Why is long hair on men seen as such a negative thing by a lot of people?

Up-n-atom!

This is something I've noticed a lot in general, but it came up twice today on different programmes on TV, and it really bugs me. First of all, there was a make-over episode of Oprah where a mother nominated her son because he had dreadlocks and didn't look very 'professional'. No one seemed to disagree with her opinion and of course it was all chopped off. Secondly, on Fashion Police on the E! channel the panel was slagging off Christian Bale for his long hair and 'looking like Jesus'. I'd understand it a bit more if he was all greasy and unkempt, but he had lovely shiny locks worthy of a shampoo ad!

I don't have a problem at all with men with long hair, in fact I think it looks rather sexy on many of the opposite sex - so why is it seen as such a bad thing and something that's ok to slag off by so many people?

Galvasean

Up-n-atom! wrote: »

the panel was slagging off Christian Bale for his long hair and 'looking like Jesus'.

Jesus has never looked so sexy.


I don't get it at all. I used to have long wavy blonde hair, but got it cut as it was interfering with work (getting caught in headphones). The amount of abuse my female friends / co-workers have given me since for cutting it!

Silverfish

I dunno, probably to some people it has feminine connotations, or my aunt who calls men with long hair 'Hippies :mad:" even if they are not hippies.


It's just one of those prejudices that pervade society for no real reason anyone can put their finger on.

I remember in secondary school joining a campaign for a guy who went to the boy's school to be allowed keep his hair long, as the school were demanding he cut it.
It was eventually agreed that the boys could have their hair long, but had to keep it inside their collars (how irritating)

Up-n-atom!

That's the thing, this 'hippy' idea - fair enough, maybe, if you have messy ratty hair or something, but why are men seen as some sort of social upstart simply for having long hair, even when it's neat and well kept? Why is short hair associated with being 'professional' etc? Schools don't enforce a 'no short hair for girls' policy, so why should lads, in the age of equality, not be allowed have long hair?

Darlughda

Well, if you are entering a career or job in a stuffy corporate environment, where neanderthal jokes are the norm, and boring suits are the uniform-what the hell else do you expect, than ultimate conformity to the most conservative norms of society?

Having said that, there is nothing worse than older men or women with thinning long strangly hair. yik.

Unfortunately the ponytailed aging rock wannabe has become so associated with older men in particular with longer hair.

Howard the Duck

The kinda girls i go for always seem to like guys with long hair. I'm battling just to keep it,never mind being able to grow it long. I have no pity for the long haired hippes... just jealously.

Somnus

I have quite long hair myself, maybe just about half way down my back or bit above. People who I see on a regular basis got used to it quick enough. I'm lucky in that my boss in work (local shop) has never given me any hassle over it as I keep it clean and tied back in work.

I notice that I get no hassle for having long hair now (21) compared to when I 3rd or 4th year. People grow up and realise it doesn't matter!!

The only downside is being paranoid that some knacker will start on you for it when you're walking home at night!!

I actually just did an interview for part of my college course and got the job despite 7 other people who would look at lot more clean cut (short hair) going in for it. I think that shows that people don't really mind too much these days.

amacachi

Hated being called a hippy with my hair down to my waist. Now I just have a beard which some say makes me look like a paedo which is quite a bit worse. Or a socialist which is worse again.

jimmycrackcorm

It's girly. Nuff said.

Feelgood

Roll back to the days of Jim Morrison and Plant and Page, if you DIDN'T have long hair in those days you were ghey.

I wouldn't say long hair is seen as a negative at all, it would be a pretty shameful place if we all looked the same. Ask the 50% of the male population that have no hair and I think they will say that long hair is awesome

Thankfully lads that grow their hair long usually don't give a flying fart what people think of it...I don't think its frowned upon.

jill_valentine

Feelgood wrote: »

Thankfully lads that grow their hair long usually don't give a flying fart what people think of it...

