new thread
First, I wanted to say that I'm glad to see this board is still up! I was here about 8 years ago when I was growing my hair out, and I truly cherished the support. I then became an attorney and worked for someone, so I had to cut my hair. A few years ago, I started my own law firm, and I'm feeling that "calling" again to grow it long. But, I keep thinking...how can I survive as an attorney with long hair?!?! On the plus side, with my law practice, I do not meet people often. I know that some people may not care about long hair on an attorney, but I feel very confident that most people and clients in my area, including judges, will not take fondly to it. I do feel that long hair on me will definitely negatively effect my law practice. I know this may be debatable, but I honestly don't want to go down that road in this post.
Instead, as crazy as it sounds, I would like to explore the option of wearing a SHORT haired wig over LONG hair. I am actually VERY excited about this idea because I feel much more confident in moving forward with something that, I feel, could otherwise destroy my livelihood, but something that would also give me great joy...again.
I am not sure where to even start with something like this, and, since I'm thinking that this idea has never come up here, I understand if I don't get many replies. Nonetheless, can anyone offer any thoughts and/or suggestions? Thanks very much, and I'm happy to be back!
Several years ago I actually bought myself a short-haired wig, "just in case"...
I have never had the need to wear it, other than to entertain myself at home (LOL); but am still glad that I own one, even though have never found the right opportunity to have to put it on in order to go out in public.
Hey, I just had a fun idea: maybe I'll wear it for Halloween this year! (LOL)
In any case, on a more serious note: yes, I have known of a few guys who have worn a short-haired wig over their long hair, because of their jobs; but it's been a long time ago that I last saw an example of that.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
- Ken in San Francisco
Thanks for the response, Ken. Would you mind sharing where you purchased it?
Hi Jolly:)
I would think in today's world long hair is much more accepted than it was many years ago.I work in the service industry and have the opportunity to visit many office buildings that house all sorts of companies and yes, some are law firms.Believe me I take notice if any "suit" I cross paths with is sporting longhair and can honestly say I do.Very rare in law offices but I have seen a few shaggy guys there:)Once I did a double take in an office lobby when a well dressed man passed by me and when I turned around as he passed I was amazed at his waist length pony tail!He wore the look well in his suit. I would never think anything negative of him.So with that said I hope you pursue your dream of having a long mane no matter the length.Cheers
Mârk
Hi, Mark.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do intend to grow it long again, but I do feel I have to take steps to protect my business/income. Much of the time I work out of a home office, so I can avoid something like a wig. But, if I'm around the "business public," including potential clients, I'm thinking I would like to have a short haired wig to use. Of course, if there comes a time when I feel that my business would not be impacted, I'll not use the wig. :)
I have seen a few long-haired attorneys on the local news, in stories about prominent trial cases. I really do not think it is an issue anymore at professional level positions (lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc.).
In fact, I think a well groomed head of long hair in any style, worn with confidence (that's the trick), will set you apart and make you as the one person in the room of suits who will be remembered.
I've had a little experience with this and I have to say that in general, people will be more negative about a badly done short wig than your own long hair. But if you're going to try it, you need to keep a few things in mind:
You should only consider using a wig made of human hair. Synthetic hair has its uses and is cheaper, but only human hair will give you a close-up realism without a strange shine that normal hair usually doesn't have. You should consider having it custom made to fit your head. That involves making a template that is made of plastic wrap and tape which shows the outline and front hairline position, etc. You can actually do that yourself and customize the wig at a lot of different internet sites that offer do-it-yourself hairpiece design. You shouldn't need to pay more than $500-$600 for a design-it-yourself custom short wig (you're actually looking for something called a 'full cap' system). And finally consider one that uses a fine lace mesh for most of its base, especially the front hairline (called a 'lace front'). It will be cooler to wear long-term, it makes the hair appear to be coming out of your scalp individually since they're tied to the mesh, and you can use nearly invisible adhesives to give you a good natural looking hairline.
But this involves an incredible commitment and a lot of time to get it right. You'll also need to replace it frequently depending on the wear and tear, maybe several times a year. If you make a mistake applying it or are sloppy or don't have the time one morning to spend on it, your clients will know something's not right and that draws more negative attention to it.
Having gone through most of the above and if I were in your shoes now, I'd keep my hair long and just be sure it's always well-styled and appropriate for your age and overall physical looks (rely on other's advice on that, it's hard to judge yourself sometimes!), and see how that goes. Good luck!
