new thread
Hello everyone.
Although I have been visiting the site for about three months already, this is the first I actually post. Currently I'm trying to get a job teaching high school in deep south Texas, but I'm finding some hurdles due to my hair length. I honestly don't want to cut my hair. It may sound corny, but I never felt complete until I was able to do my first ponytail. To tell the truth, I know that the only way through this is to cut my hair. I just wanted to hear other people about their experiences with work and hair length to see what I can learn from them regarding my situation.
Thanks in advance
(pic is me at the moment using computer camera)
Man we have been getting one of these threads every week heh!
Think about it man, if you cut your hair you know you will regret it for a long time and will always want to grow it back out, and you will be less happy as a result.
There are a few key methods that have been used in the past by people to get jobs and keep their mane
1. Attempt to make your hair look neat for your job, buns, ponytails and other such neat and out of the way styles yield great results, buns can make you look quite professional i find actually, at least in the cases of long haired professors i have seen.
2. If confronted during an interview about your hair, tell them that your hair is a commitment to yourself and that your strong commitments to your personal image also carry over to your work commitments.
3. Possibly you could use a short hair wig, this was suggested just recently and i thought it was a good "desperate" move.
If none of these will work (dont quite see how the short hair wig move cant work though haha) then maybe you should consider your other options...most of which are unfavorable.
Hi Mando,
First of all, WELCOME to MLHH!!! You have terrific looking hair there, and you've come to the right place to talk to a bunch of understanding folks here who wouldn't think it corny at all what you said about your attachment to your hair, or the fact that you felt "complete" once your hair was able to get into a ponytail. 99% of us at this site feel exactly the same way!!
Now onto the bad news...
We often read about the many anti-longhair stories mostly coming from, oddly enough, your lovely state of Texas. There are other states in the deep South that also must be competing for the redneck title, "Most Backward-Thinking Anti-Longhair State in the US"; but, from all the various stories posted here over the years that I've been a member, none stick out in my mind as much as the ones from Texas.
If I were in your shoes, here's some ideas I'd consider:
1) Move to another state. I live in California, which is much more open-minded towards longhairs (with the exception of the Central Valley farming communities and other more remote small towns in rural inland areas);
2) Wear a short-haired job wig. The more realistic-looking, the better!
3) Tie your hair back in as neat a ponytail as possible (a segmented ponytail I find to be even neater for hair of your length), or a very neat braid, --- and also dress up in a nice-looking suit and tie for interviews (to "over-compensate" for any image that your long hair might give off to the person doing the interviewing).
4) Move to another state...
5) Move ANYWHERE outside of Texas!!
But, whatever you do, do NOT, ---- I repeat --- do NOT cut off that great hair of yours!!!! We've had quite a number of guys who teach for a living come here and post who are longhairs; so, don't give up hope.
I've been thinking of writing an entire thread about, "Long Hair on the Job", hoping to post that soon.
Take care, and please please PLEASE don't cut!
Long Lox 4ever,
Ken in San Francisco
Hi !
Though I'm not from the US, I assume Texas is a rather conservative state, so it's not surprising to encounter difficulties.
Try to look net and "professional".
If they don't mention the hair, ask them if long hair is seen as a "problem"
Be honest on what hair represent to you if they ask.
Maybe invoke some religious reason ?
In any case, it would be a shame to cut it, your mane is really beautiful.
Good luck
Vivien
Please please PLEASE do not cut your hair while looking for a job, you will regret it. Take it from someone who has done it twice. Both times I found out very soon afterward that it wasn't needed. I would try keeping your hair in a very neat ponytail or bun. Keep trying different places, it may be difficult but we've seen quite a few long haired teachers here.
You may want to try some other states or maybe just some other parts of Texas. I seem to spot quite a few longhairs in Houston and Corpus Christi. Maybe even try Padre Island. Waterfront and beach communities seem to be a little more tolerant of longhair in my experience. Good luck and once again please don't cut your beautiful hair.
-CJ
Please don't cut it. Wear a pony tail for your interview. If the ob ject, look somewhere else. You would have been unhappy with those old prunes anyway.
I would ask are you staying in South Texas for a reason? Although Texas is a red state there are more tolerant areas.
I would look in other areas of Texas and consider other states as mentioned in previous posts.
Based on my experience I wouldn't mention your hair in an interview and if they do be prepared with your answer.
In my first interview if I got the question (and I have) I would say something non committal like "I would be willing to consider it" If you get a second interview and the question again I would politely decline simply say I considered it and would not be interested in cutting my hair at this time". Really your not interested in cutting it period but you don't have to tell them that. remember be prepared to answer the question and be equally prepared to thank them and walk out. don't give in to the first one that might hire you.
