new thread
Aloha, y'all! I'm a longhair, have been for a while... been growing my hair out for about 85 months (7 years) now, still haven't hit terminal. I learned to care for it from my ex-girlfriend and other female friends, and I've improved on their methods since we don't all have the same type of hair. Anyway, I am trying to figure out some alternative hairstyles. I am a machinist and weldor and do some sculpture on the side, and these things can be very hard on unprotected hair. I typically cover it with a hat or bandanna, but of course that leaves the tail! I either put it up in a twist-bun or braid it and slip it inside my shirt, but the bun is uncomfortable and the braid gets boring after a while. I'm looking for suggestions on some other ways to put up my hair. Right now my only options are bun, braid from tie at base of skull, braid without tie at base of skull... very limited variety. Anyway, thanks!
Welcome, Zinguvok! Thats is one superb looking braid!
I cant really give you any tips because i am MILES away from that length. I think the best tips you can receive would be from user TROLLEYPUP or user ABSALOM. They have some really LONG manes.
Take care
Aloha Zinguvok,
Welcome to our community here and thank for posting the picture. You certainly know how to braid your hair there and it's good to know that you've had some great advice from people there. I was going to suggest a bun but you said you already do that. I know that you will get some good advice here and several of our community hair their hair in different ways.
I'm sure our resident braid expert Jason will have some great advice as well.
Do keep in touch and keep it growing look forward to you update pictures soon.
Regards,
John.B
I do the same kind of work. I also do powder coating 'in-house' and there is a small amount of fine dust suspended in the air. The dust powder gets into your hair and makes it feel dirty.
I usually just take a shower after shooting powder. But yesterday I tried wearing a plastic shower cap while powder coating. I tucked my pony tail up into the cap, the elastic band around the cap kept everything in place. It worked good. I work alone and the whole process only takes 15 minutes so I don't mind how it looks, which is goofy.
For welding and other shop procedures I don't know.....
95% of what I do is TIG, so there are no fumes or smoke really.
If I was MIG or stick welding I'd want to wash my hair daily,
which I don't like to do.
David
Canada
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I am a machinist and weldor and do some sculpture on the side, and these things can be very hard on unprotected hair. I typically cover it with a hat or bandanna, but of course that leaves the tail! I either put it up in a twist-bun or braid it and slip it inside my shirt, but the bun is uncomfortable and the braid gets boring after a while. I'm looking for suggestions on some other ways to put up my hair. Right now my only options are bun, braid from tie at base of skull, braid without tie at base of skull... very limited variety. Anyway, thanks!
Yikes, powder coating! Shower cap seems _very_ sensible. And if you feel dirty from the powder, straight into the shower! Unfortunately most of the welding I do is FCAW with 75/25 or solid wire MIG with CO2, which means nasties everywhere. I usually tie a bandanna over my hair to keep the sputterballs off and help reduce the amount of smoke that sticks to it. I wash my hair every second day, usually, but I am not doing production welding -- usually no more than half an hour to a few hours per day. Fitup takes ten times that, usually... ugh! Got to remember the shower cap, though, me and some friends may be setting up a little spray booth soon.
First of all welcome!
Second, take a look down the board and check-out all the various styles that Jason and Franny have been creating together
(lots of different posts)
Great to have such an experienced longhair join us :-)
Wow, dude! Your hair rocks harder than a metal concert. Congratulations on reaching this far; I'd love to have length like that.
As to putting it up, well, have you tried different types of buns? I know there's something called the bee-butt bun, and I think there are others, but their names don't come to mind. A simple suggestion for modifying your bun is hairsticks, if you don't think they're too feminine. I've seen a guy with one on this board, and he looked awesome, so it's a good thing to check out. Out of curiosity, why is the bun uncomfortable for you? Do you possibly tie your hair back too firmly? Whenever I do a bun, it feels fine to me.
Once more, great growth!
Peace, dude.
Thanks, I appreciate it! \m/
I do tie my bun a little tight. I try to be conscious of it to keep the roots from getting sore, but if it is too loose it bobbles around really obnoxiously. I can't seem to get hairsticks to really restrain it well but it is probably worth further investigation, especially if I were to use one of those two-pronged ones... or use a stick on it with it braided, which to date I only do to keep it out of the way while I shower. I'll look into the bee-butt, as I only know one way to bun my hair right now. Thanks again.
That's a nice braid! And I don't think braid are boring at all!
Zinguvok
Welcome to the Board
Very Impressive braid you got there starting to like seeing the pictures of braids more & more since Jason posted all different styles to wear your hair in different braids i think they are incredible way to wear your hair especially when it serves a purpose which is very few tangles in wearing the style and 7 years is a very long time with long hair I can assume you never wear your hair down any longer as it would certainally get in the way id like to see more pictures of your hair in the other styles to that you mentioned !
Axel
Awesome braid. It never ceases to amaze me, the people who have been growing for years and then just suddenly post. There are so many lurkers out there, or people with really fantasic hair who just don't know we exist, or who aren't online. I envy your braiding ability, and your talents; wish I had more mechanical ability.
