new thread
I have been asked a handful of times recently including today, "why did you grow hair out if I only wear it in a ponytail?" And to be honest the question bugged me at first, perhaps because I questioned myself. After all, I am definitely a ponytail guy at this point in time; I probably wear it like that 80-90% of the time. Why did I grow it to wear it in a ponytail? But as I thought through it I came up with this answer:
First, I couldn't wear a ponytail if I hadn't grown it long.
Second, a ponytail definitely does not look like short hair. And I like how it looks.
Third, and perhaps most important, it definitely does not feel like short hair. It brushes against my shoulders and has will of its own, and is far more interesting than my buzz cut ever was.
I think that this applies regardless of how you wear your hair. So what if you prefer to wear the same style everyday, choose to wear it up all the time in a bun or loose, or change it up every 5 seconds. It isn't the same as anything else, and you definitely couldn't d that with short hair. So tomorrow, having thought things through, I will be proud and pleased to wear my hair anyway I want, even if it is a "boring" ponytail.
Thanks for reading. And best of luck growing!
Hi Greg,
The great thing about longhair is the diversity of hairstyles you can do that would been impossible had your hair been short.I suppose if that doesn't bother you then having short hair is no big deal but personally I like the movement of my hair whether loose or tailed.I've always found longhair to just be more fun and interesting my friend.Cheers
Mârk
I was complimented on my ponytail today & explained I was Native American and was growing my hair because it connects me to my people & the land. I'm Cherokee on both sides and Lenape, Catawba, Maskoke Creek, & Edisto on the other. Keep on keeping on and be well.
My most enjoyable time of day is bed time when I take off my shirt and feel hair on my bare back. I wear mine loose most of the time during the day (and at night), but it really depends on what you're wearing. It would seem to me appropriate to tie hair up (low queue or a bun) with formal dress. Styles for work have already been discussed on this board, for those employed in a company (I am self-employed and work at home, so I can look as freaky as I want).
Whatever, it's a free world and we all do as we think best for each of us. These days, most people couldn't care less about what other people wear and have their hair. However, we can't have any illusions about escaping being judged for questions of appearance. I would say that a good yardstick for a long-haired man is something like what used to be expected of women. Tie it up when you go out, at work and in society. Let it down with friends or at home.
I am a priest and tend to follow the old ways when in a cassock or clerical suite - low queue and a simple black hair tie. But that's me and only giving my personal ideas.
Anthony
If anyone wants to be outrageous, they could try the black hair bag. In the 18th century, gentlemen wore wigs, which no one would consider these days. That only came into being because Louis XIV became bald, got a wig and set the new fashion.
From about 1730, you had the "bag wig" (second row, left) which came into being to avoid dirty or diseased hair from soiling a man's suit. I suppose men who had long natural hair could have a bag without the wig. The ribbons attached to the bag were pulled to the front of the neck and tied in a bow, known as a "solitaire." The queue was also tied with a black ribbon.
I think we would draw a few stares if we tried that nowadays. :)
Anthony
Or bun, or braid, or what the hell ever!
Because I am growing it for myself, because I only have it down when I please, I only share it down with special people.
Bah.
Now I on the other hand, wear it down most of the time except when it windy or could be damaged. At the age of 61 I refuse to hide the fact that i've got long hair. So I'll continue to wear it down and loose. .
Or bun, or braid, or what the hell ever!
Because I am growing it for myself, because I only have it down when I please
Exactly!
I think your answer is a good one.
For myself, I prefer my hair loose, although my son, for example, seems to wear a ponytail every day.
A long time ago I used to be a patent searcher, a job that involved searching public records, and shared a space with many people who had entirely different employers from eachother, including government employees, who were the staff.
During that time I witnessed one of the staff there being asked the same thing by his boss (who, importantly, was NOT also my boss), i.e. why did he have long hair when he always wore it in a ponytail? Sadly, his response was to cut it, and strange to tell, ever since then I have been leery of wearing a ponytail at work, least I should be asked the same thing.
Ever since that time I have always worn my hair loose at work. Ponytails for guys were only just beginning to become acceptable for guys back then, due to Rambo (I suppose the younger guys may not remember that particular fictional character, and indeed may not even have been born!). Before that, male ponytails were considered suspect as effeminate by many people, and yet now I can plait my hair (or braid it in American) and no-one bats an eyelid, and male buns are the new thing.
This produces the paradox that much younger men tie back their hair at work from paranoia that loose hair might be seen as untidy, whilst I always keep it loose at work, equally paranoid that someone might say I should cut it off if I wear it up!