new thread
This will be a long post, but this is the only place I can share my thoughts with people who will understand it. For people with shorthair this would be no big deal.
Don't know if it happened to other people on this board but I started having some doubts about having longhair. Started in december last year.
And now I don't know what to do, I will explain my story.
As long as I have long hair I both love and hate my hair. I love the way it feels and looks but I don't like to take care of it. I still want it to look as good as possible but with the minimal time input. The routine I settled down with is only combing it in the shower with conditoner and don´t do anything until the next week. Other showers in that week are water only. To keep my hair neat I keep it in a tail almost al of the time. This works wonders, I have longhair with minimal time input. But still it takes time and I started to wonder how it was with short hair.
Another thing on my mind, to keep my hair neat and out of my face I wear it in a tail all the time. I never really enjoy my hair loose because of that. I would love to enjoy the feeling of loose hair again, but without getting major tangles or hair getting in the way. I'm a very active person so I don't want the hair to bother me while I'm busy.
But I don´t have the guts to change my hair and I´m not 100% sure what to do. Until I´m 100% sure and I have had the 2 weeks I won´t do anything, but this have been going on since december. Sometimes I love it and want it even longer, sometimes I´m thinking about cutting al off.
In my opinion there are three styles:
Very long: -Maintain at current lenght or grow longer.
Mid lenght: -Cut of tail so I have ponytail lenght, so it will take less time and I still have longhair. I can wear it loose more often!
Short: -Cut all of or keep it at a shorter lenght I enjoy
The only way to know for certain if I like it better short or long is to cut it. If I don´ t like it at least I know for sure and can always grow it back. Some day's I'm sure I want it longer some days I want it at shoulder lenght. That makes it very hard to decide.
Last point, I almost finished my study. After that I´m going backpacking and will probably also take hikes in nature multiple days. Other people over here that went backpacking and hiking with longhair? How does that work out?
I know I'm the one who have to make the decission but maybe other people have had the same experience or have some advice.
p.s. If it would only be as simple as facial hair, I can go experiment a lot with it and can always grow it back very fast. I often change my facial hair style without a lot of doubt.
Good post Vincent...
...as you have very accurately pinpointed the pros & cons of long hair....and yes, I believe almost everyone questions at some point whether the work (and long hair can be a great deal of work) is worth it. As you pointed out, your active lifestyle can be affected by the upkeep needed.
The ultimate choice is yours of course; but you are young and that is the time of life to be experimenting, so I recommend making any changes that you desire.
Good Luck and let us know.
Walter
You're right, experimenting can be a good thing and of course I will let everyone know what I will do.
Thanks.
Hey Vincent!
I don't know, if you remember me, but I post very rarely anyway. I did my last post/update in October. But also beeing a kind of Korpiklaani-enjoyer like you and having gone through almost excatly the same, I just feel the need to post. :)
So since September I have very similar thoughts regardng the length: Wanting it very long, wanting it down to the shoulders, wantig it all buzzed etc. But for me the reason is not only the hair-care, but also the FEELING about my hair. Including the weight, the (often very nice) tickling by the hair, the fact that it helps to keep me warm and safe, when I wear it down. But I also sometimes feel like having terrible neck-pain because of my hair, although I'm almost convinced that it's a psychological effect. Sometimes I also feel like it's rather "something" on me than a part of me. So first at all: For back-packing hair can be very practical, ESPECIALLY while wearing it down. It keeps you warm, but also safes you a bit from the sunlight. Rain-water just runs down your hair and doesn't stay on your scalp while the hair still keeps you warm. But the hair-care can be very complicated, too. And the hair can be a hassle with the back-pack. Maybe it's a good idea to take a pair of scissors with you - just in case. ;) Seriously: Don't forget a hat that you can put all your hair under, if it gets too anoying or if you want to protect it. If you are able to, you can wear it in a braid, too. Generally back-packing and long hair works well, if you WANT to. In my opinion it would be a poor excuse to cut it because of this.
