# Growing long hair as a curly haired guy - help? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612 "2017-06-22T16:41:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/1 "2017-06-22T16:41:52Z")
Forgive the messiness of the hair on top. I haven’t had a haircut since January. My ideal is for my hair to be at my shoulders. You can’t see it, but in the back it’s just below ears. [[Album] ![](https:?fb) ](https://imgur.com/a/DuPPx) My question is for guys with similar hair textures to mine. Do you see how the sides stick up, almost like wings? The back does that too, curls upward. My question is twofold: 1. At about how long will it stop flipping up? 2. In your experience, what should my hair texture look like when long? Can you post pictures to give me an idea of what it will look like? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/2 "2017-06-22T16:56:12Z")
I’m not a guy, but question – is this your hair as it looks after it air-dries? What did you do to get it to this point (shampoo, conditioner, any products or styling)? ---
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/3 "2017-06-22T16:57:55Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I’m not a guy, but question – is this your hair as it looks after it air-dries? What did you do to get it to this point (shampoo, conditioner, any products or styling)? Yes. I don’t blow dry it with hot air - I use a cool fan or just let it air dry naturally. V05 shampoo and conditioner. No products or styling. No brushing in this particular picture either. Most of the rest of the hair can be easily contained with brushing, but those sides - the ones with curl upward - don’t go down with any amount of brushing, nor do the parts in the back which also curl upward. ---
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/4 "2017-06-22T17:02:28Z")
[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/8jRl7YP.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/Ja8Z6) Here’s how it looks freshly brushed (and being shampooed and conditioned earlier that day). ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/5 "2017-06-22T17:12:15Z")
That is why I have maintained a buzz cut for the past few decades. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/6 "2017-06-22T17:18:19Z")
Oh, you really should wear a helmet when you ride your motorcycle. Try Gorilla Moca gel, it’ll hold down anything. (Moco De Gorilla) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/7 "2017-06-22T17:34:17Z")
(Another female chiming in) Oh my gosh, it’s going to be beautiful. Well, I think it is already. The flip-ups are likely to continue and be bothersome to you and no one else. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/8 "2017-06-22T17:38:22Z")
Back when I had hair it was curly almost to looking like I was trying for a white-guys afro. Right about shoulder length the weight and thickness basically straightened it out somewhat. By the time it hit my shoulder blades it looked pretty much basic hippy ---- but cleaner and slightly groomed. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/9 "2017-06-22T17:49:40Z")
I’m not a man, but an owner of curly hair. And, you know, hair knows no gender. But it does know thickness and porousness and kink! My hair happens to be thick, dry and more curly than yours so my hair long looks like of like an afro puffball, but your hair seems to be heavier and less kinky than mine. So I’m going to say it will look good long (I don’t think thin long hair looks good on a guy) and it will be wavy, as is straightens out slightly with length. You can and should get it trimmed and styled as you go along. No need to suffer halfway through looking scrubby when you can look [like this.](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/24/e3/2a/24e32a61209d5d88ef19ef8d55ae0ee8.jpg) [Here’s what I think it will look like.](http://www.mens-hairstylists.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/long-curly-hairstyle-men.jpg) Face to be determined 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/10 "2017-06-22T19:25:52Z")
I agree with ZipperJJ’s comments. You might also ask for advice here: > **[r/curlyhair](https://www.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/)** > > r/curlyhair: For all natural curlies, coilies, and wavies! All hair is good hair. Find help with your hair, recommendations on products, technique … ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/11 "2017-06-22T20:40:23Z")
Your hair is not as curly as I was imagining. My 20-year-old poodle — I mean, son —doesn’t cut his hair, and he’s starting to look like Roseanne Rosannadanna. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/12 "2017-06-22T21:50:24Z")
