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I have long hair.
- Thread starter Dr Improbable
- Start date
I used to argue about my hair with my guitarist. I was trying to move into my current industry and I was going to get my hair cut off. He argued with me that it wasn't necessary and that he had never struggled to get a job because he had long hair.
I got my hair cut off because human beings are fickle judgmental pricks most of the time and in order to achieve my goal of being employed in an exceptionally competitive industry I needed to fool them into thinking I was a handsome young up-and-comer with a strong modern attitude and plenty of fashion sense. It worked. I strongly believe (knowing my city and its prejudices towards people who look even slightly disreputable) that had I remained un-shawn I would not have been hired.
My guitarist had to eat his words too. He went for a job that he really wanted and discovered later that while he was perfect for the job he didn't get it because the company had recently put in new hygiene policies which prohibited long hair in the workplace.
I commend those of you who have gotten into the corporate world along with your longer locks, but as a struggling young person I simply didn't have the luxury of waiting to find out if some good person would let my shoulder length hair slide.
I got my hair cut off because human beings are fickle judgmental pricks most of the time and in order to achieve my goal of being employed in an exceptionally competitive industry I needed to fool them into thinking I was a handsome young up-and-comer with a strong modern attitude and plenty of fashion sense. It worked. I strongly believe (knowing my city and its prejudices towards people who look even slightly disreputable) that had I remained un-shawn I would not have been hired.
My guitarist had to eat his words too. He went for a job that he really wanted and discovered later that while he was perfect for the job he didn't get it because the company had recently put in new hygiene policies which prohibited long hair in the workplace.
I commend those of you who have gotten into the corporate world along with your longer locks, but as a struggling young person I simply didn't have the luxury of waiting to find out if some good person would let my shoulder length hair slide.
Seriously. Have you ever seen someone with short hair headbanging? They look ridiculous. We play rock and roll, not pop! Who cares if we offend someone's sensibilities!
Honestly, I don't think it's bad at all. I have medium length hair in my book, and I've never had an issue with temperature. In fact, I can't imagine how miserable it would be having buzzed hair in the direct sun, so much more directly hitting your scalp. Granted my hair is blonde, so it probably doesn't absorb heat as much as darker hair.
And to the OP, no way, your hair's not even that long. Shorter than mine is at any rate. Heck, my dad wears his way longer than mine, and he's nearing 50. People ask me why I keep my hair long, and besides the fact that I like the look of it, it's also because I'm proud of it. Not everyone can grow out long, full hair, and if you can, why not? Mine grows pretty quickly and thickly, so I usually get it at least thinned every 8ish months. If need be, tie it back (I do exactly that while at work, [construction, power tools and hair are not a good combo] and in class at school taking notes), or put on a suit. (See, people with longer hair can still look classy in a suit, though the Solo cup might detract some class. My hair's actually fairly longer now).
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Most of the flak I get nowadays is about facial hair, but again, screw it, what's wrong with sideburns anymore than a moustache? DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY BODY.
You have a rounder face brother, so this is a good suggestion - narrow the beard down(side to side) but leave some length as that lengths your face.
I have my hair a few inches longer than yours, but the posters that say they see more short hair in music are right. Seems military buzz is the new long. Perlman in "Sons of Anarchy" would be example. My bandmates all have short or buzzcut so I am the "toke'n hippy"
YEah, I did the short hair for years...now I'm self-employed and my clients never see me. Heh!
I used to have long hair. Then one day i decided to bic it. baby smooth head now. and its nice and shiny. idk if this helps but i know i felt so much better afterwords.
It goes the other way also. I'm 65 and don't have hair. My BL hasn't told me to grow hair. What difference does it make to him?
Agreed. No disrespect, but I'd hardly call that "long". "Shaggy" at best. Mine's halfway down my back right now... It's been shoulder-length since I started growing it out when I was 12 and it ain't leaving anytime soon...
I did the layering thing for a while but I'm opting now to go back to just one ridiculously long length. The longest I've had mine so far was when I was 15... I had it so long that when I'd get dressed, the bangs were getting caught in my underwear.... then I hacked almost half a foot off... Now we're going back to that length. Why? Cause I like it long. I think some people look great with long hair, others short/bald... But it boils down to personal taste and such. If it's really THAT big of an issue, just tie it back... I do that when I need to pass as "formal"... if it's still an issue, I'll tuck the end in the back of my shirt or wear a hat... But that's as far as I go. Anything beyond that and I just go "I can't help you". It boils down to the 3 P's. Are you Punctual? Are you Professional? Are you Proactive? If you are all the above, never fear... We live in a day and age where hair length should be an afterthought for anybody. If you wanna buzz it, buzz it. If you wanna trip on it, trip on it (don't laugh, I know a guy who actually has theirs that long... I have no idea why...)