In any way I recommend - if you go for a cut - to cut it back to pony-tail-length first and then wait again. I did cut back my hair on April 11th, but it's still quite long (maybe about 30 to 40 cm). I liked the very long hair, but it got too damaged for my taste (there's still a lot of breakage :( )and I wanted it just shorter, so I'm quite happy, but still having doubts if I want to go even shorter or grow it very long again.
So I have very similar feelings regarding my length but I don't really have a solution, too. I think, it's the best to just wait it out and time will tell, what you truly want. For myself, I think: If I really want to cut it all off one day, I will just do it - probably after making a certain appointment with myself. On the other hand, if I really want to keep it, this is what I'm doing. Just don't worry too much about it. That's the lesson I learned: Setting yourself under pressure - no matter if it's about keeping it long or cutting it short - won't help you in any way. I'm maybe less of a die hard long hair, but I think the most important thing is to be happy with the hair no matter what length it has. And even this can be tricky...
Writing this, I'm still very often extremely obsessed of thinking about hair(cuts). But it seems a bit better since the trim...
I have no idea if I will ever find a final solution...but I just wait it out!
Do you also have a certain fascination for short hair? Like wanting the "free" feeling, the low weight of it etc.? Or even the texture of a certain legth? Such thoughts are defenately going on in my mind, just wondering how it is in your case. I think really wanting short hair - even if it's just for a certain period of time - is a better reason than "no more wanting long hair". On the other hand, if I think of cutting, I miss it already (and always having cold ears isn't very pleasing, too)....so who knows how I/you will solve this dilemma? Time will tell!
Sorry for the long text...but I wanted to write about this for a while. Maybe I do 2-months-after-having-it-trimmed-update during the next weeks...
Good luck,
Herb2992
Thanks a lot for your post, it helps a lot to read something from someone with simmilair thoughts.
For me it's only the haircare, I like the feeling of my hair and I really think it's part of me. But all people are different.
My hair does protect me from the sun but my part still burns in the sun so I wear a hat anyway. The neck area is indeed better but I never had much problems with that while short.
I know longhair can work with anything you want to but is it worth the hassle I wonder. I do a lot of running, mountainbiking and am able to do all those thing with longhair. But I have the feeling of wanting short(er) hair so then would be the perfect time.
I will probably cut it back to ponytail lenght and see how I feel about it, thanks for the idea although it probably already crossed my mind.
Being happy is indeed the most important thing, but right now I'm not so something has to change. But I'm not sure how and don't want to do anything I will regret later.
I do have some facination for short hair, I've never had a buzzcut closest was spikes on top with the rest buzzed and lately I started noticing people with this kind of style. Never had that before. It is a style I want one time in my life but don't know it is right now.
Looking forward to your update and you can also email me about this. We both seem to have a lot of the same toughts.
Thanks!
I have the same dilemma with my long hair. I enjoy it loose and flowing but hate the tangles. Ponytail does help a bit, but still tangles. I've solved this by braiding 95% of the time. I've gotten pretty good at braiding so I'll be loose then if my activity picks up, quickly braid it again.
As far as short, (and I mean clipped or buzzed), I tried that back in y2k, and I enjoyed the easy care (wash and comb in 2 minutes!) That lasted I think for about 2 weeks, then that got boring and I longed to once again grow it long. I then wait another 4 years to grow it long! (due to external pressures)
If you're wondering how it would be with short hair, try remembering back to when you did have short hair. My wife tries that on me every so often, "Just try it once to see if you like it". My reply is always the same, "I grew up with short hair, had short hair most of my life. I already know how short hair feels, and I choose long hair!"
If you do decide to try short you could take it in steps, maybe 5 or 10 cm, and "try it on" for a month or so.
Good luck,
Bruce
Tried braiding but it's not my thing, I use ties or multiple ties or wear it in a bun. Perfect solution for me while active.
At least you know for sure you want it long having it the second time long. Regrowing would be no problem I do anything I want to, although it would take me 2-3 years.
