And What To Say
You may have heard some of these, you may have heard all of them. Almost certainly you’ve heard at least one of these comments about your hair.
Some funny, some complimentary, some inflammatory, for whatever reason some folks just feel compelled to share their feelings or suggestions regarding your mane. Here are the most common, with musings on their meaning—and how I might respond.
The Top 10 Comments About Your Hair
1. When are you gonna get a haircut?
Less egregious than flat out telling you to cut it, perhaps intended as a polite suggestion, I prefer to respond as though it’s a serious question:
Depends on what you mean. I get a maintenance trim every four to six months, and, well, thanks for noticing, yes I suppose I might be due for one soon. If you mean like cut it short, I don’t intend to until 2024 when I’m going to shave my head and donate 30 inches for kids who can’t grow hair. If you start growing now you’re welcome to join us?
Responding so literally shows you’ve given it some thought while often disarming the commenter. If anything they’ll feel like a jerk for not caring about kids.
2. Excuse me, miss?
A common misunderstanding rooted in historical gender norms, this can be understood. Usually when they realize they’re speaking to a man they’re immediately sheepish and apologetic, but still an opportunity to have some fun with them.
Not my first time being mistaken for a woman, I’m sure you’re used to it also.
3. You look like a girl.
It’s one thing to be mistaken for a woman, another thing to be told to your face you look like a woman. Honestly this doesn’t hurt my feelings, I prefer to throw it back at ‘em.
So are you trying to date me or…? You can definitely buy me a drink, just don’t think about getting fresh buddy.
4. Is that your real hair?
This always seems to occur when wearing a hat. I don’t know why some folks can’t fathom this being my real hair, but they seem to think it’s one of those hats with the hair attached to it. I’ve actually had people insist on pulling it before they’re convinced it’s real.
If it’s real will you buy me a beer?
5. Nice mullet bro.
Another common misconception which also tends to happen while wearing a hat. Sometimes it’s said under their breath to a group of friends, “dude, check out this guy’s mullet.”
It’s not a mullet but thanks!
Removing my hat and ripping off a hailstorm of hair whips clears up any confusion.
6. Do you straighten your hair?
One of the comments about my hair I hear most often. I just have super straight hair, not a wave or a kink in sight. Furthermore, the longer it gets, the weight tends to straighten it out even more. Even on the rare occasion I get it curled it tends to go straight within a couple of hours anyway.
It’s as straight as the sky is blue, and just as dreamy.
7. How do you get your hair like that?
Perhaps more common for guys like El Sergioso, still something I hear from time to time. Again it depends on what they’re talking about...if they mean how straight it is, reference back to the previous comment.
If they mean how do I get it so healthy, golden and lustrous, the answer is that less is more. I only shampoo once a week, I comb and brush delicately, I don’t dye it, bleach it, or treat it with harsh chemicals, and I use apex-level hair care from The Longhairs.
I use The Longhairs' hair care products, and let the good Lord do his work.
8. You should cut your hair.
9. Are you going to donate it?
10. NICE HAIR MAN!
Those are the top 10 comments I get about my hair. When people make comments about your hair, my advice is don't be offended, don't take it too seriously, and try to have some fun with it.
If your long hair bothers someone, that’s their problem. It’s your hair and you can wear it how you like it. Above all, rock it with confidence.
Who are you guys, and why do you care about my hair?
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Comments
Nice Hair Man Please Share Some Secrets to grow hairs like you !
Searching for hair Salon in Sydney can you suggest
Don’t know any in Sydney unfortunately. We’re in San Diego CA.
El Chuckarino, yup thats my problem. With male pattern baldness the long hair look just doesn’t flo so well, but I’m not getting any Rogaine. I may have to find another style.
My favorite go-to retort for, “When are you gonna get a haircut?”, is “When are YOU going to get some Rogaine™.” I may be a rat bastard, but that shuts them up.
You gotta hit ’em where it hurts sometimes, LordKOTL. A lot of guys could use a little Rogain.😂
I think the most memorable comment I’ve gotten as a woman with long hair (and I’ve also gotten the “you should cut it/are you going to cut it/are you growing to donate/is it real?” that you all are also getting), was being asked if I knew my hair was long.
Yeah. Yeah, I think I would know that my hair is long
How would you not know if your hair is long? What an interesting question, Jessika!
I keep this mind that the only comments that matter are from women. Men comments are generally towards the negative side though not nasty, and the women are positive. Just a few weeks ago the CEO of the company I work for asked the ladies in the office and for everybody else to hear “do you think Barry should get a hair cut”. They jumped on this and they’ve all said “no way, we love it.” I guess that settled that. No more mild sarcastic comments from the office guys and the boss. Though the boss admitted to me in his younger years he had long hair and used to get kicked out of bars for his hair. I laughed and said I haven’t got kicked out of any place. Yet!
So pay attention to the ladies!
That’s a great way to look at it, Barry! It’s all about the ladies.🙌
Happy to be a part of this with you guys
We’re stoked to have you in the community, Dustin!