Heh. You’ve got _nothing_ on my hair - White dude with the Wilt Chamberlin hair. Or Father Christmas. 😃 [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5iOGATY5KogsTvjk0UdgZeR0V02MSMEn8OvvPaQ9eyByyb2mVBrsYm5GSAkdTe9svawsyU60pHzi-Dk6nx60jwaQFcricJAJZbjHlV24qePfPnQSUUTeQHo1uOcoqoyZTkLWGlRb2w=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Laird Cummings") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMTrwnBlICTqLEKb2lA6EF2ROLzNhWYsGbJ9wlnBW5Iuz41RKcVb1PCeQz6qPG76Q?key=WVg5WjJvM0piX2U0bkVmb3pKbTE2VFBHTUV1WTlB) Bottom line: it’ll stick up and act goofy until you get enough length that the hair pulls itself down of it’s own weight. Product can help. HOW long depends on how coarse and heavy your hair is - you’re not overly curled, so it should be fairly managable. Mine is not manageable at all, though a good hair tie can sorta fake it. 😛 [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IBqtwIl1T1z-ll0V9QH0WFINMFL4QcnOIkkL_8SiztW13JcrTecNpXjkxXKRoFZkll1Vxh8g042qdBv8JO4gftRI097nyP0UkvsCOyvnu7YN237AViLtr33M_DiIPSBo0z1KMITHJg=w480-h315-p-k "New item by Laird Cummings") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNEmZDvDvkwWojZvCdBjn7HJbkmS66o4405Pya83AcdiaPu80gHXGoZQGpg75sHEQ?key=amFDOUhzbXN2WkNKQXEzamgyWVRRTXNHR1Z5aFRR) ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/13 "2017-06-22T22:18:11Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > (Another female chiming in) > > Oh my gosh, it’s going to be beautiful. Well, I think it is already. The flip-ups are likely to continue and be bothersome to you and no one else. ^^ this. Really, I know guys like you always hate their hair. But man… you shouldn’t. That mop is absolutely a turn-on to a lot of chicks. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/14 "2017-06-22T22:50:45Z")
I had a half-fro when I was younger. Let it grow long enough to tie up in a pony tail, tie it up right after you wash it, once it’s dry it won’t be so bad. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/15 "2017-06-23T01:16:52Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/Ja8Z6) > > Here’s how it looks freshly brushed (and being shampooed and conditioned earlier that day). I have wavy hair, but not quite as much as yours. in high school (as a metalhead) I tried growing it out, and it was all over the place. once it hit my shoulders it would do a [Donna Reed curl.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Donna_Reed.jpg) I figured I’d have to go for a full [Dave Mustaine](http://www.rareguitarheaven.net/images/upload/Image/DAve7.jpg) before it’d settle down, so I had it cut short-ish my senior year and kept it short since. Usually now I just get a short taper cut so I don’t have to spend much time messing with my hair in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/16 "2017-06-23T01:25:02Z")
Thanks for the replies. Now if I wanted to get it cut like this (my grandfather) that the curls still show, but it’s not too long, what style should I ask for? What style would you call his? What level of fade would you suggest I tell the barber for the sides; how many inches approx on the top and sides to preserve the curls? And how do I get the generally round look of the haircut? [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/B1x5xP1.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/3WLun) ---
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/17 "2017-06-23T01:28:37Z")
This was how my hair looked longish as a kid: [https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12654440\_928624650555140\_7522391746319681446\_n.jpg?oh=017de6d1bd064d6a07a20cf998fab764&oe=59C8A4E5](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12654440_928624650555140_7522391746319681446_n.jpg?oh=017de6d1bd064d6a07a20cf998fab764&oe=59C8A4E5) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/18 "2017-06-23T02:00:46Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Thanks for the replies. > Now if I wanted to get it cut like this (my grandfather) that the curls still show, but it’s not too long, what style should I ask for? What style would you call his? What level of fade would you suggest I tell the barber for the sides; how many inches approx on the top and sides to preserve the curls? And how do I get the generally round look of the haircut? > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/3WLun) looks like a short taper to me. about the same length as I get mine cut to. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/19 "2017-06-23T02:04:40Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Thanks for the replies. > Now if I wanted to get it cut like this (my grandfather) that the curls still show, but it’s not too long, what style should I ask for? What style would you call his? What level of fade would you suggest I tell the barber for the sides; how many inches approx on the top and sides to preserve the curls? And how do I get the generally round look of the haircut? > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/a/3WLun) I would bring the picture to the barber, show him and say “Like this”. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612/20 "2017-06-23T07:36:33Z")
Your hair looks yummy. Reminds me of an Irish dude I used to have a crush on. I think if you let it grow long it will resemble [this](http://i0.wp.com/ewedit.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/weirdal.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1800px%2C946px&resize=1200%2C630&ssl=1). Das ist nicht sehr gut. However, I don’t know how to tell the barber to keep trimming it at the cute, tously length. That’s why I cut my husband’s hair myself, because I’m used to his wave and can kind of prune it appropriately. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-long-hair-as-a-curly-haired-guy-help/789612.md?page=2)