I've had long hair since I was about 15.  I didn't "try" to grow my hair, I just didn't like having it cut, so I didn't get it done.  After a while I realized it was long and I liked it.  It's been about 10 years and now I love my hair.  Some people around me hate it though and that's what this thread is about.

My mom is the biggest culprit.  She frequently tells me I won't be as successful with long hair and my rebellious attitude is bad.  I think she feels this way because of her religion.  I grow my hair because I like it, not to be rebelious.  And she acts like I'll never get promotions and won't be respected because I have long hair.  I think she's wrong.  My hair is always clean and neat, and only gets me positive attention that I see.

What do you gals & guys think?

Your hair is not going to be THE controlling factor for your success in life or business.

If you keep yourself neat and presentable, the length of your hair should not matter.  There might be a few exceptions, such as where long hair might be a safety hazard.

Many of us with hair very long hair have to deal with people who say unkind things.  I've learned to just let it slide.  If I don't argue, they have nothing else to respond to.

Good luck with handling this... it is never easy.  But you have the right to be who you want to be.

Do you really get negative comments?  I never thought that would be the case... what do people say?  

My hair is past my rear and I am over 50.  Many people feel I am waaaaay to old to have long hair.  Many people also feel that hair past the mid back is too long.

Where they get these ideas, I have no idea.  My mother harps on me to cut my hair.  It is strange because my mother's mother had hair at least as long as mine when she died at 87.

Personally, I like long hair on guys as long as it is clean.  I also enjoy giving guys suggestions on how to care for and "style" their hair.  

I get a lot of flak for my hair too...and it isn't even BSL yet!!  >:(
   My parents are always harping on me to cut my hair very short and sculpt, spray and mold it into their idea of "perfection." They do this because my hair is very fine and thin, and they follow the ideal that everyone with fine, thin hair should wear theirs extremely short. BAH! Stuff and nonsense, I say!

My parents are extremely prejudiced and narrow-minded people. Though I'll admit to loving them, we have never gotten along because I have never shared their limited perspective. I believe that their values are in the right place & order...I just don't condone the way that they go about forcing them upon others. *shrug*

Anyway, back on the hair thing...there is absolutely no truth whatsoever to the idea that a man who has long hair cannot be successful. Good God, did the Generation of Love teach us nothing? And what about the European Rennaissance? You never saw short-haired lads during that era...unless they were very young.
   And as long as we're digging up old bones, my former husband was a very successful computer programmer who made over $40K per year working at one of the local casinos...and his hair was down to the middle of his back.

My current boyfriend is in the process of growing his beautiful blonde locks down to his knees (or so he says  ;)) and he's a service plumber. Still quite successful.

Plus, how many male artists and rock stars wear their hair long? It doesn't matter whether you're blue collar, white collar, a celebrity or the guy next door...just about anybody can have long hair if they know how to care for & protect it.

Sorry for the rant, but this is a subject that I'm pretty passionate about and have some considerable experience in...even if only second-hand.
   Anyway, hope things work out between you & your family. I know it's tough when they don't support you in certain things (heh or everything), but you've got to be your own person & live your own life...no one else can live it for you.  ;)

I work for a very big company, and while long haired guys aren't common I work with some who are well respected for the job they do.  They might not be executives, but so what?  They can have those jobs -- all those hours, pressure, yuck!

Like Biker Braid said, if it's clean and neat, and you're confident and competent, it won't matter.  It seems like the workplace is becoming more and more casual anyway.

Like anything else, people will make snap judgements based on looks -- it's human nature and we do it for survival, and if we want to look a certain way it's our choice to present that picture and own up to the consequences, but it isn't negative just because it's different.  For instance, I am a girl in a profession that's almost all men.  If I wanted to I could dress ultra conservative and always have my hair slicked back act more agressive, but I prefer to be feminine.  Men typically underestimate me, but that's ok.  And you know what?  It works great for me because that's who I am.  I have earned respect in my own way.

In some circles you could be underestimated as a guy with long hair, but who cares?  And that's about the worst case, other than being a policeman or something.  Like Angel Spun said, in many circles long hair is perfectly at home!

I don't think that hair matters much in most places. Business, law, and of course military are careers where conservative appearance is valued, but in most places it doesn't really matter as long as it is neat. Most bosses are way more interested in your performance at work than in your hairstyle. In any case, so many men have long hair in these days that it's hardly "rebellious".

But some people just dislike long hair, and as BB said, it can be a problem for women too. But that's their opinion and while they have a right to think that way, you also have a right to disagree with them. If you prefer to have your hair long, then keep it long. :) It's not anyone's business but yours.

I appreciate all your responses.  I work in a civil engineering department of the county government.  Like you all have said, my work is what my supervisors notice and only once or twice have I even gotten remarks from them about my hair; all friendly joking.  I actually get lots of compliments and I think I get along better with the women I work with because of it and having something in common with them.  Thanks all for confirming my feelings.

