January 8, 2013

The argument for letting your hair grow long and white as you age and not getting any facial surgery or Botox.

From 83-year-old "supermodel" Daphne Selfe. (Great name, by the way.)
Selfe, who went gray in her 40s, gave up coloring her hair and decided to let it grow.

“My hair is long now because it’s cheaper. I don’t have to do anything but put it in a topknot or a French pleat,” she said. “It avoids that old lady permed look, lengthens the neck and lifts the face.”

22 comments:

Robert Zaleski said...

I desperately beg my wife, and compliment her on her hair all the time because I'd rather not be 60 married to a woman with short hair ;-)

30 years to go and we'll see how it goes.

Brian Brown said...

I don't understand this trend among women who, in their late
30's or 40's, get the "cat face" look via plastic surgery.

See Courtney Cox, for example.

Frightening.

Irene said...

And then there's Carmen Dell'Orefice.

Ann Althouse said...

"I don't understand this trend among women who, in their late 30's or 40's, get the "cat face" look via plastic surgery."

They are more afraid of looking old than of looking weird.

Synova said...

She's a beautiful lady and has always been a beautiful lady.

Part of the "cut and permed" old lady look is because oftentimes the hair thins and gets wispy... if she had thin wispy hair in that picture she'd look like a witch with a nice long neck.

And some of us, when we put our hair up in a bun, look like we've got a potato on our shoulders and no neck at all.

I agree with the botox statement, though. Maybe a light touch or a modest facelift, but some of these aging people look perpetually surprised (pelosi) or more or less like frankenstein's monster (a bunch of different movie stars).

(We won't mention duck-lipped 20 year olds.)

Strelnikov said...

Fabulous. I have long planned to let it grow, both hair and beard, when I am no longer professionally active. Also, I'll be getting the earring and gold tooth I've long desired. (One of my two front teeth is a cap and has been since I was 6. Until 20 I had a silver tooth there, so why not.)

Strelnikov said...

Except for the color, I'll actually begin to resemble my avatar.

n.n said...

Very impressive. The greatest challenge of life is accepting evolution with grace and dignity.

Anonymous said...

There's one hair-related thing that women do not stop doing as they get older, as a quick glance at the "mature" category on You Porn will show.
God damn it.

Peter

Anonymous said...

She is beautiful, especially without the fish lip and stretched eye lids.

I've been wondering why with the ton loads of money Hollywood stars spent on their face jobs, they look so awful, so obviously botoxed, tooth-capped, fish-lipped, and balloon chested.

Ctmom4 said...

Long hair doesn't " lift the face" though. Just the opposite. That is why most of us give in and cut it.

Ctmom4 said...

I am always bemused by the bad celebrity plastic surgery. They have so much money - you would think they would be able to find good surgeons.

Sydney said...

She's right about botox and facial surgery. They are a waste of time and leave the face looking worse. Some women look better in short hair, though. She's fortunate she can just let hers go long and not worry about it.

Anonymous said...

Lovely and graceful. Good for her for not succumbing to youth enhancing surgery or injections.

As I am almost 61, I am rethinking the dark color of my hair, may have to go a shade lighter as the wrinkles deepen. I've seen very elderly ladies with dyed black hair and I'm no going there, too harsh. Also I fear letting my hair grow too long and resembling the wicked witch of the west.

As far as products, I've tried some of the night serums, bah, they are expensive and seem to do nothing but dry out my skin, a good moisturizer daily seems to keep my face from feeling like I have been in the desert.

I have had to completely revamp my makeup products, absolutely no powder of any sort (heads up younger ladies here) cream blush, tinted moisturizer only, cream concealer as usual. Waterproof mascara because my eyes have become sensitive to sunlight and water.

Tip for older gents, trim those nose hairs.

Anonymous said...

Whoops, didn't mean for that comment to end up being a mini course in makeup for the aged woman.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
grackle said...

Had a career in which I had to wear suit and tie, short hair and no facial hair. But I always liked beards and long hair. Got a chance to retire early and immediately grew the hair and beard. I turned gray in my 30's. I decided early on – no dye jobs, no mousse, no sprays and no blow-drying. I have it cut well, takes probably all of ten minutes, blunt cut with NO "layering" or "thinning." Shampoo, conditioner, a bit of hair dressing(Albert VO) worked in while the hair is wet, 2 or 3 comb-outs as it air-dries and I'm set.

Here's the thing – when I looked "corporate," there was a different attitude from folks. As soon as I grew the hair and beard everyone became friendlier. Is it my own attitude since my appearance changed that is eliciting a friendlier response? Or is it because I have a less intimidating appearance? Or both? Or neither? No matter, the change is definitely there and the actual cause is unimportant. It's a friendlier world and I like it.

I think people are better off in their looks without plastic surgery – unless a deformity is involved. Afterwards they still look old and look weird on top of that. I will live with my wrinkles.

edutcher said...

You either have the bones or you don't.

She has them.

Amartel said...

The argument appears to presume you are gorgeous to begin with.

JAL said...

If I had hair like hers I'd let mine grow too.

Alas, not in my genes.

She is quite lovely at 83.

Unknown said...

You have to conclude that people ARE getting the results they want with plastic surgery. A debauched 35 year old seems to be the current in look.

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