new thread
Regarding the 'insults' and comments about longer hair.
I recently dug up a picture of me in college. I had shoulder-length, beautiful hair.
It's a bit different when you are older. I'm in my very late 40's and my hair has been growing about 9 months. My Mom hates it (hates my beard, too, and I've had that since I was 18).
I got my first negative comment at work yesterday. A 50ish co-worker told me I really needed a haircut. I told her I was growing it out, and she said 'yuck!'
All in all, though, being older, I get very few comments. I think people aren't threatened by a middle-aged guy, and just chalk it up to eccentricity.
I told my friend at work that I am going to grow it to my waist!
Ignore the comments. Many of the guys who will complain are jeoulous
because you have hair and they don't.
Do't listen to any comments. It's your hair, it you want to grow it. Grow it. I'm in my late 30's and my hair is shoulder length. I love it. Everybody thinks I should cut it, but I like it. I keep it in excellent condition. If you wish to chat e-mail me.
Damn, you could be talking about me! I love Mom, BUT! It's been going on for over 20 years. I'm now in my early 40's and have no intention of cutting it now. I guess I've been pretty lucky with co-workers. Never really had any negative comments from them or Managers. It's always been pretty tame because I wear it wet-looking. (Sebastions' "Wet") so it's always been pretty calm looking. Do what I do. It sounds pretty rude, but not really. Just politely look at the negative coment-giving person and say, "I don't respond to any comments about my hair". Ofcourse if it's a compliment (and I have gotten plenty!) respond accordingly. I've kept true to my response and it lets people know that they have just insulted me. I immediately change the subject and if if they say any more they're met with a blank stare, and me continuing on with my other subject. Good talking to you.
Middle-aged eccentricity or the exuberance of youth...it does not really matter. Your hair length is what ever YOU are comfortable with...if you wan't waist length, go for it!
P.S. I'm in my early 40's with longhair.
It has been said:
Long hair at 20 = Youthful Exuberance
Long Hair at "Middle Age" = Earned Privilege
BTW - just hit the "double nickel"
Keep on Growin...
Dumb question of the day, what is a "double nickel?"
55
But tractor-trailer combinations do have to drive at that speed!
I supposed that he meant 55 years of age, though.
-J
You know, I agree with this totally!
I've been thinking about this issue for a while. When I was in my 20's, my Dad hated my long hair.
The pressure to conform is very great. I think it is because of the 'changing of the guard'. An older generation (I qualify now!) knows it is passing the torch (boy am I full of cliches today!) to a new group of people, and they want their values preserved as younger people filter into the workforce, etc.
As one gets older, that is certainly not an issue, and perhaps other folks are not as threatened by older guys and their 'quirks'.
I am on the early side of the 40's and have been growing my hair out for about 16 months. What is so obvious to me, and not so, apparently to others, is that people will say to us things they would never consider saying out loud to a woman. What this female co-worker said to yoku (yuck) would never be said to her regardless of what she did to her hair. Hang in there.
Robert
I find it interesting that people will make comments like that to a man, but would never consider making such a comment to a woman. It's your head, dude, grow it if it make ya happy.
Same scenario here.
I'm 46, last year my wife asked me to grow my hair long (her midlife crisis not mine, LOL). I thought cool, I'll do it! My Mom was warned, told her my sife wanted it long and she has hardly said a peep. Actually she seems now to enjoy it as it get 's a slight wave/curl as it gets longer. Reminds her of when I was very young.
I work part-time for a local historical society, as you can imagine most of these people are older. Suprisingly, only 2 have made comments, not bad at all for older folks in rural IL.
Maybe that's it, never thought of that. But in my case it started w/ my wife's eccentrity. Think it may have had something to do with when she rediscovered Meat Loaf. Great singer, not at all like the common perception. Many of his songs are actually romantic, but they all really rock. And he doesn't have the long, greasy look he used to. Moderately long, but looks much better than before. We saw him in concert last Sept. and he was great.
Don't know how long I want to go, it's been almost a year now. Am working towards a decent ponytail. If you have any suggestions, I'm going to post another thread about coloring the grey, grey is fine, I just don't want as much right now.