I agree with everything said hair. As I've mentioned before, I have been told I need a haircut, but I don't care. It's mostly from either superjocks (my name for jocks who bully anyone who doesn't play sports, and buzzcut their hair), or wiggers. Or a combination. I'm not saying all jocks are like that, I know and am friends with people who love sports, but don't have a problem with my hair. But those people I don't like anyway, so having long hair is sort of an added effect to saying "If you don't like long hair, deal with it, because I ain't cuttin' it" Most people have gotten used to it by now, and don't comment on it, not that they don't like it, they just don't care if guys have long or short hair, or tell me how much they love it, and how amazing it is. I started growing my hair out because I got into classic rock, where all the guys had long hair: AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, stuff like that, and eventually it grew into just liking the feel of hair against my neck.

One of my friends told me that I'll never get a job if I don't get it cut, but I don't care what he says, because:
A. I know of at least 3 places where I've seen guys with long hair work, two of which the guy's hair wasn't very well kept, or more that it didn't look liked he combed it
B. If they're not going to hire me because of my long hair, I don't wanna work there.
I can sort of see where he's coming from, because his job made him get it cut, when it wasn't even long. It was covering all his forehead, but definitely not close to someone's hair like mine. So some won't, even if it's well kept, but most will hire you as long as you're neat and clean and don't do anything crazy with your hair (unless it's Hard Rock, I saw a girl working there with green streaks in her hair, it actually looked cool). And some might make you tie it back for whatever reason, but I don't have a problem with that.

I also don't understand why if a guys reaches his neck he needs a haircut, but girl's can have whatever length they want. I'm not saying girl's shouldn't be able to have short hair, I have friends with hair shorter than mine, but if girls don't, why should guys?

Yes, I've been ranting, I just have to get EVERYTHING out once you start me on something, especially a controversial topic

As a person who has hired many employees over the years, I would say that general appearance IS important when applying for a job.  First impressions are extrememely important.  This does not mean a guy has to have short hair, but it should be clean and neat.  This might mean pulled back into a pony tail or braid for the interview.  If applying for a job working around food, having your hair pulled back is a MUST.

The clean and neat applies to women as well as men.  I figure if a person does not take the time to look nice for the interview, they will not take the time to do a good job for me.  

There are some jobs that may have certain standards for appearance including hair.  These are usually stated early in the application/interview process.  If you cannot/will not be able to abide by them, then the job is not for you.

Although your hair can make an initial statement about who you are, your actions and interactions should show the "real" you.  

  I qualify as a man with very long hair in management of a company.  I wear my waistlength hair neatly braided everyday or in a ponytail.  I do get some looks, but I have been accepted.  The fact that I'm a long -term employee may help a bit as well.  A newcomer with hair like mine may not fare so well.  People just accept that I'm different and let me BE different.  I had short hair for the vast majority of my work experience......just got free in the last six years.

Jim

Blondestorm - you are an inspiration to all the young men daring to grow their hair long!

My husband not only has long hair (normally past his shoulders, unless he has to cut it for a play he's doing) he's also got a vandyke beard AND an earring.  He went to his interview like that, and was still hired by a large contracting firm that does work for the Department of Defense.

He's clean, neat, and does excellent work.  That's all his supervisor cares about.   ;)

That's the key, Berkana.  Unfortunately, too many men with long hair are not "neat and clean".  They just let their hair grow, unkempt, and don't keep it or themselves clean.  They give the ones who do take care of themselves a bad name.  

By the way, that's the way I feel about some of my fellow older women, that just let it go.  If you have long hair, take care of it!

Long hair can be neat, i have never know anyone with long hair who cant make their hair neat looking.

Most people dont even care if your hair is long or not they just care about what experience or education you have had. Its your attitude not your hair that counts.

However if a man has long hair and it is dirty and very messy it looks awful and that is the ONLY time i notice a man with long hair.

Guys with long hair is a natural thing. Howere it if goes beyond waist it is very noticable but above waist hardly gets noticed.

keep your hair long, but dont fight with yyour mum tell her why you have your hair long maybe even encourage her to grow hers lol


BY THE WAY HOW LONG IS YOUR HAIR?

Personally, I LOVE men with long hair, and have never actually dated one whose hair didn't touch his collar bone at least (that's co-incidental, not the reason I dated them). Was it in the 18th century when people wore powdered wigs? But some men didn't, they "wore their own hair" as the saying went. It implied they did not run with the herd, or that they thought for themselves, were 'their own man' as it were. I find that is still true today. THere are men who grow their hair long and live with the consequences, as some people find it SO shocking!!!!  :o And then there are those people who will take you as you are, long-haired, bald, mohican, whatever....those two types tend to find each other, and it's great!!

Guys - keep it long and clean, secretly women look at you and think about running their fingers through your hair.....'s true!  ;)

bikerbraid wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2006 at 12:16am:

Personally, I like long hair on guys as long as it is clean.  I also enjoy giving guys suggestions on how to care for and "style" their hair.

Ooooh please help me Bikerbraid, help me! :D <3

Your hair sounds lovely by the way.

We are all here to help you, Yaku!  :D