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Guys, I'm 37 and my hair has really thinned. I've worn it short for years, but now I want to grow it longer as a kind of antiwar protest. However, I don't want to be one of those guys with bald on top and long sides (otherwise known as "the Skullet")
What is accepted as long hair for guys with thinning hair?
Hi Anticurt,
I know, there's the idea around that balding men should wear their hair short - but no-one can say exactly why! A lot of balding famous men have grown their hair long or at least longish - including Shakespeare or Benjamin Franklin.
I'd think, the best style for someone ith a bald top is probably extremely long all the way around, and worn open most of the time - that way, you'd avoid the "skullet" look to a degree. Several people on this board do it that way. If your hair is only just thinnING on top, there's even less to worry about. You may even try vitamins to slow down MPB, they seem to work at least part of the time.
One other thing - I'm sure you don't smoke - for two reasons (if not health): A) it's bad for your hair, especially if you are vulnerable to MPB. B) it generates lots of tax revenue for the government of whatever country you live in, and thus helps to finance wars.
One last thing: It will be easier to grow your hair out, if your motives also include the conviction that long hair suits you better than short hair.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes, and peace ;-)
Hans-Uwe
The best thing to do is just try it and see what happens...if you like the way it looks, good, if not, then it is easily remedied...
That said, I've seen a good many guys with none on top, long otherwise, that look very nice with their long hair. Shoulder length at least or more. But, if you don't have much on top, and you let it all grow long, then you will have what you said you didn't want to have. Quite a conundrum. You may not like the skullet look per se, but what are your other options? You probaly won't end up looking like Hulk Hogan.
Your hair -not on the top- will grow to your terminal length. It will probably look awesome. Instead of the bald guy, you'll be the long haired guy.
Acceptable is up to you, all other things being equal, ceteris paribus.
I will try and enclose a link to a picture of my favorite metalbandmember who's partly bald but has great hair otherwise. (Scroll down to the third picture)
See ya later,
Bragi (also not blessed with great amounts of hair on top)
Just out of curiousity, how are people going to know that you are growing it long to protest the war?
I suppose you could wear a sign saying "My hair is long in protest of the war" but it seems like it would be quicker and simler to wear a sign that says "I'm against the war".
As for your question, you can't grow hair that you don't have. All you can do is grow the hair you have longer. I'd guess that leaves you with three options: Skullet, combover, and rattail/scalp lock.
Agreed. Strongly.
An historical analysis of the Vietnam war shows us that the length of hair on males had nothing whatsoever to do with ending that war, despite most longhairs being against it.
What ended that war was the vast majority of the electorate (and we can assume that includes male shorthairs) making their voices heard and voting. And as you may have read somewhere, it was a Republican they voted-in for President to end that war. (Remember "Peace with honor?")
There are more constructive ways protest the war. And more constructive reasons to grow your hair. Mixing the two probably isn't best for either.
My question is, "Acceptable to whom?" To yourself? Significant other? Co-workers? Longhairs? The general population?
You're likely to get five different answers.
If it's the general population you're concerned with, rest assured that the only acceptable bald guy look is the classic "short on the sides and back, nothing on top" look. Except in the gay community, where the only acceptable bald guy look is pretending you aren't bald by shaving your head completely.
Now that that's out of the way...
As the owner of a skullet--cute word, I hadn't heard it before--I can tell you from experience that since I don't give a damn, no-one else does.
At my part-time job, when co-workers send a patron to me they say, "Ask the guy with the ponytail."
For my business, when I meet clients for the first time, I tell them to look for the bald guy with a ponytail.
At my bank, one day my tail was inside my winter coat and the teller gasped and exclaimed, "Ohmygod! You cut your beautiful hair!"
The point here being that since I'm not in denial about being bald, those I deal with accept it as just fine too. Except my father who insists that I have a world record comb-over.
Now, you've noticed, generally when out, I tail it. Most of the time on other skullets (that word cracks me up) that I see, a tail seems to look best to me. And it gives the impression, "I want it like this" rather than "I'm too poor or mentally unbalanced to get it cut."
