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Hi, I reside in the south which is not so long hair friendly especially when it comes to employment and with the economy with the way it is it's not the time to grow it long, but i want to
can anyone tell me what areas of the country are the most tolerant towards long haired Men?
thanks
well i live in california and since theres so much diversity in people nobody really cares if yu have long hair or short. i live in the bay area and alot of guys have long hair out here
Seriously. In California, you have to be naked and on fire to even get anyone to notice you.
I'd think he was joking, if my sister didn't live here; you see folks from all walks of life in California. Around Berkeley and the Bay Area, there isn't really a minority if you ever looked for one. Caucasians and Asians and Latinos and Africans, Christians and Atheists and Muslims and Jews, and every other distinction you can think of; it's a testament to America being a world melting pot.
I've seen longhairs all over the Northern portion in the two days that I've been here (ie San Francisco, Berkeley), so there're small towns and metropolises here both friendly to longhairs.
So, yeah. Like the guy said above me, you DO need to be naked and on fire to get any real attention ‘round these parts.
Venya
well, unfortunately not in Florida. most Men are expected to get military type haircuts in many places of work while women can wear their hair long or short. it should be the same for Men too!
Well I don't know if any state is really kool about long haired men, but my senior vice-president at my health care company now is sporting a small poney tail,and this is here in conservative Cincinnati, Ohio.
Tom
Stay away from Delaware, where I currently reside. The guys look like walking models for Abercrombie & Fitch (kudos to Stas). I have seen 1 longhair in the six months I have lived here so far, and I am surrounded by a university and student housing. My neighbors are mostly university students. Even the frat guys across the street are all donning short styles requiring the use of styling products.
Maryland, where I lived previously, is far more longhair friendly. Saw many working in retail there, including the Hispanic young man who was a manager at CVS, he had his dark hair back in a tail. A young man with long, blond curls was an associate there. The Weis supermarket had quite a few cashiers and stock guys with long hair. Quite a number of longhairs at my former church. Mount St Mary's had some, including a minority of them at the seminary. Baltimore has a lot of diversity, I lived in upper Frederick County. But it gets conservative down towards Frederick City. Hagerstown area seems longhair friendly, a few MLHH members reside in or near Hagerstown. Basically, the further west you are, or the closer to B'more, the more longhair friendly.
Are you thinking of relocating to friendly more tolerant states?
I remember some long haired guys in Buffalo, but that was 20 years ago! Lol! and NOT ponytails hardly at all. Just Jim Morrison type stuff. I would think Maybe the rural areas, maybe Maine, and of course New York City, but would you really want to live in that concrete zoo? Sure, maybe you'd have hair there, but you'd loose some of your marbles under it definately.
Here in Florida many workplaces would not allow Men to grow their hair such as the Resorts,most supermarkets(I've never seen a male publix employee with anything other than barber of military haircuts), many offices and retailers are the same way with the all "short" for male employees only, but women have the freedom to wear theirs the way they want.
In regards to hair length, I feel Men should have the same right afforded women and be able to wear it around the same length as women do. it should be their choice to grow it or cut it, not an employers. how many employers tell women to Bob their hair or get pixie cuts. none.
NOTE: Publix is a supermarket chain in Florida.
Hey LongHairFan!
I couldn't agree more with all you stated as that's the way it should be ..equal rights for all and that means hair too!LOL.So is that you in the pic?If I were a boss I'd hire you in a second!Cheers buddy.Have fun in Florida;)
Mark
every time I had hair even remotely close to shoulder length some management type decides to "crack down" on hair length and I ended up getting it all cut off in a barbershop or it was possible termination. usually this occurs when business is slow too.
I was reluctant to do so every time!
Many of the resorts are so bad that even the dishwashers and maintenance staff either try to conceal their longer locks under a cap, quit, or get it cut. I knew of one guy who worked as a maintenance worker who had hair to the middle of his back but wet it down and hid it under his hat.......until his boss found out. apparently he was seen outside of work and some person ratted him out for having long hair so he ended up having to get it cut after his boss called him in his office and requested that he remove his hat.
at least three years of growth ended up on the barbershop floor
unfortunately, during these bad economic times more Men's locks will probably be shorn because employers have the leverage and can hire anyone and fire anyone especially in a state like Florida which is an "employment at will" state.
to my knowledge, no one has ever challenged this type of discrimination in the workplace in this state, but I have heard of similar cases in other states. I think California was one.
