new thread
Hello, my longhaired brothers! I got lots of help and support from many of you through my journey. I'm not going to stop growing as I love my hair being long so much.
I love to wear my hair loose. Actually, I've never even tried wearing it restrained till now. I'm not going to change anything as I love the feeling of my hair (especially the way it flows in the wind! :))
BUT. I'm going to have some official events and meetings with people I know nothing about. It's pretty serious, and I wish to look neutral to their taste. So I think, I should somehow restrain my hair for those occasions. And, besides, I also wish to know of the different ways to protect my hair as it gets longer.
Many of you guys have so much experience in doing it, so I thought I might find help here.
I know that I can wear my hair in a ponytail (either high or low, although I prefer a low one), I can make a bun or a braid (many variants of them).
Currently I know how to make a ponytail, but that's all. I tried to find a howto on buns. But most of those howto-es are oriented for women, and their buns differ from those I sometimes see on men.
In this topic I'd like to get more practical information on nice ways to restrain and protect hair. Pics are much appreciated :)
I'd be really, really thankful for your replies!
Serge.
My hair does already have some length in it. Here's how my ponytail looks like. I tried not to make it tight. This is a pic of a low one.
I wonder if it's easy to damage hair by wearing ponytails.
Thanks.
Serge.
Serge,
Your hair is awesome! Exactly how I want mine to look! More pics please!
Tony
Hello Serge,
That is a lovely looking ponytail you have there already! I think that looks professional if it is kept as a low ponytail. You are very fortunate to have hair which appears neat as opposed to a big fluffy ponytail. For some reason a lot of ignorant people think our hair should always be a certain way. But some people have different textures of hair which doesn't appear "neat" to them. Of course, I am extremely opposed to the many intolerances of our society in general.
Thanks so much for this excellent update pic my friend! I am inspired and like Tony can only hope my tail will look like yours! May you have a wonderful weekend! Take care!
Ted
Enjoy the journey. Your hair looks great.
I love wearing my hair loose, but I also hate damage to my hair
so I put it in a pony tail, pig tail, braid, bun, etc. to prevent
damage especially on windy/stormy days.
I won't let it flow in the wind that is when I restrain it in
pony tail, pig tail, braid, bun, etc.
On Thursday when I had the official event with the ROTC
cadets I just tied my hair back in a pony tail. (Right now
it about six inches from waist length. For me at the age of 58
with long hair no matter how "official" the event is I never hide
my hair. Most of the time I wear it down and loose. Even at
many of the official events. After all at 58 my long hair is
my trademark and I wear it the way I want to. Last month I was
at a friends wedding and I also had my hair down and loose for that, and that was when I was wearing a shirt/tie/suit.
But when it comes to being "neutral" the bottom line is for
me I have long hair and the age of 58 I refuse to hide it.
I may tie it in a pony tail, pig tail, braid, bun, etc. but it is still obvious that I have long hair. So often i'll just
go for broke and leave it loose and hanging down. After all
it is six inches from waist length so i'm going to enjoy that
length while i'm above the ground to do so.
If you search on the internet you'll find lots of helpful
people. (Youtube.)
A number of guys from this site have posted useful videos
on sites like You Tube.
That is popular around guys with long hair here in Israel, it's basically the only one that is accepted here, haha.
You just hold your hair as if you're going to make a ponytail, and you twist the hair into one direction, and once you have no hair left to twist, you loop it around the base of the ponytail, and put a hair tie on it (loop twice or more)
I believe Sampsoneh has a great video showing how to do so.
(Here's an example of that bun I was wearing today, very useful as well :))
~yoni
I've worn my hair in this style before but not often. When i'm at an important event like a banquet/wedding/ROTC presentation/
Something with the civil war group I wear it down and loose. At 58
years old i refuse to hide my long hair, it's my trademark
and I choose to wear it such that it is obvious I have long hair.
Generally when I wear my hair in a bun/pony tail/pig tail/braids it
is more to prevent damage on windy/stormy days.
That pretty much describes how I wear my hair at work. I have very fine hair so not a lot of volume such that my bun ends up looking more like a snipped doggie tail. :-) But it's effective.
--Dale
That's the best...predicted windy today and tomorrow for my hikes...but only for a little bit...even then it ends in pain and tears! Enjoy this for me!
I would say a neat low ponytail is pretty generally acceptable, a neat bun if your hair is longer. Other stuff can work if you have the hair, skills, and confidence to get them to buy into your style. Keep it neat and groomed and don't mess with it when they can see you.
Men and women can do the same buns, of course, but most men are focused more on restraint and discretion than showing off their heir and skills. Simple buns like the bee butt (what Yomaku describes).
The other side is what hair toys you want to use. Obviously, black or hair-colored elastics (avoid the ones with metal that can catch your hair) are the default. However, if you can find hair restraints that fit your personality and hair, that works too (attached is a pewter haircuff I use from time to time. My go to source for other hair toys is www.bronzejewelers.com
Ponytailing with elastics often results in a couple hairs being broken or pulled out. Slide back barrettes are probably about the most hair safe toys out there.
I can't really help you with other styles such as buns as I always wore mine in a ponytail or loose, but I did want to chime in and let you know that in many circumstances it will be fine to wear your hair down and remain neutral.
I was at a friend's grand opening for his personal finance franchise last weekend. Several people had long hair at this business casual/semi formal event. In fact two of his clients that showed up were sporting ponytails, but they both looked shabby compared to another friend and client who was wearing his nearly belt length hair loose. Nobody said a word about their hair even though most of the people were quite conservative.
My point, don't be afraid to wear it down, it may even work better for you. Besides, if you feel out of place, bring a hair tie and comb. Doesn't take but a couple of seconds to put your hair back.
However I would recommending sticking with a very simple ponytail as the events get more formal. As a style mentor and friend of mine once said, in the world of men's style, the simpler the clothing, typically the more formal it appears. He goes on to explain that a simple white shirt with no pockets or patterns, solid colored suit, simple or no watch, black oxfords, etc. I would argue the same thing for hair, keep it simple. A ponytail won't bring the attention a braid or bun will, it's considered relatively normal.
But by all means, please do you.
-CJ
Much better said than my statement!
All I'll add is simple but perfect...there is less to hide mistakes behind. I've seen a herringbone braid work simply because it was so perfect, so even with no stray hairs or anything, where even a simpler style less well accomplished would have been more noticeable.
Hey to everyone! I'm really thankful for your replies! Sorry for absence of answers from my side for so long, didn't have access to network these days.
Thanks to Long Hair in Albany, Yomaku, Trolleypup and Siege for your advices and experience! I think, you're right and in some cases it might also be suitable to have hair down. For now I'm probably going to have my hair in a low ponytail if I have to (for extra-official occasions).
Although I'm going to try a bun as soon as I have some more length to do it. Watched the video by Sampsoneh as Yomaku recommended - damn, what a great hair he has! And the howto's really easy to understand.
Also thanks for Ted and Growlur for nice comments!
Good luck to everyone, and thanks again!
Serge.