Do any of you put chopsticks in your hair? I tried it for the first time today. Usually people see women use them because there aren't many long haired men. What are your thoughts on them?
I don't wear chopsticks in my hair. I generally see Asian (mainly Chinese) women put chopsticks in their hair. There is one picture of a man in the User Directory that does show him wearing a chopstick in his hair.
Regardless
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There are things called hairsticks that are like chopsticks but shorter. Some people even use chopsticks but cut them down, otherwise they are too long. Normally they are used to hold a bun in place. Not many guys wear their hair in a bun to begin with, but there are a few here who do, and some of them use hairsticks.
I have messed around with putting my hair in a bun, and even tried holding it in place with actual chopsticks, but it didn't feel too secure. My issues with buns are firstly that most of the ways to retain the hair in the bun are perceived as feminine, and secondly that because my hair is thin and fine it almost dissappears if I bun it, which I suppose could even be useful one day?
I believe our board member Elizabeth Regina has a pair of hairsticks with pandas on them, if I remember correctly. I was there when she bought them.
I've done it before. I even have some. It really does work but then again, it has to look just right in a guy's hair and it actually can get kind of uncomfortable and bump into things if you are not careful...so for casual use it seems a lot of work...
Personally, I used my knowledge to teach my girlfriend how to put sticks in the hair. And the experience teaches me to appreciate when a woman does her hair...after all she has to feel the same level of comfort when she puts sticks in the hair...
My usual daily bun is made using a chopstick, specifically, a 7.5 inch lightweight stainless steel chopstick.
Ah, the stick bun. I use this mainly just for exercising; keeping the hair off your neck while working up a sweat is a whole lot cooler!
When you're new at it, getting the hair to hold in place can be a bit tricky. Whilst some folks have mastered the technique[1] and can do it without needing anything else to secure their hair in place .. well, I've never been that successful.
My method involves starting with a mid-tail. Why mid? Just works out the best for my length. Twirl the hair as you twist around and when you get to the end, try to tuck it into the middle. Take the chopstick/hairstick and insert it from the top, pinning it first through some of the hair above the tail, through the band that holds it in place, and finally pin it through some hair underneath the tail.
That generally works pretty well for me. Depending upon how tight it is, it can easily be worn all day with no issue. For your amusement, some[2] photos[3] of my first attempts at bun making below.
Good luck!
[1]
Most guys do not have enough, or long enough hair to use chop sticks. But food skewers work beaitifully. You may wish to cut them off to about 5", but the technique is simple. Twist hair into a bun, and insert one of the skewers, weaving up and down, but make sure that the down motion covers the ends. Then insert the second skewer, at more or less right angles. It is remarkably simple. It even works with tooth picks, unless your hair is very thick. I have colored mine blue or green, so that the natural wood color does not stand out. You could color them to match your hair.
Cal