Wow! Thanks for the insight. That does sound like a lot of work...and a lot of money. I might need to reassess this approach. :(
RE: long hair negatively effecting your law practice:
Only if you let it. It's all about how you carry yourself. If you're confident and you "own" your long hair, you're not going to lose tons of business. You might even gain some business because you dare to stand out and you don't look like a hundred thousand other lawyers.
I have worked in misdemeanor enforcement of environmental laws and agree with your concern about the ban of long hair in the legal profession. You would just stand out too much wearing a suit in court arguing a case with very short haired opposing attorneys before short haired or bald judges. There could be a significant change in the number of clients assigned to you, You can’t even wear the “shaggy look” It's just the usual short cut that attorneys are expected to have.
I’ve never fitted a hairpiece, but looking up ‘hairpiece” on the internet, then fill in the name of a well known actor, ie “hairpiece John Travolta” you can see the elaborate lace wigs and hairpiece sections attached to the receding hairline with adhesives. Many of the well known actors use this. If you have a full head of hair, the short haired wigs tend to look too thick. Charlie Sheen’s hairpiece is just too thick. But I think it would work for your own shoulder length hair. Some of the very short haired wigs for woman are fitted on longer thinning hair. These really look fairly good. The hair salons might be the first place to try this.
Don
Thanks, Don. I'll look into that.
Not a lawyer here, but a patent agent.
I work in a law firm, and have to admit that guys with long hair are few and far between in the law. Usually, just me, LOL!
I did work in one firm where there was a partner with long hair. Not as long as mine, but shoulder length. He also wore a Hawaiian shirt to the office every day, believe it or not! He was a so-called non-equity partner, which means he was not really a partner except in name. However, he left and became a full partner in another firm. At one point he interviewed me for a job in his new firm. He didn't give me the job :-( and he was NOT wearing a Hawaiian shirt, but at least he hadn't cut his hair. As I'm sure you realise, the existing partners would only care that he could bring them a book of work, not about the length of his hair.
I have seen long haired lawyers in traffic court when I have been defending my own tickets, but there again, that is kind of the court of last resort from a lawyers PoV, LOL!
I also came across a lawyer that I knew that way, although she didn't recognise me. The length of her hair wouldn't be an issue, but she was a goth who dyed her hair black, not that she wore goth attire in court, or even in the office when we were in the same firm, but I noticed that she didn't wear her black leather jacket in court, and she wore more conservative makeup too.
IMHO if you are in court you are pretty much guaranteed that no-one will criticise your hair. If opposing counsel were to do so it would be pretty much like saying "Look at me, I have no credible legal arguments!". Judges do censure lawyers for not wearing a jacket and tie, for example, but I have never heard of one telling a lawyer to go get a haircut.
So, the problem areas probably come down to (1) Juries; and (2) Clients. I wouldn't seriously worry about the former, although I honestly have no experience there to go by, but the latter might be a problem, depending upon the field of your practice. So maybe the plan is to look for long haired clients. Maybe specialise in medical marijuana cases or environmental law.
Yeah, I know you really wanted to talk about wigs. I don't know much about them, except that it would probably be too hot to wear one for prolonged periods. Of course, in the old country it used to be de rigeur to wear a white horsehair wig in court!
Should mention that Bill on this board is a long haired lawyer. However, he quit his dad's law firm to become an engineer (whereas I am an engineer who made a move in the opposite direction). Also, he is now retired.
Thx for the thoughts, electros. Believe me, I don't want to wear a wig, but I'm really feeling like I want my long hair back, and I dont want my business to tank either. So, I'm trying to reconcile all of those things as best I can. By the way, my law is family law, and I like that area of the law. Even if I wanted to do another area of law, the learning curve would be tremendous, with no real guarantees. So, I'll be staying in family law.
I was accepted into the us merchant marine academy in new york. I had hair down my back and did not want to cut it off to.meet the military style mandate of the school so........... I had a wig store hook me up with there finest wig. I pulled my act off and kept my long hair all through the three years. At graduation after getting my papers im my hand, I pulled off my wig in front of a thousand people and BLEW THEIR SHALLOW MINDS!! so I agree, you should wear a wig in court and for clients because that is where we live, this shallow superficial place called the usa. we need to do such acting to get money to live, because the alternative is to have long hair and a crappy job and less money. So I vote for the wig. Just remember to get the finest short hair wig you can buy, like I did, or else it will backfire and people will think u r covering up baldness!!!!