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You can use your hair to set the tone of your interactions with others. When you are in an area like a rough neighborhood you can mess your hair up and give yourself that wildman look and people are less likely to bother you especially if you combine it with a days worth of beard growth. I've gotten by with intimidating guys a lot bigger than I. I won't go into detail on that. Or you can comb it in a more effeminate manner to become non threatening and put mostly other men at ease around you. But I've noticed women are more friendly toward me with my hair long.
Acutally it can work both ways, women will think your some type of serial killer if your hair is all messed up. But if your hair looks better than theirs they may be jealous but it puts them at ease that at least your ok.
You may be on to something with the jealousy. Perhaps that is why it is often hard to get advice or help from girls with long hair....they do not want competition!