My Mom is 57 and she always had long hair up until about 5 years ago. So all through her 40's and early 50's it was long. I thought she looked nice with it and didn't really think it made her look old, but I had no frame of reference since her hair had always looked like that.
It started thinning from age/medication and she decided to cut it short and LOVES it!
I was in complete and total shock because she always swore she would never cut her hair. Now, you couldn't PAY that woman to go back to longer hair. She says that people tell her all the time that she looks younger with the shorter hair, but honestly I think she looks her age or older. She looks like one of those older black ladies with their short hair and sweatsuits and tennis shoes on with their fanny packs!
You know the ladies I mean!
As for me, I would like to keep my hair long forever because I just don't really like short hair. But I guess it will depend on how my hair behaves when I get older.