Hi,

I am new and just posted my intro in the new members forum.

As I alluded to there, I am a 26 year old male, with slightly longer than shoulder length, layered hair, who wants to grow it to mid back or longer. I've recently set up a business with two other female partnes. We work in a services oriented consultancy type business. I don't want to get too specific yet.

Up to today (literally) I am the type of guy who grew his hair for fun and really did it more out of rebellion and for fun than anything else. But I have recently decided that I really like it and want to grow it longer, much longer.

Today (literally) my partners and I have had a heart to heart about my image and my goals. They support me in this - the whole point of us setting up the business is that we were all fed up with working in the Fortune 500 co. that we were in, so we split. We want to work in a spirit of fun and support for each other and our employees when we get some. But we also work in a reasonably image conscious market sector that is probably 70% female dominated in terms of the people that we come face to face with.

So, my first question is and the challenge from my partners, is to take my relatively unstyled head into a look that is both fashionable, business oriented, and takes me towards my goals. I got some input from my partners but they also encouraged me to take responsibility for my own look - they are concerned that if they try and dominate my image that it won't make for good in the future.

So, my questions are numerous in terms of my short term and long term goals.

1. Should I keep the layers or grow them out?

2. Should I keep my bangs or grow them out?

3. If I came in a suit and gave a presentation to your business with longer than shoulder length hair hanging loose, what would you think? What are other ways that I should start thinking of wearing it. The girls suggestions for me to consider ranged from ponytails, to braids, to buns and even up-do's for the most formal business meetings. What do you think?

4. One of the girls suggested I considered having some highlights/lowlights put into my hair, she said it looked too plain.

5. Both girls said my hair was too thick and straight and said if I wear it loose then I need more 'movement' and body in it. They said there were different ways I could achieve this but I should get my hair more styled first before trying it.

6. How often should I wash my hair - typically I have been leaving it once a week to 2 weeks and it has gotten too greasy. What products do you recommend.

7. One girl who has longer hair suggested I have a deep conditioning treatment done at a salon - what does that involve? How often?

8. I swim and work out at the gym quite a bit - in terms of my longer term goals is there anything I should be doing to look after my hair more?

9. What's your no. 1 hate (or more if you have them) thing about guys with long hair?

10. What's a reasonable goal, timewise, to go from just beyond shoulder to mid-back length hair.

11. Do you think I should just cut it (I hope not!)

I felt nervous before posting my first two posts, but I feel more relaxed now. I am keen to get some input and share my journey with you.

Thanks

M

Bikerbraid, thanks for the answers!

A few more questions if I may:

>1. Should I keep the layers or grow them out? 
>Most people find that layers make any kind of styling >for long hair difficult.  Layers are harder to braid and >harder to keep in a ponytail.  You are at the growth >stage where many people choose to  eliminate the >layers.

Is this just a process of getting the stylists to keep trimming the ends until all the hair catches up, or do I need to go initially to the shortest layers and then start from one length?

Also, when people say one length, do they mean literally all hair is the same length from the top down the back and also around the sides?


>2. Should I keep my bangs or grow them out? 
>That is totally your own decision, in my opinion.

Thanks. 

>3. If I came in a suit and gave a presentation to your >business with longer than shoulder length hair >hanging loose, what would you think?   
>When I see men with longer hair in the business >environment, it is usually tied back in either a low >ponytail (at the nape of the neck, not high on the back >of the head) or braid.  Simple is usually best.   

At the moment, if I pull my hair back into a low ponytail (and I assume this would be the same for a braid) the side hair doesn't reach and just sticks out. I might be able to make a higher ponytail about half way up the back of my head but then some of the back end hairs around the bottom of my neck get loose. I guess this is in part due to the layers which you said might cause a problem in 1 above. Any suggestions for managing this while the lengths grow out? 

