new thread
O.K. my wife seems to put an age limit on all the trends and styles that I am frequently into. I'm an active bodybuilder and have been for the past 25 years. No one said you have to grow old and feeble at the tender age of 44. What's the verdict out there on how long should an middle aged man let his hair grow? I feel young and active and I know from time to time I press the envelop but should I be concerned about the length of my hair?
I agree. I've reached the geriatric milestone of 40 and bodybuild also. No conincidence that most people think I'm much younger.
What's the verdict out there on how long should an middle aged man let his hair grow?
ummm... same as a younger man- as long as he wants.
AGREED!!--as long as he wants.
I missed the age limit for long hair in the constitution and could not find it in the bylaws either. Soooo I guess its pretty much open as to your preferences and how one feels about themselves and if a change is wanted or needed. NOT because someone says " your too old to have long hair "
Well, I'm 45 and my hair is close to the middle of my back now. It's been long for most of my life (although much of my teens were spent in the awkward stage). The limits are those you are prepared to impose upon yourself. Age is as much a state of mind as physical manifestation.
Age limits for a guy's hair length? You've got to be kidding me. Are there are age limits for women's hair length as well? I don't think so!!! Hair length on a guy has nothing to do with maturity. I have long hair since the early 1970's (I'm 46). Besides, I thought the street of equality (established by the 1970's Women's Liberation Movement) was a two way street WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED!!!! Your wife (and like some other women I have met) must think there ARE strings attached to the street of equality (or they are too selfish to share the street of equality with men). If a women can CHOOSE to have her hair short or long and for any length of time, WHY CAN A MAN!!!! Also, I like how women were fussy during the 1970's about men controlling their bodies. Well, why are women trying to control a part of a man's body (hair!!!). Thanks for allowing me to rant!!!!
I've always found it best to enter into relationships with men whom I like just as they are.....as I hope men will like me just as I am. I can empathize with where you're coming from here.
Age should not be a hinderance for any endeavor! Why not enjoy the juice of life until you die? I think your wife needs to loosen up a bit!
If anything I think society puts more pressure on younger men to have shorter hair.
I suppose its a hangover from the 70's "hippy" era a guy aged 45-50 is a prime candidate to have been a longhair in his youth, therefore they can understand him adopting a similiar style throughout his life... afterall people who were cool in the 70's are sterotypically uncool now... therefore there's absolutely no point in trying to change this person that's been stuck in their ways for 30 years.
[Dont mean to offend anyone I'm relating societies viewpoint as I interpret it not my own beliefs.]
Whereas younger guys are expected to follow fashion and trends more dilligently, so I think that we actually experience more pressure.
The perception that older men are too old for long hair comes from women of the same age that were surrounded by longhairs in their youth. Youngsters will be more forgiving, albeit for a pretty bad reason. I.E.: They think your out of date...:-(
Sorry pretty cynical post, but tell me I'm wrong....
Hmmm lets see, I am 50 years old and my hair is about 4 inches from my knees and ties into a 38 inch pony tail. I say just let it grow and don't let age get in the way. Absalom
Then photos you recently posted were great. I thank you for posting them on the board. Would it be posible for you to post another picture, this time with your hair unbound. I'd really like to see what it looks like flowing naturally. I'll be hoping you can post one soon. Thanks.
Binding my hair is the reason it got so long. I have a mix of straight, wavy, curly, coarse, medium, and fine hair. Without binding the wavy and curly ones cause matting and tangling and great hair loss and my hair would not have reached even half its current length. I have the wrong type of hair to grow super long but managed to get around the problem by restraining it from tangling and matting. It might be a while until I can post a loose hair photo. I do not have a digital camera yet and my social life must be put on hold until the end of flu season due to immune system problems. Absalom
I am 50 and I have long hair between midback and waistlength.
There are no complaints from my colleagues about my hair, almost all of them have short or very short hair and at my age 50% of them have less or more male pattern baldness.
Maybe this could be a reason why the long hair is accepted from the "oldies" (sure not from all of them), I think they hate this hair loss thing that comes over them.
If the women at my age like it or not, I don't care, and some of them (near to my age) have own very beautiful long hair despite all of this society cut off rules.
