A relationship longer than my marriage.

[elfs]

I've had my hair long-- halfway down my back long-- for twenty years. It's a pain in the neck to wash and dry and care for, but I've always had it this way and I've kinda liked it. But after watching a few episodes of Queer Eye and commenting that every time Kyan gets his way and cuts it all off it looks good. About the only one he left long was Tom C.'s, and even that went from halfway down the back to shoulder-length. So after watching an episode, Omaha said that if I wanted to cut it short, she would back me on it.

I'm seriously thinking about it. I doubt I'd be willing to go through with it. Too many other people like it the way it is. It's just that as I get older it seems to be ratty and, well, unprofessional-looking.

So, since I'm incompetent and unwilling to read the "how to do a poll" thingy, I'm just gonna ask: what do you think it would be like without all that hair following me around?

Comments

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

My beloved had let his curls grow long, well over his shoulders. He decided he was tired of it, and asked what I thought. I told him I'd still love him with his hair short. I do, of course, but I admit that I still miss them.

Sometimes I think of whacking off my own mane, which is long and curly and tangles at a thought, but I just know I'd look 10 years older if I did, and I'm feeling a bit vain, so I haven't. Admittedly, I miss being able to shower and be ready to go in 5 minuts.

[fallenpegasus]

You would still look like you, and your hair looks it's best when you've got it tied back anyway.

I'm starting to be tempted to throw in the towel on my own "grow it out" experament.

[popefelix.livejournal.com]

how recent is the picture at http://www.drizzle.com/~elf/elf/index.html (http://www.drizzle.com/~elf/elf/index.html)?

[ccprince.livejournal.com]

Up to a few years ago, I wore my hair down past my shoulders. But, looking around at my gene pool, I always promised myself that I would go out on a high note -- there are some men who can pull off the "bald on top, pony tail in back" look, but I'm sure not one of 'em. And about the time I was seeing a little more forehead than I had before, I was cast in a play where long hair just wouldn't do, so I cut it off.

And as of about a year ago, with the hairline in full retreat, I went a step further, to keeping it buzzed to less than about a half inch at all times.

I don't regret it a bit. It looks good, it's easy as all get-out to take care of -- there's so little there, I don't even bother to carry a comb any more -- what's not to like?

Besides, if you cut it short, and don't like it, it'll grow back. :-)

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

Ack no!

I've watched a few of the queer eye shows and I haven't liked a single one when they chopped off the hair.

As to yours looking untidy, how 'bout chopping only a few inches first? It would remove most of the split ends and might alleviate some of the other problems too. You can then decide later if you want to chop more.

Reminds me, I need to get my own hair trimmed.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

I recently sent 22 inches to Locks of Love. Well, the salon sent it for me, as most of them will (check first). So, random thoughts:

The first night I kept waking up because I was supposed to be moveing it to avoid rolling over it and IT WASN'T THERE!

The next few days I was still doing the "flip to get it out of the way" when I was bent over.

It's faster to wash, easier to maintain and years to re-grow.

There are three types of women - those that like bald men, those that like long hair, those that don't care. Choose wisely!

You have to figure out what to do with all the "long hair" hair care products.

Two months and a move later and I'm still finding the occasional long strand in my laundry.

I miss it and don't miss it. If I can get the right job, I'm growing it back.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Oh, heck, is that still there?? Crud, that pic's from, like, 1996 or something.

[(Anonymous)]

Most of the guys on Queer Eye who've had their hair lopped off haven't been taking very good care of their long hair. Long hair that is well-cared for is the sexiest thing going for me. I would start slow and not lop it all off if that's what you decided to do. You can still have long hair (enough to put in a ponytail) and not have long hair.

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

There are three types of women - those that like bald men, those that like long hair, those that don't care. Choose wisely!

I think it depends on the guy. Some look good with long hair, some don't. Guess I'm just too used to seeing Elf with long hair, I can't imagine him with it very short.

[swirlgrrl.livejournal.com]

hi,
this is your babysitter, and i think that if you do chop your hair off you should donate it to a good cause. Like making wigs for people with cancer.

ok that is all i wanted to say, you look cute either way.
Anne

[woggie.livejournal.com]

How will it be?
Like anything else, a good twenty minutes before I start getting used to it. Then again, I don't see you all that often. Maybe I'll have time to get used to it before I see you. :)

It's a change, like anything else.
Sweetie doesn't want me to cut off my hair if I'm going to get it spiked, which is precisely what I want to do next. It's about the only hair style I haven't tried other than shaving my head bald. I don't think I'm up for the Kwai Chang Caine look just yet. At least, not in this climate. :)

Keep me posted. :)

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Well, I went from hair past my shoulder blades to shaved. Shocked a lot of people. My hair had not been cut at all in over 11 years, and for some years before that it had only been trimmed, but allowed to grow long.

