If ever there was a place to swish your hair with wild abandon, it’s on the red carpet in Cannes. The film festival is currently in full swing – and the likes of Salma Hayek, Carla Bruni, Julianne Moore and Naomi Campbell have been making yet another strong case for wearing your hair long into your fifties and beyond.
Gone is the outdated, unspoken “rule” that implied women should cut their hair short past a certain age. Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell have long been proponents of embracing their lengths (and, incidentally, greys too), likewise Demi Moore, and supermodels Kristen McMenamy and Naomi.
Campbell has already made several appearances on the Cannes red carpet this year, showing off a variety of long hairstyles. From Rapunzel-like waves to a chest-skimming lob and chunky fringe, the 53-year-old always serves in the hair department.
At a Kering event, Salma Hayek arrived with much longer hair than we’ve seen her with previously. Nearly waist length and styled into tousled waves, the actor’s brunette mane was the perfect partner to a dark, sequined dress. Soft and natural, and with a few face-framing tendrils left out at the front, it’s a style that can bring a certain youth and vibrancy to any look.
Then there was Julianne Moore, whose cut – falling to a few inches below her shoulders – was styled into sleek yet gentle waves for the event, bringing attention to her flawless skin and green eyes. And Carla Bruni, with her French-girl waves and flattering side-swept curtain bangs, also looked luminous on the red carpet.
The moral of the tale? Don’t be afraid to experiment with longer hair as you get older. Whatever your hairstyle preference, the trick is simply to do it with confidence – and a little shine spray, of course.
