new thread
Ever since I was a young boy, I always wanted long hair and couldn't put my finger on why. This reminds me of what I read by Bill once about the difference in "Natural Longhairs" and "Social Longhairs." As far as I know, my first haircut was when I was three, and I hated it. I let my hair grow quite shaggy every summer and Christmas break, but my Mom and Dad would always get my hair cut before school started again. (Given how shaggy it got in just a few months' time, I think my hair has always grown somewhat quick, but it's never fast enough ;P)
Then when I was almost 17, I told my Mom I wasn't going to get haircuts anymore. She said it was going to look like crap. Well, I grew it anyway. My best friend at the time said that he was going to grow his too, so we took a vow to grow our hair long together.
Well, in not too much time, I had a decent mane which really did make me feel better about myself. My friend's hair had grown quite long as well. Me and my friend graduated high school, and shortly afterward he moved to Tennessee while I went on to Community College.
The economy got so bad I had to quit college to work full time, but in hindsight I don't regret the decision as I've learned much more valuable things in the "real world." But one night my friend came in while I was working a late shift, and all his hair was gone! He had been working in chicken houses, and said it just felt better/ was easier to deal with short. Now, I had gone over there and helped him before, and all I did was wrap my hair in many ties and put a bandanna over the top and I was fine. Maybe it was just too hot for him, but I remember feeling shocked and a little hurt even that my friend had broken our vow.
At its longest (we had both started from a similar short length), our hair touched the tops of our belts.
I should say that my hair is quite wavy and light, while his is very thick, heavy, and straighter. This makes me think mine grows a tad faster, as I was not pulling mine straight when I measured it. Makes me feel sort of tingly.
At any rate, I decided that with this new "freedom," I would do a thing or two for mine. So I cut it from almost waist length to just below my shoulder blades, and kept it there, and I bought some fancy shampoo and conditoner.
But more and more, I looked and thought, "It isn't as good as it could be." Also, I did not like how it had been cut off "even." Two or three years of working hard in the woods and such had taken it's toll on my hair, and the damage was obvious: I had loose strands everywhere, tons of split ends, frizz...
So I spent about a month taking extra-special care of it, and on May 22 this year, had my ponytail cut off, then a number four buzz, which claims to leave about half an inch.
The ponytail, I donated after convincing Mom to quit hugging and kissing it (after she told me it looked like crap growing out, she was sad when I cut it), and I made my mind up to grow it out all over again, this time without a "relay partner," and just take it nice and easy.
I'm not doing the same kinds of work now that was damaging my hair before, and I know how to be easier with it now. Also, since it is all about an inch and a half at the time of this writing, I'm thinking the natural layers are going to look better than that "even" look. Some guys dig it, I don't.
Anyway, I do miss my hair, but I know it's going to grow back in no time, so I'm chill about it. It's a hot summer, and I'm enjoying having it short for the first time in about seven years, which is giving some acne on the back of my neck and shoulders some time to clear up due to more sunlight. I'm a longhair at heart, but this was a necessary adjustment, I think.
Wish me luck, guys, and thanks for hearing the first chapter of my long hair story!
Wow, quite a story Ivex. Too bad your buddy reneged on the deal.
Your said chicken houses and working in the woods? Hmmm... sounds like where I live, lol. Not making fun, I swear. My first job was hauling quard wood with my brother. What a sucky job. Shoulder loading the truck cause we had no loader, bugs, tree sap, heat, sweat... did I miss anything?
Anyway, good luck man,
Paul
Hi ! Great story, but sad the condition of your hair forced you to cut it. It seems that you will have really good hair this time :) Good luck !
Where are you, on the photo ?
Vivien
I can TOTALLY relate there, Ivix! I remember my first haircut, too (when I was about 3 years old as well), --- and I cried and kicked and screamed and wailed!!!
Unfortunately in my case, though, my dad would not allow long hair in his household at all, --- so, it wasn't until I left home at age 18 that I got to first experience my hair even a tiny bit long (when it started to flow over the top of my ears and fall a bit into my eyes)...
Now I'm 55 years old, --- and won't even remotely consider cutting my mane (other than trimming off individual split ends that I find). I learned the hard way in Y2K when I impulsively decided to cut my hair back to short, that I am definitely a, "born longhair!"
I hope you continue to enjoy your shorter hair during this hot summer; but, my guess is that next summer you'll enjoy the return of your longer hair even MORE!!!
- Ken in San Francisco
You bet!