In a recent post, I wrote about breaking my glasses and thinking it might be a good opportunity to change my hair, but alas, I changed my mind instead and opted for a quick trim. This is what I call retirement hair.
Some people don’t like gray hair and really don’t like long gray hair. One of my otherwise favorite family members said older women like us shouldn’t have long hair period. Nothing to do there but call bullshit.
I’m not against dying your hair if that makes you happy, but it’s more money and more time in the salon. I’m just not up for it. I had short hair for years, and if you check out my Pinterest boards, you’ll see I do love a good pixie. But again, that’s more time and money in the salon.
I wouldn’t mind growing my hair even longer, but my hair is fine, and it doesn’t hold up well beyond this length. I get a haircut about every three months. This is basically a blunt cut with a couple of subtle layers in the front. Simple.
The stylist blow dried it today, so it’s all smooth, but I have a little wave and let my hair dry naturally mostly to save on wear and tear. No flat irons or curling irons, either. With mid-length hair, I can pull it up in my messy man bun or wear a hat, and it still looks stylish. I shampoo and condition a couple of times a week. No products (another money saver).
Now that I’m keeping my low-maintenance retirement hair, I will turn my focus to glasses. I previously speculated I might go crazy and get something totally funky. Well, it was a thought, wasn’t it? I’ve tried on some frames, but I’m pretty sure I’ve settled into the kind of person who wears plain black glasses.
Sadly, I am an eyewear snob, in the past preferring high-end designer frames, so we’ll see how I handle this challenge on a retirement budget. My sunglasses are Ray-Ban Wayfarer, which I see as having a minimalist retro vibe without being too snotty. Maybe something like that?
I have long grey hair, too (about 1/2 way down my back now), and have heard that comment about older women and long hair. My reasons for letting it grow are the same as yours. Sitting in a salon is such a waste of time for me when there are mountains to hike! I really wanted to be able to braid my hair, but I can’t seem to reach behind me as well as I used to.
I know what you mean about braids. We should get personal assistants to take care of these needs. Thanks for visiting, Sheila!
I’m thinking you should do the funky frames with color. They would look great with your hair style. I so admire all of my artistic friends with beautiful gray hair and colorful frames. Every single one of them pulls off the creative hip look. Hope you’ll give them a try. Post some photos of your journey – fashion model style. 🙂 Good luck!
OK, Pam, I will check them out! For you.
When I was 10 years old I was sitting sideways in a chair with my legs slung over the arm of the chair, as I loved to do, and I had the distinct thought that, well, I wouldn’t be able to sit like this once I was a grown up lady. And I mourned it in advance.
Of course I do sit like that all the time, and any other way I want to. (And I’m pleased to be flexible enough at 65.) So always remembering that lesson, and having once been bald as an egg from cancer, I currently have short hair on one side and an emo swoop on the other that’s at least 4 inches longer. Gray of course. And blue glasses. It doesn’t look as wild as it sounds, either. And why would I care if it did.
Hi Maru — Wow, it sounds pretty cool to me! I like the idea of blue or purple glasses — food for thought.
I have been thinking about going gray for the longest time. Gray that is, with a streak of blue or whatever. My daughter keeps talking me out of it. If I do I am belssed to be truly white with no yellow in it. I do keep my hair very short, and require a monthly cut (but If found someone cheap who understands exactly what I want) and color by me. The advantage is tht I literally get out of bed and fluff my hair, never worry about bed head and can be ready after my shower in like four minutes. I just got my eyes checked. Am seriously looking at online glasses since mine will cost almost 700 a pair. /what can I say, blind as a bat.
It sounds like you have a perfect haircut — low maintenance is the key. You’ll know if and when you are ready to go gray. I don’t have my new glasses yet, but I did find some fab frames at a great price. The shop is in kind of a funky urban part of town — the owner started out as a wholesale optical laboratory and expanded into a retail shop. He buys closeouts and overruns. $336 for progressives! I thought that was an excellent price. We’ll see how they turn out!