For guys with long hair to stop getting haircuts!
Earlier this TV season, Matthew Gray Gubler of Criminal Minds (Dr Spencer Ried) got a haircut. While not really short, it was still a disappointment, as his was really getting some length. Now David Krumholtz of Num3ers (Professor Charlie Epps), who had really nice long curly hair, got most of it cut off.
Lately I have mostly lurked, only ocassionally posted, here on MLHH. I have been profoundly disappointed to see a number of who I thought were successful longhairs, giving in to the scissors, and shearing their locks. Men who I really thought were committed to the journey.
This is just really depressing to see. The last century was one dominated by the short-haired look. This is a new century, and for some reason the pressures and baggage of the last century are still with us. The clean-cut look is favored by corporate CEO's and their drones, and sadly the corporate look is dominating.
At the same time, I am seeing a relaxation of hair styles among the retail sector. Recent shopping trips exposed me to a few longhaired male employees. A young clerk at CVS with a beard and mid-back length wavy blonde hair. My first encounter with him, he wore his hair loose. The next time I saw him, he had it tailed. Weis Markets has a young man with almost waist-length brown hair, that works as a stock boy and bagger. He almost always wears his hair loose. IT, automotive and foodservice industries tend to be longhair friendly towards males.
I find it puzzling that the two above actors, in CBS shows, had finally acheived a nice length of hair by the end of last season, to only chop a large amount off, several weeks into the new season. Cannot help but wonder if they may have been pressured by studio or network executives, as both were well passed shoulder-length. Gray Gubler is now slightly below collar length, Krumholtz is above collar-length.
Is it something in the air, the water, religion, politics, corporate mentality, what? Just when it looks like the war against longhaired men, appears to be losing; a turn for the worse takes place, and those opposed are wining. You MLHH guys who cut your hair, what happened? The rest of you, what do you think is driving the trends, both good and bad?
Hi Carol,
I have talked to a lot of people lately about my intentions of forming a group to counter the hair nazis on the local school board and the wives are always the most outspoken. Just like you.
So I just want to say thanks to you and all those wonderful gals who support us and love our hair.
I aways take note of longhairs on TV and I have noticed that when the long haired guy cuts his hair the show is about to plummet.
For instance, The Dead Zone. After Bruce got his dreds cut the show just started to stink. He sure was funny looking too!
I think you should cheer up, I've noticed a lot of kids growing their hair out, with 4 kids in the house I have to watch all those teenage shows (argggghhh!!!) The Suit Life and Hanna Montana have tons of kids with longer style hair. This will surely start a trend.
Later,
Paul
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keeping my hair long. I will never cut it. I am somewhat obcessive compulsive about keeping it long.
There seems to be lots of guys with long hair where I live. There is a guy at Trader Joe's with gorgeous mid back dreads. Quite a number have long hair at Costco too. I just had my car serviced today and one of the service guys has lovely mid back hair tied back in a ponytail.
There are a lot of youngsters with long hair, some up to waist length. Recently, I saw a boy who was about 12 years old with waist length hair. There are lots of teenagers with hair at shoulder length and longer too. I live in California, so long hair is likely more common than in other parts of the country.
I have posted this image maybe 6 times in the past 2 years, but in case you have not seen it, here it is. My hair is currently equal to or longer than in this 2 year old image.
Scott
One word: recession.
Wow are they having a big sale down the barbers and stylists then!
As in receding hairline?? Should I get Rogain??
Hmmmmmm. How about "Brain Dead."
Carol, I couldn't agree with you more! I don't know about the actors you mentioned, but I know the disappointment when 1 see an actor who had long hair, cut it short. Someone who I thought could be an inspiration to millions suddenly shows that he is a sellout to the fashion police. Bummer!
As Paul and Scott mentioned, there does seam to be a growing tread among kids and young adults to grow their hair long or at least longish. Lets hope this is not just a tread but a revolution!!!
Bruce
Hi there,
Well it's the usual stories with actors and they grow their hair and cut it again and it depends on he roll.
Alot of these things run in cycles but there are still alot more people these days with longhair than their used to be. Of course like you say we've seen a few couple cut their hair over the last few weeks and a few days afterwards "oh why did I do it"! I don't think it's something in the air but of course if things are going downward/turnturn/recession in California it might be something in the air!
As with the posts already there are plenty of people here still growing their hair out and I very much doubt are hoping from Santa to bring them some sort of cutting impliment.
Onwards and upwards and a merry yule to you.
Cheers,
John.B
You need to remember, that aside from playing in a regular tv series, actors may end up doing little parts here and there, in other shows. And as an actor, having short hair gets you more roles. If a role calls for long hair, then they wear wigs. That sucks for genuine long haired actors, but it's true.
There are very few actors around with long hair because there are limited roles for them.
The only kind of actors I can think of with long hair constantly are perhaps 'extras' in films like Troy, Pirates, etc. but I doubt that pays the bills.
Btw, Criminal Minds KICKS ASS!!!
And if you're interested, there's a new show on TNT on Tuesday nights called Leverage, which features a guy with long-ish hair
Christian Kane
"...All I want for Christmas is just Carol..."
hmmm....I am sure many of the MLHH guys feel that way !
See 'ya under the tree, Carol !! HA!
Merry Christmas
Walter
Hi Carol,
Very good thread you've started here.Like you, I too am disappointed at the amount of longhaired defections on the board lately.I caulk it up to this, that the individual more than likely was not really all that committed to being a longhair.Maybe some was due to on the job pressure or from family.But if you really want something there are ways of standing your ground.I've been very fortunate to have maintained longhair from my early 20s all the way to today.That's 20+ years of being a longhair:)In that respect I feel I'm a rarity as most guys probably have had longhair 10 yrs. or less.Of course that's not a scientific study but just a hunch.I say kudos to all those guys you saw who wear their hair with pride.Lets just hope they don't fall victim to the times as well.
As for that TV show you mentioned.Well since I don't watch all that much TV I haven't a clue.Especially network TV I almost never watch as I have satellite to get some much better programming ....I think.LOL.
Anyway keep encouraging every longhair you meet as that is priceless for the "on the fence" longhair.Hope you are ready for the Holidays Carol and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!!
Mark
Happy holidays, Carol. I hope you get your wish, but sometimes we must bend to the ultra-conservatives, parents, etc. Hope you have a great 2009! Keep it growin' and flowin'.
TLH
Well, in my case, you are preaching to the choir. However, do realize there are some reasons that may increase the likely hood of one, even one who loved his hair so much and hates it short, to cut their hair. In my case, I had lost my job, in credit debt to hell, and desperately needed one in order to live. Some degree of living security is probably the only thing that tops the priority for long hair for me. I'm growing it back out, as soon as I cut it.
I think what others have said about actors is spot on. You can never rely on them to grow out their hair, because they cut it to get parts.
For this to change significantly we would have to have much more than 2-3% of guys with long hair, and that hasn't happened since the 1970s. Back then, most guys had shoulder length hair, and that's what you saw in TV series, but even then some actors had shorter hair than what was normal for the time, so they could play parts set in previous decades.
Don't look to actors to lead in this area. If anyone does it will be musicians, not actors.