taz, you are not old, and you are very beautiful too.

As I haven't done anything with my hair other than the occasional trim in the last few years, I will hold off giving any hair-related advice.

I never understood that 'older women should have short hair' thing. I love your hair and think you should keep it long. I'd grow the bangs a little and wear them to the side...very sexy, and a nice change. Here's a photo showing the kind of bangs I mean, although the rest of the hair is nothing like yours. Getting your hair layered all over makes it feel fresh, too, if your hair isn't too thin for it. But the length...I like!

I'm never going to have short hair, I'll just put it up in a little old lady bun or something when I get too old to wear it down. I still have long hair myself, and I too am no spring chicken, having a 20 year old daughter, and all...

Is that your natural color? If so, I HATE YOU in the sense that teen girls use the phrase to indicate they are affectionately jealous.

Anyway, I think a chin-length layered bob would look adorable on you. Something like this:
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And this looks like pretty much the same cut, just a tad longer and styled a little differently.
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:) *hugs jan*

Actually, I really am old (relative to mecha)... so much so that my permanent 38th birthday that my husband gave me for my 39th birthday is now only a dim, dim memory, and this year he's going to have to give me a permanent 48th birthday.

For some reason, I'm not seeing that photo, ico; instead, I'm getting an image of text that gives the root url + "/gallery". Can the rest of you see it?

It is my natural color, ferociouskitty - and you are so sweet for hating me! Kiss!! I like those photos.

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Well, it certainly is an upwards sweep.

Taz, copy+paste the url into your browser's location bar. Or hit refresh a few times. The haircut iconomy linked to is seriously Rowr!

All I'd like to say is you're absolutely lovely, and that nothing to me says "old lady" like having all your hair bobbed off, so good for you for being able to carry off such a youthful look. I'd never have guessed your age from looking at you.

I agree with the idea of growing your bangs out, side parting your hair, and a lightly layered, shoulder length cut. I also have fine hair, and for the first time in forever I've grown my bangs out in favor of that draped-over-one-eye look. I can't go too short with my hair (it makes my face look rounder) but to the shoulders or just below looks best, and I'll be 40 very soon. I really don't think the length is bad on your hair, just a few layers to give it swing. And I'm with you on the wash-and-go styling. I'm lucky if I get a chance to brush mine in the morning!
I like feriouskitty's ideas, just perhaps a bit longer for you.

Aw, thanks, Eid.

Okay, I can see it in IE, Ike... and it's gorgeous. But she has that lovely heart-shaped face...

Growing my bangs would be a non-painful way of trying something like that out, though. Just - do nothing for a while, then comb left!

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This is how my hair looks, Taz.

P.S. You have a beautiful face, and such gorgeous lips!

redvixen, I can't see your face! But I definitely see where the nick came from. :) Also, what is the tattoo?

I'm nthing the leaving it long vote. Layering it a bit with longer bangs would "update" it a bit and look good. However, you could leave it as is, taz, and continue to be your beautiful self. There's really not one thing wrong with the way it is now!

Taz - I've been trying to dye to your hair color for years! I agree that just cutting it shoulder length with a little layering would be hot, and layers are the ultimated wash-n-go.

I think the photo may be a little misleading... My hair is actually what I would call dark blonde, though it has reddish tints - and it seems to photograph more red than it is. The best thing about my hair color is that my grey hairs come out silver, and just sort of mostly blend. My dad's hair is like that, and I always hoped I would inherit that trait. It looks like I have.

Here's the photo I linked to earlier, and I think longer side bangs and maybe a layer or two around your face would totally update and freshen your hair, if you want that. Your hair the way it is now is a nice, easy to manage, classic look, too, so it could go either way. The model's face shape doesn't matter - side bangs and layers look great on everybody! Like I said, ignore the rest of her hair, since it's full and has a set and is longer. Just concentrate on the bangs and the face framing layers.

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SMILE, taz!

Totally agreeing with ferociouskitty's suggestion, but then again, I like chixors who wear their hair on the short side.

mmmmmm texturrrre

I also totally agree with ferociouskitty, with one exception: you can cut light flying-out layers into your hair without changing the overall length at the longest layer. That will give it shape and texture and interest around your face without making you have to go short.

I'm working on something like that these days with my stylist. I have hair that I think might exactly like yours - fine, light, and ramrod-straight. It doesn't style easily. SO a couple years ago we chopped it off short, stacked in back, long in front. A hip cut that I liked. But at my age, I also started to feel like I was going over to the short-hair Dark Side too early. What looks hip and young on a 26-year-old can look like Administrative Staff Liaison to the School Board on a 36-year-old, if you know what I mean. So I've been talking to her about I can have long hair that feels feminine but doesn't look flat, and what she's giving me now is the ferociouskitty cut idea while letting the long layers grow out. Give it a try! I bet it would look great on you. If you want a real boost, get some highlights put in as well -- a few sparkly light bits make you feel great.