And, I really don't have a great answer; but maybe you might consider something I've been wanting to try: A turban. You might not want to wear it outside the shop, and it looks silly without a beard, and people might think you're a terrorist which is a shame. I hope we get by that at some point; because turbans are a time-tested way to control your hair, and implications aside, it's a cool look. To reduce the terror factor, consider a floral print or something. Or... a tie-died turban? What would people make of that? Gold star to whoever posts the first tie-died turban pic.
Aloha, and WELCOME to our community! Your braid is awesome and is something to be really proud of. Your hair is in excellent condition, I am so glad you discovered us and have shared this inspirational photo with us.
If you are seeking out new styles, why don't you check out the links section and have a look at Jason's web page. He has demonstrated an enormous variety of styles to wear long hair including different types of braids, halftails, various ponytails, and of course, worn loose.
Hope this helps, and welcome to our community!
David
Hi and welcome to the board Zinguvok!Well my first comment would be that your hair is outstanding and certainly worth the seven years it took to grow it that long.If you can muster some additional length than I would go for it.Anyway here is my answer to your dilemma regarding protecting your hair at work.As you can see by my avatar pic my hair is quite long too and I work in the HVAC field as a service technician meaning working around machinery with revolving parts such as fans,etc.This is basically how I protect my hair so it doesn't wrap around some motor shaft or other dastardly device.First I grab my hair as to ponytail it and put on a scruncy tie.I then pull the tail over the top of my head sort of across the center part.Then I pick up a baseball cap and put it on my head and before I pull it down tight to my head I take the tail end and wrap it towards the back of my head near the base of the cap and then tuck it underneath.Finally I pull the cap closer to my head and bingo your hair is contained and covered protecting it from debris.Whats nice about this is that it stays put and people actually think you have short hair too!Little do they know.LOL.And also it takes less than five minutes to accomplish.The only way it might not work is if your hair is really thick and won't all stay under the cap.Mine it not like that so it works for me and hopefully for you too.Again great hair and welcome.Mark
That sounds pretty interesting. I think at this point I have more hair than will fit under a ball cap, though; it is rather thick. At one point I was wearing tam'o'shanters that could hold all my hair no matter how it was, but they're rather hot, surprisingly! That put the nix on them. Can't wear anything over them, either -- face shield, respirator, etc.
Yeah, I've had a few loose strands get caught by a lathe chuck once or twice. Nice little nip to remind me to keep it all tucked away! Imagine an HVAC fan would do much the same.
Your hair is awesome! The braid looks great, I can't wait till my hair is as long as that. Sorry I don't have any suggestions for styles, but the links section has a lot of cool sites that have different styles.
Keep it growing!
-Mihnea
Hey Zinguvok, would it be possible to see a pic with all that GREAT hair hanging down???
John
Sure! I'll have to remember to take one. I have one from before I most recently cut it -- forgot to mention I've had it cut twice, once around the 2yr mark and once just a month or two ago. Took 7" off the last time, 7" of nasty!
GREAT, can't wait to see it!!!
Aloha, Zinguvok!
That is one absolutely INCREDIBLE braid ya got there!!!!
I will hit the 7-year mark this June myself, --- and I *still* regret cutting my mane in Y2K... and have been growing it back ever since.
My guess is that when your hair is loose it probably reaches to your beltline. Mine is just starting to reach down that far; but yours looks quite a bit thicker & fuller, --- AND longer! I know that when I braid my hair, it, too "shrinks" up my back a little...
I am a gardener / landscaper, so I most frequently put my hair in a bun, or shove it under a hat when I work. It seems the safest to me that way, so I don't even question doing it anymore. I wish I had some other ideas for what to suggest as more "interesting" ways to wear long hair for work. I don't; although when I'm off-duty... now that's a different story (lol)!!
- Ken in San Francisco
Thank you! Yup, right at the belt now! When I cut it it just happened to fall there -- which I was thrilled about, there are a lot of annoying problems that happen when it gets much longer. It does get considerably shorter when it's braided, thank goodness. Although a waist-length braid will be interesting...
Welcome Zinguvok, you have a very nice waist length braid. As for protecting your hair from damage, the only thing I can think of is to do a segmented ponytail with about 7 or 8 hair ties at about 4 inch intervals. Coil the tail on top of your head and cover it with a baseball cap. That is the only thing I can think of. This should keep sparks and debris out of your hair, allowing you grow it even longer, if you wish to do so.
Absalom
Great looking hair mate! I couldn´t help to notice that boomerang on the wall. Do you know how to throw them?
Yeh, but I can't get 'em to come back yet... LOL. Someday!
!!! Long !!! The fact that it is a braid just makes it shorter. I wonder how long it will be it's lose. It looks very healthy and not damaged! I suppose it really is difficult to live with hair as long as that but the bun sounds like a solution to me like the others said. Maybe you should experiment so that it isn't tight or too spacious (lol)
How long are you planning to grow it? Terminal?
Terminal, unless something happens. If something gnarly should occur (fire, head injury) I'll shave it and keep it that way for a while, I think. Provided I can still think. Appears that there's a demand for pictures of it down...! Maybe tomorrow morning.
Nice
you have very beautiful hair
a.