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I know that it is an individual issue however, what do you guys consider the ideal hair length? I have had waist length hair before, but I found it a little to long for my taste. My hair is currently below my mid back.
Darrin
Li prefer shoulder blade length but it IS entirely personal.
Hi Darrin,
Each length brings so many different advantages / disadvantages, that the longhair experience can vary to a surprisingly amazing degree. Let me share what I feel are those advantages and disadvantages...
1) "Awkward stage" hair-length: In this case, the DISadvantages are obvious (the fact that one's hair cannot yet be all pulled back into a hair-tie yet); but to me, there are a lot of fun advantages that I sometimes miss! Shaking my head wildly about after getting out of the shower is one thing I can no longer do nowadays, for example (my hair hits the ceiling if I try - LOL)...
2) Shoulder-length: In many ways, this length is rather "ideal" -- because it's long enough to get most of it into a ponytail; yet not so long as to be too problematic w/ tangles if worn loose.
3) Past shoulder-blades to mid-back: this begins, in most of Western society's mind-set about male hair-length, to be where "exotic" starts -- and in my mind, easily considered "ideal" for a number of reasons. This is the length where you can start to braid it, use multiple hair-ties for a segmented ponytail, and also put it back in a bun. Tangles around the nape of the neck begin to be more of a problem with this longer length, though; but hey, it's a small price to pay for looking and feeling more "exotic!"
4) Waist-length / belt-length: some folks here think these 2 lengths are one and the same, while others think in terms of where the waist is located anatomically on the human male body VS the belt resting a bit lower, nearer the hips -- no matter! The point is: whether at the high waist or lower, this length is quite an impressive accomplishment (it took me 7 - 10 years to get there myself - LOL).... Personally, I'm currently finding this length to be rather "ideal", even though I'm still hoping my hair will grow maybe even a bit longer -- we'll see ("time will tell")... Although I find it rarer for me to wear my hair loose this long (San Francisco being a very windy city), when I do wear it loose, it feels like something even more special when I do! Most of the time, though, I have to either braid it or bun it during the day.
5) Butt-length and beyond: I cannot [yet] speak from experience about what it's like to have this much length; but, I can say this much: I turn green with envy every time I see it on a guy!! But, then I remind myself of the fact that this extreme length must probably also be, "a pain in the butt" (including literally -- and YES, the pun was intended - LOL).... I guess long hair must be an addiction. The longer you grow it, the more you want more more MORE!!! I can't imagine going past knee-length, though. In my dreams, that's probably what I'd honestly consider to be hardcore "IDEAL"; but hey, I'm a bit of a hair fanatic -- so please take that into account!
Did that answer your question?
- Ken in San Francisco
I think it is so individual. You have to find the length that works for you.
For me, at thigh length, longer wouldn't be much of a problem, first, since I am lazy, it would be up most of the time, as it is now, second, as you reach longer lengths slowly, you adjust more or less unconsciously so that you don't have to think too much about getting it caught or stuck, etc.
If my hair would grow longer, I would certainly have it longer.
My sentiments exactly, Trolleypup!
I can also relate to your comments in the paragraph above that, too -- I'm lazy also, which is why I tend to bun my hair during most days (because quicker and easier than braiding it)... And the ONLY reason I braid or bun my hair is because I totally hate hate hate having to deal with tangles -- which is almost "guaranteed" to happen if I wear it loose, or even if in a simple ponytail (although a segmented ponytail works well for me)...
These things are all more or less "self-discovery" experiences -- the longer my hair has grown, the more I discover new ways to maintain it or deal with how to avoid maintaining it (LOL); but my enjoyment of it still outweighs the small headaches of having to pay attention to its upkeep, so on it grows...
- Ken
That's pretty much how I feel. Currently, I'm just short of being able to sit on it. My braid reaches belt length now, which is fun. To be honest, when I started growing it out, I thought mid back would be ideal, but as it's getting longer, I look forward to reaching each new milestone. My original goal was to grow it to terminal and then cut it back to waist length, but the longer it grows, the less inclined I am to cut it back at all.
Hey Ken,
I want to thank you and everyone else who responded to my post. I thought about it and I think my ideal length is between mid-back and waist length, but closer to mid-back. You where right on with your pro and con lists for each length!
Darrin
According to me, ideal hair length, in an esthetic point of view, is a few cm before terminal length because there is the maximum length with the best hair quality.
It's the first time I grew my hair so I can't judge about the practical part in hair length (I can't even make a ponytail with my whole hair).
But if you ask me that question in some years, maybe i'll give you a less idealistic answer.
Just past mid-back.
For the past couple years its always seemed to be about 3-4 inches past where it is now. So at the moment, tailbone length.
Shoulder/slightly beyond shoulder length.
It is an individual thing as you say, and Ken has summed up the advantages and disadvantages of various lengths very well.
All i would say is keep on growing until you feel you feel the length is right, then grow a bit more until you feel it is too much, and (if that day ever comes!), trim back to the length you felt was right for you.
When I first thought about growing my hair (at the age of 7) I put my goal at various lengths between waist and knee. Never achieved either, but that's another story.