That's kind of the thing though, isn't it? If you're hiring people for an office or whatever, you're not going to hire the guy you think doesn't care about fitting into the team.

tbh

Up-n-atom! wrote: »

This is something ?

quoted just to say..."Up and at them?" <simpsons ref>

anyway. I used to have long hair and I don't have a problem with. However, I occasionally do interviews for my company, and sometimes you'd get a guy who'd come in obviously trying to show us he doesn't give a fck about convention - scruffy jeans, long messy hair, "funny" t-shirt etc. I would always interview them but would very rarely recommend them. The reason? Anyone who gives me that strong a message that he likes to do things "his way" will almost certainly give me a pain in the ass sometime in the future. Like the guy who insists on wearing ratty trainers to a wedding, or who can't see why he should chip in for a birthday pressie for someone in the office "just because everyone else is" - there are little things you do, even tho you don't want to, because you want to show respect, or make your environment just that little bit more pleasant. When someone goes out of their way to tell you that thats not the person they are - well, cool, I respect that, but I don't want you around me.

I guess for some people, they see long hair on a guy in the same way. I think its overreacting, but I can understand it.

The reason I got my hair cut was because i was looking for work at the time. The recruiter told me "look, the simple fact is, a lot of places are going to reject you just because of your hair. They won't necessarily think you're a dick or whatever, they just won't give you the job. So really the choice is yours".

for me it was "fck it, it's only hair." But one of my mates kept his, and i totally respected that (and yeah, he got a job too, but eventually cut his hair anyway).

amacachi

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

It's girly. Nuff said.

Heh.

we'llallhavetea_old

i love long hair on men, any relationships i've had have been with men with longer than average hair.

bureau2009

I think a lot of guys have their hair far too short. Think of how much better David Beckham's current look is compared with his shorter styles.

I see guys head into the barbers for a haircut - when their hair ALREADY looks perfectly fine to me and totally NOT in need of a cut.

Problem is too many guys want to "act" macho and too many barbers don't know how to cut hair except by shearing it!!!

Let your hair down guys!!

G86

Depends on the guy, but it can be pretty damn hot imo. Wouldn't be into anything past shoulder length though.

The Waltzing Consumer

I think it is a sign of adolescence if a guy has long hair (past the shoulder) and he is mid-twenties and over, so it gets negative attention. To me, it is just like wearing tracksuits as regular clothing for adults, it is a sign of a person who has yet to grow up. There are plenty of longish haircuts, just keep it above the shoulders and there is no problem.

As for the Christian Bale thing, eh, he is an actor, he is paid to look different ways, he is probably growing his hair for a part. Sorry but long hair on guys is too lord of the rings/gamer/spinal tap/fart dad rock cringey! It is not "conforming", it is "maturing". You can't crawl on your hands and knees like a baby, you gotta "conform" and walk. You can't dress like a teen forever, you gotta "conform" and dress like an adult, cause you are an adult.

Somnus

jill_valentine wrote: »

That's kind of the thing though, isn't it? If you're hiring people for an office or whatever, you're not going to hire the guy you think doesn't care about fitting into the team.

Ah I wouldn't say that. I mean, sure I wouldn't want to cut my hair for a job, but I would still be clean and well dressed etc for it. I don't see the problem there.

I agree with tbh, it's a different story if I went in dressed like I didn't give a **** or wanted to stick out. But if the only thing is the hair I'd hope it wouldn't be a problem.

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

You can't crawl on your hands and knees like a baby, you gotta "conform" and walk. You can't dress like a teen forever, you gotta "conform" and dress like an adult, cause you are an adult.

You see this is the problem. You associate it as if it's a childish thing. What if you talk to the person and can clearly see they aren't childish? Would you still look down on it then,even if they are mature?

In the past long hair would have been plenty normal so it's all just to do with what's fashionable in the times we live in.

The Waltzing Consumer

Dr.Poca wrote: »

You see this is the problem. You associate it as if it's a childish thing. What if you talk to the person and can clearly see they aren't childish? Would you still look down on it then,even if they are mature?

In the past long hair would have been plenty normal so it's all just to do with what's fashionable in the times we live in.

Em, no, I did not use the words child or childish in my post. I said "adolescence" which meant the teenage adolescent years. I don't think adult men with long hair are childish. I think, with regards long hair, they have not gotten past the adolescence stage. As I said, it is not just long hair on guys, but many other things that adults do that they would have done as an adolescent but have not grown out of, whilst majority of adult society would have.

Well, good point, that would be another reason people are negative to adult men with long hair, because it was normal in another era, yet they still do it now. Men wore taliban beards too, didn't wash for weeks and spent all their money on drink. Change is good :P

sollar

When i was younger i had long hair and i had to stop walking through the estate next to me because people used hurl abuse and roar jesus at me.

