new thread
I've decided that my minimum goal hair length shall be... belt length! My longest hairs are just at MBL (mid-back length) so I have a few more years to wait. Here is a rare situation where being *short* is an advantage! As to 'why', that is a tougher question. There are not a lot of male role-models running around with belt-length hair period, let alone well-maintained belt-length hair. I think it will look good. It will be a challenge to keep my hair in top-notch condition for such a long time. But most important is that I am on a journey of self-discovery. I am perceived and treated differently because of my hair. Same guy, different decoration. Right? Or does growing out your hair make you different? Or does being treated differently make you different?
I'm interested to hear your hair growth goals and your reasons for wanting that length.
Well, with dreadlocks there is no terminal length, so I may try to beat Absolom! ;)
Honestly, I'll probably keep them a bit above belt length.
How do dread locks not have a terminal length?
Because the full length of each strand of hair is intertwined with all the others in the dreadlock, and when it falls out naturally, it stays within the lock, instead of being seen in the shower drain. So all the hairs that have fallen out help hold the whole lock together, and it just continues to gain length.
Ah cool thanks.
Well, I'm going for a length similar to the length you, Gollan, show on your website at 14 - 15 months.
I just happen to like this length...because, to me, this is considered as long hair, and it's just a look and length that appeals to me.
I would like to get my hair so that it is hanger over my arms on the sides probably lower chest length in front and lower back in the back. This isnt all I would consider growing to although where I am at now for progress it seems like a reasonable goal. If I am able to reach that length and it continues to grow then I might go longer.
My hair's almost an inch I think right now. I only started growing it almost a month ago after I got out of hospital :)
My goal length though, I'd say is roughly around my shoulders. Long enough that I can put it into a ponytail at will, but not below my shoulderblades. I think the best examples for length would be Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, and Oded Fehr in the Mummy Movies, though I'm not sure if either or them could do ponytails.
has to be waist lenghth
I've always felt mid-back would be about right for me, and darned if I'm not terminaled out there! My hair is curly and actually comes within two or three inches of my waist, but it springs up to mid-back, and that is what everybody sees. So I just say it's mid-back.
Goal = terminal length. I like how it feels now (roughly below shoulder blade) and have liked it even more the longer it gets.
Yesterday I got an unsolicited, "Wow, your hair is getting long!" comment. :-)
My goal length? I'm growing it as long as it'll go. Knee-length is my maximum though, but I doubt it'll get THAT long lol But once I find out my terminal length, I'll probably keep it around mid-back length. All I know for sure is I'm NEVER cutting shorter than shoulder blade length ever again. Btw, at the moment, it's chin-length. Progress pic coming up on my one year anniversary of the 28th!
Actually, I don't know yet. My original goal was shoulder lenght hair but now when I've reached it I want grow it little longer.
At least waist length, but I'll go for terminal. My hair is thick and curly so it takes forever to show length. Currently it's at armpit level in back... about mid-back wet in the shower.
Your hair looks really great Gollan.
I think my hair goal length would be shoulder blade length, or just over, but I am nearly 100% certain that i'll grow it to something longer. I like the idea Nige said about having the hair hang over the shoulders, so I guess about chest length. But I doubt I'll go any longer than that in my life.
my goal is about sholder length or longer but not really long.
I definately agree with you there! I'm only about 5'5, so with respect to my body, my hair appears to grow much faster than it actually does. That's one great thing about being short.
Terminal length for me. I have curly hair, so I am shooting for stomach/lower back when dry. If I can keep my same growth rate for 5+ years, I will definately be below waist when wet/straightened. I can't wait!
Short guys Unite! I am 5'4". I get kidded all the time that when I grow my hair out, I add 3" to my height.
I do have thick hair so it looks so big especially in the morning. I have found an American Crew product that helps a bit.
I am thinking about a trim today or first of next week. It has been almost 7 months since beginning this journey. If I do get a trim/haircut I won't go back to the days of a flattop or even something showing the top of my ears.
Anyway thanks for the support guys...You all are awesome.
I am perceived and treated differently because of my hair.
Same guy, different decoration. Right? Or does growing out your hair make you different?
The longer I grow my hair...the longer I want it to go!
Never in my wildest imagination did I ever believe I'd
be growing my hair down to who knows where!
Yes, your hair length will have a profound impact on how you feel about yourself,
and on how others feel about you!
