What do you consider ’long’?

I was just thinking about all of the different stages your hair goes through when you grow it out and I wanted to know what you guys consider long. Do you think it should be measured by the length in inches or its length in contrast to the person wearing it?
~A

Hi Goldielocks,

Katja makes a good point that the perceived length depends on the size of the person.

Assuming that you are talking about what length constitutes "long" for a given person, well, that is a subjective question.  What is long to some people might be "medium" or even short, to other people.  Most stylists sell the notion that long is just below the shoulders, but from the perspective of someone who has hair to their knees, how can just-below-shoulder-length be long?

P.S. to Katja - I'm guessing you've measured your hair from the crown of your head, to the ends.  Lots of people with long hair measure from the hairline of your forehead, over the top of your head, and down to the ends.  True, it results in a number which is longer than the longest strands on your head, but it provides a consistent and stable point from which to take measurements.  You could conceivably measure your hair at intervals (say, once per month), and determine how much growth you gained during the month, with a reasonable degree of precision.

Definitely relative. And for those actively growing out their hair, it's never long ENOUGH..... :7D  That's hair anorexia for ya!

Anais, sufferer.

I think if anything is above the chin it is short, if it is between the chin and shoulders it is medium.  If it is past the shoulders is long.  Once it passes BSL (or midback for the guys out there) I would say it is XL (extra long). 

Some one with a pixie cut, on the other hand, might consider hair hair that is down to the shoulders to be long.  Maybe some one with hair down to the floor things hair has to be down to their waist to be extra long.

 

I agree...long is different to everyone.  I think BSL or longer is "long" personally.  But I know a lot of places I've gone to get my hair cut think shoulder-length is long...that's why I don't go often.

Also, Katherine, what's "classic"?  I've heard it mentioned before, but I don't know what that length is.

"Constrast to the person" for me too.  I still don't feel longhaired, but the point where I noticed the ends of my hair were further from my chin than the length of my face - was where it first started to look "long" to me.  (But maybe that's just because of my long face).

Long is certainly long in relation to the individual person. Here are my (arbitrary but based on how I interpret societal standards) rules of thumb:

Men: if hair covers the ears but is still shaped all around, and is above the collar in the back, it's still, I think medium length. If it gets much longer or is in a bob, that is about the begining of long. Midway between these standards would be "longish", and a mullet is difficult to classify. Sort of half-half.

Women: hair more or less just touching the shoulders "longish". Several inches down the shoulder is the begining of long (I'd say about the tip of the shoulder blades is very clearly so) but not very long.

So few people have hair down to their waist and it is already such a length that I would call that really long already, even elbow length would satisfy this.

Good to see you back here, enfys!

Duke, how would you categorize my calf-length hair?

Welcome back enfys!

Duke...I could almost hear you saying....DUDE....it certainly gave me a good chuckle.

I often receive photos from photographers for review and they will mark them short, medium, long.  WHOA.  The long is often just to the shoulders and I am like rubbing my eyes going.  HUH?  To the outside anyone with hair below the middle of their back is consider to have VERY long hair.  It is pretty amusing what people w/out long hair lust considers the longer lengths. :-)

What the salon industry considers long is different from what we'd consider long, that's for sure.  Now, among those of us with long hair, our definitions can even differ, too.

For me, long begins at about BSL location for women and men (if they wore 'em), which is slightly shorter than midback to my eyes.  Then, very long begins about tailbone/classic length, and super long begins about knee length.

As for which measuring system to use (body markers or measuring tape), both have value.  The former is easier to picture and provides natural goal lengths, while the latter provides a more technical system for charting growth rates and projecting goal achievements, as well as comparing lengths on different individuals for scientific purposes like calculating averages.  Body markers just can't be as accurate, because a 5' short-waisted person's hair will be noticably shorter than a 6' long-waisted person's hair, which actually will be much longer, while both are at the same body marker.  For myself, I've learned to provide the inches and immediately note where that falls on my frame, which provides the most complete answer, if someone asks (which they often do).

Jennifer Eve