new thread
My dad was an Army brat so all he ever had was a quarter-inch buzzcut! He and I used to argue about when I was going to get a haircut from the time I was 12 to two years ago when I was sixteen. After the billionth argument, I told him that the reason he didn't like my hair touching my collar was cause he couldn't grow it that long! That did it! He lost his temper and said we were going to have a bet. We'd both get our heads shaved to the scalp and if mine didn't grow as long as his, I'd have to get a haircut after four months. If it was longer, I could grow it as long as I wanted. I agreed. Big mistake. At first, his hair seemed as short as always but then after about a month, I noticed it was actually thicker than mine. After two months, I noticed his was about an inch and a half long to my 3/4 inch. Four months later, we returned to the barbershop and, at age 42, his hair was about three inches long and standing on end while mine was one and a half and already starting to droop. I gritted my teeth while the barber cut my hair back to the one-inch length dad liked on me. If I thought thatT was bad,the worse was yet to come. Dad was revelling in his victory big time and after I was finished, he got into the barber's chair and I was taking some small comfort in the barber trimming it back to the quarter-inch length he'd always had. Instead, Dad sat in the barber's chair,put a $20 bill in the barber's hand, shook it and thanked him for his many years of service because he was no longer going to get HIS hair cut and proudly climbed out of the chair leaving me and the barber flabbergasted! Yep, Dad liked his hair growing out so thick that he decided to become a longhair during the bet!
It's been two years since the bet and Dad now sports hair eighteen inches long halfway down his back with no signs of slowing down. Since then, he's let me decide for myself how long I want my hair but I keep it neck length and get it trimmed every two months because I already know that it's never going to be as long or thick as Dad's!
I already know that it's never going to be as long
or thick as Dad's! ~Pelker
If that doesn't beat all...
ROTFLMFAO @ LucksKind!
*wipes tears away*
Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha....It sounds like it did beat all...
It sure has! LOL
That has got to be the best hair story I have ever read on this board to date. Awesome conversion! Good move, Pop's!
No offense, but...
Now that I have your attention...
That's a real nice, defeatest attitude you've got there. I'm thankful I've never shared it. No two heads are alike, my friend. Just because you share your Dad's DNA doesn't mean your hair is going to grow at the same rate of speed, or be as thick. The fact that your hair grew at all during the bet should tell you something.
From the description you gave of your age, I'm guessing you're what, 18 now? I had never had anything longer than a crew cut until I was 18. I started growing my hair soon after I graduated High School in 1990. I'm 31 now. 12 years later, my hair is just an inch or two below my waist. That's 12 years worth of growth that I would not have been able to enjoy today, had I given up out of some myth that my hair never be as long as I wanted.
The desire to grow my hair began more as an experiment than anything. I was simply tired of having short hair, and I wanted to see how I'd look with longer hair. I had no idea how thick it would become, how fast or slow it would grow. I knew nothing of what I know now about hair, nor did I have the slightest idea how I'd look with long hair. All I knew is that I wanted it longer. Suffice it to say, I'm quite pleased with the results.
Just because you lost a bet doesn't mean you have any basis on which to give up your own dreams of having long hair. Your Dad has found a sense of renewed lust for life now that he's found something new to enjoy. That euphoria he is experiencing has allowed him to become open minded enough about one's hair that he no longer feels an obligation as a former military man - and as your father - to get on your back about your own hair. In a way, this bet you made with each other has brought you closer together and given you a better understanding of each other. Use that to finally do something you've never been given the chance, or ever been encouraged to do before:
Become a longhair!
If you do decide to keep it short, don't let the bet you lost - or your jealousy for your Dad's hair - be your reason for doing so. You'll only regret it in the long run.
Whoa, man! You got it!
Yeah, I sure know that! The growth speed's phenomenal and his hair's thicker than most men's MY age!
The fact that your hair grew at all during the bet should tell you something.
Good point. I think it grows about average but average isn't always easy to live with when you've got phenomenally thick and long in the same house. Dad's is about two inches thick on the top in addition to being so long!
Good point and congratulations, man!
And you have every reason to be!
I guess not.
Your Dad has found a sense of renewed lust for life now that he's found something new to enjoy.
Lust is the word! He just loves it when all these girls ask to feel his mane and arms- and ( 10 years after Mom died) married a kewl 22-year-old last year he met in the gym. They just told me yesterday that it's twins they're having! I admit I've got mixed emotions. I'm happy for them yet a bit bummed about no longer being an only child!
That euphoria he is experiencing has allowed him to become open minded enough about one's hair that he no longer feels an obligation as a former military man - and as your father - to get on your back about your own hair.
He sure IS euphoric these days-especially with Kelly and the twins on the way! And something else, he used to rag me about not going to military prep school for years but now instead of bitchin' about me not being the first man in three generations not to go military, he's happy to pay my tuition and proud that I'm majoring in computer science!
In a way, this bet you made with each other has brought you closer together and given you a better understanding of each other.
You know, you're right! He likes my friends and they like him these days and that wasn't the way it was. He says I've matured and he's mellowed out a great deal- and nowadays, we get along more like brothers instead of like father and son. We're actually best friends now and I couldn't have imagined that before! Now if only people wouldn't ask which 'brother' is older [jk]. .
It
Use that to finally do something you've never been given the chance, or ever been encouraged to do before:
You know, now that you've given me all these insights, I just might do that after all. I'd told myself that long hair was Dad's deal and not mine but I guess I was still subconsciously competing with him but he isn't with me anymore so there's no point.
I guess finding out yesterday's news put me in a sh*tty mood and I was feeling sorry for myself. Things are a lot better these days and Kelly's friend Angie is the best girl I've had so far so I shouldn't feel bad. Maybe in a few years Angie and I will get married and Dad can be my Best Man like I was his. .and any kids of ours will have some kewl playmates to play with and a more awesome Grandpa than I'd have imagined a few years back!
I'm glad I could help. Congratulations, and good luck!
you should post that on the buzzboard, who knows, maybe it would open some eyes. regardless, great story man!
I totally agree with you, man. I'll bet there would be some converts at the buzz board after such an inspiring story as that. (not that I have any problem with guys who have buzzed heads. I don't judge a person by their hair) Heck, I'll post it over there if he'll let me. Only with his permission though. Peace!!!!!
i doubt that posting that message on the buzz board is going to have any effect beyond inflaming the anti-longhair rhetoric among the haircut extremists there and quite possibly draw some unwelcome activity here. it's better not to stir up that hornet's nest.
Agreed, J.S. Let's leave them alone for a change. Let them buzz themselves into oblivion, if they want to. Not worth our time.
-J