On my return from a recent business trip, I was standing at the baggage carousel waiting for my bag to be delivered.  I had been up since 4 am and it was 3 pm.  (OK there were a couple of time zone changes in there, but I was so tired I felt like I had been on a plane for 11 hours).  I had french braided my hair for the trip and it had the typical frizzies all over.  So I decided to do a quick re-braid while waiting.  I unbraided and finger combed my hair, then quickly ran my wooden comb through my hair.  I french braided my hair and put my little Bunjii back on the braid end.  This all took less than 10 minutes.

A gentleman standing next to me commented that he had never seen anyone braid their hair like that (french braid) and was amazed at how fast I did it.  A man standing next to him also chimed in with his comment on never having seen hair as long as mine (a few inches past my waist) braided by someone without using a mirror.

I really hadn't thought much about what others' reactions to my quick restyle would be, but their comments made me feel good (and in a much better mood).

I don't know how you did it either.  I haven't been able to braid my own hair unless I do a side braid, since it's been considerably shorter than my waist.  That's why I married my hubby ;)

That's great bikerbraid :) I really envy you,since I am unable to do a french braid -no matter how good the instructions,I've even got a braiding video tape-it just doesn't work :-[
And I'm not as lucky as Rapunzel to have a husband who can help,my husband can't even do a simple braid without totally tangling my hair ;D ;D

French braiding is not that hard, all it takes is
practice, practice, practice, practice. ::)]

I actually did try French braiding myself again, first time in, oh... TEN years, LOL!  I didn't have any trouble with the "French" part, it's the braid part once I get past my shoulders that I can't do myself.  I just can't reach and if I try to bring it around front either over my head or to the side, it just doesn't turn out as nice as I want it.

I'll stick with hubby :)

Sticking with your Hubby is a good idea......and this gives him some purpose in life!

Funny, after I had cut my hair to a short bob the first time after my hubby had met me, we discussed my growing it out again some day.  The agreement was that he would have to learn to french braid.  Many, many years later, I grew my hair out, but he never could learn to braid my hair.  I even tried to get my son to braid it.  He is an Eagle Scout and can tie knots for anything (which is a bit scarey around my hair), but he too could never master the french braid.  My son is soon to marry a lovely gal with beautiful dark brown (almost black) stick, straight hair that was almost to her waist.  She would also like to have someone else braid her hair, hopefully she will have more luck than I in teaching her hubby.

Hm,so I´ll give it another try and keep practicing ;D ;D I usually end up with a tangled mess when I try to French braid,because somehow the ends tangle around themselves while I'm braiding the top :P :P

wrote on Apr 29^th, 2004 at 9:09am:

Hm,so I´ll give it another try and keep practicing ;D ;D I usually end up with a tangled mess when I try to French braid,because somehow the ends tangle around themselves while I'm braiding the top :P :P

As I braid each section, I run my hand to the end of my hair.  This separates the sections and prevents the re-braiding at the ends.

Thats cool that you can braid your hair without a mirror I do that al the time. I couldnt teach my husband to braid but he tries. im not even sure when i learned, my mother used  to braid peoples hair all the time and I would watch her, but I never really tried until several months ago.  I just followed the instructions while remembering what she did and I could do it. Braids are so pretty but your arms get tired so quickly. Its like a mini work arm out.

wrote on Apr 29^th, 2004 at 2:51pm:

As I braid each section, I run my hand to the end of my hair.  This separates the sections and prevents the re-braiding at the ends.

I do this too, and it really helps.  :)

This is going to be a strange one! :)I was at my friend's house and her grandmother was there... I was sitting on the floor with their dog (red setter, lovely thing) when she came up behind me, lifted up my plaits (she may have stroked them a little, I'm not sure) and said

Oh what wonderful hair!  Don't ever cut it short!

At the moment I'm keeping it the length it is, and said that, and she agreed because of how eventually it all goes peculiar at the ends and such...

Later, when I was walking with my friend, I asked her if her gran had really long hair: apparently she could have been a Rapunzel with sittable hair... Perhaps she regretted having shorter hair and didn't want to see more go to waste :-/

I haven't had many comments on my hair (from strangers anyway), but I've been mistaken for a girl, quote a few times actually. Me and my sister had stopped at a gas station once, and at the counter, the woman said "Is that all for your ladies?", and it was funny because I didn't hear her, but I happened to look up then, and she said "Oh sorry, I didn't see your face." I could tell she just saw my hair, since it covers most of my face from the side. And later that day I was playing hackysack with two of my friends (both girls), and a girl walked through our circle (which was pretty big actually) and said, "Excuse me ladies". Nobody's made a serious comment like that towards me about looking like a girl, just jokes with my friends really

SuperZenki;

Since society still views long hair as primarily a female trait, I'm afraid you will probably continue to hear such comments.  All I can offer to you, is to be strong and comfortable with who you are and not let the comments affect you.

