Hey guys!
Last Fri. a coworker asked me if I had an appointment with a barber. The question came out of the blue. Another coworker was standing there. I should mention that both of these gentlemen usually shave their heads. The guy who asked me about an appointment with a barber said that he had a good barber (i.e.: himself). I have let my hair grow freely for twenty-eight (28) months and it has achieved a length of about fourteen (14) inches. I really like my hair long. I like the way it feels when I let it flow freely. It is now beginning to touch my shoulders. During the day I wear my hair in a ponytail and I put the ponytail under the back of my collar so that my long hair will be less obtrusive and will not fall in my face and be noticeable to those who might ob ject to it. I spray hairspray on the front pieces which do not yet reach the tie at the back of my head so that they will not fall in my face and invite negative comments. I am beginning to feel well about myself and my self esteem is improving in part because of my wearing my hair long as I have wanted to throughout my life. However, I still get negative comments from tis coworker. He said previously that I looked like a rooster. Do any of you have any advice for me? I really do not want to cut my hair.
Thanks!
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
Been there, done that. Every time I got a compliant about my hair I took that as an incentive to grow my hair longer. I started growing my hair long in 1964 and now in 2013 it is still
long.
Hey Long Hair In Albany,
Thanks for your comments. You helped me to realize that there are more people who are now complimenting me on my hair than there are people who are making negative comments about it.
Thanks, bro.
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
You're welcome. Keep it growing and flowing.
There is no polite way to deal with such people. Just tell him to go forth and multiply in two words. Then just act deaf if he raises the subject again. It is none of his business whatever.
Hey UK,
Thanks for the advice.
You certainly have a happy talent for falicity of expression.
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
It's an old joke. The Bible tells you to go forth and multiply, but if you think about it, it means exactly the same as f*** off, LOL! But then, maybe you already knew that?
Hey elektros,
Yeah, I kinda intuited that that was what he was saying.
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
Better a rooster than an egg!
Enjoy your hair and ignore the negative comments.
Love it! How dare some shaven-headed jerk comment on other people's hair!
Damon
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Hey Damon,
Thanks for your input, bro.
You certainly have a way of getting to the heart of the matter with an economy of words.
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
Hey Viking,
Thanks for the advice.
I will not lower myself to his level by honoring his stray negative comments with a response. Sometimes a facial expression of distain can stop any further negative comments.
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
This was my "get tough" advice for guys. By the time I made this video I had lost any and all patience for these types of people. They are rude and out of line. You do not have to take this from them.
Justin~
http://youtu.be/oz2DfJ6AYTc
Hey Justin,
Thanks for sharing your video with me. You certainly believe in being "direct".
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
Hi Raymond,
My simple advice is to just ignore these idiots. Since when did a man with a shaved head have authority to tell a man to cut his hair? I wouldn't listen to these people because their opinion doesn't matter. Very few men can wear the shaved head well in my opinion. Please ignore these idiots and go about your business. Soon enough, they will realize they can't bother you. I am pretty sure they admire your hair, but would never admit it in public.
Please keep it growing and have a great week my friend!
Ted
Since when did a man with a shaved head have authority to tell a man to cut his hair?
Hey Ted,
You make a great point.
Thanks!
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
My advise is to stay way from these co-workers as you can possibly get away with. To whatever degree you HAVE TO work alongside these men, of course it is your job to do so. Remain as polite, courteous, and respctful towards them as you would wish them to be towards you (AKA "The Golden Rule" applies here just as much as in other aspects of life); but neither should you allow them to treat you like a door mat, nor let their human will and their own personal opinions of "proper" hair length strip you of your own right to decide for yourself whatever is best for you.
Mentally "standing your ground" on this issue, to be firm & clear about this in your own mind first & foremost, is the single most important thing you can do for yourself whenever faced with opposition from others (whether the opposition is aggressive, or subtle).
The more mentally clear you are about how wrong and inappropriate they were, and the more unmovable you are in your own mind about your own rights as a human being (including the right to grow your own hair on your own head to whatever degree you wish to grow it), the more fearless you will become about saying whatever words you might need to say to these people.
To summarize: become clear & firm in your own mind, first; after that, whatever words might need to be said (including if there needs to be even a few HARSH words), they will then flow out of your mouth in a most natural way, to follow.
- Ken in San Francisco
What he said.
Don't even consider giving a (four letter word here) what they say.
Hey trolleypup,
Thanks for the advice, brother.
You're right; why should I lower myself to his level. After all, I'm a long hair; we wouldn't take it upon ourselves to demean someone because of their choice in self expression. We're better than that.
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
Hey Ken in SF,
Thanks for the advice.
I intend to ignore the stray negative comment. However, if he persists I will respond with respect but kurtly to shut him down and put the issue back in his court. After all, I am a long hair; we don't lower ourselves to their level.
Thanks!
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
I would stay away from them.
I have been told - several times- to cut my hair if I wanted to "look like a man".
Sometimes people just give these kind of opinions because they are jealous of you being able to grow your hair. Some guys probably always wanted to grow their hair but for some reason they never could, or simply their type of hair is not suitable to wear it long so when they see a long haired guy they just feel jealous and say those things.
Human mind is so difficult to understand sometimes.
Just ignore them and do whatever makes you happy .
Hey Dave_Argentina,
Thanks for the advice, bro. I will ignore the negative comments and if they persist I will say something kurt, polite, and to the point to shut him down.
Thanks, bro,
Raymond