Good tip, sort of ungrowing your hair.
Hey Vincent,
Long post indeed, but it had to be said.
First, an active lifestyle would be no excuse to cut your hair; some people do very well with (I think about some girls on TLHC for example). I myself do backpaking/hiking/cycling and there are ways, for sure; tight braid, buff, large hat. I admit that I've never been on a long trip, so usually I take less care of my hair than at home and I wait to be back to care properly.
Then, I too, feel somewhat like this sometimes. I even have from time to time, the envy of a specific short-hair style ! (good point about it, Herb2992, by the way). But, guess what ? We're still very young, and potentially have all our life to have any hairstyle we want. A part of me think it would be sad to be stuck in one thing during all my life. And, ultimately, if you're not to lose your hair due to baldness, Cutting it short and haing it until it's long again is finally not a so big deal, is it ?
And I would be the same with facial hair if you had it that long :-D
I'm afraid I'm not being very helpful, but I wanted to say that. Take it easy!
Vivien
I agree about the tight braid. I do all manner of activities with my hair braided including scuba diving and it holds and keeps it out of the way and tangle-free.
Vivien,
I'm curious, how is your alopecia doing?
Not bad actually, it seems that I fully recovered. I feel the area is thinner than before, but it could be psychological. How is your fiancee's doing ?
Vivien
That's great! I'm happy to hear yours cleared up.
My fiancee's also has totally filled in. It appears her hair there is just as thick as before. It'll take some time for it to match the rest in length but we're both so relieved.
I know it's not an excuse but it would be a great advantage.
I've been experimenting with my hair a lot in the past, never had the same hairstyle for more that 5 years. So it probably is time for a change. Can always grow it back.
Although you don't think it, every post helps me a lot so thanks!
If super long hair is becoming too much of a hastle, cutting the length down is perfectly reasonable. Afterall, having long hair doesn't mean you have to have terminal length or close to it. ;)
Perfectly right, but I do like it very long. Thanks for your post.
Hi Vincent,
Yes, that is quite a long post but it said a lot.For me being on this board a while, you are not the first guy to juggle the pros and cons of having longhair.Well there are many things in life that have pros and cons.In my case I started growing mine out in my early 20s usually maintaining it around shoulder blade length.Then as the years passed I wanted to see what it would be like having it longer.So then came mid back and eventually waist length.Seems to have slowed there but I'm satisfied with it even if I can't grow it any longer.Honestly I never had thoughts of wondering what it would be like having short hair again.My hair hasn't been short since I was in high school,a waaaayyyyyy long time ago.So for me,longhair will be a lifetime experience as to this day I still love having it:)Everyone is different so others aren't as obsessed like I am about it.Whatever you do life will go on, and you can always regrow unless it was more of a novelty for you.So give it much thought but if you ask me I'd keep that mane as it is hands down awesome!Cheers and good luck....
Mark
Thanks for your thoughts on this Mark.
Hey Vincent
Although I cannot relate to you directly,in my case it is no secret that my very long hair was destroyed thanks to a Salon, and later on really finished-off because of emergency surgery for Precardia with hair falling-out for months after that. It has since been cut shorter than seen in any videos I have uploaded to You Tube including the one yesterday which I had been storing on my camera for 4 months. Had it NOT been for what happened to me, I would still have the extremely long hair you see in this photo above taken one week before the demolishment.
In my case, longhair was really a breeze compared to shorter which REALLY takes time. But, I am having lots of fun with it.
Guess it boils down to life is short and without prediction. To not taste as much of it as possible is to deny yourself of this special gift. Sounds as if the long hair is bothering you a whole lot which was never the case with me, that is before it was destroyed. Your "Gut" instinct will become so strong that most probably you will finally give into what it is telling you. Is this bad? No. Hey......you were hardly EVER one to keep going for trims to make your hair grow longer, nor of the type who might post that they had cut their hair, were sorry and after growing it back for a while cut it off again only to repeat the same thing over and over. You stuck with it and it looks great! You conquered what many a guy cannot seem to do as they are not strong enough and meow their way through the growing-out process.
