Fifty-two year old Sandra Rowline has sued former Texas employer Capital Title for unfair dismissal, after being asked to dye her hair and wear "younger fancier suits."

In 2009, the firm was relocated to their headquarters in Galleria, Texas and Rowline was asked to adopt a more "upscale image." According to the Houston Chronicle, her boss asked her to wear "fancy jewelry" and even offered to dye her hair for her.

Rowline was outraged at the request as she had never been asked by any previous employer to change her image. "This is who I am," she told the newspaper.

Within one week of her refusal Rowline was dismissed and replaced by a woman 10 years her junior.

Rowline told the Houston Chronicle, "I was really working hard for them," and pointed out that she had even won the employee award two years running in 2004 and 2005.

Alison Monroe, managing director, SageCo warned that age prejudices are still out there: "We hear a lot of stories from workers who feel discriminated within the workplace when it comes to promotional prospects or opportunities for professional development.

"Sadly, through the recruitment industry they may be overlooked or largely ignored for roles for which they are inherently skilled and capable of doing."

After her role at Capital Title, Rowline has been unable to secure the same managerial position and her income has dropped from $US48,000 ($44,600) as a manager to $US30,000 as a customer service worker.

Monroe said that a lot of problems are caused by conversations that have never been had when it comes to mature workers, and keeping awareness of the abilities of all workers in mind. "It's about keeping the awareness, it's about organisations understanding the risk of not addressing aged discrimination, and it's about taking positive action to redress the balance," she said.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Capital Title dismissed Rowline's allegations of age and hair discrimination as "completely baseless and preposterous". Chief executive Bill Shaddock told the paper: "I'd hire a 150-year-old individual if they were worthy."

Rawline's age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit is currently pending in Houston federal court.