@#!!#%&***&

WELL, IT HAPPENED AGAIN... I MADE A FRIEND AT A NEW TEMPORARY JOB I JUST STARTED. I REALLY THINK SHE IS A NICE PERSON AND DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE ME FEEL BAD, BUT SHE DID! TODAY SHE MADE A COMMENT THAT I HAVE PROBABLY NEVER CUT MY HAIR (CURRENTLY IT IS WAIST LENGTH). WHAT CAME TO FOLLOW WAS NOT A COMPLIMENT. I AM 33 AND SHE IS AS WELL. SHE SAID I SHOULD CUT MY HAIR TO SHOULDER LENGTH TO GIVE IT "A STYLE". ALSO, SHE INFORMED ME THAT AS A WOMAN GETS OLDER SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE LONG HAIR BECAUSE IT MAKES HER LOOK"HAGGARD AND DOES NOTHING FOR HER APPEARANCE". WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY I CLAMMED UP FOR QUITE A WHILE AFTER THAT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT CAME OUT OF HER MOUTH. IT REALLY DESTROYED MY MOOD. EVEN IF SHE WAS THINKING SUCH A RIDICULOUS THING I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SO IGNORANT AS TO SAY IT OUT LOUD. I KNOW IT SHOULDN'T MAKE ME FEEL BAD BECAUSE I KNOW BETTER AS YOU ALL DO OR MOST OF YOU, BUT AS THEY SAY I AM ONLY HUMAN. LESLIE

Leslie,The insensitivity of some people amazes me. And I'm a guy! ;-)When it comes to hair, those of us with long hair may be more sensitive to others, perhaps in part because most of us have often been "blessed" before with the same types of rude, unkind, and thoughtless comments.Do you ever wonder just where this person -- and the countless others like her -- get the gall to profess to be such "style" experts? Might it be that they have been brainwashed by the styling industry, which uses the media (TV, magazines, etc) as a vehicle to convey their messages, so that most people have come to believe in the "infallability" of the "truth" of their "wisdom?" The criticism provided by your new "friend" sounds exactly like the same old tired yarn repeated over and over again by so many. If they "succeed" in beating down your spirit, you may end up feeling compelled to turn to professional stylists for hairstyle advice -- and a trendy haircut. The industry does not promote the interests of mental well-being or true beauty. The industry promotes the increase of its income. It has succeeded in marketing itself so well that those who gain no economic benefit (such as your new "friend") have become active spokespeople for their cause!I'm not saying that the industry is full of bad people. On the contrary, they are probably mostly good people. The point is that they may feel that their income would be threatened if most women just said, "Well, forget it, I'm giving up on the perms/colorings/frequent haircuts and just letting it grow long." And in order to "combat" the natural appeal of beautiful long hair, they seek to sell the idea that long hair is "bad," so as to dissuade those who might otherwise want to wear it long, and to discourage those who do wear it long so that they relent and just "give up." The question is, are you, individually, going to stand up for yourself, for what you like and for what you believe in?I wonder why the industry, if it's concerned with its prosperity, doesn't seek to cater to the wishes and desires of ALL of its potential customers, instead of trying to herd them into short hairstyles. Perhaps if they invested some creative energy into styling long hair, the range of services that they could provide would be expanded and would therefore appeal to a broader customer base.Dave

>> Chin up! JM :-)

Why is your hair short if you don't want it that way.. just wondering.. Cheryl> O.K. I understand your frustration. But I> hope you won't down all of us short haired woman.> Mine is short not because I want it that way.> Maybe she was envious of your hair.(Maybe not)I> personally believe short long, hair we're all> beautiful please don't dispair it really only> matters what you think.....I also want to say> you all are giving me the encouragement I need> to grow my hair. Thank, Wendy

> Why is your hair short if you don't want> it that way.. just wondering.. CherylDo to medical reasons. but I am in the process of growing it.....Wendy