To end.........I know you are posting for support and opinions to help yourself decide. One thing IS correct, that being: "if" you decide to go with another hairstyle and do not like, your gut instinct will tell you to grow long hair again. In the scheme of things, what is 2 or 3 years? But to be upset and perhaps miserable with thoughts contrary as to how you are enjoying long hair? Life is too short to extend living like this. I am most sure that you have given this many months more than the the 2 week rule.
Take care Vincent
Justin~
Thanks Justin, your post is very insightfull and helps me a lot.
The decission is yours of course. All I can say is that you
have been one of my inspirations and I think you are a natural
long hair. If you do (shudder) decide to cut do it in small
increments. You may find where you like it without cutting it
all and then having to grow it out again.
Good luck with it!
I won't do anything without thinking but I will probably cut some of my hair. How much is still the question but I think it won't be more than ponytail lenght.
Good. Whenever one of my hair idols cuts their hair I get an
unreasonable feeling that I should cut mine. Makes no sense I
know.
Hi Vincent,
Well I think most pros and cons and been said already and it's your decision at the end of the day. Whatever you decide it's your hair and you have to feel good with whatever happens.
Cheers,
John.B
Your totaly right
It is not a "guy thing" to want to spend lots of time on your hair. This is why you see a lot of men with long hair at shoulder blade length. This is about the same length that guys who measure in front call "down to your nips". This length is popular because it looks longhaired up where people notice it the most (around the head), is long enough to get well out of the awkward stage and just stay put, and is not so long that the wind catches it as much as with longer lengths. Put another way, it is the length with the least maintenance other than "short".
So if you are wanting to minimize care, you might want to go for that length. This is probably what you called "mid length" below.
I've done a lot of hiking with a daypack, and occasionally with a backpack. All packs wrestle with your hair. If you want to get some varied advice, you might log on to a hiking or backpacking web forum. Backpacker.com has some. If you do, log on as a girl. I say this because if you don't, you will mostly get annoyed by posts from guys that say the solution is to just cut off your hair. I've seen that happen on hiking mail lists more than once.
On the trail, of course, no one will care one way or the other about your hair. Hikers are not exactly conformists.
Any length that touches the top of your shoulders will get caught in pack straps, by the way, so having the length I mentioned as being popular above will not get you away from that.
Well, that depends on how long your facial hair is, of course. It took three years to get what you see on my face! Beards, by the way, can also get tangled in pack straps. It comes with the territory.
Bill
Thanks Bill,
I've come to realize that going for maximum lenght is not my thing. The only thing left to decide is what lenght I do like. Thanks for your insight, makes things clear.
About the backpacking, it's not the backpacking itself that worries me, it's more the lack of showering and haircare on the road. But that's not my biggest problem, once I've decided what I want I will find a way to do that backpacking.
With a beard like yours it would take a long time growing it back but as I only like the shorter ones on myself. It's cool to see other people with myighty beard but I would never grow one myself.
In 2006 I was not allowed to wash anything above my shoulders for three weeks due to a medical treatment. My hair did not turn out to be the disaster I had imagined it would be. Within about a week natural hair oil completely saturated my hair and completely protected it, although it certainly looked grungy. At the end of the three week period, one shower washed it all out, and my hair was just like nothing ever happened.
Also, consider this: Longhaired men and women backpack the 2600-mile Pacific Crest Trail and forgo showers for long periods because there just aren't any, and their hair survives the trip just fine.
So fret not about your hair, enjoy your hike, and remember, he who gets to the end of the trail first, LOSES!
Bill
Thanks again, that's something I don't have to worry about anymore. Now I only have to choose a lenght, but that will have to be my own choice.
Yes that's a very important lesson I already learned. I was a competive runner, right now I'm not worried about times anymore just enjoying the run. That lesson can be applied to a lot of things, like with hikes like you say.