If you get someone in an interview who asks why not? I would answer it "I feel confident I can present myself in a professional manner with my hair tied back" that's it whatever you do don't go on and on. Be confident look them in the eye etc etc.
Most important be patient and don't give up, you may go through several interviews and that one may come through that will let you keep the hair.
Hope this helps a bit.
Kevin
You may also want to think of the positives rather than the negatives. As a father of two teenagers, I've noticed that they have had the best results and liked most those teachers to whom they could find some sort of "connection". Usually these slightly unusual teachers in the school like the one who started every morning playing pop songs on his guitar at them, or the chemistry teacher with the giant mustache (don't know why they think that's cool - but I'm not 14).
For you, your long hair gives you an opportunity for the kids to see you as "one of us" rather than "one of them". While you would still need to be a symbol of authority and responsibility, you will be able to show that people can do that and STILL BE AN INDIVIDUAL.
Just my 2cents as a parent.
AndrewB
P.S. - I hope "Mr. Crow" - chimes in - he IS a high school teacher.
Mando
Glad you have finally spoken up in the forum...and welcome!! That is a great looking head of hair you have.
Please remember that the interview is a two way street...while the company interviewing you may be looking at your credentials, you are also evaluating your potential employer. Use your long hair as a "filter". If the interviewer is really going to make an issue of it over your credentials, that is likely a sign of a very closed minded management or administration. Thank them for the time and look elsewhere.
Wanting to be a high school teacher in southern Texas makes you a real hero in my book !
Best of Luck and let us know how it goes.
WWT (Walter White Tail)
Great answer! Long hair has the secondary benefit of being an excellent "idiot filter."
Well. Yeah, I mean there might be concerns about hair length, however if kept neat, tidy and professional looking it should not really come into play.
Either way, I find the best way of dealing with it, is tieing it back and ensuring that it looks healthy and clean.
Thanks for posting the link!
Generally good advice - I don't agree with the one comment at the end though - "avoid polishing your hair into a neat bun as this isÂ…thereÂ’s just no word for it. DonÂ’t do it in any level of conservative environment, especially at work"
I wear my hair in a bun to work every day and find that it completely removes any distraction about my hair from the minds of others. People did find it "surprising" that a man would wear his hair in a bun but I have received no negative feedback on it at all and believe it to be a highly effective style for any man with shoulder-length or longer hair.
AndrewB
Generally good advice - I don't agree with the one comment at the end though - "avoid polishing your hair into a neat bun as this isÂ…thereÂ’s just no word for it. DonÂ’t do it in any level of conservative environment, especially at work"
Agreed. I liked parts of the Article because most of the Long Hair advice was about dealing or debunking some of the stereo types or misconceptions.
Glad the Link helped.
That's certainly a great article. But it's just a shame that alot of people are still hungup about it over there.
What was the connection to country music, not that I'm a great fan of that. Does this mean I have go do some beating, feel depressed and shot my dog!
Cheers,
John.B
you gotta wait till your truck breaks down first!
LOL. Well When I meant I think country music I think generaly quite conservative people. The funny thing though is that country music is fairly popular in Texas, and many performers in country music have long hair.
So, I found that article up looking for conservative country music artists hair styles.
I should have really probably clarified that. I was having a cryptic moment.
Neat and pulled back should do the trick. At least, that's my experience as a teacher in Virginia.
One of my friends, who teaches middle school social studies, has thick hair to his waist. Most of the time Marco has it pulled back and into some kind of twist. No one has ever said anything negative about his hair. He's been on the job two years. The administration is more interested in his teaching skills and his classroom management than the length of his hair. I've worked with several other long haired males who have had no problem with their long hair.
In a tight economy, even teaching has seen its share of layoffs. Your hair may not be the issue here. There could be a glut of teachers in your area of the country or your discipline. In NC alone, more than 6000 teachers lost their jobs in June, including a friend with many years of teaching Spanish.
I would recommend keeping the hair pulled back, thus making your appearance more professional. Also make sure that the rest of your outfit (the coat, pants, shoes, etc.) also convey a professional appearance.
Good luck finding a teaching job.
Really nice hair,man! I can't see why you can't teach in a school like that...
-Andrea
That simple and masculine seems the way to go. 8 out of 10 sites suggest the simple tail and or braid format. Classic long hair styles and to avoid anything overly dramatic. No clips, special fasteners.