You know, what you wrote really fries me!What a bunch of BS as if I had to work for such people I'd hate to go to work everyday and rather collect unemployment till the cows come home!LOL.I know for a fact that there are companies that could care less about hair length on men so even if it meant a career change I would consider it.The fact that someone was seen outside of work with his hair down and was confronted by the boss at work some day in the future over it is maddening.Oh well enough ranting as at least I know I'll never move to Florida.Maybe a hurricane will wipe that state off the map.
Mark
there are two ways to probably eradicate these draconian dress codes mandating short hair for Men
now, this is going to come off as a bit political, but it's probably the only way real change can happen in the workplace especially in states like Florida
the first way is for the Federal Government to modify anti-discrimination laws to include no job discrimination based on hair length, however most conservatives who probably don't have an issue with how a guy wears his hair would strongly ob ject because of their stance on the whole 'free market' thing and Government should stay out of businesses affairs including who they hire and how they should expect their employees to groom themselves.
the second way is to hope that businesses loosen up their dress codes and start allowing longer length of hair on male employees.
the problem that i have with that especially in a state such as Florida which has not change much since the 1960s is that many workplaces still require the same haircuts that were mandatory 50 years ago.
the Progressives would be in favor of modifying anti-discrimination laws while the conservatives would not.
some of you might think the Federal Government should not intervene, but then again if you have long hair and have been
discriminated against who is most likely going to be in favor
of eradicating that discrimination?
Are you prepared to wait another 50 years for that change?
Hey LongHairFan,
I hear you loud and clear on your suggestions and would agree that changing laws politically is probably the real answer.However I wouldn't hold my breath for that to happen as those kind of changes take place very slowly if at all.The problem is there is no PAC(political action committee)up and running for "longhair on men" and without that I find it difficult to get backing for our cause.So in reality its just easier to live in a longhair friendly state and work in a profession where men with long locks isn't an issue.Also I'm sure in a better economy we would have much more leverage.
.
Mark
I have had encounters with ignorant people(especially in the state of Florida) who usually have short hair or buzz-cuts that will ask me the most asinine questions such as:
"Dude, do you know where I can get some(usually in reference to some illegal substance)?" and these idiots don't even know me.
I could be an undercover cop for all they know!
or
"Dude, do you headbang slot? I bet you like Metallica"
and I usually respond with :
"sorry, but you have be completely wrong. get a clue!!"
Women aren't asked such idiotic questions and not all women with long hair like Metal music and some women with short hair like it, but people don't have these stereotypes in their head when it comes to women's hair length.
btw, I am NOT a fan of Metallica. never was, nor never will be
I liked Smashing Pumpkins better at the time, but was not pleased when Billy Corgan cut his hair off , let alone shaved his head!
people's musical tastes should not be determined by hair length.
people used to freak out when I told them I liked Sonic Youth and The Pixies. lol
Half the time when people make ignorant comments, like you mentioned,its really to get your goat so to speak.If they had half a brain they have to know they are just stereotyping you just because of your longhair.In a way I can see them using the metalhead band reference because many of them were "hairbands. Another part of the problem is that younger guys take the heat more than an older longhair such as myself.I can't even remember the last time when anyone would have commented on my hair in a negative way.I do like metal bands and hate it when the longtime established ones, such as Metallica, cut their hair short while they are still a viable band.I know its really about the music but image plays into it too I think.I mean would you trust a Metallica full of shaved heads??LOL.
Mark
Metal was cool a long time ago but that was before it became cliche.
everyone is entitled to their own musical tastes, but I think the whole Metal thing became too cartoonish.
grow your hair long, but don't conform to the stereotypes.
if you like punk, Indie, Techno, hip-hop, Goth, or Emo you should not have to comply with a certain "hairstyle" because of a band.