And some of the men in my firm prefere it long too.
wolfgang
I am 48 and I have had mid-back long hair for most of the last 25 years. My wife wouldn't even think of me cutting it off, while my mother is trying to convince me that I should cut it before I turn 50...
A Linux Longhair
Im 51 and I decided once and for all to grow my hair long. It's always been two or three inches on top and top-of-the-collar in back. But it now hangs down my back long enough for a 4 to 5 inch ponytail (pathetic, I know, but it's a start. And I absolutely love it!)
I've decided that I'm of the age now (and position in life) that I don't give a damn what other people might think. I've always wanted to have long hair, and now I'm doing it (I suppose I'm somewhat fortunate in that I still have a full head of hair, and I think it's in fairly good condition).
And thanks to all those guys with great long hair for sharing their pictures, they really have convinced me to finally go for it.
As long as you keep your hair neat I don't think the length is a big deal. It just depends on your profession and whether or not your style works there. Many guys have the mid back length, but there's great styles that are just over the collar, ears, etc. I'd say you need to think about what you want and try it. The nice thing about hair is that it always grows so if you decide now to sort of stop at a certain length, great. You can let it grow longer later on Josh
Just one small point. - Whe keep hair neat? Some people like to have the wild, woolly look. If that's what they want, fine!
Cheers, Barry
I will be 44 in two days. I have been working out with weights regularly for the last 15 years, mostly because I feel better when I do, and because I like the way I look when I do. Most people take me for 20 or 30 something. I like that, too. Why would anyone's opinion on you and your body have more sway than what you have already written? A time limit? It's called death. Are you ready for that? This is your life. You get to live it now. You are too old for living it now when you draw your last breath. And for the record, I have been married for 21 years, and we have three children. When in a relationship, it's about honoring one's own integrity. Then, you are able to honor the integrity of the other. Those who dishonor our integrity do so because they do not honor themselves.
Robert
My hair is mid back.
I'm 48 and have no plans to ct my hair until I'm at least 88 or maybe 98
Don't believe in age limits! I am 71 and have been growing my hair out for more than 5 years. I see lots of pony tails on guys in all walks of life from teens to 80's and up around here. Plenty of older guys have them. Some of them look older than me. (At least I hope they do. lol) Just look in your wallet at one of those hundred dollar bills and check out Ben Franklin--he looks pretty good and is older than you.
My pony tail is nearly shoulder-blade length and would be a few inches longer if I hadn't made the mistake of having a few trims over these last 5 years. My recommendation is to NOT have any trims.
Growing your hair--just do it!
You should grow it for however long you feel comfortable doing so. I'm a 45 year old female and I've got a 44 year old male friend, who decided that once he got out of the Navy (career man) that he would never cut his hair again. And he hasn't. He's been out of the Navy a few years now and his hair is more than halfway down his back now -- completely grey, kept in a ponytail. He also has a beard to go with it. He looks just fine to me. :-)
I'm 49 and have a full head of hair half way down my back. Don't have any intentions of cutting it and always get compliments. Because I'm fair any grey is not really noticeable.
I've put a photo at http://www.photoisland.com/servlet/GuestLogin?USERNAME=longhairedscotsman
(supposed to be all on one line)
then type in hello as the password.
Don't see any reason to cut it. Guys with long hair are few.
Challa
As someone who has waist length hair, who started growing it in the
60s (the hippy era, which was not the 70s, I should know, I was one
of the original hippies) I say when are you
too old to grow your hair long? My answer would be the day
you are lying horizontal in a casket in the funeral home.
Life is much too short, as someone who just lost a close
relative to death in the last couple of weeks, I would
say grow and wear your hair long now while you are still
alive to do it. When you are on your deathbed realizing that
you only have hours left to live you don't want to be saying
i should have grown my hair long when I had the chance. You also
won't be saying I should have worked a few more hours at the
office instead of seeing my kids grow up.
We only live on this mortal coil for a few very short years.
If you want to grow your hair, as Capt. Picard would say
"Make it so."
Thanks for your post. Some very wise sentiments there.
age is just a number dude, nothing more
my advice is to do what you want to do and just ignore that age thing, i mean just because you hit a certain physical number age doesnt mean you have to totally change, just be yourself and do what makes YOU personally happy
after all life is pretty short man
It could be that she's concerned with how SHE looks compared to you and is afraid that someday folks might mistake her for your mom! Stuffy threads and short hair would definitely add some years to your appearance- as would trading in the six-pack abs for a beer gut! Has she asked you to quit the gym, too?
