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Hair style

post #1 of 29
6/20/09 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 
Hi all, I'm 19 and I've been growing my hair long for about 5 years now and I don't know if I should cut it or leave it. Here are some pics...







I usually straighten my hair but I can't seem to find any pics that I have it straightened in.

Do you think I should cut it or leave it? Long haired people and girls tell me to keep it as it is, but people with short hair say I should "grow up" and cut it... What hair style would suit me if I did cut it?

Thanks for any input
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post #2 of 29
6/20/09 at 10:44am
Cut it as soon as possible.
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post #3 of 29
6/20/09 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for that great advice...Style? Length?
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post #4 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:08am
Sorry I didn't really elaborate, long night & rough morning. You're 19 so I'm assuming you're a freshman/sophomore in college? I would probably agree with the people that have been telling you get a more grown-up hair cut. You don't have to go with anything incredibly conservative, just something that doesn't make you look younger than you already are. If you hadn't mentioned in your post I would have never guessed you were 19. As far as length & style, it really depends what kind of look you're going for. There's always a lot of these types of posts and people don't realize that there isn't a definitive answer, the most important thing is having a hair style that you like. I have a similar type of hair (thin, fairly straight) and lately I've just been getting it cut fairly short on the sides/back and a little bit longer on top, then using a wax/paste to add some definition and give it a tousled look. I don't know how that would look with your current hair color though, mine is a light/medium brown.
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post #5 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:13am
Few people here are going to tell you to keep it, mostly because it's hard to fit the preferred SF aesthetic with long hair. At 19, with the style you seem to prefer, there's nothing wrong with having long hair. You're not going to pass for clean-cut any time soon, but if that's not your goal then go ahead and keep the length. The question is whether you want to look like you do now, or if you want to look like the guys on this forum. If it's the former, keep it. If it's the latter, cut it.

For what it's worth, I think there are some guys who can pull it off, especially younger guys, but it's usually best when kept in a pony tail. It looks much neater. I had long hair for years, but I kept it pulled back and really well maintained. I was happy with the way it looked while I had it, but in retrospect I wish I'd cut it before I did (though I was older than you when I finally cut it off).

As far as what style to get when you cut it? I have no idea.
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post #6 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoundItOff View Post
Sorry I didn't really elaborate, long night & rough morning.

You're 19 so I'm assuming you're a freshman/sophomore in college? I would probably agree with the people that have been telling you get a more grown-up hair cut. You don't have to go with anything incredibly conservative, just something that doesn't make you look younger than you already are. If you hadn't mentioned in your post I would have never guessed you were 19.

As far as length & style, it really depends what kind of look you're going for. There's always a lot of these types of posts and people don't realize that there isn't a definitive answer, the most important thing is having a hair style that you like.

I have a similar type of hair (thin, fairly straight) and lately I've just been getting it cut fairly short on the sides/back and a little bit longer on top, then using a wax/paste to add some definition and give it a tousled look. I don't know how that would look with your current hair color though, mine is a light/medium brown.

Out of curiosity how old would you say I was? I'm English so I've finished college and in full time employment at the moment.

I love having long hair though, I love the way it looks and feels. The only downside is having to wash it daily or it gets greasy. I only want to cut it because I'm worried about what other people think too much, I get the feeling people think less of me because of the length of my hair.

And I'm scared to cut it because it's taken 5 years to get to this length, if it looks crap and I want it back, it will take forever!

Thanks for elaborating.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG View Post
Few people here are going to tell you to keep it, mostly because it's hard to fit the preferred SF aesthetic with long hair. At 19, with the style you seem to prefer, there's nothing wrong with having long hair. You're not going to pass for clean-cut any time soon, but if that's not your goal then go ahead and keep the length. The question is whether you want to look like you do now, or if you want to look like the guys on this forum. If it's the former, keep it. If it's the latter, cut it.

For what it's worth, I think there are some guys who can pull it off, especially younger guys, but it's usually best when kept in a pony tail. It looks much neater. I had long hair for years, but I kept it pulled back and really well maintained. I was happy with the way it looked while I had it, but in retrospect I wish I'd cut it before I did (though I was older than you when I finally cut it off).

As far as what style to get when you cut it? I have no idea.

Thanks, very useful advice. I'm just so paranoid due to people telling me to get it cut all the time, the pictures really don't do it justice, it's very clean and well kept, I get it trimmed every few weeks and wash it daily. I see so many horrible people with long hair, they don't wash for days and days so it looks greasy and messy. I'm just scared of getting judged to be one of those people I guess.
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post #7 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:27am
If your only reason for wanting to cut it is that your worried about what other people think, keep it the way it is. You said that you like having long hair and like how it is now, so why change it? Normally when people make these posts it's because they don't like their current style and are trying to look older / younger / more professional / whatever. If you have friends that are constantly nagging you to cut your hair you should tell them to go fuck themselves.
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post #8 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshmall0w View Post
Out of curiosity how old would you say I was? I'm English so I've finished college and in full time employment at the moment.

Thanks, very useful advice. I'm just so paranoid due to people telling me to get it cut all the time, the pictures really don't do it justice, it's very clean and well kept, I get it trimmed every few weeks and wash it daily. I see so many horrible people with long hair, they don't wash for days and days so it looks greasy and messy. I'm just scared of getting judged to be one of those people I guess.

