Mine's pretty long now, but it's been longer. I've gotten to the point I don't really care what other people think. I mean, I don't want to look like an ass, but if I'm okay with it, then fuck 'em.

I wore mine quite long for a number of years but once I got it cut I never went back. So much easier to take care of shorter hair, just over the top of the ears length.

The ugly phase lasted about 6 months until my bangs grew long enough that they could be pulled back and be held to join the sides and back in a ponytail. At 2-3 inches, my hair is curly AF, almost permanent looking. As it's gotten longer, almost 3 years, the weight has pulled it straighter, still wavy in the back though. Another important tip, at least for my thin blonde hair is to not wash it everyday and then just simple V05 with biotin a couple times a week.

Since, for years, I cut my own hair, I decided it's easier to trim my beard than coordinate a double mirror to fashion an amateur fade. I'm sure when it gets too long I will just take an inch off the tail. Easy peasy.

You leave West-by-God, and all hell breaks loose.

I grew mine out in the mid 90’s when I was in my 20’s. Bottom of the neck, all of it same length. I think it was just to do it once because before and after it has always been a #2 guard. Yeah you are going to have to wear hats. That’s what I did. Ball cap at first, but then you’ll have to move onto something else. I’m not saying to get a Rasta hat but you’ll have to get creative because it’s 2 good years of your life where your hair is going to looking fucking stupid. And a tip, use the horse hair shampoo/conditioner and take a hair/skin/nails multivitamin as all of that does work, and makes it grow much faster.

quote:

Originally posted by VictimNoMore:
You leave West-by-God, and all hell breaks loose.

I blame my wife.

I had my single-as-a-Pringle retirement all planned out, then I run into her. >BAM< Now I'm living in the Ozarks, have a beard, 5 dogs, and I wanna grow my hair out. LOL

It all start with the long flowing locks,
Then
You have to buy scrunchies,
Then you find yourself in a chair with a head full of aluminum foil.

Your $14.00 hair cut just went to a $65.00 color

Next thing you know, it's spring and it's time for a perm.

Doot do do do do
Your poker buddies start singing
Walk on the wild side.

It's a gateway fashion statement.

It’s been four years since my last haircut. Let it grow during lockdown and unemployment. Thought about cutting it when I got employed again but wife said she liked it so I kept it long. No issues at work but it is SF. I keep it in a bun at work so it’s out of the way. Free flowing or in a ponytail otherwise.

Grow it out. There’s a phase where it’s both too long and too short at the same time. Annoying but hats. Find some conditioner to avoid knots.

"It's getting good in the back." -- Frank Zappa

I’ve not had a haircut nor trimmed my beard in over a year…it’s totally white and my family says I’m trying for the “Uncle Si” look…I just reply that he is my “spirit anamal”

This thread is making me want to keep growing mine.

Now that I am un hombre solo I cut my hair every other week using a cordless clipper with no guard. My bride didn’t like what she called the “escaped convict” look. She didn’t work outside in 100+ degree heat, though.

I did a brief period of shaving my head....that takes a lot of work!

So the consensus is "You're gonna look like crazy Nick Nolte for a bit, but just wear a hat through that period"? And hair cuts just need to wait until it's past that weird period.

I tried growing my hair long after I retired from active duty. After a few months, I just gave up and went back to the buzz cut. I just couldn't get used to it. I was happy to stop shaving and grow my beard though.

When COVID hit, I vowed not to get a haircut until it was over...

I was hoping for the sleek, gray, Roger Waters look, but it did not come out like I wanted.

I cut it after about 6-8" growth.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
So the consensus is "You're gonna look like crazy Nick Nolte for a bit, but just wear a hat through that period"?

Basically. The awkward looking stuff looks less awkward poking out from under a hat.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
And hair cuts just need to wait until it's past that weird period.

Honestly, hair cuts need to wait until it's at a length you're happy with. It's already come up once in the thread, but the whole thing about "cutting it makes it grow faster" is an old wive's tale. It absolutely doesn't. All it does is keep you in the awkward phase, or bring you back into it if you've gone past it.

Patience is the name of the game. Keep it clean, and otherwise leave it alone. When it's past your shoulders a good bit, when you can put it in a ponytail and it'll stay, you'll have some woman in your life tell you to go get it "trimmed for split ends," and then instead of whoever cuts it taking off a half inch or so, you'll look down and see a pile of clippings four or five inches long. Just like I did. And just like that, you'll be right back in the awkward phase.

I had probably a year's worth of progress ruined by two different women in my life. The first time was my wife telling me to go get it trimmed for split ends, and what happened, happened. Then before that, one of my best friends was getting married and his wife-to-be begged me to let her trim my hair because I was deep in the awkward phase and she didn't want me looking like that in their wedding photos. She butchered it and styled me like some skinny twerp in an emo band. It was terrible. Again, whole pile of hair on the floor. After that, I decided women didn't know shit about a man growing his hair out and did my own thing and was much happier for it.

quote:

I had probably a year's worth of progress ruined by two different women in my life.

Sounds like you're way ahead of the rest of us. Oh, you're talking about hair.

Anywho...

At the bequest of Mrs. BRL I let mine grow out. This started in mid 2020 so I've always called it my Covid Cut. 3 1/2 years later it's down to my upper back. I think I've trimmed it twice. I didn't go to a barber or have anyone else do it. just draped it over my shoulder and cut about 3" or so to even it up.

The first 6 months to a year or so had that awkward stage. I just kept brushing it back until I could pull off a small ponytail which honestly I didn't like much. I did receive grief from coworkers about sporting a man bun, which it was not but that's the best they could come up with.

One thing that still bugs me every day is the amount of hair that comes out. It's hard to believe I have any hair left. I think it's just far more noticeable now that the strands are 12-15" long compared to when they were 3" long.

An added bonus is at almost 59 my hairline and scalp continues to thin. Pulling it back works as a combover but doesn't look quite as desperate as a side combover.

Now I wonder what I'd do if I cut it off. I've grown used to it being pulled back.

Long hair below the shoulder blades once and to the shoulder several times in my 20s. Job makes that kind of a pain now, but some still do it.
I always found the most annoying part was that in between stage when it was long enough to hang in my face, but not long enough to stay combed back. Wore a hat almost constantly. You'll find a challenge in not laying on it while on the couch or in bed as well if you let it grow past the shoulder. Otherwise, I see no reason not to enjoy a relaxed style in your retirement, unless your wife is not a fan.
As to stylists, I went 3 years with no haircuts when I grew mine out last time. My bangs hung below my chin when I finally cut it. Started with a low fade and went back to it when I cut it. Lots of jokes from friends and co-workers after, but otherwise no stylists were involved in that 3 years. It combed out straight and was easy enough to keep clean on my own.

Since my retirement from the Army (2005) I have tried several times to grow my hair out. The longest it got was just at the traps.

Alas, it hasn’t worked for me, and I completely lose my shit if I don’t have a skin fade.

When it was long, I would get a simple trim and the comb it back. Not really a “style” just more of a management process.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
In 56+ years on this planet, my hair has never touched my shoulders. Now that I'm retired, I'd like to try it just once.

So my questions basically boil down to this: Do I just have to accept the fact that there will be a period (probably lengthy) where I'm gonna look like a "domicile-challenged person"? My wife tells me I'm gonna have to have it styled, I was thinking I would just comb/brush it back out of the way.

I thought the beard would be the hard part of retirement, but that's coming along nicely.