Paul's Pearls | 12/23/2008 7:00 am

Graduate Your 'High-School Hair' (Photos)

Think your long locks make you look sexy? Think again!

Photo Essay

Think your long locks make you look sexy? Think again!

“High-school hair” — the long, one-length locks once worn as a teen — doesn’t always flatter the over-40-year-old woman. Long hair can pull the face down — accentuating wrinkled or sagged skin. When hair has movement and style, imperfections on the skin are forgiven.

Do you have “high-school hair”? You’re not alone. Even the most beautiful women in the world walk around with hair fit for a cheerleader. And, to prove our point, we rounded up five gorgeous celebrities whose “high-school hair” wasn’t doing their skin any favors.

Hoping to get a professional opinion on the matter, we asked Manhattan’s chicest, private stylist, Paul Podlucky, to pinpoint where each woman went wrong, why this style is unbecoming and ways for them to improve.

Paul explains how long hair can look amazing on a mature face — if cut intelligently. “Age does not mean you have to have a ‘soccer mom’ bob. Style and taste varies. There are some guidelines but rules are not set in stone. Structural integrity and volume are necessary to bring the eye up.”

23 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Oh, oh, this is sooo true!. I got my hair cut and styled 2 weeks ago and feel absolutely great about how it looks and how it makes me feel. I had had the long thick curtain of below the shoulder hair and it was looking very old and worse, pulling me down with it. And my forehead was just too big for the center part look. So glad I took the plunge. The bangs and layers give me a more contemporary and less dragged down look.

By Martha Cavanagh on 12/23/2008 8:22 am

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I had short hair in high school, now I have long hair. LOL

By Grande Camper on 12/23/2008 11:09 am

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I totally disagree with wow on this one. I think Faye Dunaway looks amazing. Soft and younger than her years. I think Vera Wang looks like it “fits” her. I don’t think long or short hair is about age at all. it’s about face shape and personal style. Nicolette’s always had a face that is flattered more by a shorter hairstyle. and Meryl Streep doens’t really have a long hair face either.

By Chrome Toe on 12/23/2008 2:19 pm

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Got hair cut about a year ago and the stylist curled and teased it about like it used to be when I was in Jr. high. That made me look old. I don’t think it is length but style that can really age you.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 12/23/2008 6:05 pm

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When I was in high school and had long hair, I didn’t look too good then…In fact, I would say that I became better looking once I matured, but definitely once I cut my hair short…and it was my mother who (strongly) suggested it. Now, my looks are changing again (age is a thief), and I have that unflattering long-hair effect if I try for it. What I really wish is I could go to a salon and have my face done! Then there’s Francis Mcdormand, long hair and stunning. Susan Sarandon, long hair and stunning. And Whoopi, Salma Hayek, Jacqueline Bissett, Goldie Hawn, Joan Chen, Jodie Foster (stunning always, but she does look best with medium-length hair), Oprah, Lucy Lawless, Lisa Kudrow oh, and Cher of course, Mary McDonnell, even Faye Dunaway because I can’t think of her otherwise…even Caroline Kennedy is a very nice looking woman with long hair. And how can I forget my favorite, Mary-Louise Parker! But who knows, perhaps these women would look even better with shorter hair, but some women just can’t look bad no matter the Era of their ways…

By Flo Cross on 12/23/2008 6:29 pm

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I would have to disagree that women need to cut off their hair as they get older. I think it depends on the face feature, and the overall appearance. Here is Long Vs. Short discussion http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/long-vs-short-hair.-2829/

By Yana Berlin on 12/23/2008 7:40 pm

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OMG: Donatella’s hair is too blond (& I never thought I could say that) and her face looks like it was backed into by a truck. —— I mean, what the hell? Vera Wang, always looks like shit, so who’s looking at the hair. Fay Dunaway and Merl Streep both look equally crappy.

By Irish Eyes NY on 12/23/2008 7:49 pm

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I too think that it depends on the facial features and the youthful look on the face as well, in determining whether or not to cut one’s hair.

By HA BIBI on 12/24/2008 6:34 am

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I don’t like the look of long manes on these aging babes…but as one myself, who’s hair has become thinner and finer over the years, I’m green with envy that they still have enough hair to pull it off. (Do you think any of them use extensions?)

By Lee Harrison on 12/24/2008 7:06 am

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It’s exciting every few years to “re-invent” one’s self. That is what makes someone look younger—to keep the hair and makeup stylish to the time it’s in. Many years ago, I had a wonderful German hairdresser that said, “Very long hair only looks good when spread out on a pillow.” Long hair, especially if it is split, stringy and over-processed does nothing for a woman, young or old, and for the older woman only make her look tired. As for Donatella, one more face lift, and she is going to make young children scream in fright….

By Diana T on 12/24/2008 1:18 pm

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Hi, I think you said the essentials here concerning the “re-invent” ; I know that is true for me. And I hadn’t really known Donatella before, but I think she looks a bit scary in the trying-too-hard way. Long hair does require good care in order to stay looking good, and it’s such a symbolism for femininity in our society (hence why I attempt it so often), but really beauty and sexy comes in different styles I guess because enough women do pull off the look—as long as we are accepting the naturally ageing face of women, which I think increases a woman’s appeal in most cases.

By Flo Cross on 12/24/2008 2:03 pm

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If a woman isn’t too careful, she can end up looking like Gravel Gertie. Remember her? Of course, I’ve seen women with French Twists and white hair that are drop dead gorgeous, and not a plastic surgery procedure anywhere. Most of the women in the above picture are sporting long hair with no style and split ends, and I just don’t think it looks good. Besides, it’s fun to change oneself once in a while just to have something different to look at in a mirror… :)

By Diana T on 12/24/2008 3:09 pm

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Diana, I’m ‘with’ you, again. In fact, a friend told me recently (via long-distance) that she has stopped dying her hair, put the money into the cut (I so often insist on myself) and now her kids are treating her with “a lot more respect!” HA2! So, those young adults realize their mom may not be immortal, finally. In truth, those long-haired beauties “up there” are not the ones I would point out at all; they are far from pleasant to look at, in fact; but that’s their business. I agree, perhaps on a pillow, but … when anyone’s hair is messy, and questionably dirty, it just is not pleasant, period. Everyone of them needs a great cut. I’ve always envied my Italian women friends who have thick hair and although long, have “that way” about them to bring it up into a twist or an obnoxiously lovely, what I term, “minimalist ponytail.” I ‘hate’ them! ;-))

By C jay on 12/25/2008 8:34 pm

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Carol, I love french twists on women with long hair. Or the simple “ballet” bun. My hair dresser in DC that is also my sister’s convinced me that I should always keep a touseled short haircut because it makes my eyes look larger and not droopy and also he thinks short hair makes an older woman look more energetic. I think he has a point. It’s ALL in the cut.

By Diana T on 12/25/2008 9:15 pm