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I wonder if any of you guys like the look of having a barette to hold your hair? It does feel more comfortable, since the hairs are not pulled as much compared with the classic ponytail. There is the issue that I don't see guys with this style much where I live (Boston area), and barettes are used mostly by girls. What do you all think about this ?
Not for me.
Paul
Paul: Understood. But what do you think about it for other men?
We'll have to think here Paul :-)
I hate it, since you asked again.
I planned to cruise on away from this one and not express my true sentiments in yet another conversation which would just end up pissing off somebody. But John just couldn't resist with that little prod, very funny. ;-)
I grew out my hair to look like a longhaired man. Not a school girl. Oww. :-O
Paul
I went barrette shopping at Target last week. I wanted a really small one to hold half my hair at the top. Most of them had metal, so I ended up shopping in the little girls' department and getting a lavender one. Not my first choice, but it holds the hair.
Antinous: The 'half-tail' tied with a small barrette is another neat style. I am concerned here with how you think people will react to such a hair style on a man. Will the average person like it, or think that it is in-appropriate on a man ? I know that what you want to do is your own business, and what other people think about it is no business of your's, but I am curious as to how this style fits into today's American culture.
TRY IT AND FIND OUT.
Exactly!
I've set out to have my hair in as many styles as possible. I made a list of ones that I've already done in another post. Putting it in a bun is just about the only thing I haven't done because you can't see just how long my hair actually is.
I wore it to (and in) the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. If my readings of people's body-english is accurate, it got about a 90% positive response. I am bringing the subject up here, because this forum is so familiar with long hair !
I live in Southern California. Nobody really pays much attention to how other people look. And I'm 6'-2", so they probably wouldn't say anything anyway.
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It looks alright to me. You chose a dark color which looks good. Hair does not really have a gender and it looks like it works well for you.
Scott
Scott: I know that both men and woman have the basically the same type of hair. Where I think the gender part comes in is the "man-made" mechanical device that has been added to the hair,and the current cultural "normal" use of such devices. That said, thanks for the compliment, as I like the "look" of the style, too.
I've made a few wooden barrettes for my wife (she's wearing Koa wood in the photos) that I think are fairly gender-neutral. I think the half-clipped look is only slightly more feminine, but not by much. If my own hair ever gets long enough to pull back I will consider making a few "fatter" black-stained wood barrettes and see what happens. Reminds me I need to photograph a favorite that has knots and rough edges - very natural. Might even be more masculine. Stay tuned...
Here's the half-clipped look with the Koa wood barrette.
Very nice indeed !
Here's the "rough" wood barrette I quite like. I'd wear it if I could...
That thing looks awesome, I'd definately wear it if I had it.
Hey,that's a really cool barrette as I've always liked items made from natural wood.You are very talented based on this example and if you were to offer any for sale I would consider it.What say you??
Mark
"Ditto", Eric
... if you were to offer any for sale I would consider it. What say you??
Thanks for the interest, and I'll seriously think about that. Up to now I've only made them for my wife, but it's not a stretch to do some "production" pieces if I have the time. I use only the french-made backs that work very well.
So back to you: what sizes/shapes/colors do you think would work best? In my experience the hair type has a lot to do with the way a barrette stays put. The half-back style sometimes uses a somewhat smaller barrette. Let me photograph a few more I've made and see what you think.
My mission would be to have people ask where you got that great barrette, not why you're wearing it!
Hi 56mg,Thanks for that response as I would definately be interested in some of your work.I really like your final statement regarding people asking where you got that cool barrette instead of why you are wearing it:)My hair is dead straight and on the fine side so something smaller would probably stay put better that a larger piece.As for color I would think something very blonde to maybe a medium brown.Anyway do let me know if you are willing to make some available for sale.Maybe others here would also be interested.Thanks again for your answer.BTW I've included a pic so you can see the thickness or lack of it I have.
Mark
I, too would wear it if I could...!
Nice look ! Your craftsmanship is readily apparent. Let me know about your more masculine clips. I have heard that eating eggs is good for growing hair. I wish you well on your hair jouneys. Thanks for the nice words, Eric
That is another way to keep your hair back
Birdman :)
Nice "look", Birdman. You have a very balanced effect with your goatee and back-hair combination. Thanks for the photo. Eric
Awful - far too feminine.
