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What age demographic do you think is the most supportive?
least supportive?
I would estimate that most women 65 and older are probably the least supportive while women 35 and younger are the most supportive.
there are probably exceptions though.
so what have you observed personally from women?
I have found women of all ages appear supportive. or at most, indifferent to my now longer than mid back hair. Only going on waht has been said directly to me. have no idea, nor do I care, what is said when I am not withn earshot.
Having taken part in a number of forums over the years, I have found that the ages of supporters (or otherwise) of long male hair varies considerably.
One of those keenest on my hair, who liked my ponytail very much, was in her 80s and, had she lived, would now have been in her 90s. Another supporter is now in her late 70s, but I can also point to women of all ages on both sides of the argument. Although having been born at a certain time may play a part, I think personal preference is a bigger factor.
What I've observed personally is a whole lot of nonchalance. Nobody seems to care. But I think is actually happening is a whole lot of being polite.
What people will say and what people really think are often two different things. In the privacy of their own thoughts, can we really know what women think?
Yes, to a certain extent, by observing their actions.
I work at the front desk (circulation) at the public library. Have you ever studied the covers of women's novels? Almost universally when men are depicted, they're longhairs. And the smuttier the novel (let's face it, women's romance novels are porn for women) the more likely he'll be a longhair.
But would any of them fess up to it, or comment on my hair? Hardly likely. Still, I've noticed a few who'll wait until I can help them at the desk.
"Have you ever studied the covers of women's novels? Almost universally when men are depicted, they're longhairs. And the smuttier the novel (let's face it, women's romance novels are porn for women) the more likely he'll be a longhair."
Hahaha, sooo true! :D
I've noticed that too.
Conservatism in personal appearance peaks in the teens, and then increases with age, in general.
That said, I've found no great consistency in the comments I get. My negative comments are very rare (less than one a year) possibly more from the older end of the scale. The only consistency in positive comments is that women with longer hair tend to comment more than women with short hair, but certainly not by a huge amount.
Keep in mind where I live, and the length of my hair...plus my age...probably obvious to even the boneheads that I am set in my ways.
I work with mostly women - I have heard some women say they do not like men to wear their hair long. A male peer of mine grew his hair out for a few months - it was pretty shaggy and he has fine hair, so it was flying all over - the women talked about him behind his back - they thought he needed a hair cut and when he finally got one, I heard comments that he looked better... When it became obvious that I was not getting a hair cut, a couple of these women approached me and said "get a hair cut, Gary..." When I said I was thinking of growing it out, both of them were supportive and said they thought it would look nice - So, who knows what the truth is - different strokes for different folks
All I know is, my wife plays with my hair now more than she did when it was short... So, that's OK with me.
And she is the only one of them who matters to you, anyway!
Hi Jake,
Unfortunately I haven't had enough comments made to me about my hair. The only comment I have had was from a lady probably in her 60's. She touched my hair and said "look at that hair!" It just totally made my day!
Just wait until I hit waist length. I would imagine the comments will come a lot more often. I can't wait. I will make sure to post any interactions I have!
Ted
My wife and I were somewhere talking with a friend from her old job recently. I heard Pam tell the lady, "...and he STILL hasn't cut his hair." I saw the girl mirk and making a cutting motion with her fingers, indicating my wife should do it herself while I was asleep at night sometime. Pam looked back at her and said, "...Uh, no. I do have to LIVE with him!!" So, my hair is not her favorite, but she's respecting my feelings and likes enough to leave me alone about it, anyway.
Hi Jake,
I forgot to mention the only woman's opinion that matters to me is my wife. And she is really liking my hair growing. It is fun when you have encouragement! Keep it growing guys!
Ted
The two most important women in my life (wife and 17 YO daughter) say they're not keen on my growing hair. I work for a lot of women, and only one of them (71 YO, has an opinion about everything...) is vocally disdainful of my hair. Most of the rest say little or nothing, but they always smile at me. But then, I am their rabbi...they're supposed to smile at me! Most are older than me...I'm in my mid-50's. One, a woman in her late sixties from Zimbabwe, the first time she saw me wearing a ponytail, said: "Oh, Rabbi! You're so 'with it!'" That made my day!
There are only a handful of women in the congregation who are younger than me, and I've never detected a negative reaction from one of them. Younger women on the street rarely give me a second glance. Somehow I don't think that's related to my hair...
All the best and keep it growing...
Don
There are young women who love/hate long hair on men, and there are older women who love/hate it. I think it has more to do with personal taste than anything. Although the number of supporters is probably a little higher with the younger women.
My gf in high school actually inspired me to grow it out for the first time, and now I'm hooked! Couldn't imagine myself without my long hair. I don't know if I ever would have grown it without her, so I thank her every day for that!
I've only been with 3 women, but they all loved it! As far as non so's go, well, I've never received a negative comment :)