Incidentally, not all Metallica fans have long hair and most of the guys who listen to them have very short haircuts to shaved heads.
Let me start off by saying when I went to the clubs to see metal bands back in the 1980s not only did all the bands sport longhair but so did almost every guy in the audience. It was a sight to behold.Now when I make a rare show it's like a total opposite in most cases.The band may have a longhair or two in it but the audience is 90 %+ shorthaired:( What a difference a couple decades make.Anyway you can like whatever style music you prefer but metal was always associated with longhairs in my mind and I did like that style of music:)Cheers
Mark
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The Beatles started the trend nearly 50 years ago.
what happened?
Godsmack, who probably would've sported long tresses in the early 1980s were all sporting shaved heads in the late 1990s.
at least Jack White(white stripes) had longer hair. maybe not long enough for some on this board, but it was far from short or shaved!
longer hair just looks better imho.
Yes, we can thank the Beetles for opening the door to guys wanting longer hair:)Once you see a celebrity starting a trend it can take off like wild fire.Even though I've been inspired by guys wearing longhair in metal bands from the 80s I still keep it that way no matter what the trends dictate.Its a shame when an 80s metal band, who used to all have wonderful longhair,make a comeback but most or all as shorthairs:( Oh well it is what it is.I agree with you that longhiar just looks better:)Cheers
Mark
You don't want that! That will bring the bastards up here!
ROFLMAO!!
I AGREE!! Love your mane too!!
I'm not against those guys who want military and barber cuts, but expecting ALL Men to wear 1950s type hairstyles would be like
requesting women to wear 1950s type hairstyles
can you imagine how the women would react to that? lol
the women like freedom to move their hair and these 1950s hairdos restrict freedom of movement and don't look very good imho.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iVZME1Chwzc/S8tST0klEAI/AAAAAAAADVc/OINtUD4oggA/s1600/3935878631_b31823aae5_o.jpg
Georgeous pic.
Sounds like Florida sucks. Heh ;p I see long hair constantly out West.
Hard to believe, but lots of workplaces are like that in this state, but if you want to work in the hot sun doing construction work it would not be an issue. I had a friend who did that for years and ended up getting skin cancer.
Well yeah, it's easy to get skin cancer there. it rains & is cloudy & cold ALL the time here - I'm exaggerating - but it's one of the best places to live for skin and hair, next to Western Europe. Dude, you have to run away. That's what my boyfriend & I did 20 years ago. he had a VW bus & we took some stuff & lived in it for 2 months & just effing left all that shit. The hell with most of the east coast. Oregon's nice too. So's BC, but not Alaska, unless you want to start a fire under your car to start it & spend your time with people drinking themselves to death. And Cali's freakin hottt. And dry. Except the north coast there. It just pours in the coastal redwoods. We went through there. Had breakfast at a cafe with the lumberjacks. Served by a skinny old redheaded lady who loved the rain. hehe. yes, it's awesome here.
I live in central MA for school. A couple long hairs here and there. Much better than in Fl where I am from (although I do miss Publix). I'm (hopefully) headed for the west coast after graduation!!!
And intolerance gets worse in the deep south. I have worked in health care and institutional/restaurant food service,while living in Maryland and Pennsylvania. One of the most long-hair friendly field of work. Retail would be second in those two states. Many of my co-workers, and subordinates (when I was supervising) were guys with long hair. I do find much of the Northeast is friendly/tolerant towards longhairs. West coast would be also ideal, Midwest is probably a mixed bag. I'd avoid Utah, only cuz it's Mormon territory.
I live near Seattle and would say the whole West Coast is good. It feels like being in a different country. I moved here 20 years ago from Buffalo, NY.
I've found from experience that northern New Jersey is pretty good for long haired men. I've had women more interested in me from there than where I live now in Queens, New York. In terms of employment, long hair is okay if you're looking for a job in New York City, but not if you're looking to date. I too have seen more friendliness and interest towards long hair in Maryland compared to other states. As for the West Coast, I dunno, never been there. I've never been west of Las Vegas, NV.
J.M.M.
