# How Long Should I Grow My Hair? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634 "2002-10-31T02:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/1 "2002-10-31T02:34:39Z")
Sometime back in July, I became too lazy to get a haircut, and decided that I wanted long hair. Right now, it is over most of my ears, just above my eyes (I have had that trimmed) and about an inch and a half from my shirt collar to the lowest point of my hair in the back of my head. Today, someone at school asked how long I was going to let it grow. I actually don’t know how long I want it to get, I just know I don’t want it to be too long. What are your opinions on guys with long hair, and how long do you think is okay? [sub]This may or may not have any influence on the length of my hair.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/2 "2002-10-31T03:09:42Z")
I used to keep my hair shoulder length, but that was high school. In the real world of job interviews, I had to cut it, but still kept it longish. My girlfriend just a month ago convinced to try a shorter, kinda “up and messy” do (wet look works best for this) Guess what? I love it! Everyone asks me if I’ve lost weight, got a new suit, working out, etc… I call it the _Clark Kent Syndrome_ ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/3 "2002-10-31T03:09:48Z")
Long hair on guys is tres Alice in Chains. Me likey. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/4 "2002-10-31T04:08:31Z")
Mudshark, welcome to the club. Haven’t cut my hair since June. Being a guy with curly hair, this’ll get interesting… Anyway, it all depends upon what kind of hair you have. Is it straight, fairly wavy, or what? I would recommend somewhere a bit short of shoulder length, cause that’s the point where it’ll start being a pain in the tuchus, I image. Fortunately, it’s unlikely that mine will want to get longer than shoulder length, I THINK (and getting it that long will take a couple years at least… I think), but you may be different. Just don’t be afraid to trim it if it gets too frightening. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/5 "2002-10-31T04:20:07Z")
> [@](#): > > it all depends upon what kind of hair you have It’s light brown, and straight hair. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/6 "2002-10-31T18:53:17Z")
Down to your ass dude. I’d grow my hair that long if I could but it just doesn’t grow past 6" below my shoulders. ☹ Plus you can have great halloween costumes with long hair, like me today in braided pig tails! ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/7 "2002-10-31T18:55:02Z")
Mine is about halfway down my back. Very low maintenance hair style. Daily wash, a bit of a comb, put in a pony tail and that’s all. It’s been this long for years. I’m currently in a fairly decent job where it doesn’t matter if my hair is long or not (in fact, it helps my credibility as a computer/tech type to look a bit freakish 🙂 ). For the record, I’ve never had much problem with the length. Maybe I’m just use to it. No matter how “retro” the look is becoming, I find it much preferable to having my hair short–I’m prone to cow licks. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/8 "2002-10-31T19:53:12Z")
**Mudshark** , my husband’s is about the same as yours. His is down his back. FTR, not every corporation requires men to cut their hair as he’s been in a corporate environment for years now. ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/9 "2002-10-31T19:59:17Z")
I love long hair on guys. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/10 "2002-10-31T20:19:37Z")
You’ll probably grow your hair as long as you’re alive (or go bald). ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/11 "2002-11-01T02:55:56Z")
I think you should wear your hair as long as you like as long as it looks good. Remember to get it trimmed every once in a while cause split ends will make your hair look terrible. Just wash, comb, and enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/12 "2002-11-01T03:05:24Z")
If it’s straight and thin, you may wind up with a look you don’t want (Jeff Gilooley?) if you let it get too long. Next time anyone asks you when you’re going to cut your hair you can tell them “Not before Hallowe’en.” Usually shuts them up if not leaving them scratching their heads. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/13 "2002-11-01T08:51:19Z")
Wow, I didn’t realize there were so many guys with hair like mine. My hair is also very straight and brown (light in the summer, dark in the winter), and it’s about halfway down my back. Honestly, if I looked good at all with short hair, I’d cut it. But it’s so straight, I can’t do anything with it. At least _some_ people think it looks good long. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/14 "2002-11-02T00:05:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lorenzo \* > \*\*If it’s straight and thin, you may wind up with a look you don’t want (Jeff Gilooley?) if you let it get too long. > > \*\* My hair is moderately thick, I’ve been told, so I’m not worried about that. ---
**Author:** ![Oy\_Vey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dbc845/32.png) [@Oy\_Vey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy_Vey)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/15 "2002-11-02T01:17:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mudshark \* > \*\* > > It’s light brown, and straight hair. \*\* When its short, mine is reddish brown and straight, but it gets wavy as it gets longer. At the moment my hair measures between 24 and 28 inches. I kind of forgot to get a haircut about 4 years ago, and hasn’t negatively affected me so far as I know. Its never hurt at job interviews (then again, its almost expected of programmers to have long hair and a weak beard) and my wife loves it. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/16 "2002-11-02T02:14:49Z")
Shaggy hair on guys is a Good Thing, IMO. Shoulder length and beyond is good too, if you wear it well. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/17 "2002-11-02T04:29:34Z")
I adore long hair on guys. Not too long, though some can pull it off. A bit before shoulder length maybe. I went to a concert last night; I’ve never seen so many hot guys with long(er) brown hair before… mmm. Anyways, please do grow your hair, we need more long-haired men! My friend cut his long hair because it bugged him too much. I was devastated, he looked amazing with it 😉 Tanaqui ---
**Author:** ![Ranma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Ranma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranma)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/18 "2002-11-02T05:35:38Z")
My hair is about 50 cm long. It’s getting a bit too long, but since I let my hair grow, I think I’ve never looked better. Tough, if you want to keep a clean look to the hair, it requires some attention. I always carry a brush with me now. FTR, I have hair women would die for, straight, manageable and silky smooth, so I thought I would take advantage of that feature 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Lord\_Ssarl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e57/32.png) [@Ice\_Lord\_Ssarl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Lord_Ssarl)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/19 "2002-11-02T05:38:31Z")
I don’t have the ability to make this decision. My hair does not grow in a way that it ever extrends below my neck. I couldn’t get a ponytail if I wanted one; and if I don’t cut my hair it just makes a bouffant, and belive me, in Australia, with 40 degreee heat, that’s a very bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-grow-my-hair/134634/20 "2002-11-02T21:58:04Z")
Grow it down to at least down to your shoulderblades and then come see me. 😉