new thread
I have enjoyed and wanted to have long hair my whole life. I think the best reason for a man to have long is for stress reduction. I think that one of the reasons women live longer than men is because women have longer hair and if having long hair reduces stress for some reason then it could increase your life span. I think men with long hair are less likely to go bald because they will have less stress. I don't know why having long hair would be stress relieving. Maybe just the feel of it. Also the fact that you are not trying to conform can be kind of a release. What do you all think? Does having long hair reduce stress?
Hi Lee,
I'm a longhair myself, shoulder length specifically. I see what your getting at, however, stress only comes from internally and how you look at the task at hand. Or what's on your mind and how you cope with it.
I don't feel any different internally than what I did when I had short hair, as far as stress goes anyway. My $.02
Hey Lee,
You make some interesting points. However, for a guy to have long hair may not reduce because he becomes the target of some shorthairs who may throw slurs at him and pressure him to cut his hair. If the guy is strong enough and secure enough in his own identity to resist this pressure and grow out his hair then his long hair might be a support of inner strength and thus contribute to stress relief. What I am saying is this; that a guy who feels sucure enough in his own identity as a longhair so as to say 'I don't care what you say about my hair. I am a longhair. This is who I am.'then he has reached an inner peace within himself. Then he can enjoy the other benefits of having long hair; the feel of it on his body, blowing freely in the wind, trying different styles,finger combing it . . . etc. He can feel deep within himself, 'I am a longhair, proud and unbowed.'
Just some thoughts.
Raymond
Hi Lee,
To any man who is naturally inclined to want his own mane long, NOT following his heart (in other words, keeping his hair short -- in spite of the inner desire to grow it out), would be very stressful.
When I was much younger, I badly WANTED to have long hair; but my dad would not allow it on me or my brothers when I was a kid and a teenager. It wasn't until I left home at age 18 that I finally got a chance to grow it out a bit (although at first only accomplished "long-ISH" -- pony-tail length didn't happen for me until nearing my 40th birthday)...
Not allowing yourself to become the person you wish to be and/or feel you happen to be on the inside, is denying your own "essence" (so-to-speak). Even when my hair was very very short, I always knew on the inside that I would eventually grow it out someday. Eventually, the longer I let my hair grow out, the more I felt "at home" in my own skin. Whenever we follow our heart, no matter how "odd" others may view our desires to be, we become truer to ourselves -- and therefore, find peace within ourselves.
And once we find inner peace, we tend as human beings to be less stressed out by outside forces.
As far as reducing male pattern baldness, however... Well, sorry to say this, but: that is a genetic thing. But I totally support guys who are balding, thinning, or experiencing receding hairlines to grow their hair out, anyway (if that's what they wish to do), in spite of society's frown and disapproval. Although my own hair in front has thinned and receded a bit over the years, I'm as happy as a clam in chowder that I never listened to the Fashion Police -- which would have told me that I wasn't Hollywood handsome enough, or had the "perfect" head of hair enough to allow me to grow it long...
Just follow your heart -- whether it's re. hair, or other issues -- and you will find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... And that "pot of gold" most certainly will reduce a lot of stress in your life!
- Ken in San Francisco
Ken speaks wisely. This above all, to thine own self be true. (Hamlet)
Beautifully stated, Ken.
No: I rgret to say that I find no merit in your theory.
Having long hair will only reduce stress if the focus or source of one's stress is a desire to have long hair.
The island nation of Okinawa boasts more centenarians than anywhere else on earth; most of the men there have short hair, yet enjoy relatively low-stress lives as a result of healthy social and spiritual practices, combined with proper nutrition and physical activity.
--Val