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I have been in work environments for some time that frown on men with long hair--it being considered unprofessional. I am hoping that some men out there have experiences/stories/whatever of successful professionals wearing their hair in a pony tail. Pictures would be appreciated.
DON'T HAVE A FOTO, but my experience is that you can have your hair as long as you like in a professional setting as long as it is neat. If it is not long enough to tie back, and if it is messy loose, then consult a good stylist to help you through the transition. I have chaoticly curly hair, and for one year had a standing appointment to have my hair set on Monday and Wednesday mornings before work so I could look neat. Then it got long enough to pull back. I still find it fun to have it set for special occasions -- most people don't realise that it has been styled but just think "O my, how lucky he is to have such great hair!
I work on a contract basis and so attend lots of interviews between jobs, I work mostly in an office and sometimes I get offers on the condition I cut my hair or they try to drop my rate. Generally most interviewers don't mention the hair but occasionally some say it's unprofessional. My skills are in demand so usually I turn down these companies. My hair is about 22in long, quite thick and always tied in a pony tail at interview.
Do the interviewers just come out and say, "Hey, we want you to cut your hair" ? Or do they sort of beat around the bush until you get the hint?
And do you ever accept the position at the lower rate?
The reason I ask is, I did a lot of contract work too (computers) and was never asked about my hair, and I was never refused a position. What type of work to you do? Maybe some fields are different than others.
I deal through an agent so they don't usually tell me to my face - I get a phone call from the agent "they'd like to offer you a job but they're concerned about your have" or something similar.
Never.
It industry, banking sector.
So when you don't have it pulled back, do you just wear your hair in a full bunch of curls and ringlets? Sounds very cool and I would be envious too. wish you had a foto.
DON'T HAVE A FOTO just now, but when it is not long enough to pull back I have worn it as a page boy. Depending on how your hair behaves, you can do this naturally, or slick it back with jell and let it dry and comb it out, or in my case, either set it on large rollers or comb it straight and then turn the ends under with a hot curling iron. Fortunately it is long enough to pull back, though I use some jell and let it dry freely so it has some texture, before pulling it back.
James
I'm a journalist (I guess that's professional enough)writing for an English language daily in Malaysia and I have long hair to about my shoulder blades.
Some of my colleagues have even longer hair.
Charles
Relax.
I am a 49 year old public school administrator. I have hair to my shoulder blades and really no one has ever been nasty about it. Most say that they think that I am in my thirties (I do get rid of the gray---ya know, better living through chemistry). I generally wear it pulled back in a tail, I wear a shirt and tie, and love the look. Now have a very short goatee and stache as well.
I was a conservative bore in the '60's, but now I am making up for lost time.
You say you are a public school administrator. In which country as a matter of interest?
Anyway, I perhaps was a bore in the 1960's too and I might be a bore even today. Nobody has told me.
Charles
I'm a 55 year old master's level therapist who works in a psychiatric crisis center and volunteers with the local fire department as an on scene crisis counselor. My hair is down to my the small of my back.
Not a problem at work since the owner of the agency also has hair as long as mine. Before this I've worked for the local probation department, mobile crisis counseling, residential drug treatment, a hospital, and the state prison system with long hair.
It's not the hair that's important, but the brains under it.
Why would anyone want to work for a company that selected their
employees based on their hair style???? Run when it becomes an issue.
There are plenty of employers in all fields more concerned about what you can add to their profits than how you look.
Medicine Horse,
I have been reading this post for about a year now and I'm very impressed by your responses. Do you have a picture you can share with the rest of us? It will be nice to put a face to the words.
Thanks,
Tony
Gee, thanks Tony...thanks for the compliment. I tried to put a photo with the first note, it didn't take. I managed to do it in early June and it should be back there after someone suggested we post more photos I managed to get one to take. If it's already been deleted I guess I'll have to figure out how to do it again.
Okay, trying to post a photo...
I hate this embarassment....here we go with another attempt...
STOP GIGGLING!...I'm an old guy.....!
Kind of dark, but hey - someone else took it.
Have your sister's email me, especially if they're in Arizona and have a thing for old men with long hair :-)
Okay...one more try to attempt to save face....
Hi
I am a 52 y/o college administrator and despite some few comments from my supperior in the begening things are pretty settle down now - they got used to it. The students find that pretty cool.
I always attached them in a pony tail for work and keep them clean and neat so I guess this is the trick.
My tail is a nice 13 inches long now. From the forehead strands roots to the tip of them it is over 27 inches. I first started 2 years ago to have only the back cut in order for them to be all of the same lenght and didn't had any trim since le last 16 months.
I am so proud to have win that battle and nothing will make me cut them anymore. I want my hairs to reach my waist at least and according to my calculation, this should be in about a year from now.
So keep on letting them grow and take good care of them and you will be rewarded with nice long hairs soon.
Yours
Jean