The 'old me' is lost somewhere in the past months & years.
That can be scary and even depressing to some (they will probably give up).
But if you like long hair and are at least willing to allow yourself
to be transformed by the changes...
the 'Journey' will definitely be a rewarding one.
Good topic!
Interesting points, Gollan. I hadn't thought about it in that way before. My ideal length would be also be around belt length, however I fear that I have already reached terminal at 3 inches below shoulders!
umm...i haven't really thought about how long i'll let it grow. right now though, i think somewhere between my chin and shoulders would be nice.
Goal length....I guess I'll figure it out when I get there. Reasons.....I love long hair.....and since many of the shallow, judgemental, people in this world despise long hair, it keeps you from having to talk to most of them! (a secondary benefit of long hair)
I like my hair at its current length, a little past the elbows. Sometimes I let it get longer but I usually keep it trimmed to this length.
When I started braiding my hair, it took off like a rocket. I think its cause I used to mess w/ it and damage it. In the braid, its out of the way. IMHO
My goal is to simply let it grow as long as it can. With luck, I hope it at least reaches my waist. (Had a tail once a few years ago that did.)
The longer the better for myself.
My hair is at the length I want (hip-length). I've had it this long since around 1997.
I think other people's perception of me is influenced by my hair. Even before I say anything, my hair announces "I am an individual! I am unique! I am me!"
Ed
Long enough so I can eat without having it go forward into my food. Or, long enough so that I can walk around with it loose and not have it fly forward (except maybe on windy days). I'm at 15" now. I'm not sure how much I'll need to reach my goal, but I'm guessing I need to double it which means a little more than 2 more years or a full 4 years of growth maybe. I've gone about 30 months from a 1-inch flat-top style so I guess I'm right on the average 1/2 per month growth.
I haven't given much thought to how I would maintain it once I reach that goal.
My grandfather has the most incredibly beautiful silky white hair and as I age mine is also turning white (hence the handle...duh!). My intent is to go to terminal length, hopefully before I go terminal myself ! HA!
You’re looking great Gollan !!
I promised myself that I wouldn't get mine cut until after I move back to Georgia (I've been stuck in Maryland for the past 16 years). I hope to be back there next year, but I really don't plan to cut it then. I think I'm going to try for terminal length. I do know this: If I do cut it, I'm gonna grow it right back out!
My reason for doing so:
BECAUSE I CAN!!!
Take care,
Brett
I'm aiming for mid back. But I don't think I'll ever make it. I think my terminal length will be way shorter than that.
Excellent choice Gollan, waist length hair will look great on you. (At 5 feet 4 inches in height you will need a 19 to 20 inch ponytail to reach your waist.) My hair is getting close to knee length which is my goal. I want it this length because it is so unusual. Absalom
Keep it long, and never cutting it period!!! That's my goal!!!
I don't have a goal. I just put up with it for my S.O. I find having this mass of hair around my face to be a royal pain.
Guess you asked this question during one of my "I'm sick of this" periods...
William is it correct that you don't really want your hair to be long, it is for your significant other?
Hello William,
You might want to consider if there is there anything your best beloved can do for you in trade for you having long hair. Putting up with your hair may be a lot easier to deal with if it is rewarding for you in some way. One guy I know permanently took over litter box duty from his mate in exchange for an increase in hair length. Think about what might be your price.
That said, if you don't want long hair you should not have to have it. Special appearance requests for clothing or jewelry are one temporary thing but when it comes to something you have to live with full time such as hair I believe you get full say. Bluntly, if your love knowingly puts their hair length preference in a partner above your own comfort and desires then something is odd there. I dearly hope that is not the case for you.
Elizabeth
I'm sorry, but as a man in a 27-year relationship, that feels as petty as "you can grow your hair out if you get an 'A' in algebra." We do stuff for each other to please each other, not because we're keeping score.
Bill & Larry
Bingo!
Hello William and Bill,
"You can grow your hair out if you get an 'A' in algebra," is petty, that is a parent-child relationship. My admittedly unclear reference is not to a man being permitted to grow his hair out, but a guy with a long hair preference working a deal to help his partner decide to keep their hair long when the partner does not want longer hair and is feeling burdened by it.
I tend to find appearance desires being put on another person petty. A person who likes long hair can choose it on their own head and also let others know what they find attractive in another. A partner is quite welcome to choose to meet those desires but it should be a gift freely given, not an expectation being met. The gift does not have to be forever either, to have long hair for another even for a portion of time is still a valuable gift.
