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Recently I have really been feeling that people don't take me as seriously now as they did before I grew my hair out. It's rather frustrating, at least at the moment. Is that something you guys get too?
Not now since i'm 60 years old now. IMHO it has more to do with age than hair length.
Agreed.
I'm also assuming you're talking about family and friends--people who you've known from short-hair days.
In my teens and 20s is was brushed off as "just a phase".
Then I really had "just a phase" of short hair.
Growing it back out in my 40s, nobody said a thing. Pushing 60 now.
As for strangers, well, you'll get comments from either side, no matter what. Best just to grow a thick skin.
Thinking about it, I never had an issue at work either younger or older.
I got lots of complaints about my long hair when I was younger.
Once I reached the age of 45 the complaints stopped,
Now at the age of 60 I get no complaints at all.
Nobody dare complain to you now - you know? You reach that certain place in life where people either join you or get out of your way
Actually, it's not really family or friends, though there are comments from time to time etc. as to be expected, but clients at work or others at work who just seem to blow off my ideas more now or disregard me. It's quite frustrating really.
Perhaps, as we get older, we are just not bothered about the opinions of other people or whether or not they esteem us. We have to work on our emotional independence and resilience, on our force of character and making our long hair a part of our "trademark" and image.
We all need to ask ourselves why we want long hair. Is it a symbol of defiance, of self-identity, a fashion that goes with our cultural references?
My own wife sees me as something of a joke, but the criticisms become increasingly rare. It is water off a duck's back. You either live with it or have a barber hack it off. It is our choice.
I might sound a bit "hard", and I didn't have my attitudes in life when I was in my 20's. I had short hair for many years and took it for granted. Perhaps the change of image at 55 years of age is also seen as unusual. Talk about mid-life crisis!
We're all here together to support each other and relate our own experience. In the end it's all about being ourselves and not a mere product of the conformity mould and the New Corporate Man.
Be yourself and don't worry about the others. They'll soon get used to your long hair if you stick it out and show character.
Anthony and my Yorkshire grittiness
* * *
Keep in mind that if you nervously look over your shoulder for a reaction, you will get it. What gets you taken seriously is confidence, not a lack of hair.
One choice you can make to enhance your confidence is to make it a major goal to be really good at what you choose to do. When I was working as an engineer, my boss had clients demand that I be put on their jobs instead of one of the shorthaired guys. Why? Because they knew they'd get the best job from me!
And also, try to be really nice to people. "Attitude" will get you through a day. Kindness will get you through a decade.
Make others love your works, and make them love you.
Bill
yes - profoundly wise
I think you be correct about some people. Not all, but some.
But I also think it has a lot to do with age. The older you get, the less long hair will matter.
If people that at one time took you seriously while your hair was shorter are now not taking you seriously due to longer hair...I'm not quite sure what to say about that. I did not experience it. But I didn't begin growing mine until my mid-late 30's.
Yes I agree it is absolutely to do with age. I got complaints about my hair when i was younger than 45. Between 45 and 60
I got no complaints at all.
Hi Nathan,
Actually to tell you the truth, I don't notice this. Since I take each person individually regardless of appearance this is not something I would try to notice. I really don't care if someone doesn't take me seriously because of my hair length. Of course, a boss or somebody in a position like that might be different. I wouldn't let this frustrate you since only ignorant people would be like this.
Ted
I get this feeling a lot too, even with people who have known me since before I grew it out.