answer:A lot of the time their hair gets thinner, gray, and dryer. The shorter style is easier to comb through when your hair is thin and knotty. It also can help prevent dry split ends. I think it also has to do with just what looks right to our eye, and a long gray ponytail or flowing hair looks a little odd. Many much older women grew up when women would wear big rollers and set their hair. Look at photos from the 50’s, and they still are in that mind set of teased or styled hair that is frozen in place. They get their hair done once a week at the salon. Also, they might not want to spend a lot of time doing their hair. Their arm might get tired trying to do fancy styles. The choices are shorter hair that dries quickly, and is an easy style, or long hair that you can throw into a ponytail or up do. Right now I prefer a ponytail, because when I have short hair I make it like a bob, not very very short, and then I have to do my hair every day. Ponytail long I don’t have to do my hair. I’m 46. My husband already tells me all the time he likes my hair better shorter, because my hair is thin.