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As a young man growing his hair out, I am really getting anxious to be able to have really long hair and to see what it is like. I have said I never want to have short hair again lol. At the same time I have am anxious to have my first ponytail. I have heard numerous things about how long your hair has to be to pull it back into one. Ive heard chin length, collar length, shoulder length. I was wondering, do you remember when you had your first ponytail and how long should my hair be before I can have one? Also, what kinds of styles have guys tried with long hair, high ponytails, low ponytails, braids, tight buns, messy buns, etc. ? Thanks
You're generally gonna need several inches past the top of your collar (all the way around) for the hair to not only reach a low-placed hairtie, but for it to stay tied back for any decent length of time. If it's too short they'll work themselves loose too quickly to be worthwhile tying.
For me it's either low-tails (most of the time), a braid (when I can get my wife to braid it for me), or a "half-tail" done with some plastic clips I found. I can't seem to do a half-tail with a hair-tie without causing major entanglement, and segmented tails also seem to be beyond my level of manual dexterity. And I hold no hope for buns. I've watched women do that a zillion times, and haven't a clue how they manage it. [grin]
A few days ago I walked into a quick serve resturant after I placed my order and as I was handing her my money she asked my if I braided my own hair (naturally I had my double braids) to which I replied "yes mam", because quite frankly if I don't braid my hair myself, it won't get done. She proceeded to tell me how her husband could never get it, he'd try but give up and she'd have to braid it for him. (but she was refering to a low single braid.) Yeah, I understand that. I was the same way for several years until one day I sat down in frount of a mirror and got bull headed and decided I wasn't getting up until I taught myself how to braid my hair. I got it done, now I don't do the single braid that much because I prefer the double braid (and it's easier, but takes slightly longer than the single braid, not too mention the huge response to it that I get from the ladies) I guess my next project is to teach myself how to do a french braid and/or a double french braid. I would like to see how I'd look in the double french braid especially with as much response that I get from the double braids now. I have made a couple of atempts at the single french braid, but so far all I get accomplished is getting my hair tied into a big knot. LOL Oh well, I'll give it another try another day.
Daniel
If I remember the progression, I was able to put my hair up in a half-ponytail, then I braided or put it up in a bun, depending on my needs at the time.
Patience! Just let it grow :-)
I tend to find the idea of 'collar length' etc hair lengths are misleading, at least for me, as my fringe doesn't reach nearly as far to the ground as the hairs coming out the back of my head. So I often get confused when people say they have a certain length hair.
I know how you feel about the first ponytail feeling: I only managed mine a couple months ago. But then again, my definition of a proper ponytail was all the hairs reaching the tail, so the hair at the front was past my chin (I think). That said, I had a friend who had longer than average hair, and he had a tail which didn't grab all his hair.
As for the other styles, I've tried half tails once or twice, but never sure how I look in them. My ponytails are on par with my ears, heightwise, to fit all my hair in, though I've tried lower ones (and been compared to characters in Twilight, not sure how to feel abou that!). One day I hope to have more flexibility yet, with braids etc. Until then, I can but dream...
Thanks for the input. I really do not care if I have to have a higher ponytail at first, at least until its longer to go with a lower one. I totally agree with you about the braids and everything too. I am anxious to have it braideid. I will definately try half tails too as well as a messy bun. I just think they look fun.
I think I started wearing a half tail after about a year. It wasn't long enough at that point for a lower one, although it was possible to get it all into a French braid.
These days, I usually tail it or wear a standard braid. It's getting a little too long to do a French braid by myself as it tends to end up in a tangle which I can't get out with only one hand. I've also started experimenting with buns and have managed to get one to stay in for a few hours with just a hair tie to hold it. I'm not convinced I like the look though, so time will tell.
I'm lucky if I can remember where I laid my glasses.
L
Kevin
Patience is the biggest part to getting your first ponytail.
A good way to know how close you are to being able to tail off is take a small bunch of hair furthest away from the nape of your neck (bangs) and pull it back to where the ponytail tie would be. If you have one of those flexible measuring tapes, measure just before the end of your bangs to the back of your neck.
I was able to make my first 'real' low tail when my hair was about 13-14 inches. My hair is about 16 now and the longer it gets, the better it will hold and the fuller it will look.
Good luck and you'll get there.
Strange to tell, but I had long hair for many years before I ever put it into a ponytail. You see, guys didn't wear ponytails, they were only for girls back in those days, when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Sylvester (Sly) Stallone, the actor who played Rambo, among other roles, popularised ponytails for the male gender. Some may point out that Karl Lagerfeld had a ponytail before that, but with apologies to gay friends here and elsewhere, no straight guy ever based his hairstyle on an openly gay fashion designer, and I'm no exception. Fake tough guys of the silver screen, apparently, but not gay fashion designers.
Pre-Rambo, if your long hair got in the way, you could wear an 'indian headband' to somewhat restrain your hair, but that was about all. If you did anything else with your hair you were practically seen as a transvestite!
Wow elektros.... I didnt expect that.
At least where I live, I have noticed that none of the girls wear their hair in a pony tail at the back of their neck.... Some do wear a pony tail, but only if its up, like the middle of the back of the head.
I think that is because classic ponytails are now seen as too masculine for most girls.
Aside from just everyday observations, Gaston is the one who made ponytails manly for me.
I do remember my first attempt at putting my hair in a ponytail. It was back in September 2007, when I was at nine months of hair growth. I can only make a tiny ponytail that was loose and fell easily. In November, I was able to make a ponytail that stayed in my hair all day, but then only a small amount of my hair went into the ponytail. I also did a bun, which I did not do for another year after my first ponytail.
Matthew