Growing out your hair without suspicion

[Guest Marie L]

I really would like to grow out my hair enough so that I can style it femininely in private (perhaps shoulder length). However, I have not expressed any "hipster" tendencies to my family or to my friends, and I can't think of any other reasons why someone like me would grow out their hair (aside from the real reason). The wig I have is extraordinarily cheap, does not style well, and looks too unnaturally bouffant on my head to be passable.

Another thing, none of my close friends have long hair that is not done in dreads or short, acceptably masculine curls. I'd believe I'd feel very self-conscious around them. If you started growing out your hair in high school, how did you go about explaining your choice to friends and family?

[Guest Madison_Always]

In my experience, not to be insensitive or anything, but most people are so preoccupied with their own lives they won't care about what you choose to do with your hair. Your parents will inevitably give you the "hey honey, why don't you get a hair cut?" For them I would just be honest. Tell them you would just like to see how you like it long. Eventually when it gets to be long you can use the excuse that you don't want to cut it because it might never get that long again and you don't want to cut it just yet. Good luck! =)

[Guest LizMarie]

Just grow it out. Tell them you decided to wear it in a ponytail like Steven Seagal or Antonio Banderas.

[VickySGV]

Actually you will not create a suspicion by doing it, you will merely confirm the suspicion they have had about you since you turned 13, and that suspicion is that you were a teenager. Thats the long and short of it.

[Guest Marie L]

Hmm. You know, after being reminded that I am a stereotypically egocentric teenager, you guys are probably right. Thanks for the reassurance. =)

[Guest *Brooke*]

Yeah, just got ahead and grow it out. I've been letting mine grow out for about 5 months now, and all I have gotten from anyone, is my grandma saying "You should get your haircut" on a few occasions, but she's stopped saying that now, since I have shown no desire to get it cut. Anything that anyone says to you, will probably only be for a short time, then they'll most likely stop.

[Guest shani d]

you can say you chose to be emo x d

[Guest Marie L]

Now, what I'd really love to know is how to style medium-length hair both masculinely and femininely... Although a ponytail is probably the most practical option, I think I'd get some serious flak walking around in my rather ghetto school by wearing a ponytail.

[Guest Maria_B]

Simple, just wear it split in the middle and tucked behind your eyes. Thats how I see most long haired guys do it these days. Pony Tails are for the older, artistic types! (Besides, it's a Rogue Knot for guys Hehe).

[Guest Sarinah]

I grew out my hair about 3 years before I even came out to anyone. I got made fun of for it at first but then people got use to it and it just became my style. If anyone asked why I grew my hair out I just said "Ive had short hair all my life and I wanted to do something different and see how it felt".

-Evalyn

[Guest]

Hi Ally,

A few weeks ago, I happened onto a wonderful person. He was a cowboy carrying a baby, and out from either side of his cowboy hat were two large braids of hair. I'm sure his hair must have been well below his shoulders unbraided. He was a very pleasant man, and I'm sure that nobody bothered him about his hair.

There's a lot of hair freedom these days. When asked, just tell people that it's a work in progress!

Love, Megan

[Paula ult]

Simple, just wear it split in the middle and tucked behind your eyes. Thats how I see most long haired guys do it these days. Pony Tails are for the older, artistic types! (Besides, it's a Rogue Knot for guys Hehe).

Maria, lol i think you ment ears , though it would be interesting to see how one would get their hair behind their eyes.

Paula

[KathrynJulia]

I got teased about turning hippy at first, now all I get is a OMG your hair is getting long once in a while. And for some reason people are noticing that my hair is blond. It's always been blond, go figure. Go figure.

[Guest Wendy F]

My grandma hadn't seen me for months and the first thing she said was "I like you with shorter hair! You look like your sister!" That was nice to hear. But I detested having short hair.

My mother used to give me a buzz cut every summer... hated it hated it hated it HATED IT!

[Guest Maria_B]

Nice catch Paula, ahahahaha.

Just pop yer eyes out and wrangle up some hair behind 'em before you put 'em back in!

[Guest Nicole9]

I started growing mine out about 6ish months ago from what was pretty much a buzz cut In fact today was the first time anybody had said anything negative about it, but most people actually comment on how much they like it. But if anybody asks why i just tell them i couldn't be bothered getting it cut or that i like it long, and that’s the end of that. I guess if you keep it tidy then most people won’t see the harm in it and even find it appealing. But growing your hair out will take a while so be prepared.

Best of luck

[Guest Marie L]

My first day of school was today, and I saw no guys with anywhere near shoulder-length hair.

[Guest SusanB]

I've had long hair for over 20 years but at my age they figure i'm just an old hippie. Mom is always telling me to get it cut but she is the only one that ever says anything. It's below my shoulder blades now, around the middle of my back in ponytail.

[Guest MsGsptlsnz]

Let it grow! You are young, live your life for YOU not for the herd at school. If they tease or mock just ignore it. In a few years you will be in college and all that high school stuff will be meaningless.

[Guest Charlotte Mattier]

I started growing my hair back out at the beginning of high-school, since I had had long hair before and have always liked long hair. I hated it during that kind of shaggy phase, between acceptable guy hair and shoulder length, but it was totally worth it when it finally was past my shoulders. I got a lot of random girls telling me how nice my hair was by senior year. ^-^

Just ignore anyone who tries to give you crap about it. Most schools have a zero tolerance policy regarding bullying, so if you have to deal with anything like that, just tell a teacher or other faculty and they will make sure you are safe.

Best of luck!

[Guest Luca]

However, I have not expressed any "hipster" tendencies to my family or to my friends,

Hahah, as someone who has only come out to a close friend, hipster trends are such a saving grace for me.

The ponytail suggestion is a good one. I keep my hair pulled back and low in public. I even straighten my hair and have my bangs slanted across my face, and I never catch any flak for it.

I got a lot of random girls telling me how nice my hair was by senior year. ^-^

This totally happens and it's wonderful.

Good luck!

[Guest Deenah]

I have found that the only ones that really care about your hair is grandma's..Mine would not let it go. lol i wouldn't worry about it really.there are so many other things going on in live people probably won't notice for some time

[Guest Zeda]

Once I turned 18, my parents stopped the annual haircutting. I actually escaped the last one since my girlfriend (now wife) said she also wanted me to grow out my hair. My parents decided to respect that for whatever reason.

So maybe you should get a girlfriend or boyfriend that will support you

As to friends, all I had to say when they asked was that i wanted to grow out my hair. They just accepted it and moved on This is the same excuse I gave for wearing makeup, but I also look pretty good with makeup, apparently. It's also the same excuse I gave last week and this week when I was asked about my new clothes >.>