new thread
This a a video of a guy having his long hair braided.
Braiding his long hair
what a beautiful braid... I've noticed that you like braids very much... so i figured that you are growing one yourself... or it's jst me?
I think a long thick braid is a thing of beauty. Even if you have dry, unruly, or kinky hair, if it's in a braid, it will look fantastic. Second only to a braid is long hair that is banded every three to four inches. Many banded ponytails have the look of a nice braid.
I've come across a number of stills on FLICKR.COM and videos on YOUTUBE.COM that show guys with waist length and longer braids being cut off. I do not for the life of me understand how they can do that. (Please don't everyone respond to this statement with all the platitudes about individuals' rights, etc., etc.) Whatever their reasoning, I personally find it very sad.
I do not have a braid, not is my hair long enough to be braided. And for many reasons, it never will be. But I have always been someone who absolutely loves long hair, and admires all those who have gone through the time and trouble of attaining and maintaining really long hair. I live vicariously through all of you who have what I can only dream of. I wish you all a long life of continued growth.
Michael, are your reasons really so insurmountable? When I read of a man like you so clearly wanting long hair for yourself it seems like nothing short of "it would kill my aged mother" should prevent you having what you need. Perhaps your hair doesn't grow as long as you would like or cover your head fully but even heads like that can grow enough to braid. Your other reasons may be more social roadblocks but those too can be worked around depending on the circumstances.
Assuming it can never be despite assistance available here I will say go out and buy a long wig if you have not done so already. It is fun to braid hair and a wig works the same way. Your mind gets to wander and think as your fingers repeat the motions, braiding by a friend gives some nice time together. A wig has the added benefit of letting you take it off to get a good look at your work or braid it off you then pop it on. (Wish I could do that!)
Two other things occur to me for a braiding fan. Can you grow a beard instead? Those look great in braids too. Also, a friend of mine shaves his head but braids for others in his family and one day hopes to work at a braiding booth at a renaissance festival. You don't have to be braidable to have braiding in your life.
Elizabeth
What wonderful, heartfelt suggestions, Elizabeth. I think you covered all the bases regardign reasons why one mightn't be able to grow long hair for themselves and then went on to state that it could very well be irrelevant anyway if braiding was the actual passion.
To Michael:
you obviously live where there are enough social freedoms for a person to access the internet: a virtual repository of ideas that any truly repressive culture would highly sensor. That said, perhaps there are medical reasons for not growing?
I'm not probing, just trying to understand how one who so obviously LOVES long hair doesn't have it himself.
Cheers!
Shawn (Mr. Crow)
Thanks Elizabeth & Mr. Crow for your kind words or concern. But to be honest, there's no physical reason behind my decission not to "let it grow". It's very much a societal issue. I know, I know, I know . . . I shouldn't allow such pressures to influence my life decissions, but in my world, they do, and that's not likely to change any in the very near future.
Anyway, for now, I'm reasonably satisfied with the knowledge that there are others around (all you folks) who are "going for the gold", and who I admire greatly . . . who continue to post to this board . . . who keep us all informed of your progress . . . who allow us to become part of your world. And for that I am truely greatful.
Yes, perhaps I am living vicariously through all of you, but as I said, I'm reasonably satisfied with that . . . for now anyway. Meanwhile, you (all of you) provide a great deal of inspiration so that, who knows, I might someday find myself in the position where I feet comfortable enough to crack the mold.
It is not that you shouldn't let societal pressures determine your hairstyle, just that it is a choice. Right now you have decided it is more valuable to you to not grow your hair and that is okay, you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. There certainly are times where hairstyle justifiably takes a backseat to necessities in life.
When that day comes I think you will find it is not as bad as you feared. In some ways growing your hair is even easier than overnight changes like wearing a different style. Just know yourself well enough to know you won't regret waiting so long when your turn to have long hair comes. In not permitting yourself something you want so very much you may be harder on yourself than the societal pressures could ever be.
Elizabeth