London - My hair only suits me when it’s long. Though I have been going a bit shorter every year, I have not had a major chop.
I know having a wash-and-go style would save me a fortune on salon visits, but I like having longer hair.
Some people look better with short hair, such as Judi Dench, 80, Helen Mirren, 69, and Jane Fonda, 77, with her flattering, jaw-length style that enhances her youthful looks.
But there are plenty of us who love our longer locks. What about Jane Seymour, 64, with her trademark long mane? Or Elle Macpherson, who, at 51, has gorgeous waves that look as if she’s spent the day cavorting at the beach?
Then there’s Twiggy, 65, who looks better with a bit of length than she ever did with her boyfriend Twenties-style bob.
I think it’s fine to have long hair at a mature age - providing it’s in good condition and is cut well. Longer hair is high maintenance, though, and if you are over 50, it needs constant attention.
The biggest challenge is managing hair that can suddenly be thinner and coarser, and also lack volume and shine. Your natural colour fades and you get more greys as you age. And as for what the menopause does to your hair . . . best not to go there!
The good news is that the right shampoo and conditioner, a good mask, clever, subtle colour and a great cut can take years off you.
I’ve discovered a salon treatment that can make your hair look and feel 20 years younger - and it works in just 15 minutes!
At £50 (R960), the new Olaplex treatment, introduced to the UK by Nicola Clarke, creative colour director of John Frieda, is not cheap, but it gives spectacular results - and the effect lasts for several washes.
It is proven to target the hair strand and can be used while you are having your colour done or as a stand-alone treatment when your hair is dry.
Yes, my hair is subjected to all kinds of abuse: blow dries, tonging, straightening, sun exposure, highlights, lowlights, chlorine and salt water - no wonder it drank this up!
The difference is marked, particularly the texture, which felt soft and springy. In 15 minutes, miraculously my hair looked decades younger. My curls were still intact five days later, when usually they last only one evening.
According to Denise, who has worked for four decades on style icons including Cindy Crawford and Kylie Minogue, the secret of youthful-looking hair lies in the right cut, colour and making sure it’s in brilliant condition.
“Shine is imperative, so don’t forget the conditioner,” she says.
Denise rates Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, (£4.99[R96], Superdrug) as a conditioning treatment to bring the shine back to lifeless hair.
“I have tried countless other products, but this is one of my favourites,” she says.
She also advises avoiding having an all-over tint in just one colour.
“Colour adds thickness and volume. As you age, your skin tone changes. If you are dark-haired, then try adding somelowlights.”
If you want to keep your hair long then you must have regular trims to keep split ends at bay.
Daily Mail