Women (Even conservative women) tend to be much more open with men being more creative with their hair and hair ties
Conservative men tend to frown on it unless someone they know personaly has longer hair. Generaly it will be more accepting to them if you follow the kiss rule. Keep it simple silly.
So, I would look up pictures of Long haired guys on the internets. Just regular business related professional men, and see what they are doing!
Ok. I thought about it. I actually took a good long look at your hair. I think that what you should do is brush the part out a little. No so central. Then comb it back and then do a braid. Then, once the brain is complete, take the end of the brain and fasten it to where the base of the braid starts.
Thats one idea, if your not a bun man.
You could always do a half braid. Gather the hair in the front of the crown, comb it back, and braid that piece, and then let everything else remain loose.
In this case, I agree exactly with what Kevin said, it seems like the very best way to conduct yourself in an interview.
You probably heard about the recent events concerning the Native American child that wouldn't cut his hair for school. I think he eventually won due to religious reasons. Might think about that angle if push comes to shove.
Oh, and what you said about your hair making you complete doesn't sound corny at all. I'm sure most everybody here can relate. That's precisely how I feel.
Paul
There is another way. You don't have to cut your hair if you just move somewhere else. There are plenty of long haired male teachers. The elementary school that my kids went to (they are now in middle school and high school) had a guy teaching music who had hair as long as yours. That's in Maryland, though, not Texas. Long hair would be no problem here, at least not for a school teacher.
Go East, young man, go East, LOL!
Hey, Maryland here too. An english teacher at my highschool has a beard and tattoos on his arms and wrists and finger and the school is apparently cool with it. Then again, they are tattoos of a worm reading on his wrist, read on his left knuckles etc. So not sure what would happen if he had different tattoos.
Nice mane bro, and welcome to the board. I don't have any words of wisdom to help you on your job search, but speaking of Texas I can't help but picture Hank Hill from "King of the Hill" being the interviewer and making that funny noise he makes when he is startled when you walk into the room. lol.
Well hopefully someone sees the potential you have and hires you. Being unemployed is a drag.
Thank you all for your responses and suggestions; it's really great to have found a site like this one. What all of you have said has really helped me gather the confidence not to cut my hair and take my chances. Again thank you all and I hope to become more active here.
Hey man. its tough now a days. i too want to be a teacher in high school, but califronia is really laied back on your apperance hair wise. from what ive heard, texas frowns upon hair. :/ let me know how it goes! U can find me on myspace at vanhelsing94509@yahoo.com last name is simpson and facebook at msimpson17@yahoo.com
Good luck man! awesome growth by the way!
Hi Mando,
Welcome to the MLHH!
You've taken a first important step in your employment search by networking with other long haired fellows who have been, or are, in a similar situation.
There is long hair deep-inna-hearta Texas - in Austin!
Austin is where the MLHH board was started by Victor Engel, and was hosted there for a long time.
Workwise, I do IT, which is long hair friendly.
You have a great looking head of hair!
Every "No" you get means you're one step closer to the "Yes" - Keep 'em coming!
- Oren
Welcome to the hyperboard Mando.
Your hair looks great and I wouldn't cut it either if I were standing in your shoes.
My thoughts echo everything the others have said about finding employment. Go where long hair is accepted, if you need to stay where you are then make sure your clothes are as spiffy as your can get them and enter the interview with confidence.
Good luck,
Bruce
Move to Canada, hair length does not limit you in your job opportunities, not in British Columbia that is any ways.
(I posted an answer here previously, but it was never posted....I will try again and see if the screening crew let it through this time.)
There is a lot of great advice already given.
You mentioned trying to get a teaching job in Texas. There have been many posts over the years about long hair rules in many Texas public school districts. Texas seems to the state with the most anti-long hair rules for students (and thus teachers).
I'm a teacher in the midwest. I have hair to my waist. I am also the department head and serve on many leadership committees. I was hired with short hair. I didn't start growing it until I built a good reputation witin the district.
Would I have been hired long hair? Probably not at the time (20 years ago).
Does the district currently hire men with long hair? I just saw a gentleman introduced today at the opening day with long hair and a beard.
Might your long hair limit your opportunities? Yes. Most districts form interviewing committees....there is always a chance that someone on that committee will not consider you due to your hair.
Will you be hired somewhere with long hair? Absolutely. But like I tell all potential teachers...you must be willing to relocate.
Some districts only hire teachers who have sub-taught within the district and have proven themselves.
And remember that you have a lot of competition out there that want the same job. Do everything you can to sell yourself.
I wish you luck.