Bikerbraid,

  I am amazed that you can do such a complicated braid like you did with no mirror!  You must have incredibly talented fingers with amazing dexterity.  I am impressed!

Jim

wrote on Jun 5^th, 2006 at 12:12pm:

Bikerbraid,   I am amazed that you can do such a complicated braid like you did with no mirror!  You must have incredibly talented fingers with amazing dexterity.  I am impressed! Jim

Practice is what makes doing a french braid easy.  The more you do it, the easier it gets.  Your fingers just know what to do.  I actually find it difficult to do a french braid on someone else - my fingers get confused!  ;D

Bikerbraid,

  I would have no idea how to do a French braid.  All I can do is the simple three-strand ....single braid with my hair.  I may not have enough hair for a French braid.


Jim

I have received compliments on my hair from a number of women over the past few months!  I had to have a course of physio to deal with a pain in my back recently and each week she said much she admired my luxuriant hair and wished hers were as thick!  Nice to get the compliments and Mrs Redgate doesn't seem to be jealous.

But I still cannot braid my hair - French or otherwise

wrote on Jun 5^th, 2006 at 11:12am:

SuperZenki; Since society still views long hair as primarily a female trait, I'm afraid you will probably continue to hear such comments.  All I can offer to you, is to be strong and comfortable with who you are and not let the comments affect you.

Oh, I know that. Most don't do it intentionally, and direct comments like "You need a haircut." haven't made me think twice, I don't really care what people think. I know I'll probably hear comments like that all my life, but like I said, most aren't directed towards me, most of the people who've said they thought i was a girl, I could tell they actually did, so it's actually kind of a compliment to me, as it's shown how much my hair's grown, and how much it'll keep growing.

I also remember someone who I only met once before, who is a friend, I just don't see her that much, I was hanging out at a friend's house with a few other people, and she started petting my hair, and said it was soft. I'm actually pretty lucky she likes my hair, she said she normally doesn't like long hair on guys, but I was an exception, she said I didn't look weird with it. I think it might be partially because she never saw me with short hair, but I don't know

Today at church I received a hair compliment!  I had a low ponytail flipped with one of my antique combs above the point where the flip is.  My pony tail automatically twists into a spiral ringlet.  The lady behind me said "I love your hair, want to trade?"  I laughed, said "thank you, but you can just grow it".  She said "Oh my hair would never look that good long".  

Why is it that older women (she was my age) never think they could have nice long hair?  She made my day, by the way.

They think they can't have long hair because they have been brain washed by their hair stylists to think that their hair requires regular trims.  After all, that's what keeps the stylists in business.

I walked into SuperCuts today for a haircut and as I was waiting, there was a six year old boy and his mom sitting next to me. The kid whispered to the mom that 'She needs a haircut' and the mom just told the child that was the reason why I was here. The kid than said, 'she needs to cut a lot off.' At that point the mother just told him to hush. ::)

What a rude child!  (children learn what they have heard from adults...)  I might have said something like "Oh no, I only cut off the unhealthy ends"  Of course, I stay out of places like Supercuts anyway.  If you are able to find a beautician who will cut only what you ask, you are very fortunate!

I keep my hAIR in a pony tail all day when i work.but one day i stoped for gas and when i opened the door to my truck my hair brush fell out on the ground.This guy with short hair  says to me you know you wouldnt need that brush if you cut your hair.oh well i guess some people just dont like it when guys grow there hair long. :P

wrote on Sep 14^th, 2006 at 12:41am:

I keep my hAIR in a pony tail all day when i work.but one day i stoped for gas and when i opened the door to my truck my hair brush fell out on the ground.This guy with short hair  says to me you know you wouldnt need that brush if you cut your hair.oh well i guess some people just dont like it when guys grow there hair long. :P

I had to chuckle..... I grew up next door to an ex-Navy man who always wore his hair very short - a butch cut.  He had the softest brush I've ever felt.  He used it every day to brush his hair to make it stand up on top.  I bet the guy who commented to you would not have dared say anything to my 6'2", 260 pound, solid muscle neighbor!

Aw... braiding is the one thing I miss most about my long hair! I can french braid, dutch braid (same as a french braid except it pops out instead of in), lace braid... you name it! It's harder for me to do it on other people, though...

Grow, hair, grow!

My cousin isn't a stranger, but...

When we were little, and I had my long straight hair and hers was mid-length and curly and frizzy and crazy, she used to ask me to trade, and I'd always say no.

Then we grew up, and she figured out how to take care of her hair and grew her curls long and beautiful, and I died and fried and chopped my hair to bits.  At christmas the year I had my pixie cut I went up to her and said...Hey, cuz, about that trade you mentioned back in the day...

Guess what she said?

I used to practice on my cabbage patch doll when I was a kid and learned to do a french braid that way.  My friends with longer hair have asked me to do their hair.  I can do the double ones on the side too, but I've never been able to do my own hair.  I can do it ok until my arms give out.  I think if I kept practicing my arms would get stronger but they get so tired!