new thread
Hello:
Yesterday at work, I had a few important meetings with some managers so I decided to make my mid back hair look as formal as possible. I opted for a low bun as opposed to the ponytail that I normally wear. I also had on a tie, dress slacks, dress shoes, etc. Anyhow when I came back home, my wife commented that the hair bun was far less professional/ formal looking than the ponytail. I was surprised she thought that as I thought the bun, as it hides the length of the hair, was more formal. What do you all think??
By the way, I work in the IT field. Thanks for the help!
Josh
Hi Josh,
Like you I work in IT and at more formal stuff I just wear mine in a tail and never had a bad comment.
Cheers,
John.B
*shrug*
A ponytail is probably the most formal of common longhaired men's hairstyles. I'm not saying that buns are not formal, but that they a generally so uncommon that they are off the scale.
That said, I think a well done bun or certain fancy braids should be perfectly formal. I've seen a perfect herringbone braid that looked amazing with formal attire, ditto certain neat and interesting buns secured with appropriate hairtoys.
Recently I saw a website with advice for those in the corporate world, and it addressed the issue of long hair. Apparently the recommendation was to wear your hair in a pulled-back tail, with NO parts in the hair. Buns were strongly discouraged as they are not widely accepted as appropriate for men. The author's advice was to comb all of your hair all back, and fasten with a tie at the base of the neck. Use gel to tame any loose hairs. From the front, you look as though you are wearing slick-backed short hair. In the corporate/professional world, this is considered acceptable attire in the office and for meetings. The author also suggested you use ties in neutral colors, either ones the color of your hair, or black.
I would have to agree that the hair pulled back is the better choice to make. A bun I don't think is at all really thought of as being a mans hairstyle.
Corbin
MGCtBY
If buns arent fit for men, who are they fit for? women dont wear them anymore, so why cant men take advantage of them. i have never worn a pony tail, I either wear a bun or french braids with the braid tucked up inside the french braid. I have never heard any complaints about a bun in particular. People only comment about long hair in general. If you want to wear a bun, dont let the crowd influence you otherwise!!!! Wayne
I'd go with a French braid to get it out of your face and start the ponytail at your neck. Swept off the face is definitely better.
In that situation I would stay with the pony tail. They are what they are BUT look tidy and certainly convey the required degree of formality. The ob ject is not to hide the length of your hair merely present it tidily so in way way the bun is ill-conceived.
Thanks to everyone for the input on this. Seems I was incorrect about the bun style being more professional. I'll stick with the ponytail in future formal/professional situtations.
Thanks again for the advice. I appreciate it.