You're going to get that with anything that isn't conventional. I used to get it too, even when that was the only thing I was doing that was at all unconventional. I'm sure some (a lot?) of people will lump you in the group with those who don't keep it up, but there's not much you can do about it. You're definitely going against the norm by being a male with long hair, other people's perceptions are just something you'll have to deal with. There are people who are going to look down on it, the question is whether this will impact what you do.

The biggest problems you'll likely have are roadblocks in employment with long hair. It's almost certainly going to restrict your options. If you can get into something you like with long hair it's not a worry, but keep in mind you may end up at a point where you're stifled professionally if you decide to keep it.
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post #9 of 29
6/20/09 at 11:43am
You're 19? From the hair and outfit I would have guessed 14, maybe 15 tops. From the 1st and 2nd pictures I wasn't sure if you were a dude or a chick, but maybe that's more from the pose, camera angle and expression on your face. You also look a bit like Johnny Winter. The flat, lifeless look you've got right now doesn't flatter you. Something with a bit more texture or maybe even color would be more interesting. Anyway, I had long hair too until I was around 21. Unless you can decide on a haircut you like, I'd suggest you not cut it too short immediately. You can still experiment with medium-length hairstyles until you find something you like.
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post #10 of 29
6/20/09 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you MrG and SoundItOff.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bbaquiran View Post
You're 19? From the hair and outfit I would have guessed 14, maybe 15 tops. From the 1st and 2nd pictures I wasn't sure if you were a dude or a chick, but maybe that's more from the pose, camera angle and expression on your face.

The flat, lifeless look you've got right now doesn't flatter you. Something with a bit more texture or maybe even color would be more interesting.

Anyway, I had long hair too until I was around 21. Unless you can decide on a haircut you like, I'd suggest you not cut it too short immediately. You can still experiment with medium-length hairstyles until you find something you like.

Haha, I can see why from the pictures but I'm quite tall (6ft 5) so people don't think that in real life.

Just a question for you and MrG though, you both say you used to have long hair, first of all how long is "long" and how short did you cut it when you decided to get it cut?

My friend said when he cut his long hair he had to cut it all off, shaved his head rather than go shorter and shorter over time.
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post #11 of 29
6/20/09 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshmall0w View Post
Just a question for you and MrG though, you both say you used to have long hair, first of all how long is "long" and how short did you cut it when you decided to get it cut?

Mine was around shoulder length probably as long as yours, but I have wavy asian hair. Traded it all for a buzzcut but then I was 100% sure of what I wanted. Sounds like you're not sure which is why I'd recommend going in stages.
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post #12 of 29
6/20/09 at 12:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshmall0w View Post
Thank you MrG and SoundItOff.



Haha, I can see why from the pictures but I'm quite tall (6ft 5) so people don't think that in real life.

Just a question for you and MrG though, you both say you used to have long hair, first of all how long is "long" and how short did you cut it when you decided to get it cut?

My friend said when he cut his long hair he had to cut it all off, shaved his head rather than go shorter and shorter over time.

For a long time it was shoulder length or a little longer, especially when I was a teenager. In terms of length it was like yours, maybe a little longer. As I got a little older I tried to keep it shorter, usually it just reached my shoulders. I used to joke that I had a ponynub, rather than a ponytail. If my memory serves me, the ponytail was usually 2-3" long, and I pulled the ponytail pretty snugly against my head.

When I cut my hair it was a little longer than I was usually wearing it at that time. I was hoping to donate it, so I tried to grow it out some before cutting. I certainly didn't have to shave my head, but I went pretty short. When the stylist cut it she cut off the ponytail first, and then went to work on the rest. I would say it was maybe half an inch on the side/back, and maybe 1-1 1/2 inches on the top. Put it this way: it was definitely short enough to be considered clean cut by pretty much anyone's standards.
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post #13 of 29
6/20/09 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshmall0w View Post
Out of curiosity how old would you say I was? I'm English so I've finished college and in full time employment at the moment.

I love having long hair though, I love the way it looks and feels. The only downside is having to wash it daily or it gets greasy. I only want to cut it because I'm worried about what other people think too much, I get the feeling people think less of me because of the length of my hair.


If you like it, who cares what other people think? As long as you get by for a dress code to get paid at work, enjoy your long hair and youth.

I'm 27 and have hair similar to your length, I could really give a flying fuck what people who see me think. I will style on them until they can take no more, and then style on them some more for good measure.
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post #14 of 29
6/20/09 at 1:27pm
There's a reason why you want to cut it. Go with the flow is all I can say. You won't regret it and I say this based on the pictures you posted.

First of all the slipt in the middle looks ridiculous. I also thought you were a woman until I saw the third picture. Move it to the side.
First keep it a bit long until you find your style. I suggest something like this:


Don't be afraid to cut it...if you ever want it back you can always get a wig while waiting for it to grow...and chances are you'll never want it back once you experience short hair.
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post #15 of 29
6/22/09 at 6:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshmall0w View Post
Hi all, I'm 19 and I've been growing my hair long for about 5 years now and I don't know if I should cut it or leave it. Here are some pics...







I usually straighten my hair but I can't seem to find any pics that I have it straightened in.

Do you think I should cut it or leave it? Long haired people and girls tell me to keep it as it is, but people with short hair say I should "grow up" and cut it... What hair style would suit me if I did cut it?

Thanks for any input

hey don't cut your hair it looks nice make it straight .i am looks your pic do some little change in your hair make it like kate winslet hair style.
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