new thread
Well, some of you may recall that thread I started a while back about braiding - I was trying to get info or a tutorial on french braiding oneself. I thought it would be a futile attempt so I just practiced the basic 3 section braid for a while. A little while ago I worked up the courage to try for the french braid again, and got it! It's horribly crooked, there are little sections of hair sticking out, but.. I did it! I'm wondering what you all think about french braids and other similar styles on guys? I'm afraid it looks a little too feminine, which is a little disappointing to me after it took so long to do in the first place.
Anyways, would like some thoughts or opinions. I'm satisfied with the way it looks, but I'd like some unbiased opinions (on the look, not the craft, hehe)
Flash ruined it a little, so I turned it off for the next two
view from the side:
Also, you'll notice the braid thinned out a lot near the bottom - it's due to some weird thing where my hair has two distinct layers in it (how did that happen?) I'm hoping after another year or two it'll be thick all the way down.
Stopped the french braid after 3 braids and let it loosen up before tying it into a ponytail. Does it look more masculine? I feel a bit like Gollan doing these experiments.
Either way it's a winner. 4th. brade would make it a little more provocative. It's masculine all the way!
C.
This is my favorite too. For some reason it just looks cool. If you carried the braid a few step further, then tailed the rest that would look cool too. It is like a pattern in your hair before the tail. None of it is too feminine however.
Good luck!
Actually the only reason I did it was because I messed up an attempt at a french braid and then decided to tie it off and pretend I invented some unique style! Luckily it actually came out nicely, and here's the best part - it holds WAY better than just a ponytail. Usually I'll have to retie a tail several times in a day, but this held for more than 3 hours without ANY hair coming out of the band or the folds. It's quick enough and looks basic enough to be casual too.
I myself like both versions you have shown and are of the opinion of Caledonian below. One of the benefits of having long hair is that so many neat and artistic things can be done with it. And besides,it's fun! So many of the Native Americans braid their hair..........and they hardly look feminine to myself.
If you youself are satisfied, that is what counts the most. The "look" is so neat!
The "layers" are most likely merely a natural thing caused by growing out the hair and happen to all of us. The hairs never quite catch-up, but the end result looks as if all are the same length. And yes, as these hairs continue to grow longer you will notice more thickness all the way down. My own hair did the same.
Good Job!
Hey there Gylfi =)
The braid looks amazing =) You did a very good job and I do think it looks good on you =) I like both looks, and I think that if you feel comfortable with your hair braided, you should perfect it and then wear it out if you'd like =) It looks beautyfull, so I wish you good luck!!
I was wonderign... for how long haven't you cutted your hair= How many months I mean... any trim so far ??
It's looking gorgeous!!! Thank's for sharing the pictures and good luck! =)
I think I'd be way more confident about it after I perfected it, so I'm going to keep practicing until I have it down better. One problem I have had is that the braid stays straight RIGHT until I finish it...then the top just decides to flop to one side. I'm pretty sure it has to do with not braiding it tight enough.
It's been over 23 months now! I plan on posting my 2 year update on October 15th. I wanted to save my French braid for that post, but I wanted to be sure I wasn't trying to master an overly feminine style - I'd be a little disappointed if I finally got it down only to feel embarassed to wear it out in public. I'm glad the general consensus so far has been that it's not too feminine. I didn't think it was so much...even though it's my opinion on my own hair that counts, I can't help but feel a little self-conscious about things like this so I wanted to ask people whose opinions I actually DID value on what they thought of the style.
Thank you very much Joao! It was actually your own 2-year update that inspired me to keep on practicing my braiding.
23 months of growing ONLY Gylfi?!
My, your hair grows soooo incredibly fast!! Was it already longer when you started or is that that amazing of growth?
You're really lucky =) It surprises me that you said your hair was unhealthy before, since it's looking so silky soft now =) And the colour is awsome too =) =) =)
You have a hair admirer here =) Let's head to waist!!
I'm ever so glad I myself inspired you to practice your braiding skills =) I always practice my own as well, but I'm waiting for Christmas time to try french braids again... Maybe Santa will give me that as a present =)
Keep growing your hair =) The braid is looking lovely and DO wear it out when you think you got it right =)
See ya!
I started with about 1cm of hair, so not completely shaven like some people here. It was short enough to be 'prickly', but got long enough to be softer after only a couple of weeks.
I'm very glad you think it looks healthier now! I've been trying very hard to keep it up now, I even had a problem with it from 'conditioner/shampoo build up' only a week ago that Justin helped me fix very swiftly.
And you've always had a hair admirer in me as well..to waist it is! (or beyond for me, if that's possible.)
People usually reference you with discussions to braid info, so with a status like that I'm sure you'll be VERY successful with your french braids when you decide to try again. I can't wait to see how your hair looks with french braids because I thought it looked very good with the double and single braids.
It's my intention to do so! In fact, I think I'll go practice it some more right now...
Thank you, and good luck also!