I disagree. Hair and hairstyles have no gender. I regularly wear braids, microbraids, pigtails, the ocasional bun, halftails...
Jarvis: Thanks for you creative and kind words. I
enjoy your 'looks', and the thought that went into creating it. Great work, and keep it going ! Eric
Is that 'awe-full" as in 'inspiring awe' or awfully bad ?!
Just joking-I respect your opinion, and it is a reasonable response. Eric
I think a plain barrette is fine, especially if it doesn't stand out because the color is close to your hair color. No matter what you do, you'll never satisfy everyone. Some people are going to think you're already too feminine just by having long hair. So wear it if it works well for you and you like it.
Doug: Thanks for the good advice. It is somewhat amazing what a 1/2 inch by 3 and 1/2 inch piece of coloured plastic can do !
I see long-haired guys using barrettes once in a while.
Check out the new ponytail clips at:
http://www.copperbracelets.com
- Oren
Oren: Thanks for your message. Also thanks for the web reference. I've always liked your hair pictures.
Eric
Looks Awesome Eric! I forgot all about barettes, probably because I don't see them anymore. I'm liking it!!
Mike, Thanks, have worn it outside to several places about town with favorable comments from women and men (women in particular). Looks like it will be part of my 'regular repetoire' Eric
Great pic Eric and the hair is a beautiful colour. Why not share a picture with us from the front.
Cheers,
John.B
Cheers: Eric
looks good Eric, I will be living close to you in the near future, I'll be in the Salem area
Mark: Thanks, hope you can stand the New England Winters!
I can def can I have been there in the winter and summer times :) I hate living in Mississippi its terrible lol and too hot!
I use barrettes sometimes...typically the Large Celtic Knot from Bronze Jewelers...I have a variety of others that I use from time to time.
Just make sure that if they have a french back (the clip on most commercial barrettes) that the edges of the metal are smooth and not sharp (don't want to abrade the hair!). Slides avoid that problem.
Find a barrette that pleases you and wear it with confidence...that says a lot more than the actual construction of the barrette.
If you browse around, there are a fair number of hairtoy vendors that cater to the non-feminine market.
Also, Barrette Baron...their burl barrettes are amazing: http://barrettebaron.com/product/index/barrettes_burl_index.php
I like the idea of using a barrette and that it is so easy to restrain one's hair that way. However, I've only ever seen a few guys using them. The guys who I saw using them were on the football team at my university; they were practically hyper-masculine. No one would say anything to them about it I'm sure. Maybe the trend will take off eventually. I do see a good many guys using hair bands (alice bands) though. I don't know why this is more acceptable than a barrette though.
I did however get some small barrettes and tried them in my hair, but I shyed away from actually using them in public.
Eric
I think that one looks great on you, Eric. I have a few and have worn them now and then over the years, but my hair is thin and breakage is an issue with metal clips, so I don't so much. One advantage is that you don't have that round bundle protruding against the back of the seat in the car or at the movie.
As for those guys who worry them mostly being worn by women: news flash- long hair is worn mostly by women. If you can wear long hair, you can wear a barrette in it. I really don't worry about what people think, but it's always seemed to me that people are generally more accepting of males with long hair when it's in a familiar long style. Barrettes and such are familiar and hold hair in neat looking way.
Thanks for the reply. I have been out in the public with it, and have had good results. Another person requested pictures,
so here are two that show the look:
Hi Eric,
Just thought I'd re post at the top of your thread about if you are willing to make up some barrettes for sale.No problem if you aren't into that but if you are I'd be interested.I described what I would like with a pic of me down the thread a bit.
Mark
Mark, I thought I had responded earlier, sorry if it did not make it! I'm thinking about doing some more barrettes, but it may take some time as I have a lot going on. I have one more idea that may help them look a bit more masculine, so I may experiment and post the result for comments. There are other makers of nice wood barrettes out there, so don't feel that you have to wait for me if something else would work. I'll try to get back to this soon, and I appreciate the interest.