My post on guys with long hair has generated crazy traffic to my site. There are many confused men who ask crazy questions, and I refer them to The Beauty Brains so they can learn how to care for their hair. It is not as easy as you’d think, and most guys have no idea how to manage & maintain a full head of hair.
Here’s the best question, so far.
I was just curious, how can someone be able to judge if long hair ‘works’ for guys, or doesn’t? It would seem to be more of a biased/preference thing? I mean, I’m sure you may feel that long hair on, oh, some Finnish metal band doesn’t work, where 1000+ girls may disagree.
Also, many like to classify long hair,more like, emo/shaggy hair, which really is a joke. At minimum, hair has to be shoulder length to truly be identified as long. IMO anyway.
But back to my initial point…what factors determine whether or not long hair works on a guy? Length? Condition? It seems more of an individual decision than a general one.
Looking forward to your reply.
Yes, hair must be shoulder-length to be considered long. This is a universal truth. Shaggy emo cuts do not apply.
The single most important factor that determines whether or not long hair works on a guy? It’s the guy. Some dudes look like Michael Hutchence, and some look like David Carradine. It’s a fine line, and it’s also worth noting that both celebrities (allegedly) died from autoerotic asphyxiation.
If you want a corporate 9-5 job and you want to avoid being mistaken for an aging hipster who’s into kinky sex, keep your hair short. If you want to buck the system and rock out in a Finnish metal band, grow your hair out because it’s part of who you are as an artist.
Thoughts?
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Haven’t had long hair since college. Not that I wouldn’t just don’t the patience to let it grow out. SHRM09 was the longest I have had it in a while and I couldn’t stand it.
I don’t care about hair length, as long as it looks proffesional. But know your company culture if you don’t want it to have an impact on your career.
As one who is as bald as the proverbial coot, I should have hair issues. But I just’ can’t get exercised about this one. As long as its not all over the place, long short, curly straight…..really doesn’t matter to me.
Surely, if you’re NOT an ageing hipster into kinky sex, you’ll never make it to CEO.
Simple answer on how you know. If leather-skinned Bon Jovi groupies give you the eye in Big Lots or Wal Mart, it ain’t working for you (or maybe it is…. depends on what you want to get out of it, and who am I to judge.) If professional, image-conscious ladies (or men) will be seen with you, odds are you’re ok. It’s a superficial answer, but — come on — this is essentially a riff on “How’s my hair?”
My husband has been a musician almost all his life, but even he cut his hair short during the brief period where he worked in the corporate world. Now that he’s back to running a recording studio and playing drums for a living, his hair is long again.
It was interesting to see the reactions of the people he’d met during his short-hair phase once he went back to the long hair. I think they thought he’d gone mad, whereas I was happy to see him looking like himself again.
In my opinion you can toss long hair along with showing your tattoos, ear rings or tennis shoes with your suit into the same pile. Your interview is over before it has even started, like it or not presentation matters.
Finally someone put my reasons for not having long hair into words: If you want a corporate 9-5 job and you want to avoid being mistaken for an aging hipster who’s into kinky sex, keep your hair short.
Although there are times when my inner-Finnish metal rocker does want to come out to play…
Look, it’s all relative. But here is my personal top 10 list of long hair no-no’s:
No,
1. Business in front/party in back
2. Missouri Compromise
3. Ape Drape
4. Kentucky Waterfall
5. Hockey Hair
6. Mohawks or fauxhawks
7. White dude dreadlocks
8. Pompadour
9. Friar Tuck
10. Business in the back/party in the front, or whatever the f@ck you call that weird reverse shemullet that Kate (of John and Kate Minus Eight fame) is trying to rock.
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Other reasons a guy may want to consider growing his hair out: He has just been hired to sell The Gazelle in an infomercial; He’s posing for the cover of a romance novel; He works in the food service industry and is jealous of the ladies’ stylish hair nets; He plays a professional sport; He enjoys working in IT and never wants to be promoted beyond Programmer; He has a mistress with the same color hair as his and wants a patsy for why there’s always a long hair stuck to his collar.
If you want a professional career in the corporate world, Fabio, take that long hair of yours to the chop shop.
What about dyed spiky hair / mohicans etc. Aren’t they in the spirit of PUNK ROCK HR?
