new thread
I fully realize that this is the Men's LONG Hair Hyperboard; but, once in awhile I like to reflect back on the days of when I had more modest-length hair...
What defines "medium-length" VS "long" hair? I don't know. I'll take a stab at defining it, though (lol)....
OK, so here's my interpretation of "medium" hair:
Hair that is longer than your average traditional-looking male hairstyle; yet shorter than what most guys would identify as a true, hardcore, "longhair"...
To get even more specific about it, here's a further definition (my own view on the subject, at least):
When a guy's hair in front (his bangs or fringe) is starting to fall across his eyes, covers his ears on the side, and crawls over his collar in back; but, is not yet long enough to bind into a full ponytail in back (in other words, not yet shoulder-length)... then THIS, to me, is "medium-length."
In other words... what we commonly call the "awkward stages" of hair growth!
Occasionally I see hairstyles on guys, though, that INTENTIONALLY is meant to be kept at this length... And, quite frankly, I am all FOR IT!!! Although most of us did indeed look rather "awkward" before our manes got long enough to tail (I'll admit that mine did, at least), a few lucky guys on the planet are so follicly blessed as to look downright GOOD that way. One example that comes immediately to mind is Tom Cruise in the "Mission Impossible" movie.
Although currently I have no desire whatsoever to cut my hair shorter, *IF* i ever did someday... I think I'd much prefer cutting back to something more "medium-length" than ever going back to something completely, "short"...
I'm curious to hear other's thoughts on this subject...
What about YOU??
Thanks in advance for any replies!
- Ken in San Francisco
I personally like to have my hair at medium length like you talk about. This is why I don't contribute to this board much because I'm not really a true long hair. But my hair is longer than most men, and in the eyes of most of society, my hair is long. Most dress codes are very specific and say any hair over the ears or collar is long hair, so as far as the larger society is concerned, any hair longer than this is all long hair.
I support the right of any man to grow his hair as long as he wants and not be discriminated against for it. But I personally feel most comfortable with medium length hair.
Men with long hair, or men whose goal is to grow to terminal length, should be supportive of men who wear medium length hair because the more men there are walking around with medium length hair, the more accepted long haired men will be.
I agree totally, I think anyone, men and women, should have the right to grow thier hair to any length, from total buzzhead and to the floor! Personally I don't like the buzzhead thing, but that should be thier right also. As for medium length, I think thats great, as it is still longer than the length society seems to be stuck at.
Bruce
I support the right of any man to grow his hair as long as he wants and not be discriminated against for it.
Men with long hair, or men whose goal is to grow to terminal length, should be supportive of men who wear medium length hair because the more men there are walking around with medium length hair, the more accepted long haired men will be.
Indeed, many in society would say, "You have long hair," but they would not say, "You are a longhair." The noun is most often applied to men with hair that is a bit longer than just touching the shoulders. This is also the length at which many people will begin to associate you with hippies, bikers, rockers, or other social groups to a large extent just because of your hair. Most discrimination other than by employers or educators kicks in when you are seen as being in a different social group, i.e., when you are seen as "a longhair". Employers and educators are so terrified of having a longhair in their midst that they may overreact long before you get there.
In general society, the noun "longhair" is also usually applied only to men. Women with long hair are not seen as being in a separate social group. The noun "longhair" meaning a person is one word, by the way, while in all other contexts the two syllables are two separate words, i.e., "I am a longhair and I have long hair."
On a related subject, I had my first discussion recently on what constitutes a "long beard". I had mentioned that there were just myself and one other man at a party, and someone else pointed out a third man. His beard was only four inches long. I thought about it later, and I realized to me the distinction is drawn when a man's beard freely moves separately from the motion of his head. If I turn my head rapidly, my beard will swing sideways and will follow my head a second later. A man who does not have a long beard will have his beard hair move along with his head. This is similar to what longhairs experience with their hair flopping around. (A four inch beard mostly stays with one's head, so I did not see that man's beard as long.)
Bill
I have been told by many people that what i have now is actually quite good, and a few people in my school who have more than a buzz keep it at around my length (usually just a bit shorter).
I cant wait to get out of this stage though, it drives me crazy for 4 reasons.
1. Everytime i slightly shift my position my bangs fall into my eyes, sometimes even poking me in the eye if i'm not wearing my glasses
2. It's long enough to stay over my collar, but not long enough for stray hairs not to tickle my neck and really annoy me
3. it's still short enough to stick up every morning WITHOUT FAIL, which means painful combing or looking like a demented porcupine all day.
4. Waiting for milestones, I am so close to being able to tuck bits of my bangs behind my ear, yet i seem to have been in that stage for months.
Overall, i cant wait for this stage to end
Beanz
...it won't be long now.
Bruce
I'm experiencing almost exactly the same stuff, however i can have a small tail in the back, but it still doesn't look good, i've been thinking of a small trim in the back to let the sides and bangs catch up a bit, but maybe i'll wait a few months more.
As much as I don't like telling people what they "should" or "shouldn't" do, Simon, I really HOPE you decide to not trim your hair in back. In one of your recent updates, it was really obvious in the photo of the back of your head that your hair is truly becoming LONG. I think if you trim it, you'll wish you hadn't. I say just hang it there and let it all grow.
Best regards,
Val
I meant "hang IN" there, not "hang IT" there.
Narf.
I personally hated when my hair was at the medium length stage. It goes in your face all the time, can't be pulled back into a ponytail, and doesn't look good. I only had medium length hair in order to achieve long hair. If I didn't have long hair I would have short hair. I don't think I'll ever have short hair again, because if I did and then wanted to grow it out again, I would have to go through that medium faze. Some people look good with medium hair, it's not for me though.
I have to say I love having medium length hair and if growing my hair long doesn't work out for me, I'd definitely cut it back to medium length over short. Even though I have to straighten it all the time, I still think it's really worth the effort
Apparently, I seem to look good with medium length too. This is based on some of the looks I got when I was first growing it out. Unfortunately, it's virtually impossible for me to maintain it that way. I would get cuts, and then it would take at least two months to look good, and then it would hit the awkward longhair stage. It just wasn't worth it to me, to look lousy and be unhappy with myself for two months (or more, if the barber was stupid and didn't know how to follow directions) before looking good, and then repeating the cycle... Longhair isn't subject to so much annoying variation.
Dear Urban,
I admire you and your hair, but...
I think what works, is very different for many people;
I had a very difficult time getting through the awkward stage because my hair is chaotically curly and wavy. There was no way I could stop there.
But my SO, whose hair is like Sam Elliott's. can wear his hair at any length. I hope Sam Elliott does not cut his hair, but at the most recent reported length it is magnificent. But earlier, in THANK YOUR FOR SMOKING, the medium length worked beautifully.
I wish I had such adaptable hair myself, but I am just glad that I have some at all, and having passed the awkward length, I will never go back -- though I do have techniques for survival for men who have chaotically curly/wavy hair as I do.
Cal