new thread
I've lurked around this board for the past year, and Gollan's message of 1/16 has inspired me to write.
I'm going to turn 40 years old in a couple of months, and have never had long hair, even growing up in the late 60's/early 70's. I've always toyed with the idea, and decided that after my last buzz cut (on Sept. 3, 2002) I would let it grow. Although it's only been four months, a big test came at Christmas, when my wife kept telling me to get my hair cut because it was looking "messy". I kept avoiding the barbershop, and now I gel it all back so it looks neater.
I've decided that if anyone starts questioning my hair, I'm going to tell them that it's my 40th birthday gift to myself, and I won't cut it until I'm 41. I'm sure they'll think "mid-life crisis." Call it what they will--I'm hoping I can make it until then, at which point 18 months will have passed and my hair should be about 9 inches long.
Unfortunately, my hairline is starting to receed up front, and thinning at the crown. I'm not trying to cover the thinning areas, I just want to try something different in my life. I know I won't have "rock star" looking hair, but I refuse to get started on Rogaine or anything like that.
I'd appreciate any comments/opinions, and I'm especially curious as to the experiences of any other guys with thinning hair who have let it grow long. You can be brutally honest; I'm not thin skinned.
When I turn 40 in March--6 months growth--I'll post a pic :-)
I did the same for my 40th birthday. Grew I guess a mullet style
It worked well once I could weare a pony tail. My wife still
gives me a hard time. She asks "what you trying to prove?"
Over the last year I have been growing the mullet out to try
to thickin up my ponytail. I have fine straight hair and I would
think its not as thick as when I was younger. Although im not
going bald as far as I can tell. I am now 49.
If you think it would help, get your wife to review some of the
posts on this site. Maybe she will start to understand that its
more than a sytle thing, in a lot of cases its how we feel we
were meant to be. I would be great to at least have the wife on
your side.
The thing I have never figured out is what type of preperation
can make fine staight hair look its best when not in a ponytail.
There are I would guess some products out there and preparation
ideas.
Wow, thanks for all the positive input. I need the encouragement to counteract the (unwarranted) negative comments.
It's strange, but when I got my ear pierced for my 39th birthday (I guess the first step to my 'mid-life crisis'?!) I didn't get a single negative comment. I don't know why hair length, another personal decision, makes people think they can freely make disparaging comments.
I guess my situation is better than some, in that I work in a lumber mill where long hair, piercings, tattoos--whatever--don't matter.
Nevermind the thinning thing...just DO IT...
Because if you DON'T, you will always WONDER what
it would have been like...
So try it...you can always change your mind...
and it only takes a few minutes to be a Shorthair once again.
Good Luck
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Congratulations on your decision to grow your hair. I appreciate your
mentioning my message as your inspiration. It is a long-term project
and as you can tell it is sometimes controversial with friends and
family. It seems no age is immune to negative comments. The nice
thing about being forty is that you can safely ignore other people's
unsolicited opinions.
The awkward stage is very difficult for everybody. That is the number
one point I learned here and it literally saved my effort to grow my
hair long. I have also decided that I don't owe anyone an
explaination. My hair length is not up for debate so I now answer the
"why" question with "because that is what I decided".
One ploy I almost fell for was my mother's "my hairdresser will trim
your hair to make it look better". Right. He will make it look
"better" by making it shorter! Don't fall for that one! I suppose
there could be a case for a trim where a guy really has to look
"corporate". I don't know how to deal with that yet. That will be the
topic of a forthcomming thread.
I hope others will address the thinning hair aspect. In my opinion
"honest" long hair looks distinguished on a guy who's hair is
thinning out.
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I did the same thing at my 40th birthday three years ago, same story in that I had never had long hair before. I like what you are planning to tell people, but why say that you are going to cut it at 41? You may not. I wouldn't give out that kind of info. It's your hair and you really don't owe anyone a "reason".
Very often people would say to me: your hair is getting really long! (I could hear all kinds of unspoken implications in their tone). I would smile and say: yeah, it's what happens when you stop getting your hair cut. Left them with nothing to say, so we would change the subject.
Robert
Reply;
Most regulars know my story. I’m the one who got a hairpiece in November to cover my balding head. If your hairline has started to recede, it won’t get any better as time goes by. After considering all the options, I decided that the status quo was not for me. An egghead with long flowing hair on the sides just doesn’t look good. You say you don’t want to “cover” it. A hairpiece adds to the hair you already have, unlike a wig. You may want to reconsider if you look at my pics. Feel free to e-mail me if you want additional info.