new thread
Hi Everyone,
I've always wanted long hair and think it suits me best, but have consistently managed to get my hair cut short again & again throughout the years as it began to get "unruly" and awkward sprouting out of a shorter "trendy haircut" / style.
Now that I own my own business (age 35), I'm less concerned about the corporate "politics" or perceptions that may have been disadvantageous or an issue to me in the past at a Fortune 500 company - and would now very much like to make long hair a reality for me.
All that said, my hair is still very short by "long hair" standards (probably only a couple inches in length on average) and I'm now getting to the stage where I am "instinctively" feeling the urge to "clean things up" with a trim...
Any advice on how to "mentally" overcome this mental urge and not keep going backwards?
What "tricks" or tips can you share to FINALLY get me out of my "boring" short hair style and on with the my long hair "fun"? :)
Thanks! -RICK
Welcome, Rick!!!
There are as many ways to deal with growing your hair out as there are hairs on your head; but the secret to making it through the famous "awkward stage" FAST, is to trim it as little as possible (or better yet, not at all).
Truthfully, though, I didn't succeed myself at the above advise, --- when I was growing my mane out for the 1st time, at least. I had trims (including several times for "re-styling"). I used gel. I used hair spray (YUK!!). I wore hats... But, by late '99, I had hair that reached all the way down to my waist!
Unfortunately, in Y2K, I cut it all off to short. Regretting that impulsive decision deeply, I couldn't wait to grow my long hair back. So, the 2nd time of growing my mane out, I did practically NOTHING, --- very few trims (and even then, just 1/2 inch or less off); little or no gel; no hairspray whatsoever; and hats only for fun (as well as bandanas, which are way cooler than gel - lol).
The hard part about anybody's fist time growing is that you're so used to seeing yourself a certain way in the mirror, --- and that it's easy to CONTROL short hair... Long hair, on the other hand, has a "life of its own". It moves when you move (and not always in the way you wish it would move - lol). It blows in the wind (and I do mean, BLOWS LIKE CRAZY, --- and ALL OVER)!!! And until you can get it long enugh to restrain back into a ponytail, you will be tempted, over and over, to go back to short...
It's a journey. At times, hellish; but for me during my 2nd time growing it out, I instead found it a HELLUVA LOT OF FUN!!!! The secret is in letting go of your "old self", and being willing to discover the lessons in store for you in meeting the new!
- Ken in San Francisco
Hey Ken,
For my case the first time was the easiest , that can sound weird but the first time i cut my hair i was 8... so i'm really a born longhair :) i keept shorthaired until my 15 when i decided to grow my hair , with no reason , just beceause it was logical , but this time , the second , it was (and still is) the hardest...
Cya ;)
My hair Journal
WOW, Angel, that's amazing that you had never had a haircut until 8 years old! I've only known of a sparse few other guys that grew up from age 0 without a haircut. From as far back as i can remember, I always hated haircuts, --- I can even remember back to when i was about 3, when my dad brought me into a barber shop, and I couldn't stop crying and kicking and screaming...
Yes, I can totally understand where in your case, the first time growing out was probably VERY easy. I only wish adults were as relaxed as kids!
- Ken
probably because at 8 you don't care about what the other people think
Congratulations and welcome!
I believe its a good step in your life.
- get some hair clips.
- if the hair clips are too pointy, use a grinding machine.
- you can try a gel or a bandana, if it is more accepted (or unnoticed) in the place where do you live.
- FORGET about a haircut or trimming. During my awkward stage, which is now after two years slowly coming to the end, I have trimmed only once and I still regret it.
- make photos at least every month in the same style, to see how its growing. Such a "progress animation" can improve your morale. And you'll have something to share with us :o)
- be mentally strong and keep humour when/if dealing with people with outdated or primitive (anti-longhair) attitudes. These people are mostly bothering the guys who are still in the awkward stage.