Yeah I get flack for it and yes I probably look like a hippie... but I don't care. A good buddy of mine and I have a saying... "Long live the long hairs"!! \m/\m/
It's not that they let it slide. It's that I showed up for the interview with it slicked back into a ponytail, and had a very, very strong resume, and even stronger interview skills.
It didn't hurt that I have top-notch data entry skills, and can survive a lot of tests.
That being said, it's not like they were hiring me for rocket surgeon.
And, just for the record, here's me in 1976, at age 13:
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What a long, strange trip it's been!
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What a long, strange trip it's been!
It depends on what you wanna do and what makes you comfortable. I had a friend amazing bass player had dreads cut the dreads to look more professional and get more gigs now he can't get any gigs cause he looks like every other bass player anddoesnt have a market table appearance. He was good but what he was playing wasn't ground beaking and he was a cover bassist
I say find a look you love and keep that if your band leader is starting to worry about the look of your band rather than how well you sound as a unit its because your not getting enough gigs because your music isn't marketable. So fix the music don't change your style or resort to gimicks
I say find a look you love and keep that if your band leader is starting to worry about the look of your band rather than how well you sound as a unit its because your not getting enough gigs because your music isn't marketable. So fix the music don't change your style or resort to gimicks
It's just hair, wear it the way that you feel comfortable with.
Since I'm old and retired I've cut mine some, it's only shoulder length now. When I graduated from Junior High in Ct back in 1966, two other guys and me couldn't graduate on stage with our class because our hair was too long. Got my diploma a couple weeks later in the mail. Was expelled many times in High School for having long hair and got my ass kicked a few times from the greasers for the same reason.
Me in 68.
Me in 71.
Since I'm old and retired I've cut mine some, it's only shoulder length now. When I graduated from Junior High in Ct back in 1966, two other guys and me couldn't graduate on stage with our class because our hair was too long. Got my diploma a couple weeks later in the mail. Was expelled many times in High School for having long hair and got my ass kicked a few times from the greasers for the same reason.
Me in 68. Me in 71.
i can't imagine long hair being a liability in musical pursuits. if it's a legit job you're looking for then yea maybe you'll have to cut it and lose the beard. but i would agree with some of the other comments that there's something annoying about a clean cut accountant-looking guy acting like a rock star. i mean, i could probably pass for an accountant and i still try to rock out, but i don't have to see myself. if i did i'd probably be a little annoyed.
I had to get haircuts for the 30 years I was in my old profession. Im retired and i aint gettin another ****in haircut again.
Heres a pic of me and my boys in my last month of the job, burnin down the corner of 16th st & Drake. Thats me in the middle
Heres a pic of me and my boys in my last month of the job, burnin down the corner of 16th st & Drake. Thats me in the middle
Of all the guys in our band only our guitar player has long hair. But he probably spends more time on front of mirrors then the rest of us combined. I don't think just having long hair matters much. Now i could see if you don't take care of your hair and show up to semi casual gigs looking like a hobo( not saying that you do by the picture). I'm no "model" myself. But do try to "dress up" a bit for shows. Im not talking going overboard but i probably spend more time in front of the mirror before a show than even when me and the wife have date night. For one I think it's just being professional. But also because the more girls you get coming to your shows the more guys will follow. Ive been "there" where i played in a metal band and i went on stage and wondered why every gig was a sausage party. The girls were probably across town at the dance club that has a dress code for guys. So "dressing up" a little for shows can help, maybe not as much as a ladies get in free show, but if you have plenty of woman at the show the guys are normally right behind them.
I started growing my hair (started baby smooth bald) back in 2009, shortly after my first back surgery. My plan was to let it grow until my back was fixed, and donate it.
The back surgeries didn't fix my back, so it's still growing.
I'm off work on disability, probably permanently, so cutting it isn't a concern. I tie it back when necessary, but that isn't very often.
Never had it be an issue, though. Even playing at church, where I was actually told to let it down, because it helps the worship team to connect with the younger crowd. I'm 43. Go figure.
The only real problem I have is that its long enough that I sometimes grab it while playing.
The back surgeries didn't fix my back, so it's still growing.
I'm off work on disability, probably permanently, so cutting it isn't a concern. I tie it back when necessary, but that isn't very often.
Never had it be an issue, though. Even playing at church, where I was actually told to let it down, because it helps the worship team to connect with the younger crowd. I'm 43. Go figure.
The only real problem I have is that its long enough that I sometimes grab it while playing.