I remember the day i cut it all off people were congratulating me as if i had done something special. There really is a strange attitude to long haired men in this country.

liah

Personally find it a pretty big turnoff if the hair on top is further than down past the top of the ears. It's just visually unattractive to me.

Otherwise I don't care about it, I don't understand why it's 'unprofessional' either. As long as the hair is clean and away from the face while working what difference does it make?

The hippie stuff is just idiots being idiots really.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Ireland's pretty conservative and at the moment a guy having long hair is seen as non-conformist.

One thing I found though when I had long hair was people took me a lot more seriously in arguments/debates. Trying to get a job was a nightmare though. Job agencies said straight out it would go against me.

Silverfish

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Ireland's pretty conservative and at the moment a guy having long hair is seen as non-conformist.

One thing I found though when I had long hair was people took me a lot more seriously in arguments/debates. Trying to get a job was a nightmare though. Job agencies said straight out it would go against me.

I find it utterly bizarre, it wouldn't go against me, why should it go against you?

Bottle_of_Smoke

Silverfish wrote: »

I find it utterly bizarre, it wouldn't go against me, why should it go against you?

It isn't seen as non conformist for you

Wolfe Tone

Having long hair is associated with people who are "wasters", thats why. When I had long hair people would assume I was a stoner hippy.

Zaffy

Unfortunately the only guy I know with long hair is fairly disgusting. It's greasy, and when he leans forward, it droops onto your and/shoulder.

IT almost feels like it creeps up your body, when I see him, my skin shivers and quivers at the idea of contact with the hair.

This is the reason I don't like long hair on guys.

Naturally, anyone who keeps it tamed/CLEAN i'm fine with

If you have disgusting long hair, and get angry when people tell you to cut it, it's because it's disgusting, not because it's long.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Zaffy wrote: »

Unfortunately the only guy I know with long hair is fairly disgusting. It's greasy, and when he leans forward, it droops onto your and/shoulder.

IT almost feels like it creeps up your body, when I see him, my skin shivers and quivers at the idea of contact with the hair.

This is the reason I don't like long hair on guys.

Naturally, anyone who keeps it tamed/CLEAN i'm fine with

If you have disgusting long hair, and get angry when people tell you to cut it, it's because it's disgusting, not because it's long.

Or the reason you don't like disgusting greasy hair on a guy?

parker kent

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

Em, no, I did not use the words child or childish in my post. I said "adolescence" which meant the teenage adolescent years. I don't think adult men with long hair are childish. I think, with regards long hair, they have not gotten past the adolescence stage. As I said, it is not just long hair on guys, but many other things that adults do that they would have done as an adolescent but have not grown out of, whilst majority of adult society would have.

Well, good point, that would be another reason people are negative to adult men with long hair, because it was normal in another era, yet they still do it now. Men wore taliban beards too, didn't wash for weeks and spent all their money on drink. Change is good :P

To be fair, you did compare guys with long hair getting their hair cut as being similar to a baby stopping crawling and starting to walk.

I actually think long-ish hair has actually been pretty popular for guys over the past few years.

upmeath

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Ireland's pretty conservative and at the moment a guy having long hair is seen as non-conformist.

One thing I found though when I had long hair was people took me a lot more seriously in arguments/debates. Trying to get a job was a nightmare though. Job agencies said straight out it would go against me.

True, and I'd a teacher - hailing from one of the most conservative reaches of our little island - kick me out of her classes in school for having messed-up long hair. I was 14 at the time, thought I'd let it grow, simple as. Didn't sit well with her.
The stereotypical image of long-haired male is not confined to Ireland though. It's an image rolled out in countless films down the ages and has come to represent teenage (i.e. perhaps immature) angst, slacker/hippie/non-conformist lifestyles. TBH I think it's naf. I haven't had long hair in 4 or 5 years, it'll be some time before I let it grow again, but I wouldn't have any trouble doing it again some time, when the mood takes me.
As regards job-hunting, if yours is a suited profession (legal, financial and so on), they're probably the most conservative, clean-cut, smartly attired professions out there. If on the other hand you work in the fields of art, graphic design, music, architecture et cetera it really isn't a problem, in fact it's probably seen as a way of unleashing and nurturing creativity and non-conformity, which is what these more liberal professions are all about.
If you take a look, there are subtle yet significant differences between suiting up for the aforementioned conservative professions and those I'm calling liberal here (someone might wish to pick me up on the socio-political distinction but this is the way I see it anyway). In the graphic and architectural industries a shirt and slacks will suffice in the office. In construction services I've never seen anyone wear a tie unless they're receiving an award. In legal and financial a tie, shirt and jacket seems to be a must, plus matching pants (again I'm open to correction). My gf's colleague (corporate law firm) turned up to a social one night a couple of weeks ago in jeans and found his attire widely frowned upon, same goes for interviews and day-to-day office work.