I am fortunate enough to work with people who realize that hairstyles, piercings, and tattoos have nothing to do with job performance. I always wonder why people focus so much on those things. Professionalism is what we make it. I come to work everyday, do my job well, and am happy to be here. They don’t care when I dye my mohawk hot pink.
When I was younger my dad told me a story about a guy in his office. This guy had really long hair. He kept it in a ponytail most of the time. One day a co-worker of theirs complained to management about the guy’s hair, claiming it was unprofessional for him to grow it so long. What did management say? The guy grew his hair out to donate to Locks of Love.
I say grow your hair, shave it off, get a crew cut or a wedge cut or a checkboard buzzed into the side of your head. Just make sure you show up on time, prepared, always knowing what you need to do next.
Well said, Emily. you’re da MAN!!
Interesting twist on the question of how much appearance should matter in the workplace. It can also have religious freedom implications, should you hair length/style be tied to your religious observation.
When my fiance got his job, he had neat, but shaggy hair and a rather an “artistic”, yet well-groomed beard. The job was with a major corporate financial institution. About a year or so ago, the entire department was transitioned to a new British-owned consulting company, where he was hired on to do the same work for the same company, but as a consultant. His stodgy, British boss was very vocal about my fiance’s slim chances of advancement based on his look, despite his outperforming his colleagues at every level. My fiance (who is also a musician and an artist) responded by stating that he would be content to stay in his current position because he refused to compromise on his individuality (especially when the client who initially hired him was a-ok with it). Because of outstanding performance, he was lauded by clients and company execs alike, so eventually, his boss caved and he received his well-deserved promotion because they needed him to take on more responsibility. There are definitely cultural and personal biases and people need to get over them. The proof is in the pudding.
I wouldn’t want a hairy pudding though
I’ve seen guys in pro settings who have looked horrible in long hair. But I’ve seen an equal number, if not more, who’ve look just as bad in a crew cut.
And while the bad long hair makes me think ‘pot smoker’, the bad crew cut makes me think ‘knows how to kill a man with his bare hands and has a short fuse’. At least the pot smoker is going to be friendly and bring good brownies to the office party.
Maintenence of the style, and knowing what looks good on you, is more important than a set number of inches.
Course, I could be biased. My hair is over two feet long.
I wish we could have a discussion like this for women’s hair length in the workplace. The mixed messages I’ve gotten in the past could give a person whiplash. “Wow! Your hair is so pretty! I wish mine was that long! … So, when are you going to cut it? You aren’t going to keep it that long, are you?” Ug.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is no different for hair on guys. It is a subjective judgment and only relevant when other people make that judgment. That’s it. Let’s make peace with that, gents.
If you want a more objective answer, psychology can provide it… assuming you have the patience to listen, of course. The last batch of research I read on the subject (it’s been a few years) suggests that ratings of physical attractiveness is dependent on what other people look like. Individuals with facial features closer to the “average” feature (ie: average nose length, breadth, shape, etc.) benefit from higher ratings. Might this apply to hair on guys, it is possible. If the perceives social network is chalk full of guys with long hair, then they are probably more likely to rate that as attractive.
By the way, the same discussion applies to guys that shave their heads. It works for some and not for others.
@Corey I love how you classify your hair at SHRM as ‘long’.
@TheHRD This is an aesthetic question more than anything else.
@Henry Well said!
@Scott Good job — this is exactly what the reader is asking.
@AverageJane There’s a fine line between looking like a drummer and looking homeless. I have many in my family who straddle that line.
@JohnC I’m not sure that’s what he’s asking, though.
@Ben When I think of you, I think of Finnish metal bands.
@Puf OMG, I had to google some of these. Nuts.
@HRPuter But does the long hair work for Fabio?? That’s the question.
@Henry Mohicans? Like Daniel Day Lewis?
@Woo Totally — but I think this is an aesthetic question. How do you know if long hair works?
@Emily Thanks!
@Deana I think you nailed it. It’s all about grooming, isn’t it?
@George But some dudes look stupid with long hair, regardless of the sample population around them. It just doesn’t work.
From a pratical standpoint, I resent a man who has prettier hair than me. (What? That’s totally practical when you’re me.)
