new thread
i'm james, just for short intro i have been growin my hair for a while now, though it was always kinda long. Its now a few inches past my shoulders in a blunt cut. I'm half asian so its black and really straight and thick too. any way, i have never worn my hair in a ponytail out in public like to school cuz i am kinda scared. I do it at home by myself all the time, but just dont have the guts i guess to do it around other people. Its been long enough for a while and i need to for convenience, especially at school, plus i like how the ponytail looks and feels, but i am still to scared. I was wondering if you all could give me some advice or share how it went for you the first time to help me out?
"And the day came when the risk to remain closed in a bud, became more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
- Lassie Benton
Becoming a longhair, including feeling complete freedom from self-consciousness in HOW you decide to wear your long hair, is all about learning how to blossom -- and to be fearless about just being yourself.
It's kind of like the dawn: it's going to happen, regardless, nothing you can do to stop the sun from coming, even if you tried.
- Ken
I agree with Ken, don't delay the inevitable. You would just be hurting yourself by allowing your hair to tangle up in the wind every day. Just go to school one day with your hair in a ponytail, maybe some of your associates (or random, opinionated talkative people) will comment on it. Some comments may be neutral, some positive, and some negative, just shrug off the negatives since this is what YOU want to do. Then I guarantee that when you go to school the next day, and forever after, people will hardly care that you put it in a ponytail. The one thing you do NOT want to do is to wear it in a ponytail one day, get a negative comment, and then not wear it again for a long time, gives that person some smug satisfaction that they influenced you. My hair is almost long enough to get in a solid ponytail, which means that the hair isn't prone to coming out of the tail, (give the furthest bangs a half inch and theyll be peachy), and I intend to start wearing it as soon as it gets to that comfortable point.
Hi James, welcome to the board.
Sounds like you've made some nice progress.
My hair is waist length. To protect it, I keep it in a multi-segment ponytail with a band every few inches or braided most of the time.
As the saying goes, "Just do it!", enjoy the new look and hassle-free hair. :-)
- Oren
Hi James, I sure know how you're feeling about the ponytail and being out in public. I just started out wearing it around home, then to my local Wal-Mart (most of the guys in Wal-Mart had theirs in ponytails too), then the big step, my local Church. I got a few jokes from the other guys, but in all it was no big deal. Started growing my hair at 50yrs., first ponytail at 53yrs., now at 54yrs., it's no big deal.
Just take it slow, one public place at a time, then it comes natural.
Frank
Just wanted to say thanks. I just got done with school for the day. and i did it! I read your comments and so this morning i got up and got one of my sisters hair ties and tied it back in a nice low ponytail and left. A couple guys were laughing and giving me a hard time, but not that bad and a couple of girls said they liked it. one even said she wished her ponytail was as big around as mine. So thanks. I'll have to do it again tomorrow to and maybe every day for a little while. it felt so great.
Congrats James!
I felt the same way when first considering the ponytail, but now, strangely, I have the reverse hesitation... I don't go anywhere with my hair loose! Funny how that turns out.
Bruce