This is a very nice article and makes very good points. In my case it is rare that I get any comments at all. But I have been mistaken for a woman several times because I am slim and have no facial hair. It is funny when I am at a toilet washing my hands, and I have noticed in the mirror men entering the place and for a moment confused whether they are at the wrong room hehehe. Then suddenly they notice I am a man but they stare at me for a moment. Some comments about my hair from people are not really aggressive or mean. At most they have told me that I look better with a ponytail than with loose hair. I just take it as a compliment but do not care whether they find me more attractive one way or another. Maybe the comments I have found very mean are when people say that having long hair is out of fashion and that it is no longer used. I just respond to them : Well I am in fact a unique confident strange, eccentric guy.
You tell them, Magnus! Don’t let anyone try to change how you feel about your own hair and your own look.🤘
It’s hair. Of all the things we humans could be concerned about, I am confounded that the length of MY hair would be competitive. I admit, I derive no little satisfaction in defying the authoritarians, the power and control crowd. Every inch increases the satisfaction.
If one thing makes us happy, Professor, it’s knowing you’re satisfied. Keep raging against the machine🤘
I always tell them it’s a clip-on pony tail and ask if they’d like to try it on to see how it looks!!
That’s a great go-to line, Ron! LOL
haha! enjoyed reading your blog!
All the styles are good, only noodle style is missing.
Ok Noodler.
Where are the <a href="https://www.corner-kicks.com/2021/11/cristiano-ronaldo-has-teased-return-of.html noodle hair style 😛 like Ronaldo?
He needs a little more length, but notable.
Reached 11.5 months, getting closer!
Getting somewhat of a mullet on the back end, so probably should check out your vid on trim-cuts.
Just nervous near the scissors. 😆
You and me both, Alex. Approaching the 12-month mark, KEEP LETTING IT RIDE MAN!
Kinda sad, don’t see much gray in these photos. What’s up wit dat?
Bro lots of gray here around the blog and the facebook group. Yes you are right, all of us here at the HQ don’t have gray yet…but I’m sure it’s coming.
I am looking for an appropriate response to someone who asks me why i dont care how i look? Any suggestions?
“I just let it ride!”
This was what I was looking for, thanks for the information and for your article.
She will definitely see the light one day. Hang in tight!!
SO many haters would always hate on my curls that where to my nips. i always said they must be jealous cause my partner says i give off Thor vibes haha! Thankfully i got my moms nice greek curls so don’t have to do much but put some gel and or mouse in it to look halfway decent. https://www.hairicc.com/
I’ve had “It’s totally unfair that a guy has hair like that.” from women.
Heard that one Douglas!
HELP: My girlfriend doesn’t like my hair. She lets me know that every day.
Should I break up with her? We’ve only been together for 7 years.
One day she will see the light. Hang in there.
Im well into the “awkward” stage and I get so many dumb comments but your emails and posts always give me a boost of confidence to continue growing.
Glad to hear it man! Keep lettin it ride, YOU CAN DO THIS!
Time is going to fly and when you finally have it long enough to apply some styles, the comments will change. Keep it going Harrison!
I go to Ohio State.. was out with some friends and someone said “sick lechuga” but I was a little drunk and it took me a good 5 minutes to figure out that he was referencing my hair lol.
🤣🤣🤣
All about that lechuga!
Help! I live in Florida and I work in an open warehouse, building recovery ropes for emergency vehicles and the like. I started letting it ride this year when the weather was so nice. Now I’m in full-blown Dagobah type humidity and I have fine hair. I can’t control it but I wanna keep it. Help Brothers. Need back up. Don’t let me cut it!
Excuse me Holmes!
If it’s long enough I would definitely try braiding it. Corn rows for example, you can do even if it’s not that long yet. If that’s not an option there are anti-frizz products, I know Fructis Garnier makes one. Lastly I’d recommend a good old fashioned trucker hat, if they’re allowed at work. Let us know if any of these work for you!
I like saying “if God didn’t want men to have long hair he won’t had given us hair follicles!”
Have to agree w/ you there MD.
The ones I get the most are: “I love your hair!”, and “is it naturally like that?” (since it will air dry into long coils) prompting me to show them that a couple of coils actually change rotation halfway down. “who would pay for that I reply?” Then there’s the “women would die for that hair!”, and rounding out my top five are: “Can I touch it?” (sweet little old ladies or women of color have said that) and “Look at those curls, I’m so jealous!”.
Dude I have also gotten “can I touch it?” Sometimes they just do it without asking, like wtf are you?? lol
The one about the mullet bothers me the most. Apparently many of my family members don’t know the difference between a mullet and long hair. I try to answer seriously and explain that they are confused as to what is and is not a mullet. I’m also still in the awkward growth stage, so they assume I’m just overdue for a haircut. I have literally zero support for growing it out, even from my wife, so it gets discouraging…
You have tons of support right over here! We have another good post maybe your wife will appreciate, or at least get a laugh out of. Check this one out: https://blog.thelonghairs.us/living-with-a-longhair/
Don’t let it bother you too much bro. As long as you tell them you’re doing it that’s about the best you can do.
Glad to have you here. Let us know if we can help you out at all, we have lots of other good content that might be useful. And KEEP LETTIN IT RIDE!