To further the impression, I make sure that I care for what I have (left) in the best possible way, (note the "your beautiful hair" comment above). Bald or not (but especially on skullets) unkempt long hair--dirty, or poorly conditioned, managed and maintained--is sure to peg you as a nutcase or socioeconomically disadvantaged. And it just plain looks bad.
Whatever you choose, outdoors a hat (also known as the "poor man's toupee") is essential equipment for controlling sunburn. A sunburned head is more painful than anywhere else on the body (although I have no experience with burnt naughty bits) and when it peels, it's really, really gross looking.
With a hat, you can tail or leave it loose, without civilians even registering that you're sporting a skullet (or so I tell myself.)
As for other longhairs, the only comments I've gotten are positive. But then again maybe the others are just being polite.
In short, it's the impression *you* give--both visually and as a person--that makes or breaks acceptance.
Is THAT what I have under my hat !?? HA! Great Word !!
I am 60 and obviously have thin and thinning hair on top.....however; I have lots of really nice thick, sometimes wavy, hair in back and on the sides. So why cut off the "Good Stuff"??
I normally wear a ball cap (or hard hat) when working....but wear my "Aussie Western" hat when I am a Civilian, not to cover the "shiny" but because I like hats (and the "shiny" does tend to get sunburned here ! HA!) But, many older men in this part of the world (SouthWest US) are letting their hair grow out....looks good and is accepted without problem both socially and in most places of employment.
Let your locks grow and enjoy the experience.....
Write a poem about the war instead !!
Maybe it's just me, but I fail to understand how growing longer hair is an "anti-war" protest....
It's hair, not a political statement
Jim
Have you considered trying Rogaine or Propecia?
Personally i wouldn't grow my hair to protest about war. Firstly no-one will explicitly know what you are doing or what you are protesting about,except yourself.
Secondly, it isn't a very genuine reason to grow long hair.
Growing hair is the ultimate test for a man.
MPB really does suck nd it runs in my Father's side of the family. As others have mentioned, "skullets" may be the only option in your situation. Maybe you could have a side part combover , that would be cool too. Skullets are like mullets because they are short on top and sides, only difference being that the human is incapable of actually growing hair in those spots, whereas with a mullet it is done on purpose to achieve the short look.
Actually, that's a strange question coming from a protester. As a protester, aren't you supposed to be unconcerned with what the "establishment" thinks. So the answer is, whatever is acceptable to you is ok.
I was 39 when I started seriously growing my hair, and I was already more than thin on top. I've never had any specific negative comments pointing out the contrast between the long bits of my hair and the missing bits.
So, my advice is to go for it.
As far as longhair and thinning goes, you have some options.
First thing to determine: how thin is your hair? Are you completely bald on top or just thinning? Also, how far back is your hairline? There's something called the Norwood scale, it's a series of stages to determine the extent of one's recession and balding. If you're at the higher levels of the scale, or are completely bald on top, you'll be mostly confined to having just length at the sides, with the smooth look up top, or going with a hairpiece to give the illusion of a full head of hair. Contrary to popular belief, there ARE realistic hair pieces (some are actually affordable, check out www.toplace.com).
If you've still got a hairline and decent amount of thinning hair you can try concealers to give your hair a thicker look. I personally use Prothik, which I love. There's also Dermmatch, Toppik, and Kerasome to name a few.
Basically, you have to decide:
a. What's your current state of hairloss
b. Are you okay with having, as you said, a skullet? If so, great! If not, which of the above methods of thickening or replacing your hair would you prefer.
There are definitely upsides and downsides to each option, and only you can decide which is best for you.
If you need any other advice, feel free to email me. I'm going through the whole male pattern baldness thing myself (albeit a bit earlier, I'm only 22), and I've done a good bit of research on methods to style the hair or conceal thinning for those with long hair.
Hope this helps.
Go for whatever you want. Just today I was sat next to an older, greying guy with very little on top and he had a cool ponytail.
Matt
