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In the 1980's I remember a lot of my long haired friends, cutting off their hair for special events, like weddings, or even still, when they decided to do something with their lives, like taking on a cause, like participating at charity benifits, or getting involved in politics. Being stubborn, I never cut off my waist-length hair more than an inch or two (for split ends), and was shyed away from society because of my hair. I took up a job as a bike messenger, and had a boss with a good attitude, that was tuck my hair under a cap. The wind messed it up while riding my bike, and my hair got caught in my back pack's straps, which wasn'nt pleasant at all. Tucking my waist-length hair under a cap, was a great solution, and even after having it washed, people were convinced I got a crewcut. I often teased other long-hairs about their hair and took off my cap to surprise them as well.
In my life, I have attended two weddings, and one funeral, without cutting one inch of my hair. My best friend's mom died two years ago of a heart attack, and I just dug up the best clothes I could put on, and attended the funeral. Nobody made any comment whatsoever about my hair, which I washed clean, and tied neatly.
Recently, because of a brother with autism, I became more involved with the local autistic society, and even spoke in public, and to media, about autism, and never had to cut an inch of my hair.
I have, myself a mild form of Autism, called Asperger's Syndrome, (www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/) that is I tend to stick to routines, and detest changes (including in my hair and dress styles). I have the same look I had in 1979 as a student. One symptom of autism, is the inability to read facial, and body language, and I tend to rely 100% on written and spoken word to communicate. Tones of voice, inflections are either ambiguous or meaningless to me. The good side of this, is that when I am alone on a bus, I never notice if somebody is giving me dirty looks, (I cannot tell if someone is looking at me, the adresses in the window behind my back, or just lost in his thoughts and happens to be looking at me without knowint it). I simply cannot interpret any nonverbal reactions of people, to the point that when I am alone on the bus, I have a peaceful ride, and when I am with someone, I am told, that such and such a passenger is staring at me or giving me dirty looks.
This aspect, of not being able to tell who is giving me dirty looks, helped me keep my hair without being self-councious about what other people think.
Have a nice day,
Georges Huard
Recently I was at a wedding where the best man had long hair. It was about mid-back in lenth and he wore it back in a ponytail. About half-way through the night it was his turn to have his picture taken with the maid of honor. Before the bride allowed the picture to be taken, she insisted that he undo the ponytail and comb it out so that it hung down in front. When the picture was done he was going to put it back in a ponytail and this time the maid of honor insisted that he keep it just the way it was.
I think that the day of men having to get their long hair cut for special occassions is past.
Bill
At my wedding my hair was nearing mid-back and I usually wore it in a pony tail, but a kind of trade mark I always part it on the side [I decided long ago that I didn't like the way I looked with my hair parted in the middle. The day before the weeding I had it trimmed (a quarter inch or less)and won compliments about it. But lets face it, I also looked great in the tux too! One of the brides maids helped to fancy-up the hair-tie by wrapping it with ribbon. If I do cut it (it is starting to get thin up there)it will be more tramatic to my wife than me, even if I do it in stages. Currently, it is nearing my waist but sadly I don't think it will make it.
At my wedding my hair was nearing mid-back and I usually wore it in a pony tail, but as kind of trade mark I always part it on the side [I decided long ago that I didn't like the way I looked with my hair parted in the middle]. The day before the wedding I had it trimmed (a quarter inch or less off)and won compliments about it. But lets face it, I also looked great in the tux too! One of the brides maids helped to fancy-up the hair-tie by wrapping it with ribbon. If I do cut it (it is starting to get thin up there)it will be more tramatic to my wife than me, even if I do it in stages. Currently, it is nearing my waist but sadly I don't think it will make it. But, I'll support other long hairs, including my son who will carry on the look.