new thread
Hello everyone. I am a long time reader of these boards and I used to post occationally a couple years back when I had long hair. I'm in the process of growing mine back out again for the third time and figured I would make my presence known again, and give a little background history about myself.
I first grew my hair out nearly 7 years ago. I was in college and my room mate had started growing his long. I remember teasing him ceaselessly about it for several months until he eventually convinced me to give it a try too. I eventually gave in and figured that I should try it long before I entered "the real world", and college was the perfect place to do it in my opinion. He eventually cut his, but I took it as a challenge to see if I could actually stick it out and get to ponytail length. After college I moved around a bit and eventually landed literally right across the street from my school, nearly broke and job hunting. So I decided to cut the hair to "enhance my possibilities."
It didn't take long, I got a job working for a major marine retail chain (which could care less about long hair so the cut was completely useless). I kept my hair short for about six months until I couldn't stand it anymore and started all over. Over the next couple years I grew it out fairly long (the pic was the day before I cut it again). I wasn't making enough money anymore at my job, and given my love for the water, and experience in search and rescue I decided to join the US Coast Guard. Everything was going great, and I knew I would have to cut my hair when I did go to basic training. So the day before I went in to get my date for basic I decided to go ahead and cut it all off again, I didn't want to be singled out for any reason when I first got to basic and long hair was surely a huge attention getter.
I never did make it to basic, past credit problems actually kept me out of the USCG (picky group those coasties) and I found that out the day after I got it cut. One day I'll learn from my mistakes. I landed a job as a merchant marine shortly after that and have been at it for a year and a half, all the while keeping short hair. Though for the past few months I had been itching to grow it back out.
While at home two months ago I was out with a couple of friends and ran into some girls I hadn't seen in a few years, both of which commented on how they missed my long hair. One even asked me to grow it back. That was the last bit of motivation I needed to actually start growing again. So now I'm about 5 months from my last haircut, I can see my hair again, and feel it move in the wind. Oh how I missed it! The only obstacle I face will be the captain of the boat I work on. He's old school country and doesn't particularly like long hair. In fact he's threatened to cut another crew member's hair(who is also growing his back out), though I think it was more in jest than anything, as he loves giving that particular crew memeber a hard time. He hasn't really said anything to me about it yet, and he's been on the boat with me for the past 50 days. I'm hoping he doesn't really care.
The pic of me is right before I cut my hair the last time. It was taken after a long day of work and looks pretty horrible, but it's the only one I could find of me with long hair.
Anyways sorry for the long post, hope it wasn't too boring for yall. Keep it growing!
welcome once again to the board (even though I wasnt here the first time). I would think that If your a hard worker, he shouldn't care about hair length. Its not like your hair follows you around and undoes whatever you just finished up :)
Don't apologise for the long post. It's great to hear the stories (as long as they end with more hair).
Hah, I agree completely. I doubt he will really make a big deal over it. He might harrass me about it, but having long hair isn't all that uncommon out here. Heck one of the guys in our office has really long hair, and they named one of the new boats after him. He knows I'm a hard worker, he just loves to pick on people. The only concern I could see would be safety, and in all honesty we don't have that many moving parts to worry about. So if he wants to mess with me a little, big deal... just as long as he keeps the clippers away from my head!
Hi and welcome to the board!
I think your hair looks pretty cool in that pic.
When I joined the army back in '81 I kept my hair until the last moment. I really hated getting it cut.
That's one of the best reasons I can think of to grow it. Girls love it. Why? hair covers up a lot of ugly. Lol
Paul
Lol, so true. The beard I sport while at home helps as well. Too bad that I have to shave at work. Respirators don't work well with beards. But 4 weeks of work 2 weeks off isn't too bad.
Your post isn't boring at all my friend only sad in a way that you unnecessarily cut your hair so many times in the past.My advice is to do whatever it takes to keep you hair for whatever job you have at the moment.Remember it only takes a few minutes to cut off your hair but years to bring it back to its former glory.There are certainly numerous ways to tie your hair for that professional look.Many here have shown that in pictures they posted.So please, make this your last journey from scratch and wear it long with pride and honor:)Cheers
Mark
Wow you´ve got quite some experience with longhair. Too bad you cut it twice without being needed.
Hope your learned your lessen and keep your hair long from now on.
Good luck!
Welcome back again and it seems to me although you've had a few.........ummm.....trims your really a longhair at heart as you keep returning. That is a good thing.
Kevin
Welcome back Ya'all !
Hope there are no further interruptions on your longhair journey. I look forward to following your progress.
Thanks for Sharing
WWT (Walter White Tail)
Hi there,
I'm glad that you have stayed with us and thanks for bringing us up to date. Sometimes we have ups and downs in life and we have to do things for the best, even a sacrifce but that's life sometimes. Still it's third time lucky and you build on the past and sounds like you current employ is okay. Just keep it growing and keep us updated.
Cheers,
John.B
Quite a story there. You look like a determined guy who is no push-over. Nothing is set in stone including hair, and trying out new things is part of life. What with your third go at growing hair it appears that you are one of those who prefer long hair for the longterm having tried it both long and short. Growing it out long again should be breeze this time as you know what to expect and have had the experience to look after it well. The boss sounds OK about it and having other guys with longish hair around helps a lot. They obviously value good workers over general appearance. Welcome to MLHB!
Duncan
Yeah, growing it out this time has been much easier than either time before. I'm much more patient, taking better care of my hair, and I have all kinds of tricks up my sleeve for dealing with the awkward stage by now. I actually embrace the whole initial growing process, to me it's a fun and exciting journey. The experiences and difficulties during the journey make the destination so much sweeter.
As for prefering long hair, that is definately true. But this last time cutting it short was really what made me realize it. At the time I really loved my hair, but I was looking to change my life drasticly, I just wasn't happy with where I was in life, or where I was going, dead end low income job, over my head in debt, alcohol issues... And getting a haircut played a small part in me turning my life around for the better. Or at least I thought it would, turned out not to have any direct bearing on my life, but still acted as a reminder to get my life in order before all else, even my hair. I barely regreted it though, my life turned around quite nicely and rapidly. Only when things started settling down did I start to realize how much I missed my hair.
Yes this company does value work ethic and performance over looks. In fact the only "dress code" the company has is that we have to wear our uniforms while on watch (never truly enforced) and be clean and presentable. Even in the awkward phase you can be clean and presentable. And we have to wear steel toe boots when out on tow. That is the entire dress code. I love this company.
-CJ