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My son (nearly 15) has very long hair (midback) and my daughter (11) has knee length hair. BOTH of them constantly get "cut your hair" remarks, and I get dirty looks for my role in being "permissive". My kids are straight A students and very nice, good kids. I feel like I should have a comeback, how do I stop the comments or respond in a polite way? Hubby is "grudgingly accepting" but not really helpful.
Also, is there a masculine looking hair holder for the debates and concerts which require a suit and tie?
I'll hit the second question first. Basic dark colored fabric hairties are probably the simplest "masculine" looking hair holder. As discussed in a recent thread, ponytails, segmented ponytails or braids are commonly used in more "formal" occasions for men with long hair.
As for the comments, your reaction might be based on who is making the comments. If it is a stranger making the comment, one simple response is to simply ignore them. After all, does their opinion of your children's hair really matter that much. Another is to say something like: "You're entitled to your opinion, but my child and I prefer his/her hair just the way it is."
If the comments are coming from a family member, or someone else you know, the response immediately above might also work.
Jim
Not sure how to avoid comments...just ignore them I guess...
For formal occasions, I'd just do a ponytail with a regular elastic hair band in some neutral/masculine color...you could even match the color to the color of the tie or shirt.
Otherwise there are metal ones with various designs that you could order online...for a price though...
http://www.johnmroczek.com/index.html
...is just one of them...leather ones might be an option too...and with the right design, one cannot claim these items will be not masculine enough...
I've got a tail cuff that my mom got for me a couple of years ago. I don't wear it much because my tail is very narrow and it doesn't look quite right. Gotta work on that a bit. I'll post some pics when I get back into town [currently on a business trip].
--Rick
Hey, bring it over and we'll try it out on my beard!
Bill
Actually, it'd probably look very cool!
--Rick
As a mother myself of a teenage son and daughter who also get straight A's and tend to express themselves frequently with their hair, my comment is that I hardly think hair is important, when there are issues like school, sex, drugs and drinking to deal with.
That's pretty much all I say, and generally it shuts people up.
Hope that helps some. It's sad that people try to make this their business.
(n/t)
Wonderful! I wish my mum had let me grow my hair that long when I was 14.
I don't really have one, other than "I like it like this". Or "who cares, I'm young" (I'll have to think of something else when I get "old").
I use a plain black hair tie. Another guy I know uses a blond one (to match his hair, you can hardly see it, but you know it must be there).
1st off, don't feel that you need to defend anything with a comeback as you don't. These people(?) if such they be called don't deserve a polite anything. But they DO deserve to be totally ignored no matter what they say. Don't even look at them. "If" one is a "friend," that person is NOT a friend afterall and should be ditched. Pretend that they do not even exist as they are nothing but meddlers looking for trouble. When they don't get the satisfaction they are looking for they will tire of harassing you and find another target to play with instead and try and make a different life miserable.
They can only taunt you if you let them.
Dear Mom,
Do your children really wish to have long hair? And do they want to stand with you as you stand with them to protect their freedom?
Then, I suggest that you discuss this with them carefully, and tell them of your plan: Tell people it is an expression of your religion.
The vast maajority of people do not know anything about religtion, but will be unable to respond, speechless.
One's religtion need not consists of a mega church, but if people ask what religion, one can repond: The religion of Freedom, of self-development, etc. etc.
Yes, I wear Celtic Clasps, and I can give you directions for buying them. They are hot terribly expensive, but are tasteful, and they are congruent with my religion: I am a Wizard like Merlin, others might say A Druid, but I think of myself as a proto-Presbyterian.
I believe in freedom for everyone, compassion for everyone, no victimless crimes, and the opporunity for food, shelter and health care for everyone.
Caledonian
There is a guy on here called "Hair Religion" (aka Erik), and that is also the name of the religion that he founded (ummm, Hair religion, not Erik). He is also a minister of the Universal Life Church, the sole tenet of which is "Always do the right thing". I am also a minister of Hair Religion (probably the only other one except for Erik himself?) and am also ordained as a minister in the ULC.
If you are looking for a religion that believes in having long hair, welcome aboard! You can't say that HR dictates that you must have long hair, though, only that it reveres long hair, just to be clear about it. For more details, see the website.
http://members.tripod.com/hairreligion/
When my son was a junior in HS, he and a couple of his friends dyed their hair; it was a bright white/yellow. When people commented I simply told them this:
My kids make good grades, and I have no real problems with them. Then I look around and see all the problems others are having with their kids. If hair is the biggest issue I have with my kids I am truly blessed.
That pretty much ends it on the spot.
I get the same remarks. I'm 15 years old, and mines almost waist length. When they ask stuff I answer their questions such as "why don't you cut it?" I simply respond "Because I like my hair". But when people touch my hair and just start being physical, I get mad. A lot of my family gives me grief too except my mother. Just let comments roll off their backs, that's what I do.
Hope everything works out,
Josh
Put it in a tail, and it'll look fine with a suit.