new thread
So, I'm 55 years old with hair down to my butt. I wear it in a pony tail. Also have a beard. I work as a counselor at a psychiatric crisis center. It was slow today and one of the ladies asked me if she could braid my hair in a French Braid.
I figured what the Hell, and let her do it. Came out pretty good. I expected some teasing from the other men, but nothing. Everyone acted like it was perfectly normal. Not the response I'd anticipated, but certainly a nice one.
Didn't get to see it myself until I got home, she did a good job. It didn't even look feminine to me.
Reminded me of the story of the Spanish bullfighter who invited some friends over for dinner and wore a frilly apron as he cooked the meal himself.
One of his friends began to tease the bullfighter saying cooking and wearing a frilly apron were "feminine." The bullfighter looked down his nose at his teasing friend and said to him, "Sir, I'll have you know that EVERYTHING I do is masculine."
Perfect! I laughed out loud at that one. Good answer. I'll have to remember that. It also reminds of the whole "Real Men don't eat quiche" stuff that was floating around in the 80's. Of course the best response to that was: "Real Men eat whatever the Hell they want!"
As to the braids, anyone know a site with instructions for doing one yourself? I think my hair is finally getting long enough to try it (Yeah!!)
Thanks again,
Madoc
i once heard Ru Paul, respond to the question, "Why do you wear women's clothes?" She/he said, "These are not 'women's' clothes. Thes are MY clothes." there should be some way to tweak that respnse a bit so that it would fit our circumstances.
tom
http://rampages.onramp.net/~magicid/braidingmagic/braidingmagichm.html
Learn to make Beautiful French Braids!
Several pictures.
And a video tape to order. $18
Pelo Largo
My wife ocasionally does a french braid on me and I usually get no grief about it, I think it looks pretty good, as long as I can keep her from tying the end off with a pink ribbon ;-)
Everybodies different and it may look good on some and not on others, if you want to try it, go for it and to hell with what others say, as long as you like it.
My ex-wife used to give me a French braid as well. Here's a sample. For some reason I really like this picture even though technically it's not the best. I think it's because it looks like the frog is watching Liza braid my hair.
What's the difference between French braid and Spanish braid?
HHH
There are 5 different braid "nationalities". English braids are made by placing each outside strand OVER the center strand. Dutch braids place the outside strand UNDER the center strand. These are for regular off-the-scalp braids. When we do on-the-scalp braids it is usually called French braiding. Hair is added to the outside strands and again placed OVER the centre one. Finally, if we add hair to the ouside strand and place it UNDER the centre strand, we have a Spanish braid. Spanish braids are another name for inverted French Braids. In addition, if we add hair from both sides of the braid to one of the outside strands we have a stand-up or Norwegian braid.
Got that?
Gayle
Is that OVER or UNDER the outside strand?
Finally, is that on- or off-the-scalp?
HHH
They can go either way. Actually it depemds upon which side you see the braid from? Norwegians are formed at right angle to the head. They stand up on the scalp. Lets sat you are forming one down the centre median line of the head (most common position for on-the-scalp braids). The pick-ups are made with hair taken from ear-to-ear bases. These are then added to the braid on the right side. Thats because you as a stylist, are standing on the right side of the head. Add it to the right side strand and cross it OVER the middle strand, as in a French braid. Then take the left strand and pass it Over the new centre strand BUT...do not add any pick-up hair. Then carve out another base from ear-to-ear. Again add this to the right strand and pass over the centre. Then back to the left and No piuck-up. Continue until finished. At this point you wull have a braid standing at the scalp since there was no pick-up on one side. If the braid is tight it will stand up. I have said OVER the centre strand but it really didn't matter....since if the stylist walks over to the model's left side it will appear that the left strands (right on the other side) went UNDER (OVER on the other side).
Ultimately this is an on-the-scalp braid. Of course it can continue odd the head as an off-the-scalper.
Is that any better?
Gayle
Victor
I am a male that wears French braids frequently. They've got class. I also get no hassles. You are lucky to have a wife that will do it for you. See if you can get her to try some of the other types of braids - inverted, twist, fishtail, chain etc.
Gayle