If you’re of the grey ponytail contingent, cut it. I know, it depends on your field, but it just makes you look like you’re not keeping up with the times, and you’ll have a harder time convincing a potential employer that you are. I have uncles with long hair. They’re smart and awesome guys, but they look like old hippies (well, actually, they are old hippies).
I think part of the problem with guys having long hair is that those of us who lived through the 80′s have flashbacks to really bad hair. The rules for long hair these days are the same for men and women. You have to keep it well groomed. I recommend layers and Bumble & Bumble (that would be me being practical again). I wake up in the morning with huge 80′s hair thanks to genetics, but after I beat it into submission, I’m fairly presentable for 2009. I think it’s a matter of what’s appropriate for your choice of career.
I’ve worked in the creative industry for many years– and have yet to come across a company that had a serious problem with long hair– even outside of a pony tail. I think outside of those industries– you start having judgemental, cultural problems – “That guy has long hair?? He’s GOTTA be some pot smokin’ pinko junkie or somethin’! Hide the Kids!!!! Don’t forget Grandma!!!”
Oh– the guys who wears pony tails all the time?? It’s always wierd seeing them with their hair down – Fabio style. 99.99% Ewww. We’re talking Comic Book Store Guy Ewwww!!
This guys always ahead of his time: next long hair trend, guaranteed:
http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00185/bald-spector_185863s.jpg
Haha as a former road manager, I used to hang out with a lot of “rock stars” with long hair. It was always hilarious because they went from Rock God to Drowned Rat in 0.5 seconds. Let me tell you they didn’t smell too pretty either.
With my background, you’d think I’d be more open to long hair on men, but everytime I interview a candidate I have to work hard to not bust out laughing. I wonder the whole time if they are in a band…..its incredibly distracting.
In the end though we really don’t hold it against them, especially if they are in an area that doesn’t have direct contact with our customers, for example (engineering and IT). We also know that after the women in the office get a hold of them, 90% will cut their hair just to get them off their backs. So win/win for everyone….haha
Never was into guys with long hair either at work or away, but I’m totally into your awesome Finnish band reference. Kudos, and kiitos.
Check out my new workplace blog at http://workplacediva.blogspot.com.
Long hair on guys opens up a wide debate on what looks professional, and what doesn’t, for both women and men, and from everything from clothing to grooming to accessories.
Face it. If you want to be taken seriously, look professional. Looking professional may be relative according to your profession, but the qualities of WELL-GROOMED and CLEANLINESS are universal! If you work in creative, like I do, tattoos and funky emo hair or dreads can be quite acceptable, but you still need to dress with class even if you have more freedom with style. And it’s a no-brainer to err on the side of conservative caution when you’re on interview! If you work in a conservative business, then it’s in your best interest to dress the part, like it or not. (and this, coming from an actual punk rocker!)
As a former hairdresser, I advise all the men short hair or long – NO neck hair (or ear hair..eww), no Andy Rooney eyebrows, keep your sideburns neat, trim split ends, no comb overs, if it’s long keep it neat and preferably tied up, if you’re bald go as short as possible, use product if you need to control frizzies or fly-aways.
Take pride in how you look, be it conservative or not. Pride shows. Details count.
Anyone ever notice that a lot of middle-aged male lawyers have long hair too? It’s not just for hippies and musicians I guess!
@JohnC, I can’t help but wonder how many of your employees have full back pieces and nipple rings that you don’t even know about.
I also find it amusing that my moderately conservative GOP client (independent admin. asst.) has me working as front office right now with my nose ring, my crazy hair, tattooed on wedding ring, and my (neatly) cutoff dickies. And he just could care less. Because I’m a badass.
Long hair can look good if you style it well.
If it looks ratty and you don’t look/act professional of course you won’t have the job.
Some people still equate long hair with ‘rebel’ and won’t give you a second look despite your resume. Others don’t care as long as you do the job well.
Make sure to look at the company’s dress policy as to what they prefer.
Security Guard / Police / Military…long hair or facial hair is out unless you want to sport a ‘stache
You would think in such a free society with a black president, gay marriages,etc.,etc., who gives a fuck about my beard and long hair if I am a wizard at my job. Einstein himself probably couldn’t get a job in this judgemental market.
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