I actually rather like how I look with it shaved, it just starting to grow in (I'm growing my 'winter coat' now).

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

If it's looking a bit ratty to you but you otherwise still like it long - get it trimmed. You may have to cut a chunk of it off to get rid of split ends, if you haven't been getting it trimmed regularly - depends what the stylist says. I recommend spending the money to go to a good stylist and discuss styling options with you if you're tired of how it looks.

I like the cuts they did on Queer Eye. To be fair though - most of those guys didn't really take good care of their hair or attempt to style it in any way which is why it looked better cut (I think it was a really good choice for the guy who ended up looking like David Bowie!). I like long hair on men - but it works better on some than others. Same with women really. I think you could go either way and look great.

Just be thankful you get to make the decision. I know a lady in the belly dance community that had hair down... well to her ankles and possibily longer (it was usually partially up when I saw her so I'm not sure of the exact length) and lost it all to chemo... *bleah*

[fallenpegasus]

Not even the most recent guy, of the lawyer with the hairpiece?

They convienced him to ditch the wig, and then buzz his 3 inch long "fringe".

Cut it off

[kenshardik]

I mean, it does grow back....

Nearly an utter stranger.. ;)

[zaiah.livejournal.com]

That lovely little picture Kouryou-chan took of you recently-ish showed off quite nice hair.. Go for a change it you want it.. shoulder length would still be a change!

Me, personally? I quite enjoy long, beautiful hair on a man.. or all the way to very short and fuzzy (and fun against bare skin!)

Pictures are needed no matter what! *nodsnods*

[blackthornglade.livejournal.com]

So, since I'm incompetent and unwilling to read the "how to do a poll" thingy, I'm just gonna ask: what do you think it would be like without all that hair following me around?

I just cut between 8-10 inches off my hair. It's...astounding. I don't miss it that much and I thought I would. It's still long enough that I can do whatever I want with it, but it's less ratty and more suited to me. Adding in layers helped out a lot, too.

It's a big step and one that I never would have tried even a couple months ago, but I think it's worked out well.

moonlight - shorn, but happy

Hair

[slutdiary.livejournal.com]

I like ya as you are, but do what feels comfortable to you. It's your head.

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

No I didn't see that one. However, it doesn't sound like someone with loooonng hair getting it chopped off. When I said chopped off, I meant very long hair getting cut very short.

I'm not necessarily partial to long hair though, it depends on the guy. I have one friend who's bald and looks best that way. My cousin shaves his head entirely, looks great. Another friend has almost a monk's tonsure with shoulder length hair and that looks good on him. And yet another has just enough for a short pony tail, he wouldn't look as good with it longer or shorter.

I think Elf would look good with it the length it is or a little shorter, but at least keep it longer than shoulder length. Of course it's what he thinks is best. At least with such long hair you can experiment with pinning it up just so to see what it would look like shorter. Whatever he decided is fine with me, my opinion hardly matters for him, I just happen to think he looks pretty sexy with long hair.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I have never met you in person and therefore have no comment on your hair.

However, I just ran across your journal (by reference from supergee's), and remember you from Usenet, and the Ken Shardik stories, and wonder if you'd object if I added you to the list of people whose journals I read regularly?

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with kenshardik--it will grow back. Find a stylist who is willing to work with what *you* want, and have at it. In the end, you have to live with your hair, everybody else (except Omaha, of course) doesn't.

Vote for Style

[shemayazi.livejournal.com]

You are a very sexy man and the texture of your hair is wonderful. So long as you keep enough to grab a hold of, IMHO a good up to date style would look sensational. Good bone structure, great jawline, strong neck. Yeah. Go for it.

[kyriani.livejournal.com]

Hrm, I personally love long hair on a guy, if I had been born a guy I would have long hair. ^__^ Matt's hair is _curly_ and looks great to his shoulders which is where it is now, though I can see that it probably wont get longer without serious management. Of course as a girl I love both long and short hair on girls, and prefer short hair on myself... but its really all up to you! :D
Your hair rocks, but you will be sexy either way I believe!

[j5nn5r.livejournal.com]

I didn't look at any of the other comments, just do I wouldn't bias mine.

Anyway, when you were over the other day, you had your hair back. I thougth for a minute that you had cut it.

Omaha will most likely kill me for this but, you looked good.

I know I look better with longer hair (you have seen me like that) but there is something to be said for the convenience, the neatness, of shorter hair.

A neat buzz cut please,

[tonyawinter.livejournal.com]

Something up to date and really short would be fab. You are a hot hot man and cleaning up your look will just make you a hot hot hot man. In my opinion.