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Respect the Combover
And Other Shorthairs
You know the combover. It’s a long hairstyle for men, of sorts, typically employed by persons experiencing male pattern baldness. When hair no longer grows on the top of the scalp, but the remaining hair grows in a ring around the sides, long enough to comb it over the top, thus concealing the hairless, shining crown.
Popularized by Woody Harrelson’s and Bill Murray’s characters in the hit family classic, “Kingpin,” the combover has gotten more than it’s fair share of criticism over the years. But does it really deserve all the bad press?
Some might call it a desperate attempt to cling to the last bit of flow, or even youth. Some might say to just cut it, let go, embrace the fact you’re going bald.
We reject that notion. We think you should hang on until to the bitter end—if that’s what you want and what makes you feel good about the whole situation. In the words of Joseph Knowles, “I’m doing what I can with what I’ve got.”
We don’t just respect the combover, but all hair styles and configurations, even the oddly conspicuous undercut. Respect goes beyond any particular hairstyle, even to guys who can’t grow their hair at all, for whatever reason.
The fact is, some guys simply can’t grow their hair out. He might have a job that prevents him from growing it, or a wife or girlfriend who prohibits any growth beyond the ears. He may simply be folically challenged, like our combover fellows.
We understand. And not only do we respect these alternate hairstyles, they can be “in the club” too, so to speak. Here’s why.
First of all, anyone who’s had long hair is automatically in. If you had it, you earned it. You made it through awkward stage hair. If you’ve left the ranks, we hope you return. Even if you don’t, you get to hold the title for life.
But even guys who’ve never had it, because it’s more than just the hair. It’s about what it means to have long hair. For us, that includes:
“I’m doing what I can with what I’ve got.” Joseph Knowles
It’s about choosing unconventional, in a conventional world.
That’s not to say the conventional world is a terrible thing. There’s a reason it’s conventional, that’s because it works for a lot of people. Conventions are built by good-meaning folks who’ve tread the tried and true path, albeit via the safe route.
It’s not about disdain for the conventional, or even the convention, but embracing being different. Like Frank said…I did it my way.
Even if you don’t have the slow beach exit hair whip in your arsenal, or you can’t quite throw it down for Hair Whip Wednesday, you can still be different and unconventional.
That could mean starting the YouTube channel you’ve been thinking about, getting that tattoo you always wanted, striking out on your own independent career path, or traveling the world instead of taking a corporate job. Shoot, the beard guys have their whole thing going. It could just mean a willingness to be different.
Simply put: if you subscribe to the notion that you don’t have to live a conventional life we’re made to believe we’re supposed to;
if you have the courage to be different;
if you’re down to let it ride…
You’re in.
Whether it’s the combover, the full cue ball, or even the undercut, let’s show respect to all. And remember…
Long hair lives in the heart.
Are you a longhair at heart? Tell us about it.
“I did it my way” Frank
Comments
As I mentioned in my welcoming reply, I was a borderline former long hair during high school 11/12th grades in which I had just over shoulder length hair, about 11″ long and then had to cut it for a few reasons. I’ve tried to grow long several occasions from 2009-2014/15 but MPB had taken too much hair from me and I hated the balding look and choose to shave it all off for nearly 6 years. Finally after seeing some balding guys growing it long and some of the younger coworkers growing it long as well during covid and with long locks being popular again I decided to give it another shot. At first it was just going to be a 3 month experiment to see what I could grow, but I was encouraged by 1 of those long haired coworkers to keep going and others said it wasn’t half bad, so I went another 3 months. I was already starting some self hair loss treatments like Ketoconzole shampoo and supplements as well as hair growth shampoo and I was starting to see some new thin hairs growing. The 9 to 18 month period has been struggle at times, but after envying other guys with long/longer locks I for about 2 years now, I have finally reached shoulder length again. With the usage of Minoxidil and Finasteride as well as CBD and other treatments I have probably regained about 20-30% of my hair back that I lost with the most change in the last 3 months.
I’m actually starting to enjoy and appreciate my own hair as well as those of others, but more importantly the progress that I’ve made going from borderline Norwood 6/7 to Norwood 4 borderline 3(v). The lower the number the less bald you are, and v stands for vertex or crown. I’d say in 4-6 more months I might be down to Norwood 2 or even 1, the receding hairline or widow’s peak isn’t coming back, but the crown and part line has been really starting to fill back in. This all originally started from a dream I had not once but twice both in 2014 and January 2021involving me having long hair during a solar eclipse in addition to the guys I mentioned above that have motivated me to keep going. In November I will be tying and then surpassing my high school record, looking at a foot of hair in January or certainly by my birthday on the 1st of February. Should be 39 months long if I don’t trim it by the April 8th, 2024 eclipse here in the lower Midwest/St. Louis area. After that I plan to keep rocking it for awhile as long as it holds up, though I’ll have to keep using the treatments which can be expensive on a fixed income, so there’s that.
