# Why the bias against men's long hair? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 12, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481 "2023-10-12T21:40:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/81 "2023-12-08T03:51:37Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > One data point (especially for many parts of the US society these days) > > > 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NIV) > > 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? Didn’t Samson derive his superior strength from his long hair? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/82 "2023-12-08T04:22:59Z")
Not from his hair, per se, but obeying God by not cutting it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/83 "2023-12-08T15:00:37Z")
Yes- a specific holy vow that applied to a specific person and one of which signs was no cutting the hair (and, no alcohol or contact with corpses). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/84 "2023-12-08T17:24:55Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > … one of which signs was no cutting the hair (and, no alcohol or contact with corpses). The Abrahamic god sure is a party-pooper. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/85 "2023-12-08T21:47:37Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > a specific holy vow that applied to a specific person A category of people, actually. A Jewish person who is a “Nazir” (נזיר) vows to abstain from wine and grapes and from cutting their hair. Typically you would have taken this vow for a period of time, and then be done; in the story, Samson’s mom is barren, so she promises God that if she gets pregnant her child would be given to God and would follow the rules of the Nazir for his whole life. She gets pregnant, and for as long as the vow is kept, Samson is empowered. The Nazir vow required certsin sacrifices to be made, so with the Temple gone, it is no longer really an active part of Judaism. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/86 "2023-12-11T20:43:59Z")
Thought you guys might enjoy these pictures, I did! > **[50 Men Who Grew Out Their Hair And Ended Up Looking Awesome (New Pics)](https://www.boredpanda.com/long-hair-men-pics/)** > > It's a place where men can share their incredible hair growth journeys and results, support and hype each other up. So give these guys some love for their awesome-looking hair, pandas! ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/87 "2023-12-11T20:59:29Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Not from his hair, per se, but obeying God by not cutting it. Then why did he lose his strength when Delilah cut his hair? (Actually shaved his head?) He was unconscious & didn’t cut it himself. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/88 "2023-12-11T21:05:20Z")
In mid- to late-19th Century United States long hair on men was considered a sign of machismo, and the longer the more macho. Think of Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, and George Armstrong Custer to name just 3 familiar examples. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/89 "2023-12-11T21:07:48Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > He was unconscious & didn’t cut it himself. The vow wasn’t “I won’t cut my hair”. It wasn’t really a vow. Becoming a Nazir was something you did as an adult, you took a vow and refrained from wine or cutting your hair for a certain period of time, then made a sacrifice. According to Judges, Samson doesn’t take a vow. Instead, an angel comes to his mom in a dream and says “you are barren, but God has let you become pregnant; do not drink wine or eat impure food, and when your son is born do not allow a razor to touch his hair - he will be a Nazir from the womb, and will deliver Israel from the Philistines”. Samson isn’t a normal Nazir, IE someone who took a vow; he is blessed by God in a way that requires him to act like one. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/90 "2023-12-11T21:58:45Z")
Jason Mamoa. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/91 "2024-01-23T01:45:17Z")
The principal at Barber Hill took out a full page ad defending their suspension of the student. “Being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity.” Jesus Christ. > **[Texas Superintendent Defends Suspending Black Student Over Locs Hairstyle in...](https://themessenger.com/news/texas-superintendent-black-student-locs-hair-punishment-lawsuit)** > > A full-page newspaper defends the punishment high school student Darryl George has faced over his hairstyle. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/92 "2024-01-23T02:10:41Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > The principal at Barber Hill took out a full page ad defending their suspension of the student. “Being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity.” Jesus Christ. That comment is so broad as to be near useless. Yeah, being part any social group requires some degree of conformity of which the positive benefit is unity. Requiring students to treat one another with a minimum amount of respect while at school is a form of conformity and I think most of us can agree this has some positive benefits. But this isn’t about unity, it’s about authority. Unless this kid’s hair poses some sort of safety hazard or unhygienic, I don’t see a valid reason to now allow him to wear his hair how he wants. Does Barber Hill have white male students with long hair? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/93 "2024-01-23T02:19:28Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Does Barber Hill have white male students with long hair? - With a school name like that? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/94 "2024-01-23T02:25:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > With a school name like that? Goddamn I’m slipping. I didn’t even notice. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/95 "2024-01-23T23:54:35Z")
I never knew there was a bias against long hair after the 1960s or early 70s. 50 years ago I had shoulder-length hair. Later, for various jobs, I kept it shorter. During the pandemic, I didn’t get a haircut for two years, hoping it would grow long enough for a ponytail. Didn’t happen. It got to a certain length and stopped. People commented that they liked my hair long, but I finally decided it took too much time in the morning to make it look good and went back to a more conventional cut. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/96 "2024-01-24T02:40:41Z")
I had a 70’s Shag hairstyle. It was a lot of work to keep styled and presentable. I went to hair salons for _razor cuts_.My former barber had taken classes and was a _stylist_.I never liked using hair product sold by the salon and blow dying. My hair has been short since college. I like being able to quickly comb it and head out the door. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/97 "2024-02-06T19:48:38Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > About 5O girls all dyed their hair many shades of the rainbow the next week. It caused all manner of crap, detentions, parent visits. > > You give 'em an inch they’ll take a mile. > Teenagers are nuts. The enforcement of stupid rules undermines the students’ respect for reasonable rules. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/98 "2024-02-07T07:56:05Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > The enforcement of stupid rules undermines the students’ respect for reasonable rules. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481/99 "2024-02-08T15:03:13Z")
You’d think someone would have noticed by now. Of course, part of it is about conditioning the next generation to that the Established Rules “just have” to be obeyed w/o questioning, and that upon adulthood they should be happy enough to then be allowed to question the “minor” ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-bias-against-mens-long-hair/991481.md?page=4)