And of course, I agree with everyone else that you're drop-dead gorgeous anyway, so this is gilding the lily.

Thanks, Taz, the tattoo is an old one of a wolf howling at the moon and a tiger head under-my own design. I need to have it re-done.

This is sooooo not the kind of girlfriend I know how to be.

*scuttles out of thread*

Sweeping Bangs get my vote! I don't think you need to go short but layers cut artfully can be a treat! Since you do have fine hair highlights and maybe a swanky coloring job might be a nice option! I think something more honeyed gingery would look great on you (but you already look grand!)

Dahling, love the color you sexy thing - and I'll vote on the sweeping bangs and some layers as well. I like what ferociouskitty is showing us too - those are great do's!

I agree with swept bangs. I also suggest layers in the bangs and in your hair. They will give your hair body and shape and you won't have to do anything but blow dry. I have this kind of cut and it works very well on my hair which, like yours, is extremely straight. Here are a few examples. They are from an Yves Saint Laurent show. I use a lightweight hair wax to keep the swept bangs to the side for the first few weeks. Afterwards it falls there on its own. Most of these look like they are long in the back, but it is easy to have your hair look like this in the front and short in back: it just needs similar layering. Good luck!

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I never understood that 'older women should have short hair' thing.

well, it makes sense at, like, 65. or earlier if the hair itself is damaged by coloring and sun and seawater -- not your situation, I guess, taz

ferociouskitty's advice is gold. a layered bob is the way to go, it'll be fresher but you'll still have volume and lotsa hair, so your husband won't be too mad (also, he needs to learn that girls need to experiment with their hair a little, theure entitled to -- even if some boys don't like new things)

if you don't want to cut too much, redvixen's cut (you look great, by the way, redvixen) is perfect

and seriously, don't fish for compliments, taz, because you look _really_ good already. a cool colorist and stylist will do wonders. pamper yourself a bit and you'll feel younger, sexier, healthier, in a better mood. hair is key to all that, really.

and by the way, it's OK to be gray

Thank you, all my wonderful girlfriends!!! (You guys are my wonderful girlfriends, too - and totally get invited to the next slumber party!) And it looks like we have a sort of consensus here!

I might do this next month, or whenever my bangs ("fringe", Brits!) grow out a bit... I have to see how much of a shock the price will be. :)

I don't actually think all women over age X should have shorter hair... It's just that I know in my case that I have several facial characteristics that emphasize a sort of downward flow, and I'm curious if a clever haircut can offset this a bit.

I'll post pix when I take the plunge!

Actually... In case anyone checks in here... What do we pay for a good haircut these days?

No idea - I gave up paying for haircuts when I got to less than 50% coverage and moved to the home-built buzz-cut.

If you are at all interested in the male perspective, there is nothing hotter than short hair on a woman, but I'm not sure it would suit you that much. I n^th the growing the front bits out (that's bangs, right?) and going for a more informal look. But you don't need to do anything, to be honest - you look awesome and not a day over 50 ;-)

*gets out small, razor-sharp knives, goes to work on dg*

;)

I'll post pix when I take the plunge!

Do this lowly internet boy a favor and SMILE when you do! I'll be printing up "we love taz" pennants to hand out to your other fan club members in anticipation.

Heh. About the smiling issue... I did take one smiling (sorta), but I was too embarrassed about all the water(?) spots on my mirror (that I didn't notice before the photos) to use it... Embarrassed enough to clean the mirror, but not embarrassed enough to go back and shoot more photos.

I go to a salon that charges about $25.00 a cut and blowdry, more if you color. My sister-in-law, who is a amazing stylist, charges $60.00 per cut. When she used to color my hair, even with a family discount, it would cost me $120.00! (Now I use Revlon Colorsilk-$5.99). My Mom used to go to a salon that would only charge $10.00 for a cut and an additional $18.00 for a color, but you took your chances as they mostly hire fresh-out-of cosmetic-school graduates.
And yeah, Taz, smiling does make a difference. Not an ear-to-ear grin, but a Mona Lisa smile will lift the corners of your mouth. Not to mention soft smiles are captivating and make people want to know what you're up to.
And thank you for the compliment, Matteo!

I pay $45. I look forward to seeing your new cut!