Hair (again)

[Dragonlover]

I know there used to be a thread about this, but I'm tired and not feeling like threadomancy.

Whilst I'm getting sporadic stuff from the warehouse, I'm still looking for a proper job, and the perennial problem that I 'need to get my hair cut' is coming up again. It comes to the bottom of my shoulder blades, and looks perfectly presentable when tied back, but my mother will not shut up about it. Therefore, I'm asking you guys how much I should have taken off. Personally, I'm ballparking it at around 2 inches, but I'm willing to go as far as shoulder length. I'm applying for council/banking jobs, but I don't fancy trying to grow it back from a total removal situation.

Dragonlover

P.S: Pics can be provided if necessary.

[FenigDurak]

Pff, if you don't want to get a haircut, then don't. It's your hair. As long as it's neat and clean, why does it matter? I used to have hair that was 3 feet long and I still managed to get plenty of job offers.

Now, if it's a trim you're after to clean up scraggly ends, go for it. But specify that you only want an inch taken off.
A good friend of mine likes to keep her hair really long like mine used to be. Her boyfriend also has really long hair. When she goes in for trims, she tells the stylist that if more than 2 inches is cut off, she'll lose her happy home and have to crash on the stylist's couch. (It's of course a joke, but it gets the point across.)

[AnaKhouri]

"And the sign said 'Long Haired Freaky People Need Not Apply'!"

I agree, as long as its kept clean and tied back I see no problem with it. This isn't the '60's.

[Gurndigarn]

Most of the places that care about hair length deal with customers-- food service, retail, etc. These tend to be the most aggrivating jobs out there, usually for low pay. You might want to try to avoid these jobs, and then you mostly don't have to worry.

Beyond that, hair length does become a factor for a few jobs, but not many. It may decrease your chances elsewhere, but will rarely categoreticly exclude you (it really depends on the interviewer's personal opinions and the job you're looking for-- factory job, not an issue unless it's a safety hazard. Politician's campaign team-- issue).

[Dragonlover]

Thanks guys, nice to know it wasn't just me thinking all of this. Methinks that'll be an inch off to please my mum and keep her quiet on that score for a few months. Of course, she'll change tack and start griping about the beard and 'tache.

Dragonlover

P.S- Apart from this one thing, my mother is a wonderful person. She just can't seem to grasp that as someone said, this isn't the 60's.

[Broomjockey]

I was going to say, just go for an inch to even it up, but it looks like you've already decided

Yeah, as long as it looks fine tied back then I can't see many jobs where it would be an issue. Food service and working around large machines is about it, and as long as it is tied back, then it's still not much of an issue.

[CancelMyService]

I've always had long hair, even in baby pictures I look like a girl because my hair grew so long so fast.

When I got to be in the 18-20 range I would always hear how I'd have to eventually submit to the standard short male hairstyle in order to get a "good job", however I'm now working for the company I plan to retire from (unless disaster strikes). Still have my mid-back ponytail too.

One of the reasons I'm so militant is the one time I cut my hair for a job it was because the company was supposed to place me into a high paying tech position once I passed all my tests and company policy was above-collar hair for males. I ended up taking it in the pooper when they decided not to live up to their end of the deal and having to look like Prince Valiant was just another kick in the balls I had to endure.

[Gravekeeper]

I once had my hair down to my ass.

No, you can't have pictures.

A female friend of mine near killed me when I finally cut it shorter. Because it was so "beautiful". Not quite the word I want applied to me, heh heh. I have very light, silky hair which I have been informed in no uncertain terms by female friends that they would "kill" for. Apparently it is wasted on me. ;p

Drives me crazy though since it was always so easy to mess up because it was so light. I tried buzzing it down to the scalp ( usually your hair grows back a bit darker when you do that. ). No can do, its still rather light. ><

[Soulstealer]

Of course, she'll change tack and start griping about the beard and 'tache.

I know she's your mom but tell her to shut up about your hair. Only nicer.

[Dragonlover]

Can't be arsed with the argument to be honest, I just put the brain on 'dealing with parents' mode and take it from there.

Dragonlover

[Andara Bledin]

I once had my hair down to my ass.

No, you can't have pictures.

Tease.

I hope you at least donated it when you finally got it cut off. That's what the guy here with the long ponytail did when he cut his hair short. I still bug him to grow it back. Usually when he's messing with my ponytail.

As for long hair/facial hair and job situations, women usually get a whole lot more leeway, as far as head hair is concerned. Facial hair is usually frowned upon, however.

In most cases these days, as long as your hair is styled neatly, and whatever facial hair you have is not too over-the-top, you should be fine.

^-.-^

[GingerBiscuit]

My boy got a well-paying tech job with hair down to his waist. We had to cut it off though. Things were strting to recede and he was beginning to look like my old art teacher, who had an entirely bald head with miniscule ponytail at the back.

He now gets away with being on the visits team and having spiky purple hair,

[FuzzyKitten99]

Your appearance says a lot about you. Many people out there say to judge them on their personality and character rather than their appearance, but then also say their style is a reflection of their personality, which really contradicts their original statement.

You want to make yourself look like you actually take care of yourself responsibly. If you look unkempt even in the least, some employers may think you are incapable of taking care of yourself, so how are you supposed to handle certain responsibilities? Also, men & women who take less interest in their appearance are less likely to be taken seriously.

I am kind of on the fence about long hair on guys. If it suits their personality, as well as their body and face, and it is neat and tidy, a guy with long hair can look professional and is likely to be taken more seriously.

However if you have the shaggy thing going on (as you mentioned your facial hair) and it is just kind of wild, even if you think it looks 'stylishly careless', employers may not think so. I guess what I am thinking about is the most recent style with guys (mostly the younger crowd) growing their hair and look like guys from the 70's & early 80's -the shaggy mop style and 3-4 day beard growth. This is one of the styles of the past that should not be repeated.

[Dragonlover]

On the day of an interview my beard gets trimmed back to a fingers width. If I let it grow for a long time it gets really messed up. Luckily my hair is long enough to actually fall straight and not go shaggy, like it does when it hits shoulder length.

Dragonlover

[MadRocketScientist]

I'm bald, so I won't be much help.

That being said, when I did have hair, it was long and grew kinda funny and looked like crap. Sometimes long hair just looks bad a person. This might not be the case with you, but it might not be a bad idea to find a stylist who can help you find a more "professional" look with your hair.