Longer Hair in Professional Enviroments?

[Augusto86]

I'm still 20 and in college, so I have a few more years of rocking the long hair, but I'm wondering how those in the professional world view and have experienced long hair in getting, keeping, and advancing in jobs? My aspirations are not so much towards Law or Finance, but rather towards the media/Journalism, Publishing type of thing. Is long hair(see pics) a liability? A pro? A doesn't-really-matter?

My feeling has always been, if women can have both hip-length and boy-cut hair and still succeed, why shouldn't men be able to at least drop it to their shoulders withoout discrimination. But I know I can't change the world.

Any thoughts would be appreciated as I head towards "the real world."

 

[alflauren]

If you can pull off a cool look rather than a mullet look, I'd say go for it, particularly in a profession like media/publishing. It would not fly in my law firm, however.

 

[tiecollector]

I think it all depends on your execution. Longer hair can work, probably not axel rose hair, so long as you dont look like a high school drop out.

 

[southbound35]

I'd say the length in the pics is probably a bit longer than you get away with in "the real world". But, you could shorten it up substantially (without going very short) for interviewing and maybe a cut or two after you start, then grow it to something between the clean-cut interview look and the college look you've got going now.

Wish I could still wear my hair the way you've got yours now. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[epa]

I do not know about the U.S.
However, I think that in countries like Spain, Germany or Sweden, your long hair would not be a problem.

 

[acidboy]

Originally Posted by The Five Man Electric Band

And the sign says "Long-haired freaky people need not apply" So I put my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why He said you look like a fine outstanding young man, I think you'll do So I took off my hat, I said "Imagine that, huh, me working for you"
...

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by epa

I do not know about the U.S.
However, I think that in countries like Spain, Germany or Sweden, your long hair would not be a problem.

You definitely need to take some care, you can pull it off. But I have been to Spain and other European countries and many people have long hair when the roof is kinda starting to fall off. So long as you have pretty thick hair, then you are lucky. Once the receeding is bad though, you gotta let it go.

 

[epa]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

You definitely need to take some care, you can pull it off. But I have been to Spain and other European countries and many people have long hair when the roof is kinda starting to fall off. So long as you have pretty thick hair, then you are lucky. Once the receeding is bad though, you gotta let it go.
I agree.
Actually, nowadays, you see a lot of people who simply shave their heads and thus settle the problem with receeding hair. It looks far better than the "traditional" solution consisting in combing long greasy hair sideways to hide the bald parts. Maybe we have to thank Telly Savalas for making the alternative solution popular?

 

[tiecollector]

You don't need to shave it I don't think, that look only works too if you are a mob boss or very athletic and slim. Long hair on badly receeding hair just doesn't work.

When I was in Holland I saw lots of people with receeding hair but I couldn't tell because it was styled so nice. It was styled in such a way that they weren't trying to hide anything, but rather working with what they had. A much better look I think.

BTW, if anyone is losing their hair, i had great luck growing back my hair with 3g of high quality fish oil and 1g of borage oil every day.

 

[GBR]

I see no problem with this look in those professions. Some stuffy accountants may frown but there are more opportunities in life than this.

Keep it clean get yourself the odd piece of bespoke when you can afford for formal occasions and you will be OK.

 

[Augusto86]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

You definitely need to take some care, you can pull it off. But I have been to Spain and other European countries and many people have long hair when the roof is kinda starting to fall off. So long as you have pretty thick hair, then you are lucky. Once the receeding is bad though, you gotta let it go.

I don't think that'll be a problem *crosses fingers*. There is not a single bald man anywhere on my mother's side of the family, from age 20 to 75, and only 1 on the father's side.

 

[Schmiddy]

If you're in any field where you will have customer interaction, you may want to think twice about it. Whether or not we choose to admit it, first impressions count- a lot! Therefore, if you want to get ahead, you have some obligation to consider your customers' tastes (or your boss's), rather than your own. If your customers and boss have long hair, go for it.

 

[NewYorkBuck]

Granted, I work for an investment bank, but if anyone walked into my office for an interview with hair of that length, it would be one short interview. Cant speak for non finance professions.

 

[lawyerdad]

Along the same lines . . .
I would think if you're in publishing or something like that, it's probably relatively easy to make it work. If by journalism/media you mean possible being a reporter or something like that (as opposed to a more "behind the scenes" job) I'd think it would be a bit stickier. In that job - as in many sales-type jobs - you may have to deal with random members of the public, some of whom will hold random prejudices, etc. In such instances, there may be an advantage to erring on the bland side, because you don't want to miss out on an interview or whatever because somebody is uncomfortable talking to long-haired hippie types.
But getting a haircut is quick and easy, so you might as well continue to wear it longer unless/until you get to the point that it really does become an issue.

 

[LabelKing]

What if you wore your hair as per in my avatar? It's unusally prim, and polished, which also might unsettle mainstream types.