new thread
2nd message right address this time !!!
at 46 1 have a full head of hair ( no receeding yet ), about 2ins long and I want to just let it grow but...... how do I fend of jibes such as "he is going through the mid life crisis thing" " and " what a joke"
How do I grow it but keep looking okay working in a very, very, very conservative enviroment ???
Has anyone else been in this situation ?? How did you get through it ??
All advice gratefully recieved
Cheers from the UK
Ian
Of course you're not too old!
I first grew my hair starting at 38 - I'm now 41. People will get used to it. As I do not yet have much grey hair, I'm often mistaken for being younger than I am. You'll get a lot of comments during the awkward phase - they'll settle down when your hair gets longer.
The best thing is to ignore the wisecracks - or distract them by piercing your ears (I did at 40)!
Good luck, and most importantly, HAVE FUN with your hair!
-Zorba
Ian-
Be of good cheer! I'm 57, 11 months into growing my hair out. I also work in a conservative (Engineering) environment; but perhaps not *very* conservative. No real problems. If you respond as I did, you'll be very self-conscious at first; but most of it is unnecessary. People will notice- just grin and tell 'em you want to see what it's like while you still *have* hair. Or any of a number of responses you can obtain from similar posts on the board or in its archives
We all go through the "awkward stage"; about 9 months for me. Again- many, many posts offer suggestions. In general, keeping it neat & clean is all anyone should want. You *can* hide it (hats) or slick it down in various ways. I just kept it combed behind my ears until there was too much, then let it fall naturally.
For great general discussion of what to expect, I recommend you read Greg Lovern's "How to Grow Your Hair Out" (http://gregl.net/longhair/longhair.htm) and Bill Choisser's "On Being A Longhair" (http://www.choisser.com/longhair).
You are never too old to be true to yourself.
We are all of us too soon in the grave, with most of us having never done what we wanted. So don't let the opportunity to experience a whole new facet of yourself pass you by.
I am 63 years old and work in engineering. My hair has been growing for 7 years and is now down to my butt. I wear it many ways: French braid, high pony tail, braided high pony tail, the latter put into a bun, and a French twist.
My hair is always neat. No one has ever given me a hard time.
John
some day it will reach my waiste........i never get and hard time about my hair eirther....maybe behind my back but thay dont say anything to me......i dont ever see me getting a short haircut again i like it long to much for that........well keep it long john
>: at 46 1 have a full head of hair ( no receeding yet ), about 2ins >long and I want to just let it grow but...... how do I fend of jibes >such as "he is going through the mid life crisis thing" " and " what >a joke"
I'm 46 and determined to grow my hair long again. In 1968 I had a stroke and had my hair cut off. Now I'm determined to grow it back.
It was waist length. I've found that with short hair I look too young, I need the long hair to look more my age.
I've found the best way to keep it neat is to wear it in a pony
tail or braid it. Whatever you do...don't give in and cut it.
..by having a *new* country - for want of a better name, "FreeLand",
where folks like you and me could be free, freer than in the U.S.,
freer than in Canada, maybe freer than in the U.K., - to live our
own lives without interference from values-ridden others, be they
cops, "child-welfare" folks, education "authorities", employers
trying to run our lives, religious zealots, whatever - you may
think of others..
...*BUTTTT* we need *land* for the new country, and a constitution
to protect us from harmful legislation etc.
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How about one more story? I am 41 and have been growing my hair long for the first time in my life for about 10 months now. I am able to put it in a ponytail now, and it looks very neat for work that way. I live in a very conservative part of the U.S., and I was in the dreaded awkward stage while interviewing for a new job (who knew when I started this whole thing?). I got the job. I start it next week (I am a teacher). This is what I am finding:
1) Often, now that it is long enough to be clear that I am wearing it long, women tell me how much they like my hair. Very often!
2) Other men at times have admitted that they want to do the same thing but don't have the nerve. My guess is that for every one that has admitted it, there are several others who remain silent but feel the same.
3) To the few who have dared make a "mid-life crisis" remark, I calmly and cooly say: Oh no, the midlife crisis was _______. (And then I name some other event in my life of a few years earlier. Then I say:) Growing my hair long is just something I have always wanted to do. I figure at 41 what I do with my hair really is my choice. If I deliver this without any "attitude" I can get into some very interesting conversations. This is where other men often admit they would like to do the same thing.
4) I have come to observe, and this helps when I am feeling some anxiety about what others may think, that no one would ever dare say any of these things to a woman about her hair, length, style or color. All of my life I have openly and actively supported equal rights for women, which means equal rights and respect for us all. Time to live some of that for myself.
Hang in there. If you keep your hair neat and clean, even through the awkward stage, your conservative co-workers will likely be okay.
Robert
Go for it, man!
Like Zorba I started growing my full head of hair out at age 37, 3 years ago and I never regretted it.
I also get the "looking younger" comments.
Thanks to all for your positive comments since posting my question........got my first " its about time you got your hair cut " today...I simply smiled and said " I'm growing it out"..felt great that someone could see a change that I am not that aware off..... and no I won't be going for a cut!
Ian
I am 58 years old and my hair is down to my waist.....and I could care the least of what people think. "Just do it!" "Remember, do what you want to do!" I live in California where we might be considered off-the-cuff!