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I started growing my hair 3 - 1/2 years ago with the agreement with my company bosses that it must be neat, clean and tidy. I have lived up to that end of the agreement, but now (in my mind) I am coming to a crossroads. My hair is almost waist length (about an inch and one-half more growth (probably by Christmas) and it will be).
Since this company bent policy to allow me to have the long hair, should I defer to them and keep it at or above waist length, or should I allow it to keep growing until I get to terminal or an obviously too long length? I really appreciate working here (and am appreciated...) but I don't want to push my luck.
Any thoughts out there?
You started growing your hair out 3 1/2 years ago and it's already at waist length ??? Wow ! Now tell us all how you can grow it that fast!
The only answer I can give you on that one is genetics.... Everyone's hair on my Dad's side of the family grew at about twice the normal rate. It varies from month to month, but on average my hair grows close to an inch a month. (When I had short hair, it was a pain in the butt having to go to a barber twice as often as everyone else.) Now, I guess I have to call myself very, very lucky.
Bill B.
Do you know anyone that can do some gene splicing for me, cause I have spent the last ten years growing my hair and it is only just passed my butt!
Should you grow it longer than waist lenght? Go for it. In the
wake of the WTC, life is too short. Go for it now because you
never know what tomorrow will bring.
Besides you can say you are being patriotic by defying the
dictates of the Taliban. {See the previous posts about
forced haircuts in Afganistan.)
I've not seen any guys where I work with hair below the waist, but there are a couple of women who do. They function in their jobs as well as anyone else. Seems to me that if you keep it clean, trimmed and well brushed your employer shouldn't have any valid complaint, whatever the length unless you work with dangerous machinery or something).
I admire your sense of responsibility, Bill. But unless your employers are acting or sounding impatient about your hair, I don't think you're under any particular obligation to trim. If I were you, I'd just let it continue to grow until making a change felt right (or your bosses finally spoke up). Besides, you're several feet closer to terminal length than most guys -- it would be a shame to not go the rest of the way if you can possibly manage it.
Good luck!
Hi Bill, what would be any different about waist length hair compared to hair not quite that long? It's still clean, neat and tidy, and if there was a safety or image issue for your employer they would have complained about your having mid-back length hair. If they haven't brought up anything further, why should you feel concerned on their behalf? The only thing I've noticed is that waist length hair does require a bit more attentiveness about keeping out of your way when you sit down.
What type of work do you do?
Cheers
Chris
Chris I am a application systems development specialist for a large computer outsourcing firm in Texas. (I have been with the same company for about 10 years....) And yes, I have noticed the getting the hair caught when you sit down. That may make me get it trimmed a "little" bit. Definitely not funny.
Bill
Do you have a photo of your waist length hair to share with us?
John
No, but I have several hundred of the new grandson... . I think we have worn out a new Canon EOS camera just since he was born in January. I will see what I can do to get one posted.Bill
There are other qualifications important for working in a company as hair length, how you cooperate with your colleagues and how important your work is for your company. I think if you convince with your personality your hair should not be a theme.
If you ask your boss if your hair is pleasant for him or not you will get an individual answer, and I think it is not correct that you submit your attitude under his opinion.
Nevertheless, if you have doubts they could be founded and I think it is better to support the image of long hairs in a company with shorter (long) hair than to be considered to be an extremist.
I personally have long hair down to my shoulder blades and no acceptance problems (that are known to me). And I am intended to let it grow as long as it will go and as long as it will not look ugly.
wolfgang
I agree w/ the others. If the company hasnt said anything, then there isnt any reason to cut it. However if they request that it be shorter you can always braid it and then secure the end back to the underside of the top of the braid with a scrunchi. This would half the length that your hair drapes down. My friend with butt long hair stopped doing this very often because people would come up to her in a near heart attack state and say "My God! You cut your hair?!?". Another thing she does is do the same thing with loose hair and a barret. At first, people dont noticed that the ends arent just curled under a bit but are actually clipped way up in the barret.
As for the problem of sitting on your hair, well there is an awkward phase then you learn to always tuck your chin when you sit -this should give you room to move your head. Other aternatives are to put it over a shoulder when sitting or to grab it and flip it over the back of the chair. When it gets long enough to get caught in or run over by wheeled chairs you can braid it and stick it in your pants pocket. ;)
Keep it growing! I love guys with long hair ;)
Tarnisha