How One Woman Maintains Long, Beautiful Hair at 57 After Swearing Off Short Cuts in Her 30s
Maintaining long hair over 50 might feel impossible at times, but it really doesn’t have to be. Lorraine C. Ladish proves that with her lengthy and gorgeous strands 57. We asked the founder of VivaFifty!, a website dedicated to providing helpful info for living our best lives as we age, to share a few of her favorite tips and products that she uses to keep those locks healthy and strong.
Ladish swore off shorter hairstyles in her early 30s and never looked back. “When I was younger, I cut my hair short a few times, only to regret it,” she explains on her website. “I know this is not true for everybody, but for me, it was a mistake. The last time I cut it [short] I was 31, after a bad breakup. It was a bob, and oh boy, did I dislike it.”
As you can see below, her long hair is still going strong 26 years later!
She tells Woman’s World that instead of any drastic chopping, she simply gets a trim every two to three months — and only takes off “one to two inches at the most.” Like many of us, Ladish had to go a few extra months without a snip while in lockdown mode. The time away from the salon didn’t make her consider hacking it all off though, but it did inspire her to embrace her natural gray roots.
At first, Ladish says she used Clairol Nice ‘N Easy Root Touch-Up (Buy at Ulta, $7.99) to cover her grays. After five months of that at-home upkeep, she decided to let the silver strands grow and blend with blonde balayage dye. “I feel more free now that I stopped covering the gray with a base color,” she tells us.
Ladish explains that she prefers balayage as it’s “kinder on the hair than highlights.” Still, to make sure she’s protecting the dyed strands, she tells us she “love love loves” Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Crème (Buy at Sephora, $28). “I apply a small amount to my ends every night before bed.” She then pulls her hair into a loose bun and holds it up with Teleties (Buy on Amazon, $9.99) as she snoozes.
She also relies on Hair Biology products and is an especially big fan of their Argan Oil Taming Serum (Buy from Hair Biology, $9.99), which she uses every single day to tame any frizz. Ladish also says she only washes her hair once or twice a week to avoid drying it out. That is, unless she goes swimming, since she is a lucky Florida resident with access to warm weather, the ocean, and her pool.
Of course, whether or not you prefer a super-short crop or want to let it grow is totally up to you. But Ladish’s tips just might help you realize your strands lengthy potential regardless of age!
Be sure to check out more of her tips on her website, VivaFifty!, and Instagram page.
