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36 yr old long haired man here. Been sportin long hair since hearing my first Maiden record back in '86! I tried cutting it all off once 5 years ago and was MISERABLE. now its back im happy. BUT i get nothing but crap from my employer, my coworkers, clients etc. Someone told me they make short hair wigs for men. Anyone know anything about this? are they convincing? Expensive? Uncomfortable?
Hi,
I also enjoy Maiden and other classic metal bands from the 80s.
I assume you are working in a corporate environment.
May i ask what type of job this is?
The same thing worries me aswell. I am growing my hair but i am afraid i may be forced to cut it in the future for a corporate job(im studying presently). My mother strongly predicts this problem. She simply says to me "you will get over long hair and rock music by the time you find a job". In other words i will 'grow up' and become an 'adult' and conform to the 'real world' some day. NEVER NEVER!
I can't offer any advice on short haired wigs but i am interested to find out more about this. Personally, i'm a bit skeptical about how real and convincing these things look and feel. Imagine, if you will, being in a business meeting with your fellow co-workers, boss and clients. Suddenly, you reach under the table to pick up your pen that you just dropped, the short haired wig comes flying off your head and underneath bears a long, wild, crazy mane. The reactions on the clients faces would be priceless. Not to mention the boss, hehehehe.
I don't even know if it is physically possible to hide or conceal that much hair under a wig. Sure, you could tie a bun but there is still going to be an odd looking lump/ball at the back of your head. People will think you are deformed or something, lol.
LOL!!!
Hi 80s,
I think the "wig trick" can be done IF it still is necessary. Georges has hidden a long mane under a medium-to-short wig in the 1980's. Your head just would look a tiny bit bigger - but on-one would notice. Many wigs do hold quite tight these days, i.e. they wouldn't slip just because you bow down to pick up a pen from the floor, or because someone brushes against your head.
Then again, if this hilarious thing happened after you have proven yourself at a job, well it might just be a good laugh and a great company story.
By the way, true "growing up" does not mean to yield to every blow of the (eg corporate) wind, but to stand up for yourself. In that sense, I'd like to wish a good "growing up" to you and me and everybody.
Wishing everybody "Happy growth", hair-wise, and personality-wise ;-)
Hans-Uwe
Believe it or not I used to be a friggin HAIRDRESSER and I STILL got crap about it, now im doing real estate and Im definitely hearing about it weekly. Im gonna give it a try with the wigs. Thanks everyone for the helpful info.
Interesting selection here:
Baron Unlimited
Hello,
I am posting a picture I already posted before, when I used a short-haired wig to apply for jobs back in 1981. Used to be, there was no written policy about hair length in companies. A lot of people were able to go to the interview with shorter hair (in my case mid-ear for the wig), and let it grow after once they passed the probation period (Usually 3 months, and that was enough to get shoulder-length hair). However some die-hard longhairs, like me did not want to cut their hair, and I opted for a short-haired wig, and it was expensive for the time, but made of synthetic hair.
The risk of the wig falling off is minimal, except if you did extreme sports with it, but the ordinary office routine did not make it budge. The principle of hiding hair is very similar to hiding it under a cap. My hair was very thick in 1981, and looked like Jimmy Page.
I did not really care if people noticed the wig, since wigs are used by cancer patients, and young men with premature baldness. If some coworker taps your head and notices it (Synthetic hair does not have the feel of real hair, but doesn't give you the guilt that probably some lady sacrificed her hair by selling it to a wig maker). By looking there is no difference between synthetic hair and real hair, that is why it will work for interviews.
Very strict companies requiring hair to be tapered in the back and whitewalls on the side are quite rare. A typical hair policy will demand hair around the ears (or mid-ear) and above the collar. A wig will meet this policy.
About comfort: Most offices are air-conditioned, so it will not be that hot, and wigs do allow air to go through. You may want to take it off, once in your car, or on public transit away from your job. There has been anecdotal stories of bosses recognising their be-wigged employees in long hair on weekends... and if that happens, say that the long hair is a wig :)
In my case, the wig I bought was only eventually used as a "novelty" since I found jobs that accepted my long hair.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
Thanks for sharing that old photo and your experiences with wigs, Georges. Having long hair but wearing it under a short haired wig is ingenious, especially for a conservative corporate job. I may consider this as an option when i enter the corporate world, in a few years.
It is some relief because i am always conflicted between growing my hair and the future of my hair once i get a 'real' job, cutting it all off once it is waist length would be disasterous.
I think the synthetic wigs are the best choice because they look real and shouldn't be too expensive. That is good news that they have a strong, firm hold on the scalp and stay put during working hours, much relief. They also look realistic so it shouldn't look conspicuous or obvious to others.
lol, who cares if the boss sees you with longhair on the weekends. As long as your hair is 'short' for working hours then he can keep his mouth closed.
One question. I have seen photos of your hair in 1981 and it was very thick and long, LOTS of hair to hide. How did you get it all under the wig? I know it is the same principal as a tucking it under a hat but i am still a bit unsure. Did you tie a bun and the throw the wig on top?
It's incredible how so much hair(length and volume) can be hidden just by wearing a wig.
I'm glad that you are no longer forced to wear a wig and that you are in a job where you can be yourself and let your hair down. Take care, Jean.
Like I mentioned earlyer, the principle behind using a wig is similar to hiding hair under a cap, or a hat. I grab my hair in a ponytail, and tuck it under the cap. A tight-fitting cap can make the bump from the bun or ponytail hard to notice, and a wig does the job even better.
I am including a picture of myself with my hair underneath a cap. When I do that, it is when I ride my bike, so my hair doesn't blow in my face in the wind, so presentation doesn't matter. Some construction guys have also used a similar trick by tucking their hair under construction helmets and never let their employers know they have long hair.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
