new thread
After losing my job last year I started a new job a few weeks ago. It's only a factory job (in a mouldshop making wing mirrors) but it keeps me off the street! It's a very large factory and almost all the guys have short hair - but there are a few of us longhairs about. One dude keeps his in a long ponytail. I wear mine loose and no one has complained. The bosses are clearly cool with long hair. In fact, the dude I replaced (he moved to the night shift) has long hair and rumour has it that that was why I was chosen coz I seemed the perfect replacement! :)
My hair has now recovered much of its length and volume from my horrible trim and layering last November. It now reaches to my collarbones again and is not too far short of where it was. I'm much happier with it! I'll post a pic when I get the chance.
Factory work can be pretty boring at times but at least I get a lot of pleasure out of feeling my hair flowing over my shoulders and flopping over my eyes when bending forward. Yeah, I know I'm weird but small things amuse small minds! :)
Got a comment just now from a teenage couple walking past me. I overheard them discussing whether he should grow his hair long to be in fashion. The dude was in favour and I heard him say to her as he nodded in my direction: "Hey, he's clearly loving his hair!" She smiled and agreed, "Yeah, his looks cool!"
Yay! Converts! :D
Damon
Hello Damon!
So glad to hear that you got a new job and you are allowed to keep your hair the way you want it.
It's sad though that we have to feel happy about something so normal and personal such as how you decide to wear your hair.
I work at a huge worldwide company where also they allow us to dress and wear our hair the way we want. There are some guys here with dreadlocks and very "not formal" clothing.
Too bad that not all work places are like that but that is the world we are living in :(
Have a nice weekend and happy growing!
Thanks, Dave. It was awesome that I can wear my hair the way I want it. The dude I replaced was already a friend of mine and since he has long hair himself I knew my hair would not be an issue. Good to know your own company is cool with it too.
TBH, I am so determined to keep my hair now that I would not take a job where I would be expected to cut it. The hair stays!
Damon
--------------------------------------
One of the things I love about having long hair is going around
on hot summer days, only wearing cut off shorts, no shirt and
having my long hair cascading down my back. My hair is now
way past shoulder length, (six inches above the waist now).
One of the great things about having long hair is I can choose lots of different styles depending on my mood (wear it loose down
my back one day, loose down the front another day, braid it,
pony tail it, pig tail it, bun it, etc. But one thing I absolutely
refuse to do is cut it.)
I started growing my hair long in 1964, now 49 years later I still love having long hair. I keep changing the style I wear
it to keep the hair fresh.
My hair is nowhere near as long as yours but yeah, I too love feeling it on my back. It's a great feeling!
Damon
-----------------------------------------
Hi Damon,
A big congratulations on the new job, my friend, and a long haired friendly one too!Also nice to hear your mane is back on the mend:)Your post comes at an interesting time as I've been on vacation this week and one of the things I did was do a factory tour of Martin Guitar Co. seeing their manufacturing facilities.Now this company was established in 1833, so a very old company, which is still privately owned:)So you know during the tour I was looking to see what the long hair ratio was for the guys.Surprisingly most were short haired but I did see several with very long hair too.In fact I posted a thread about it a little ways down the board here.Frankly it looks like a great place to work but not sure how I'd like the regimented atmosphere of being a factory worker since I'm used to being on my own "in the field". Still even in my situation I've kept long hair all these years even as I'm beginning to fossilize!LOL.Anyway great news and thanks for telling us:) Cheers buddy.
Mârk
Wow, Mark! I would LOVE to tour that factory. It seems a shame that only a few of the guys had long hair though; long hair just seems natural for a guitar factory.
Yeah, factory work is a bit regimented. But hey, it'll do for the time being and I'm already making some friends there.
Damon
-----------------------------------
I'm so glad that you found a job that doesn't make an issue of your hair. I just recently landed a similar situation myself. Luckily in my industry long hair is generally accepted, though of course, there are some who don't allow it.
That's great about the two teens liked your hair and that the guy wants to grow. I've actually talked to several guys recently who are growing out their hair from a medium length. It's always nice to see people break from the mold and do their own thing.
Does the factory have any regulations on how you can wear your hair? It doesn't sound like it. The only rule for where I work is that we have to have it tied up when working around the pump engines as a safety precaution. I would do that anyways as getting my hair sucked into a fan belt isn't my idea of fun.
I haven't heard any regulations about hair at my factory. But my hair is only just past shoulder length. If it was any longer I guess common sense would make me tie it up if I was in close contact with the actual machines.
Damon
--------------------------------------------------
Hi Damon,
I am very happy to hear this good news! Love the story about the teens! That's cool he's going to grow his out AND his girl liked yours! I am sure you're loving your hair as you should! I will be anxiously awaiting your next pic update. Enjoy your weekend and your hair my friend!
Ted
Thanks, Ted! All my recent pics are totally fuzzy (phone pics). One day I'll take a clear one! :)
Damon
-------------------------------------
That's okay Damon. You look just as wonderful in the fuzzy pics! Keep it growing and flowing my friend!
Ted
Heya Damon!
Such great new, my friend! So happy for you! :)
Being employed and at the same time, being allowed to be yourself, is perhaps a 'small thing' in life, but it is not until we really learn to appreciate those small things, that we truly reach the ability to be happy people!
Can't wait to see your hair update! :)
Thanks, Raul! Yeah, my hair is really part of me now. No job is gonna make me cut it.
Damon
---------------------------------------------------
Thanks tor the update Damon. I'm finding that there are many little simple pleasures that accompany the growing of hair!
The ability to feel and see my hair as I work is a simple little pleasure that I never really anticipated until I started growing my hair. I love it!
Damon
-------------------------------------------------
Great! You never know what "just a factory job" might lead to. Keep on keeping on.
Alun
Thanks for the encouragement, Alun. Yeah, who knows what opportunities lie ahead. And even if nothing, it's all part of life's experiences.
Damon
-------------------------------------------------
Congrats on the new job and one that cares about the important stuff...how you do your job!
Still wear a uniform in my new position, but they still don't care how long or how styled it is!
Yes, that's a refreshing attitude. No one has said a word about my hair but I've been praised already for my fast learning and doing my job well. I wish more companies had that attitude.
Damon
-------------------------------------------