Let’s face it, society has some insane rules about what women should look like. Whether it’s what they should wear or how they should look postpartum, the society we live in today continues to pressure women into fitting into certain molds and standards. One of those standards, for example, is that older women should have shorter hair – anywhere between a bob and a pixie cut. Though it might work for some, like the always-vibrant Jamie Lee Curtis or Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, we’re still racking our brains around why this got started in the first place.
When we look at many of our favorite celebs over 50, it turns out, many of them have ditched that standard and kept their long luscious hair. In 2022, Helen Mirren opened up about not adhering to the short hair rule. “You’re not supposed to have longer hair after a certain age,” the actress said in an interview on Lorraine, per Daily Mail. “But during Covid, I started growing my hair and I hadn’t actually had long hair since I was in my 20s. And it sort of grew and grew and grew, and I couldn’t be bothered to cut it, basically. I thought, do you know what, it’s pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with it for a little while. It will come off eventually.”
Mirren added, “But I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s quite radical.” Radical indeed, you’re rocking it!
Check out the list below of stars, like Mirren, who said “no, thank you” to short hair after 50.
Andie Macdowell
Andie Macdowell has been showing off her stunning, long gray hair for several years and looks totally incredible.
She talked about the decision to Flow Space in Feb. 2024 saying, “It made me so much more powerful and so much more comfortable. It made me feel me… I’m not trying to be something that I’m not.”
Jennifer Garner
Mom-of-three Jennifer Garner pulls off long hair, a bob, and everything in between. She credits her thick hair to an affordable leave-in treatment that prevents hair loss.
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz always wows us with her red carpet appearances and we couldn’t imagine her without her flowing, ombre locks.
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum has had her memorable blonde hair since her early days as a Victoria Secret model and is still holding on to it decades later.
Carmen Electra
Every time Carmen Electra steps out on the red carpet we are blown away and while her daring fashion turns heads, her always stunning hair might have something to do with it too!
Angela Bassett
From her natural curls to loose waves, Angela Bassett is constantly serving up #hairgoals.
Jennifer Lopez
An incredible acting career, an iconic singing career, a loving marriage, and some of the best, most voluminous hair in the game: Jennifer Lopez can really do it all.
Iman
68-year-old super model Iman’s captivating look just wouldn’t be the same without her long hair.
Cher
Cher’s long hair has been a quintessential part of her iconic look for decades and at 77 years old her long locks are as enviable as ever.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Anyone who has ever watched an episode of Sex and the City or And Just Like That… has longed for hair like Carrie Bradshaw so we’re willing to bet SJP won’t be cropping her hair off any time soon!
Michelle Pfeiffer
We love Michelle Pfeiffer’s committment to her effortless blonde waves. She keeps it simple and classy with a hairstyle that is both modern and timeless.
Stacy London
Stacy London’s recognizable gray streak and long, sleek hair is so important to her that she inisted that Pantene were not allowed to dye it when she started working with the brand.
The former What Not To Wear host told Baltimore Sun in 2015 that the streak appeared after a childood illness when she was 11 or 12. “Nobody else in my family has it. I’m going to keep it,” she said.
Cindy Crawford
At 57 years old, Crawford is looking as youthful as ever with her luscious brunette hair. She reportedly uses four simple products to achieve her signature ’90s blowout.
Courteney Cox
Cox’s iconic bob during her early days playing Monica in Friends will always be a major source of hair inspiration for anyone trying to channel a 90s vibe with their hair but it didn’t take long for Cox to grow out her hair.
Now, she’s been sporting the same long, dark hair for decades and we’re here for it!
Paulina Porizkova
Porizkova is often vocal about the pressures women face to retain youth in their later years so it’s refreshing to see her embracing her grays as they grow throughout her long hair.
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren is looking majestic with her long almost platinum-blonde long hair recently.
Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley, who also embraced her long blonde locks, recently posted about some gray roots kicking in. “The second you see gray hair it raises the question, just like when you cut bangs ..to keep or not to keep? Thank goodness both are just a personal preference or a fun change of pace,” she wrote on Instagram.
Demi Moore
Even though Demi Moore’s ultra-short bob in Ghost will forever be in our short-hair inspiration boards, she’s also the queen of embracing her long dark locks as well.
Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore proves long red hair has no expiration date as she continues to wow us in every red carpet appearance.
Rita Wilson
Rita Wilson has always embraced her long dirty blonde, almost golden hair and we just love to see it!
Meryl Streep
Three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep always looks so chic when she rocks her long blonde hair.
Oprah Winfrey
Though she often wears her hair in an updo on most public appearances, Oprah Winfrey’s hair is shoulder-length, luscious and so gorgeous.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
In addition to her showstopping red carpet style, Catherine Zeta-Jones always wows with her perfectly coiffed brunette hair.
Jennifer Aniston
Ever since “The Rachel” haircut back in the ’90s, Jennifer Aniston’s sunkissed dirty blonde hair has been one to watch and that continues to this day.
Brooke Shields
Much like her signature thick eyebrows, Brooke Shields’ long and shiny hair is stunning enough to make anyone at least a little jealous.
Sandra Bullock
Though she may be retiring from acting, Sandra Bullock is not ready to give up her signature long locks.
Salma Hayek
Red carpet veteran Salma Hayek loves to experiment with her mid-length hair, from waves to slicked-back ponytails.
Julia Roberts
From Pretty Woman to Erin Brokovich, Julia Roberts’ gorgeous copper (and sometimes blonde) hair has always been the talk of the town.
Sanaa Lathan
Talk about volume! On the Come Up director Sanaa Lathan totally embraces her long black curls and we can see why!
Nicole Kidman
Though she might be quite a chameleon in different roles onscreen, Nicole Kidman has stayed true to her long natural locks over the years, only changing it from red to blonde every once in a while.
Naomi Campbell
Supermodel Naomi Campbell is all about her signature extremely long and extremely straight hair and it’s absolutely iconic.
Padma Lakshmi
Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is absolutely gorgeous, and her long voluminous hair is no different!
Lucy Liu
Turns out Lucy Liu and her Shazam! Fury of the Gods costar Helen Mirren have more in common than we thought: they also totally embrace their long hair.
Michelle Yeoh
Oscar nominee this year Michelle Yeoh is also a fan of letting her hair ultra-long!
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