Four articles down, ive bookmarked this page. Love the message. As i said before, im a long hair since 7th grade. Cut it, grew it, to my bum, lost it to radiation for cancer treatment, then grew it out again, from age 27 to 28ish to now, 31. Love the support, the acceptance, and the comraderie here.
Ive been through multiple awkward stages guys. You can do it. And, in my experience, the women love it. Take care of the long hair, and it takes care of you. I cant tell you how many women, far beyond my range, ive been able to chat up simply because THEY started a conversation, telling me ‘im jealous, you have gorgeous hair. ‘
So pumped you are digging it man! Long hair lifer right here, so awesome. Yes this community is great and we all have a lot we can learn from each other. Keep coming around and lettin’ it ride.
Mick Fleetwood has been rocking the long hair for years and through those years, despite male pattern baldness, he’s kept the flow. He’s an inspiration for me.
Fully agree. Any hairstyle that makes someone who they are doesn’t deserve ridicule – and this equally applies to women too. Although I have to say that I’m personally not in favor of encouraging people to cut their hair just because their partner or boss doesn’t like it, but to each their own!
@ El Rubio: thank you amigo ! Yep Quorthon was badass… And a very nice, peaceful guy from what I heard, Very different from the satanic weirdo fans with which he had to cope regularly…
Anyway, changing the subject quickly, I thought a topic on natural products to take care of your hair and/or speed up the growth could be a good idea..?
Recently on blog.thelonghairs.us a guy posted a link to a blog (that seems to no longer exists but the videos are still available on youtube), it’s called: Les cheveux de Mini. Being french myself, I went and had a look at the videos. The girl has great advices, and is quite nice to listen to.
Right now, I’m trying a method she talked about to accelerate the growth, apparently it really works, she doubled her natural hair growing speed (it went to 2,16cm /month !), it is very simple, just extract the juice from ginger roots (mixing it with water is ok too but you won’t be able to keep it long in the fridge), then massage your scalp with it and let it pose for 10-20 min. Then rince it, and shampoo.
IF the ginger feel too hot on your scalp, then you have a very sensitive skin so avoid this method.
Coconut milk may work better for you.
Just a simple recipe I wanted to share with you ^^
Thank you for sharing man! That ginger root shit damn!
Hey Guys !
I think you should do a topic on guys with longhairs who have a high frontal ligne around the frontal lobes.
Personnaly, my BIGGEST fear is to have alopecia. I’m 34 years old soon, for now I don’t loose my hair but I do have a natural high hairline just at the frontal lobes. My GF keeps reassuring me saying it doesn’t show and that it is NOT a problem, but I’m still very self-conscious about that…
Once in a while I spot a longhair dude on the street with, sometimes, a definately more higher hairline or even starting to loose his hair, but even though, it may looks great at times, so it boosts up my confidence in myself.
For exemple the lead singer/musician QUORTHON in the viking-metal band Bathory. The dude had (he’s passed away now) the most beautiful hairs, with a pretty high frontal line particularly around the frontal lobes. Check him out on google images.
So if guys with longhairs, who have this type of “problem”, may it be natural or from an alopecia trouble, wish to post their pictures, or simply tell their story, or feelings about it, that would be awesome !
^^
Cheers !
JF
There you go buddy!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment Jeff, sounds like this topic was on track. Hopefully we get some response from the community.
Regardless of what happens, in the words of Joe Knowles, “confidence is your best accessory.”
PS: QUORTHON looks like a badass!
if you suffer of a andro-genetic alopecia, the only ways to reverse it can be minoxidil our androcur, but with side effects on the erectile function
when the case is moderate, the spray stuff ( or any clay) can help a little, but aren’t miraculous
for the wigs or toupee, much men cannot accept them on their head for they are not own in their mind
that’s why much older men prefer wearing natural combover
People that have that can just get extensions or a wig, toupee, and even that spray stuff that makes it look like they have hair. They have hair repairing or regrowing stuff to help restore it, they have surgerys where they surgically put someone else’s scalp on yours and hair grows from it.
I started by saying I was gonna grow my hair out until I was 50, which was 10 months away; well, I didn’t quit and am approaching 20 months. It’ll be two years in August! It’s my first foray into the long hair lifestyle and totally dig being “the guy with the hair.” Set it free and rock on!
Yes man! Welcome to the team!