Zaffy

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Or the reason you don't like disgusting greasy hair on a guy?

Yup, and I went on to say that 'anyone who keeps it tame/clean is grand'

Sorry that you felt the need to reply without fully reading the post.

I am a friend

I have yet to meet a man on whom long hair has been attractive...

Also, it's always fuzzy!!! Women tend to look after their long hair better but mens (I've seen) just looks like it's washed and that's it. Just fuzzy and unkempt looking. It also looks daft when you see a guy in a suit and the hair up in a ponytail... IMHO

Up-n-atom!

Lot more love here for the long hair than I was expecting! I wouldn't be a fan of the 'balding middle-aged man with a pony-tail' look or the greasy haired kind...if you're gona go long you need to look after it! Messy curly hair is my fave *swoon*

I don't get the association between being immature and having long hair either...as I said before, surely most schools don't allow long hair for boys, they usually break out and grow it after they leave? Suppose parts Ireland can be pretty conservative - still people out there who think if a man wears pink he's gay.

Somnus

I am a friend wrote: »

It also looks daft when you see a guy in a suit and the hair up in a ponytail... IMHO

I wouldn't say daft but a bit weird maybe? I was suited up for an interview a while back as I said earlier and the whole time I kept thinking that wearing the suit is being completely overridden by the fact that I have long hair. In the end turns out not! But I definitely felt out of place :P

Stheno

I am a friend wrote: »

Also, it's always fuzzy!!! Women tend to look after their long hair better but mens (I've seen) just looks like it's washed and that's it. Just fuzzy and unkempt looking.IMHO

You've not met my bf's son then. Hair down almost to his waist, poker straight and in great condition. Most of his female friends want hair like his

I'd a work colleague who also had very long hair, it was blond, and in fantastic condition, he got more comments on his hair than most of the women in the office combined

irisheddie85

Dr.Poca wrote: »

I wouldn't say daft but a bit weird maybe? I was suited up for an interview a while back as I said earlier and the whole time I kept thinking that wearing the suit is being completely overridden by the fact that I have long hair. In the end turns out not! But I definitely felt out of place :P

I have long hair and a beard and recently suited up for the first time since growing them.

Have to say i felt great as i was myself with my hair and beard. Not shaving or cutting my hair just to make other people happy with how i looked.

I wash my hair more often than my girlfriend. Every girl and especially hairdresser comments on how healthy my hair looks and feels when im drunk and let them plait it

Nemanja91

I've nothing against people with long hair but I just think it looks weird when a guy has his hair tied back with a bobble or if his hair goes past his shoulder, thats just me though. I'd say it must be way too much effort having long hair though.

bureau2009

There's long hair and there's well.........long hair!

Guys, you don't need to always get a No 1 cut.

Renew and revamp your image for 2011 - a new you!!!

Let that No 1 haircut grow out a bit. Tell your barber you want it slightly longer and ask him/her to give you a slight trim with a scissors.

EXPERIMENT with you hair guys! Have fun with it! See how often you score with your stunning new image ;);).

parker kent

A lot of posters seem to think that all guys either get a number 1 or have long. straggly, unhealthy hair. There is a pretty massive middle-ground in between those polar opposites!

The Waltzing Consumer

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Ireland's pretty conservative and at the moment a guy having long hair is seen as non-conformist.

I don't find this credible. The only time I ever hear the word "conformist" is when issues like this arise. If long hair on adult men was socially acceptable, then you would have no problem conforming or would you have short hair just so you would not conform? This is why I think for a lot of men, who have long hair, they just have not grown up, they seem to look at it as a rebelling issue like the way teenagers would.

