Long Hair in Europe

Viktoria wrote: I´m not sure, but from what I have seen both while living in the US and visiting with americans on the internet, there seem to be more peer pressure about appearance in the US than in Europe. The american culture seems to be rather more cruel to those who stand out of their peer group. Blending in seem to be a key concept.

Sad but true.In fact you couldnt be more right about it.My husband has longer hair.About to the middle of his back.And you wouldnt believe how people stare.People look at us like we are an alien race or something.I cant count how many times cops acted like they wanted to stop us on the street for just looking different.I know I just read an article online where newly shaved natilie portman was stopped by cops while walking down the streets for looking suspicious .Dont get me wrong I respect police officers and what they do.But just like everyone else.If you dont look a certain way then you are chastised.Thats my rant for today,lol.

I´m not sure, but from what I have seen both while living in the US and visiting with americans on the internet, there seem to be more peer pressure about appearance in the US than in Europe. The american culture seems to be rather more cruel to those who stand out of their peer group. Blending in seem to be a key concept. 

Also, the americans have had a consumer culture longer than the europeans, which might explain a more deeply rooted craving for change and "dressing the part", whatever that may be, and buying in to a lifestyle. It´s coming here as well, but has mostly affected the younger generations. Certainly europeans are more rooted, historically, in their local culture. After all, we have lived here for a while now...

We also have strong labor unions, and one can´t get fired over petty things like hairstyle and such. In Scandinavia especially, the culture is very informal, we call everybody, teachers and any other authority figures, by their first name. Comparatively, it´s very easy to live here.

Susan W wrote: Did you go in France to a city or the countryside?  I was last there 2 years ago and I only saw one head of knee length hair (on my boyfriend's sister - who has since gone shoulderlength).  So I'm surprised by how much you saw!  I see much more around where I live in the US.  Not in my town, but when I go outside of the town into the more country parts plenty of the women there have classic length hair.  Great places to see long hair in the US are renaissance faires and reptile shows (I see more at the reptile show than anywhere).  Oh, and I tend to see a lot at the rural walmart too.  I wonder if extensions are popular in Europe.  I didn't see or hear anything about them when I was there, but then if it weren't for this board I might not have in the US either.

It was about half city, half countryside.  I was surprised too by how much seriously long hair I saw.

For me in the US, it's quite the opposite.  I live in a small country-ish town where like one or two people have waist length hair and the rest have midback or shorter, but when I go into the city I see much more long hair (and I also see a lot at Wal-Mart).  Just not as much as I saw in France, and definitely not as healthy-looking.  Good point about the extensions though.

I'm surprised you see more long hair at reptile shows than at the Renaissance Faire!  Though I do know that some of the RF people wear wigs/extensions.  Hmm. 

Hey guys-

I don't know how many of you have been to Europe (or anywhere outside the USA) or live there, but I was on vacation in France for the past two weeks and I was positively amazed by some of the hair I saw.  I can't tell you how many people had waist-classic length hair, and I saw four or five people with almost floor-length hair!  Granted, there was still a great variety of short styles and short still outnumbered long, but still... I don't know about any of you, but I have NEVER seen that much long hair in the US.  I felt like my hair got shorter while I was there, simply from seeing all those long, beautiful locks.  And all the really long hair that I saw looked like it had been wonderfully and meticulously taken care of- none of that fried, unhealthy looking hair where you can tell the person just wants long hair regardless of its condition.  No- it was all shiny, soft-looking, gorgeous hair that most likely had never been abused a day in its life.  What a feast on the eyes.

Anyway, this is my question... why don't the United States have more hair like this?  Is it because we're the "fast food nation" that can't take time waiting for things like hair to grow and then maintaining it?  And if so, why is that?  If other societies can do it then what makes western society so different?

I'd really like to hear all your thoughts on this.

Katja