The Great Cut link in the article goes nowhere. Nice hair, bro.
Haha roger that! Thanks amigo, it’s fixed.
People have said to me you look like Jesus. Surprised that one didn’t make the list.
Good point. I also get Joe Dirt, Kid Rock and occasionally Jax from SOA.
I have gotten the “I look like Michael Jackson” comment from several people. Not to mention those same people were even more stund to find out my first name is also Michael.
The stunners just keep coming.
Dude im growing my hair and my beard too and i get that all the time. Even my grandmother said i look like Jesus lol. Im learning to just roll with it.
I have been told that I look like Jesus as well. Even got the “I look like Michael Jackson.” No to mention that my first name is also Michael.
Well, now that I’m self-employed, I don’t get the comments, plus I live in a pretty liberal city.
But right at the end of my awkward stage a couple years ago, I posted my budding ponytail on social media. My sister tried to tell me that it wouldn’t grow very long because she never could grow hers past her shoulders. I knew she was wrong, because I’d grown mine longer years before. Last year, she saw my ponytail halfway down my back and did an absolute double-take.
Not quite sure how the guy in the family ended up monopolizing all of the longhair genes. I’m also the only blonde. I guess I’ve always been the family mutant.
El Terapeuta! Lucky you lol.
Also, loved this: “All of us were created unique to make a special impact on the world around us.”
Good stuff man.
This was especially needed today, thank you. My own personal “great cut” has been delayed three times but now has an end date in sight…sort of. This past weekend saw me being ditched (please, excuse my harsh language) by my partner-in-donation who couldn’t take it anymore and cut her hair when her salon re-opened. I presumed she donated it, as was the plan. Still, ugh, I’ve gotta cut it once the salon and charity of my donation choice ( and NYC too) open up again. Damn, I suppose it’s now an “appropriate” time for empaths to consider haircuts again. Was so much easier NOT having to think about a cut. NOT looking as if I’m positioned on the wrong side of marches. And the spouse actually made the “but you look so much better with short hair” comment on Friday. (Meanwhile, I don’t even recognize the wannabe me in pics with my locks forced into cookie cutter submission). But a commitment is a commitment, the three delays are over, and THIS go-’round I’m donating to #freewigsforkidswithcancer. As far as The Great Cut of 2024… I am all in!!
Sincerely,
Daniel
Awesome to read this Raoul! Admire your commitment. Let us know how it goes, and we look forward to seeing you at TGC 2024!
I kept my haircut flat top short for 60 years. I started growing it out for a lady friend & fell in love with my hair as it grew. It softened my appearance, and gets me female attention I was missing out on.
As too negative comments, I was imposing with a flat top! Anyone fool enough to be a wise ass… there’s an old saying “you mess with the bull… you get the horn!
There is far too much bullying & harassment going on about sexual identity, race… long hair, etc. Its time for it all to stop! Playing verbal games to divert a negative comment are as foolish as the person making the comment about your hair. Grow a pair and tell them to mind their own business… or whatever seems an appropriate come back! Wrong is wrong… men have been wearing their hair long for centuries!
We are with ya Scott! Especially cool you had short hair for so long and discovered the flow later in life. Thanks for the comment!
When I get told I should cut my hair I tell them they should take off their fat suit. Like fuck off already. 😂
Hahahaha. Ok maybe not the nicest thing in history to say but that had me laughing.
I grew up with comments and digs at my hair long before I ever decided to grow it out; part of being born with red hair. Just kinda learned to ignore the haters and be proud of what I was born with, so growing it long has been pretty freeing in the sense of just taking control of my best trait. Also when it gets long enough, being able to donate it is pretty damn satisfying
Proud of what I was born with! And taking control of your best trait. Love it man, thanks for the comment!
I get “you’re obsessed with your hair” from my family. No, I just take better care of mine that you do yours.
Obsessed schobsessed. lol
I work in an audio-related company 14 men, 1 woman, and our customers are mostly men too, with all kinds of hair, long and short, long hair down, in a bun and in a pony tail. I can do quite anything with my hair, without anyone noticing or even saying a single word about it. 99% of all time I wear my mane in a pony tail, bit in a funny moment I tied a man bun quite high on my head. There was just ONE man saying a few words about it: while smiling he said, “hé, Samurai Timmo!!” That was it.
It seems my facial hair has more attention, at least from my boss (who already has a pilot licence, and I’m training for it now): ‘Ehh Timmo, when starting the plane, do you take care your beard doesn’t get cought by the prop?” That must be some way for him to say: “now CUT it!!” and to be honest: it looks like an exploded mess… I must see a barber indeed, to make some serious beard out of this enormous bunch of untamed hair 😉
Hahaha. Audio guys, big time longhairs.
you have forgotten: ” is your barber in jail?” in that case, i answer ” no, he has been put under the guillotine”
“Jesus Christ”, or they sing ” Jesus comes back”; if he is a muslim, i indicate him the nearest mosque or, for a christian, i answer ” alleluyah, you have found the faith !!!”
one time: ” the Cross have broken” i answered: ” its wood was very resisting for it stood up during 2000 years, holding the human stupidity”
YOU HAVE FOUND THE FAITH! haha