Sofia Vergara, Christie Brinkley, Demi Moore, Andie MacDowell, and Julianne Moore are embracing their signature long locks as they age, breaking the stereotype that women over 40 should opt for shorter styles.
In a culture that often values youth and conformity, it's refreshing to see a growing number of celebrities embracing their natural aging process and challenging societal norms. One way they're doing this is by keeping their long hair, defying the long-held belief that older women should have shorter styles.
Sofia Vergara, the 52-year-old Colombian-American actress, admits that she's always been tempted to cut her hair short, but she ultimately decides against it. "I always say, ‘Oh, I’m going to cut my hair.’ But then I end up not cutting it," she told People. "In Latin America, I mean they used to tell you that once you hit 40, you’re not supposed to have this crazy long hair. So I’m always thinking like, ‘Is it time? Is it time to cut it?’ I don’t know, I don’t want to feel like old-fashioned [with] short hair."
Christie Brinkley is another celebrity who has kept her signature blonde hair long. At 70, she confidently sports her natural tresses and has no plans to cut them. In a 2023 Instagram post, she addressed the question of "to gray or not to gray," explaining that her hairstylist, Rita Hazan, has helped her navigate her decision. "Women are really, really interested in gray hair," she said. "I wasn’t really sure when I noticed that I had it—it’s really cool on some people to grow it out. Mine isn’t that kind of cool gray hair yet. Maybe someday."
In an interview with People in 2022, Demi Moore shared her defiance against the "rule" that older women should have short hair. "I remember hearing someone say that when women get older, they shouldn't have long hair. And something about that stuck with me," she says. "Like who says? It made me feel like, well, if it can grow, and it's not unhealthy, then why shouldn't we? I'm not comfortable with rules that don't seem to have any real meaning or justification."
Andie MacDowell, 66, has embraced her signature long curly hair with confidence. She recently made the decision to let her gray hair grow out and has received positive feedback. "I knew instinctually that this was something that I wanted to do. I'm just so thankful that L'Oréal Paris supported me and that everybody's been so kind to me and positive. The response has been really nice," MacDowell told People. "I'm just appreciative that people let me be the individual that I am without question. I think people also agree that silver hair probably suits me."
Julianne Moore, 63, has been known for her long red hair for decades. Although she didn't always love its unique hue, she has come to embrace it. "My red hair made me feel like an outsider growing up," Moore told The Times. "Redheads are 2% of the global population. Nobody wants to feel like they’re in the minority, particularly as a young child. . . . Now I feel very identified with my hair and freckles, but there’s still a part of me that would rather be a tanned blonde."
These female celebrities are sending a powerful message that aging is not synonymous with cutting one's hair short. By embracing their long locks, they challenge stereotypes and show that women can be beautiful and confident at any age, regardless of hair length.
