Staying Fit
(Left to right) Brooke Shields, Nicole Kidman and Angela Bassett
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Take a look around. More women than ever are growing, flaunting or faking long hair for its sexy vibe and edgy attitude. You might say long hair is the black leather jacket of beauty for grown-ups. Even my sleek, beauty-editor bob is now freed from flat irons and flowing over my shoulders in Sarah Jessica Parker-like waves. However, having long hair at 50, 60 or 70-plus is not the same as long hair at 25. I asked New York City celebrity hair stylist Gad Cohen, whose clients includes long-hair devotees Jane Seymour, Jaclyn Smith and Susan Sarandon, for inside tips to getting and keeping a mane attraction.
(Left to right) Brooke Shields, Angela Bassett and Jennifer Lopez
Lionel Hahn/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Toni Anne Barson/WireImage
1. Update to a healthy length
Not every woman can have the extreme Rapunzel-like locks of Demi Moore, Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell … not without some artificial help. “I love that mature women are breaking all the old age-appropriate hair rules, but the truth is much of the extremely long hair we see on celebs today is due at least partially to extensions, pieces and even wigs,” says Cohen. “Adding some extra hair at least for public appearances has become as normal as wearing Spanx.” He cautions women over 50 not in the spotlight to be wary of making leave-in extensions a habit. “The constant traction and weight can lead to hair loss and sparse spots, especially on hair that’s already thinner, drier, more fragile or damaged,” he says.
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What does Cohen suggest? “Keep your hair at a realistic-for-you ‘long’ length — which may be shoulder length — or if hair is thick and healthy an inch or two below that. That is long enough to feel long and practical enough to pull back … and it works for fine, thin hair too.” Remember: Your hair’s main job is to frame your face, not your body.
(Left to right) Julia Roberts, Kelly Reilly and Jane Seymour
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
2. Cut bangs for a trendy tweak
“Any kind of fringe — full, feathery, side-swept or parted in the middle — can give long hair more of a look,” says Cohen, who first added bangs to Seymour’s signature long locks back in 2012. He adds, “Bangs instantly get you out of the old curling, teasing, overdone routine and into a more modern style. They make your eyes pop and provide coverage at the forehead, making Botox unnecessary.” I’m going to add here that bangs also divert attention away from deep expression lines around the mouth and chin area. Choose a long fringe for a chic statement, an asymmetrical side-swept fringe for a versatile option that blends well with long layers around the face or extra long curtain bangs parted in the middle for a trendy, very low-maintenance option.
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