Ireland conservative? I don't think so. A culture of excessive drinking, excessive spending, one of the least religious countries in Europe, one of the highest teenage-mother ratios in Europe, changing family structures, likely to be the first country to ever elect a gay president. Styles and fashions are completely different to twenty years ago, let alone 50 years ago, we are more materialistic, less patriotic and nationalistic, moving away from traditional pub "craic" to modern ways of entertainment. Men twenty, thirty years ago had longish hair with big beards (think Irish versions of taliban), now they dress and look better, with much more emphasis on health, diet and appearance.

So how are we actually conservative?

Funkfield

John Waters (the journo) was being interviewed on radio there a while back and he said that he regularly gets comments because of his hair. People are always asking him "why the long hair?" etc. He was asked was there some "fascination" with long hair. He said that hair naturally grows long, so what's societies "fascination" with short hair.

Never understood it myself. Its just hair.

Ireland is the only place people have commented negatively on my hair.

milli milli

OK here is my take on the whole long hair on men debate.

When I was in my twenties, the only guys I went for would be long-haired guys. I was attracted to the whole grungey, non-conformist thing.

I would still be attracted to non-conformist guys but TBH the whole long hair thing looks so dated now. Especially if a guy has worn his hair long, in the exact same way for say 10-15 years (or longer).

Look at Anthony Kiedis from the Chili Peppers - he had the long hair 15 years ago but now his hair is shorter (but still cool and non conformist).
A long haired guy just screams, stuck in a timewarp, to me now. Kind of like 30/40 somethings who only listen to music from their youth :rolleyes:



If you're going to have long hair and for a long time, at least change the style a little

JajaD

Yeah my boyfriend has longish hair which i love and he works as a manager and he is always contemplating getting it cut so he looks more professional. I hate the way there is 'a professional look'. Its so annoying. It should be about job performance not hair appearance!

I think all lads should grow their hair long..its so much sexier!!

HavingCrack

It's just not fashionable to have long hair at the minute, thats all. In the 70's long hair and beards were in and wouldn't have caused the same reaction as today. Same with the early 90's and grunge etc Give it another 10 years and long hair on men could well make a reapperance.

I reckon it's because it's extremely confusing, especially from the back. Leads to awkward situations in nightclubs.

Yeesh <pulls collar>

G86

I am a friend wrote: »

I have yet to meet a man on whom long hair has been attractive...

Also, it's always fuzzy!!! Women tend to look after their long hair better but mens (I've seen) just looks like it's washed and that's it. Just fuzzy and unkempt looking. It also looks daft when you see a guy in a suit and the hair up in a ponytail... IMHO

I have to disagree..

I used to date a guy who had the most amazing shoulder length hair, any woman would have killed for it. Had the whole 'surfer' look nailed to a tee, and it was sheer hotness. But then he cut it off and was like someone just turned off the hot switch, he just looked so... ordinary!

Princess Peach

I like long hair on a guy, if he has the look to pull it off! My first boyfriend had these weird half dreadlocks half way down his back when we were together, they suited him so well! A couple of my friends have always had long hair, I think short hair would look awful on them if they ever tried it. Depends on your look.

I don't think I've ever thought of long hair as a negative thing on a guy. I'm sure not every woman finds it attractive, but thats just their preference. I'm not a huge fan of short hair, like closely shaves. I like something to run my fingers through :pac:

JajaD

HavingCrack wrote: »

It's just not fashionable to have long hair at the minute, thats all. In the 70's long hair and beards were in and wouldn't have caused the same reaction as today. Same with the early 90's and grunge etc Give it another 10 years and long hair on men could well make a reapperance.

Actually, its very much 'in fashion' to have beards, mustaches, longish hair at the moment. Johnny Depp, Kings of Leon, Colin Farrell, Any band in NME, etc etc....

HavingCrack

JajaD wrote: »

Actually, its very much 'in fashion' to have beards, mustaches, longish hair at the moment. Johnny Depp, Kings of Leon, Colin Farrell, Any band in NME, etc etc....

No sorry, my first post doesn't really explain what I mean well. I think what I was trying to say was back in the 70's say it was more acceptable amongst 'professionals' for lack of a better word. Band members, actors etc. rarely have to conform to any type of look.

telboy

It makes people look like they have poor personal hygiene. I'm not saying it is true but that is how it is viewed.
It also makes people look like they want to be different for the sake of it. Again, not saying it is true, but it makes men look weird.

rjmf

Can be seen as a bit of vanity too so you can't win!

PrincessLola

I think its hawt!;) So do most of my friends, but when I brought the topic up with some male companions they dismissed it as "gay"