>4. One of the girls suggested I considered having >some highlights/lowlights put into my hair, she said it >looked too plain. 
>This might be a possibility, however, if you are truely >going for long hair, remember, that chemical >treatments like this do damage the hair and usually >require repeated treatments or else the >dreaded "growing out" phase.

I saw this also on the growing long hair advice article. I will try and avoid that then - I am trying to do all the right things to grow long hair.

>5. Both girls said my hair was too thick and straight >and said if I wear it loose then I need >more 'movement' and body in it.
>Trying different shampoos and/or conditioners can >help with this.  Getting it all one length might also >make a difference.

Thanks

>6. How often should I wash my hair - typically I have >been leaving it once a week to 2 weeks and it has >gotten too greasy. What products do you >recommend.   
>I wash my hair twice a week.  I could get away with >washing the length less often, but I would need to >wash the scalp at least that often.  Some people will >put their hair into a ponytail, then put the entire >ponytail into a plastic bag, then wash just the scalp.  >This allows them to keep the head clean without >subjecting the length to the whole process.  Your hair >probably isn't long enough to need to think about that >just yet.  As for products, your own preferences and >hair type will determine what works best for you.  >Many will try to avoid harsh detergent type shampoos >and those containing silicone derivatives.

Thanks - how do you know which shampoos are detergent type or have silicone derivatives.

>7. One girl who has longer hair suggested I have a >deep conditioning treatment done at a salon - what >does that involve? How often? 
> A good conditioning is great for your hair.  I've never >had it done at a salon - I'd consider that the ultimate >in pampering....maybe someday    There are hot oil >treatments and other deep conditioning products that >you can do yourself at home.   

Thanks. Is there a product that you would recommend for home use?

>8. I swim and work out at the gym quite a bit - in >terms of my longer term goals is there anything I >should be doing to look after my hair more? 
>Swimming can really dry out the hair (actually the >chlorine dries it out   )  When I was swimming >competively and in synchro, I would always wet my >hair completely before swimming.  If I was going to be >in the water more than 30 minutes, I would also put a >little conditioner in my hair to protect it.  Then rinse >well, shampoo and condition after swimming. 

Thanks. I can go for that advice.

>9. What's your no. 1 hate (or more if you have them) >thing about guys with long hair? 
>Dirty, unkempt hair.    (but then the same is true for >women too!)

Thanks. That's pretty much what I had expected based on comments from other women. Men seem to have different attitudes though, interestingly.

>10. What's a reasonable goal, timewise, to go from >just beyond shoulder to mid-back length hair. 
>Most people's hair grows at about 1/2 inch per month. 

Wow... I figure I may have as much as 36-40 inches to grow. So that's over 6 more years without allowing for any trims. So this is really a committment. I really admire you ladies for sticking with it. I read the 20 tips article last night and I noticed it was emphasizing good hair care is more about not doing bad stuff than doing it. That's a lot of self discipline.

11. Do you think I should just cut it (I hope not!) 
You have to do what makes you happy.  If you want long hair - GO FOR IT!

Thanks for your support Bikerbraid... I really appreciate it.

M

Thanks Flaming_bunny for the suggestion and support.

Do you think it matters if the side hair doesn't reach back right now into a low ponytail? When I pull it back as if I were putting it into a ponytail it just kind of sticks out and falls around my ears because it is too short at the sides. Also, what should I do with the top hair/crown?

I guess I am used to seeing guys with ponytails who have all their hair tied back, so I am not sure what to do when you can't get that look.

Thanks

M

Bikerbraid. Thanks for the suggestion. Is a half ponytail good for a business look in your view? I mean that as someone who wears his hair loose, I wasn't sure if the preference is to by tying the hair back to get hair away from the face, or is to get the loose hair at the back tied up. I guess if the former, then a half pony tail is OK. If the latter the two ponytails thing would work. I may need to try this out before I can get a real idea of how it might look on me. This will actually be the first time I have EVER tied my hair back into any sort of pony tail so wish me luck!!!

Thanks

M