NO!! Let it grow, please. I was at a party last night and saw a gentleman there who was about 50. He had his silver mid-back hair pulled back in the half tail style, and was very sexy. I was there with my 30 year old boyfriend who has hair down to his waist, and was telling him how hot he will be as an "old dude" with long hair..
Challa
Thanks for starting this Woodman. As a 48 yo I really get a kick out of this. I just love how supportive this board is and whenever I contemplate getting a haircut I come here and realize what cool folks are here.
As far as wives, my story is...my wife suggested I grow my hair long (I think after seeing Mel Gibson in The Patriot), LOL. I thought, why not, had longish hair in the 70s, many of my friends are going bald, yeah I'm gonna go for it. That was back in 2001.
I've made a couple of foolish decisions since, got some cut for a cousin's wedding, a funeral of an older friend, but I never could get it cut back to where I'd have to go thru the ackward stage again.
Now my wife since has said sometimes, why don't you get you hair cut. Kinda like...this was fun but it should be over. I just say I might, come back to this board and a few days later say, nah I'm keeping it long.
She had long beautiful red hair when we met at 18 and 19. She had it short for many years after, which I didn't prefer, but it's her hair I wasn't about to make an issue over it. Fortunately she has gone back to long hair and I love it.
Just yesterday I was at the computer and she was snuggling up behind me, said you know your pony tail is really grey, you should dye it some. And you know, I think I will, cause that's what I want to do. While some don't mind the grey I've got to much for my mind. Neither of us look our age (in my mind, LOL) and I'd feel better w/ less grey.
It's all about what makes you feel good, w/ some consideration for those close to you, but if they love you they should accept any of your choices.
WOW, what a ramble, you guys just got me all wound up. :)
Keep rockin,
T
That's very interesting. Seeing The Patriot got me paying closer attention to long haired men as well -- but it wasn't Mel Gibson. Rather, it was Jason Isaacs, who played Tavington, who was the nemesis of Gibson's character, Martin. Seeing Jason Isaacs with his hair both bound in a queue and down loose really did it for me. Interestingly enough, Isaacs has played a few other long hair roles: Lucius Malfoy in the second Harry Potter flick, and Captain Hook in the upcoming movie, Peter Pan.
I had seen the ads on television and was wondering who Captain Hook was. The bad guys often get the best costumes and hair. :-)
Elizabeth
I'm 46 and have hair half way down my back. Regrettably, some people think that when you become middle aged you should start looking like your parents. I love my parents, but obviously I belong to a different generation. Maybe I am stuck in the past, but I find that preferable to being stuck in someone else's past!
Age Limit? I really can't see why there should be unless just too old and frail to take care of yourself. Just rejoice in the fact that you like your hair the way it is. You are still the same person inside. Life is short. Be thankful for good health. Enjoy!
how about 62
Why should you?
How does she factor in increased longevity due to ever improving medical science resulting in the redefining of age groups and characteristics of the individuals in those age groups?
Good question. I know a guy who started to grow his hair only after he retired! He always has it in a ponytail, but it is snowy white and he had it short all his working life. Whilst I don't agree that he should have had to wear his hair short to go to work (I used to work with him, and my hair is long) I think it is cool that there is this guy who is over 70 and has long hair. I think his wife wanted him to grow his hair more than he did. She is an author (writes horror stories!) so she could be considered an 'arty' type.
Also, the other day I was in a bagel shop with my wife and there were two retired couples in there where the guy had long hair. They didn't think that 40-something was too old to have long hair. More likely they thought that now they had no boss to tell them to get a hair cut, and they were going to grow their hair however they wanted to!
Well, I'm 48, and I think having longer hair takes a few years off me. I think our age group can slip easily back into long hair mode (mentally at least) since many of us had long hair in our youth.
Cheers, Barry
Hair length at any age should be limited only by nature.
How long should an middle aged man let his hair grow? As long as he wants it to be--others have said this. Many old men have long beards and long hair.
Maybe she also can tell you how long a woman should be allowed to grow her hair before she is required to get the short-curly-every-Friday-at-the-hairdresser look that most senior citizens seem to end up with.
