We had my wife's sister and brother-in-law with their three children. My wife loves getting people to have a good laugh about my growing hair. So my sister-in-law asked me how long I was going to grow it. I said - as long as her daughter's (lower back). "Oh! You're going to have a ponytail?". "More than that", I replied. "Buns and fancy hairdos?" Perhaps. My wife started blushing. I was really enjoying this!
It went rather well. In the end, my wife seemed to accept the hair as long as I don't grow a beard. OK - tat for tat, for the time being. She seems to realise that I'm serious about this, and there will be no trimming for at least a year, and even then it would be strictly controlled (!).
It's amazing how people do adapt when you're serious about something and stick it out. Admittedly, my in-laws are tolerant even though he is short-haired and she is between "awkward" and shoulder length, and their boys have short hair and their girl's long hair seems to be under parental control. They are conservative, but it seems that being English and eccentric helps! All great fun.
Just a bit of encouragement to all, especially for the "awkward stagers" like me who are probably getting most of the heat. Keep it growin' and flowin'...
Anthony
My blog
that's a great story, Anthony! you sound confident and strong in your commitment to this long journey to hair growth of any significant proportion... convincing the wife is a big step... my wife did not prefer that I do this but has not been negative about it... recently she has shown she gets it... She saw me from a distance one nigth and thought I'd cut my hair... she confessed she was disappointed and was glad when she realized it just had it pulled back... so, they do come around when they see we are serious...
I had the same thing when I started 'tailing.... people thought I got a hair cut... then I turned my head!
Have fun.... Onward and Downward.. The Spaf Man
I think it's pretty obvious that you want it long (and are going to keep it that way) once it's about 5-8 cm below the top of your t shirt collar
That's the great thing about human hair growing so slowly. It gives people time to get used to it. You have a point - get there and then talk about it. The only thing is at the family gathering I mentioned, it was my wife who did the talking. I find other subjects more interesting - because hair growth is like watching paint dry. It does funny things to the mind!
I have to admit that it's something new to me. The novelty has to wear off - and then it's a question of getting on with life. That is unless you're in prison...
All the same, an anecdote is amusing and helps to punctuate life.
Anthony
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Just don't give up, I work with someone who said he wanted a ponytail, 3 months or so into it, he shaved his head again...
.... and tell me about growing slowly...but it is growing..
Onward and downward.. The Spaf Man
Thank you for the encouragement. I am resolved to continue despite having arrived at the "awkward stage" in earnest complete with "wings".
Giving up means regular haircuts and sitting in barber's chairs and seeing hair on the floor swept up and thrown away. Urban conformity! That's for others... The thought makes me quite sick. So I will continue, taking the time the hair takes to grow, and arrive at a new way way of life in accord with my philosophy of life.
This is no whim of mine!
Hi Anthony,
My wife and in-laws are very similar. They are kind enough to not say anything negative to me, but it is obvious from the comments about celebrities and others what their position on long hair is. As you suggest, you have to be strong In your convictions to achieve your goal.
Bruce