I agree with this too. Pleasing each other does include however the desire for a partner to be happy with their own appearance. Perhaps it has been said and that is what makes the "royal pain, sick of it" hair days worth it.
Elizabeth
You'll notice in our photo upthread that my partner does NOT have long hair; he only has "longish" hair. That is because we learned a long time ago to never put anything disputed to a vote. We closed the polls with way too many one-to-one ties. Instead, we talk about how much something means to each of us, and we let those levels of concern have their say. Pleasing BOTH of us, as you point out, was the two issues at hand.
He really prefers really short hair on himself, but he doesn't mind hair the longish way he has it. He does mind long hair because his neck is really sensitive and it would drive him crazy. Meanwhile, I would prefer long hair on him, of course. [grin] So what you see is a compromise.
Bill
Originally I set my goal at Shoulder Blade Length - my feeling was this was long enough to be able to try out some different styles, but not so long that it becomes a big hassle to maintain.
But I have a feeling I'll grow beyond that, I'm at about chin length (bangs) shoulder length (back) and I've completely "got the bug" so I have no idea where I'm going right now.
David,
I know that you have a maintenance cut when you started growing your hair. Do you recommend them? I am dealing with some really thick, coarse hair. I am trying to decide what to do.
I think a trim maybe helpful.
From your experience, what is your feeling?
Steve
Hi Steve
Trims got me through the first year, for me it was really hard to maintain a decent style from about 4 Months in to 9 months. This was the worst part of the awkward stage and I trimmed regularly to try keep some shape to my hair. (But trims never took more than a smidge off the length on the top and only about 1/2 off the back 'n' sides.)
From 9 months onwards the main problem area for me has been the back of hair. I continued with the practice of trimming every 3 months until the end of the first year. (Which was when I had my last trim (about 3.5 months ago). I've now decided NOT to trim for a while and let my hair clear my shoulders.
I still suffer from flips at the sides, but thanks to my early trims my hair is pretty good shape, so given the chance to do it over I'd probably do the same thing again.
So yes I suppose I'd recommend them, but you have to find a stylist you can trust, who understands your goals, and who can re-shape a hairstyle without taking off more than 1/2 inch from anywhere on your head.
But if you main complain is thick, coarse hair, why not try a softening shampoo and conditioner, but you trim. It can make your hair more manageable.
David.
buttlength at least!!!! probably as long as it will grow.... i'm currently in between midback and my butt, another year or so hopefully....
shoulder length....and if im not forced to cut it (this being pakistan) then shoulder blade length
Picture Purged
That's an interesting question. When I started this journey about 5 years ago, I just thought that I would grow it a little longer. I did let it get longer, but I also kept getting regular trims every month or so. Then three years ago, May 1st, I got "serious" about really growing it (after I found this board I might add). Since my last "haircut" on May 1st, 2001, I've not cut it at all except for one trim of 3 inches last November. I did that one only because my old poorly cared for ends were oh so ratty. My goal is twofold. First, I will just let it grow for 10 years from May 1st 2001. But, I will trim if it is too ratty. That should let me find out what my terminal length is, and I'm curious. Then after that, I think that I will cut it to and maintain it at belt length, because that is my favorite hair length. When I say belt length, I mean when it is dry. Right now my hair hangs about to the level of my navel when wet, but looks substantially shorter than that when it is dry. So I guess that to have it at belt length when dry, it will actually have to be somewhat longer than that.
Picture Purged
I would like to grow my hair and beard to maximum length often called terminal length, somewhat like in this picture of Leonardo Da Vinci. I have waist-length hair, but the beard isn't long because I'm worried what others think. I wish more men in the USA would have long beards so it wouldn't seem unusual for me to grow a long beard.
For now my next goal is just to get it to shoulderlenght.
But I would like to have hair like this guy (Peter from Extol):
My Goal is Mid back length. That way it will look like I have long hair and won't be as much of a pain to take of. Besides most women don't like guys with hair beyond Classic Length. But it is about you and you shouldn't care what other people think.
Well.. as my first post I might aswell give you guys my goal. I'll prolly go for terminal length first and if that is longer than belt length I will cut it to that. And as for my reasons, I both have a love of all things long hair and it seems as long hair seems to be a requirement in my line of work.. guitarist/singer hehe.
-Paul
