not just breakout 20-year-old pop stars flicking waist-length locks over their shoulders.
It’s now those well into their fifth, sixth and seventh decades and beyond confidently wearing theirs in tumbling lengths. Is there pressure in these roles to appear youthful? Undoubtedly. But many of these women have been outspoken about simply going their own way.
Demi Moore, 63, has made her long, luscious hair a signature and has just been announced as the newest global ambassador for high-end haircare brand Kérastase.
At 58, Nicole Kidman, too, is known for her beautiful strawberry-blonde lengths, and Helen Mirren, 80, has experimented with flowing styles in recent years. Mirren confirmed her long locks were the result of doing exactly as she pleases. Expectations be damned. “You’re not supposed to have longer hair after a certain age,” she said in an interview, revealing she had let her hair grow during COVID-19 lockdowns. “It sort of grew and grew and grew, and I couldn’t be bothered to cut it, basically.”
She simply enjoyed the longer length. “I thought, do you know what, it’s pretty cool … it’s quite radical.”
The list of those embracing long hair goes on and on. Think Jennifer Lopez, Monica Bellucci, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Andie MacDowell, even Catherine, Princess of Wales and Michelle Obama.
While it’s true these examples likely have access to the best care, and yes, extensions (although it’s very hard to tell who’s wearing them), it is fabulous to see absurd social expectations being reset, and the visibility of these women certainly helps.
Support your locks and increase density: Joico Scalp Vitality Exfoliating Foaming Scrub; Actyva P Factor Intensive Lotion Hair Loss Prevention; Kérastase Genesis Anti Hair-Fall Fortifying Serum; Briogeo Destined For Density MegaStrength+ Caffeine + Biotin Peptide Density Serum.
To hell with the ‘rules’
“There was once an unspoken belief that women should cut their hair shorter after reaching a certain age,” confirms stylist Anthony Bayer, who calls the perception “outdated and not supported by modern hair or aesthetic principles”.
The owner of Anthony Bayer Hair and a Joico Guest Artist, he says while natural hair changes and scalp health during the aging process can play a part in how someone wears their hair, it doesn’t always have to result in a
close crop or short bob.
“Shorter hair does not universally suit all face shapes or hair textures and, in some cases, can create a more aged appearance,” he says.
“[We often hear] that as women get older, they shouldn’t have long hair,” Demi Moore recently said in an interview, vociferously disagreeing with that ‘certain age’ belief that keeps popping up. “I did notice, particularly women
who were going through menopause, that they all were kind of cutting their hair in a very almost masculine way, just desexualising themselves.” Moore says she never bought into this expectation, however she failed to
address that many women don’t have a choice but to cut as hair health evolves.
Bayer says if that is the case, the Hollywood trickery used in high-profile appearances can be applied for the rest of us. “Many modern celebrities use hair extensions, volumising techniques, and textured styling to enhance
fullness and movement. These elements increase the perception of hair density and softness.”
Maintaining hair health
These are short-term solutions, but if we want to keep our hair looking healthy and full so we can choose to wear it long, what can be done?
What happens to hair as we age?
“Hair thinning is common with aging,” says Bayer. “This occurs due to changes in the hair growth cycle, including a shortened anagen (growth) phase and a reduced hair follicle size, which can result in finer, less dense hair.” He says the extent of hair loss varies between individuals and is influenced by genetics, hormones, and overall health.
Hair texture also changes as melanin production decreases and the hair begins to grey.
“This is when the hair fibre can also become more coarse, dry, and brittle due to changes in the cuticle structure and reduced natural oil distribution,” says Bayer.
The upside is that we know far more about these natural challenges and haircare is evolving to help address them, but at-home habits are crucial, too.
Avoid tying up wet hair, use heat-protective products when styling and try using silk pillowcases and microfibre towels to prevent damage.
The condition of strands can be influenced by multiple factors, with Bayer listing the regular use of treatments, hydrating shampoos and conditioners, as well as internal factors such as nutrition, vitamin and mineral intake, wellbeing, and adequate water consumption as pieces of the puzzle.
“Proper nutrition supports the hair growth cycle, while topical hydration helps maintain moisture balance and cuticle integrity, contributing to stronger, healthier-looking hair.”
Bayer likes the Actyva P Factor range by Italian haircare brand Kemon, which is designed to help reduce hair loss and support hair density. “It works by strengthening the hair fibre and supporting the scalp environment, which can help minimise excessive shedding.”
Scalp health is another focus area for trichologists and haircare brands.
Our scalp is the factory that grows our strands, so giving it care and nutrition makes sense, but Bayer says it’s something that is commonly overlooked until later in life. “Factors such as sun exposure, product use, stress, and everyday hygiene all affect scalp health over time,” he says.
For support for the area, Bayer recommends Joico’s Scalp Vitality range by Joico. “It helps preserve the delicate balance of the scalp barrier, promoting optimal scalp function and healthier hair growth.”
Hair extensions can help with length and volume
Getting extensions might sometimes feel like a Hollywood thing to do, but in reality, many clients are getting the temporary and semi-permanent additions to simply camouflage common hair challenges like patchy hair loss or thinning.
And if you just want Disney princess hair? That’s wonderful, too, says Sandi Larkin, owner of The Following hair salon in Auckland.
“Extensions aren’t about chasing youth,” explains the stylist, who is also the national educator for Great Lengths hair extensions. “They can be about restoring density, confidence and softness when hair has naturally changed.”
Great Lengths are keratin bond extensions that delicately attach to your own hair near the root in small sections. Colour matched perfectly, they last anywhere from 3-6 months and can be washed and styled almost as usual.
Larkin recalls the dramatic emotional shift she sometimes sees in clients, particularly addressing issues brought about by menopause, stress, post-illness recovery, or hormonal changes.
“For many women, thinning hair feels deeply personal,” saying hair loss leaves some women feeling ‘invisible’, almost overnight. Tears in the chair are not unheard of, not because the end result is dramatic, but because it looks natural.
“I’ve seen women walk in feeling flat and leave standing taller; not just because their hair is fuller, but because it feels like them again.”
While they need to be applied and cared for correctly, most women can enjoy the results.
“Age is never the deciding factor; hair health is,” Larkin says of suitability, revealing some of her most transformative extension clients are women in their 40s, 50s and 60s.
However, scalp health is an immediate consideration.
“If someone has active shedding, inflammation, or untreated traction damage, we pause,” she says, pointing out extensions should never be used to hide a problem that needs medical or trichology support. Finding an experienced provider is often crucial.
“Older hair can be more fragile at the root, so attachment size and placement is critical. It’s not about maximum volume; it’s about intelligent distribution.”
Larkin says that for finer hair she uses smaller, lighter bonds, reduces the overall weight and spaces them strategically to avoid tension. For a special event or occasion fullness, Larkin says there are other options if you don’t want to commit to the cost or salon visits required.
“For women who don’t want ongoing maintenance, high-quality clip-in volumisers or halo pieces can be fantastic,” she says. These are single hair pieces you can apply at home with natural hair pulled over top to blend seamlessly.
“The key is colour matching and correct placement so they don’t look bulky,” says Larkin.
Another option is tape hair extensions, attached in strips. Larkin says they can last up to six weeks without needing to be moved up.
“You can also keep them after use to use at another time or have them re-applied,” she says.
