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I have always wondered about my longhair identity.
No, I've never doubted that I have one. But its exact nature
was never before so clear to me as today.
Only six years ago I finally collected my courage to grow
it really long, instead of just having it unneat, like I've
used to have it all the time.
Last spring for the first time ever in my life, I had *too* long
hair! Based on your writings here, most of you can never have
that. Not because your hair would not grow, but because there
is no upper limit for most longhairs.
But I do have one. I just don't feel myself any more when my hair
becomes too long. I really don't know exactly why, but neither
do most of us know why we have longhair identity in the first place,
so I don't worry much about that.
Well, yesterday, after having a haircut, I also realized that
I do have a lower limit, too. (Well, of course I do - how would I
be a longhair otherwise - but I mean a lower limit which is still very long.) So, now, for the first time in my life, I have too short
hair *after* first having had it long enough.
So now I know exactly what kind of a longhair identity I do have.
Or rather how long an identity. ;-)
Instead of defining it in centimeters or inches, I have taken
a simpler measurement: the head height. Albeit not objective
between people, I think it still portrays the important aspect
of hair length to *me*. Besides, it is very easy to estimate
the hair length of others without even touching them.
I judge the effect on other people's hair based on *their*
body proportions. One of my female collegues has exactly
the same length of hair as I do in *centimeters* (I know,
we've measured both). But I *feel* she has clearly longer
hair.
But the body proportions are different. She is 30 cms
shorter than I am, and her neck is also shorter even in proportion
to her height.
Hence, if we take the shoulder level as a divider, she has
hair that is almost 3 times her head height, whereas mine is
currently only two times my head height. The resulting impression
is also similarily different.
When my hair was too long, it was over 2.5 times my head height,
and when it is now too short, it is 2 times my head height.
Tehanu - with the longhair identity of 2.2-2.5 head heights ;-)
So, uh, tell me, Tehanu. Whatchya been smokin'? :)
A better way of explaining your hair length is by standing as erect as
possible, and, with your hair loose, seeing which body part the ends
of your hair reaches. For example, if the ends of your hair reach to
your waist, you have waist length hair. Or if the ends of your hair
goes past your chest but doesn't reach your waist, your hair is elbow
length (my current length).
My guess is that you think your optimal hair length is to the top-to-
middle of your elbows, and your female colleague has almost waist
length hair.
I know, that is the most usual way people describe hair length.
However, I've noticed that for *me* that is not the way I see
it subjectively. It took me quite long until I realized that
always when looking the hair of others, I relate the hair length
to head height, as a very accurate measurement.
In fact during the last six years when I have grown my hair,
I have seen waist-length hair in real life only a dozen times or so.
Hence, a more accurate measurement is needed. If we only have three
choices (waist-length, midback and shoulder-length) of which only
two are used, the measurement is not very accurate.
Regarding her, you are quite right, especially as her back is
relatively short. However, regarding me, your guess is not accurate
because my elbows coincide with my waist (!), and hence my hair
does not reach them. It is rather halfway my elbow and shoulder.
I think these anatomical differences makes all hair comparison
to body proportions somewhat error-prone. So I have just picked
the way to measure that corresponds to *my* subjective feeling.
Tehanu - not having smoked anything ever, but is very known to put everything into numbers ;-)
I'll bet you were a statistician in a past life.
Maybe I was, maybe not, I don't remember - all I remember are numbers. ;-)
So, now, for the first time
in my life, I have too short
hair *after* first having had it long enough.
First, you forgot the rule trim off bits at a time to achieve the desired length. It avoids the oh-my-god-what-have-I-done syndrome.
Instead of defining it in centimeters or inches, I have taken
a simpler measurement: the head height. Albeit not objective
between people, I think it still portrays the important aspect
of hair length to *me*. Besides, it is very easy to estimate
the hair length of others without even touching them.
What ever works. I've got to say its a different method of measure, but then that is how artist measure proportions in figures. Personally I go for either the actual length measurement of the where-is-it-down-to method. Both are easier for others to envision.
Oh, but it's just six centimeters too short, which will be
remedied in just a few months. No real need to worry!
My hair is somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 in relation my back,
back being defined as the distance between shoulders and waist.
Tehanu - a longhair with a difference ;-)
Ohhhhh.. I see... Uh.. maybe I don't..
With no shoes on, the top of my head is 6'5" from the floor.. My longest strand of hair is 20" long, hitting just a shade above my elbows.. Which gives me a ratio of um.. just under 4:1
I have a friend who has longer than waist length hair.. She is 1 1/2 heads shorter that I am which makes her about 5'4" .. her longest stand of hair is about 32" long.. just under a yard.. That gives her a ratio of 2:1 I can tell you right out that her hair attracts more attention than mine does even though she is shorter than I am but has longer hair..
I was never good at math.....
RVE..
ICQ#9162854
http://www.mindspring.com/~rasamus/default.htm
I think you didn't. :-)
No, no. You measure the height of your head, not the height of
your head top from the floor. Just measure the difference of
the top of you head and your shoulderline. Then you estimate
how many times that height fits into your hair length.
But I was, and maybe that is why I am using this method. ;-)
To be honest, I think it is as simple to estimate as is the
point where it ends, or even simpler as the back usually has no
fixed points to make the measurement with.
Tehanu - a keen observer of longhaired females but obviously too mathematical for most :-)
nah, I just never used math on hair before..