Hi Gylfi,
Just posting to say that those pictures look like hair art! I think those french braids look fantastic, it gives a great textured appearance to your hair, you have obviously worked hard to achieve that (I'd end up tying my hair into one huge knot!). Maybe with a little more practice like Joao says you may be able to wear your like that out when you feel you have the confidence.
Keep growing it man, then you could have a monster waist length braid!
Neil
hi hun, i think your hair looks great in a french plait, i wear mine like that sometimes, it looks really cool when you have a ribbon weaved through aswell with a bow at the bottom, if there are some whispy bits i usually wear some hair grips or slides
I wish my hair was as beautiful as yours is.
Sometimes I feel bad when I reply underneath each individual post because I always suspect I'm overcrowding the hyperboard! So I'll address the rest in this reply..
Caledonian - Thanks for the reply! I'd be sure to do more plaits before tying it off next time. I explained my reply to Bragi that I only tied it off because I messed up my attempt at a full french braid earlier, and inadvertently created a style that I was satisfied enough with to photograph and post here :)
Justin - Helpful and inspiring as always! I agree completely with what you've said about Native Americans. I was just self-conscious about the style on myself though (understandably, right? I don't usually see men wearing french braids, but I like to experiment with different styles.) Thank you for your info on the layers problem, I'm glad I'm not alone! I recall Joao saying he had a couple layers in his two year update too, and I think they were evened out once he got that trim a short while ago.
Neil - That monster waist-length braid is precisely what I'm aiming for! Well, lower-thigh length actually. I think if you wanted to try braiding you could get it for sure. I made a post asking how to braid only a few weeks ago, completely helpless. I thought my attempts were in vain and that my hair was too thick and tangly to do anything with. But here I am now! My hair wasn't even damp when I made these braids (yeah yeah, they're not perfect, but I still did it, didn't I! :P) The response to this thread has encouraged me to keep on practicing it, I'm hoping I'll be able to wear it in public confidently soon enough.
nisha - Thanks for the reply also! I agree that ribbons can look nice, but I'd be WAY too self conscious wearing them in my own hair. Definitely too feminine looking for myself. Whispy bits don't bug me too much, it's just those parts that were too short to make another braid so they stick out abruptly and make it look untidy. I can perfect that with technique though so I don't think I need to do anything else to them.
Also, the double braid looks cool. I plan on trying out the "Willie Nelson" braids on myself eventually. Hopefully for my two year update as Joao did.
Thanks again for the replies guys.
Okay, so I suppose I've taken it a little too far with replies, but I woke up this morning, posted on the hyperboard and then tried the french braid again. Was satisfied with the way it came out so I didn't want to undo it! Anyways, I went to the grocery store wearing it out and didn't get any comments or weird looks. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.
With the camera flash.
Without the camera flash.
The only I'm not satisfied with this time around is the little kink in the braid half way down. Looks swollen there and then returns to normal. Also a piece sticking out from behind the ear but that happened after the braid was finished.
..and the fact that my shirt was so black that it already looks filthy just from wearing it to the store for no more than an hour and a half. Will remember to wear something a little lighter next time I use the cam.
Yes, "why" did nobody give weird looks or say anything? (My opinion.)
You left them speechless, and for good reason too!
That braid looks fabulous on you and compliments you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
You would have received some negative comments for sure from some (the usual) that can't keep their mouths shut. But at your present length when it comes to Long Hair on a guy the "wise-cracks" always seem to cease anyway. You've won!
That is killer gorgeous hair for sure! Commands respect. The "Awkward Stage" is now history in the eyes of others.
Isn't it great to have put in your time growing out your hair and now be in the drivers seat? And it only gets better with time and length.
Justin~
Thank you!
Actually I've rarely gotten them in the first place, luckily! I just always seem to think of the worst when I try something new.
Well, that's relative I suppose..I still have some of those days. I'll say it's long gone in a couple more inches!
Very much so, and like I said in my reply to Neil, I hope that time passes quickly so I can have it running all the way down to my waist.
Hey Gylfi
You are just like me when it comes to the wise-cracks, and when trying something new as well.
This is 100% correct. THe "offical" Long Hair length (unless I am incorrect) on this board used to be equated by the 2 year mark. But even I found that the "Awkward Stage" continues past. By 3 years "Awkward" is a word never heard again. (Hope you don't miss it.) LOL
Funny, but speaking for myself, the first two years seemed to take forever. After that it is almost like being in a Time-Machine that speeds-up faster and faster and before you know it your hair is way longer.
My guess? You WILL make it to your waist easily........and even far past with the type hair you have. :-)
Justin
OMG! I'm totally impressed. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the French braid* BUT, from that side view pic you can really see how great it looks on you - Justin's comments on the American Indian styles are spot on - I think it gives you a very "noble" look, if anything more masculine than an ordinary braid. The part braid ending in a pony tail seems to be a real innovation in keeping a secure tail for longer. And it looks amazing - just that little extra twist. Congratulations, long may you continue to experiment!
*I will have to amend that to the French braid on women, lol