How can i wear long hair to work
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Long Hair Happenings
Forum Name: Long Hair Support
Forum Description: Growing it long takes commitment and support.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=549
Printed Date: October 21 2025 at 6:22am
Topic: How can i wear long hair to work
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Subject: How can i wear long hair to work
Date Posted: April 24 2003 at 1:01pm
|
Hi, I am an Indian girl with waist length black hair which i treasure. I normally wear it in a simplle braid, I have recently moved to london and am likely to get a job as a lawyer. I think it looks odd to wear such a braid to work in london where i have to wear a formal coat to office. My friends suggested i should cut it off to shoulder length and wear a ponytail to work. But i dont want to cut it off. Can anyone help me by suggesting how i can retain my hair and still look professional. |
Replies:
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: April 24 2003 at 1:52pm
|
Hi Kir Wear your hair with pride, sister!!! You can check out the hairstyle galleries here at HairBoutique.com. Also, this site has pics and instructions of updos/styles for mid to long length hair. I particularly like the Braided Bun and the French Loop, however the basic and double buns are the easiest to do. http://www.dressytresses.com/dwp/hairstyles.asp - http://www.dressytresses.com/dwp/hairstyles.asp http:// - Hope that helps. I wish you all the best in your career and with maintaining your long hair. The presence of longhairs in professional life will challenge the prejudices we all face at work - so I class people like yourself as Longhair Ambassadors. Take care Uzma ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: April 24 2003 at 2:58pm
I think long hair can look perfectly professional, especially with the right updos and accessories. Any smooth or sleek style looks great. Personally, I'd suggest french twists or figure eight buns. Excellent directions for doing a french twist held by combs can be found here: http://www.haarkram.e-something.de/start.html - http://www.haarkram.e-something.de/start.html If your hair is quite heavy and slippery (like mine), you might consider getting a Ficcare maximus clip to help hold up the French twist -- it makes things a bit easier. I can hold my hair up with a french twist comb, but the easiest way to get and keep it up is with the Maximus clip. The directions are the same, it's just you slide the Maximus over the entire roll. I don't know about their availability in London, though. In the US, they're available at Nordstrom's (a large and somewhat upscale department store). For figure eight buns, you can find directions here: http://www.bronzejewelers.com/demonstration_pictures.htm - http://www.bronzejewelers.com/demonstration_pictures.htm Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Another site that's got excellent updo instructions is located here: http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/242462 - http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/242462 It's got alternate instructions & pictures for the french twist and figure 8 bun, as well as many others. Good luck, Jonobie |
kir wrote:Posted By: Karrinne
Date Posted: April 25 2003 at 2:50pm
|
Good luck in your new job. I am a nurse and have hair almost to classic length. I often wear a ponytail, a braid, a braided bun, regular bun, figure 8 bun, French twist and French twist pony. Any of these last 5 are updos and would look professional. Do not cut your hair off and look like everyone else. Who knows, maybe you will become such a fine lawyer and your long hair will be your trademark!!!!! (The other side will see you come in the courtroom, see it's "that long haired lawyer" and run for the hills!!!!!lol)  ------------- hair today/hair tomorrow/hair always ??/37/52 See my hair at http://karrinne1960.tripod.com - http://karrinne1960.tripod.com |
Posted By: SuperGrover
Date Posted: April 25 2003 at 5:04pm
|
Hello Ev'reebodeee! I'm glad you posed that question! I have the same problems. Normally, I just wear my hair loose, but I think that makes me look to young. Yes, it is normally good to look young, but not when people still think you're an intern, even when you've been with the organization for 2 years! (Grrrr...) I've been trying to get in the habit of wearing it up at work. I figure I need to look professional to get promoted! I think wearing hair up in a French Twist is more sophisticated and classy. I also like wearing it in a bun, secured with Hair Sticks. You can find Hair Sticks at most stores where they sell hair clips, and I think they are sold here in the Marketplace section of HairBoutique.com I also recommend the Ficcare clips, which are very very similar to the "pelican clips" sold at HairBoutique as well. Check out the Evita Perroni collection! Very sophisticated.  Best of all, they're smooth and carefully made so they don't snag or damage your hair, like a lot of clips do.I vote for keeping your long hair! My boss has long hair, and she's an assistant VP! She always looks professional and sophisticated. Best of luck with your career! ------------- "Hair is a part of you. It is not a part of me, because I am a frog." - Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street1b/N/ii ~ ??"/27"/32" |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: April 25 2003 at 6:34pm
Hey SuperGrover! I have long hair... I'm also an assistant VP... I always look professional at the office... maybe having long hair is a requirement to looking professional and holding positions of responsibility...? ------------- |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: April 26 2003 at 11:51am
|
Dear All, Thanks for your support. But I have to appoligise - today, i decided and cut my hair to mid back level. I lost about 12-13 inches of hair and it was painful to lose it all. But my profession is very important and so i had hair cut off. Thanks again. Bye, Kir |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: April 26 2003 at 12:41pm
|
I'm sad for Kir, but not suprised that she chose to cut her hair. I've seen this happen too often in the UK. Kir's colleagues will probably compliment her shorter hair and encourage her to cut it into a shorter and more stylised shape. If she re-grows it, she will be faced with scowls, snide remarks and patronising attitudes. A classic case of group conformity and control vs individual self-determinism. Having worked in 4 large corporations in mid-management/consultancy roles, I know the (not so secret) hair code. The bias runs like this:- Long hair is associated with traditional femininity which is aligned to a degraded status. So (mostly) female cleaners have long hair, as do secretaries and administrators. Mid-length to short hair for grad students and junior managers. Middle and senior management wear it short and sharp. The women and men both in suits with short cuts - hardly different from each other. Corporate clones. My friends and family in the professions (medics, accountants, barristers) face a lack of credibility if their hair is longer than jaw length. Any expression of individuality in matters of chosen physical characteristics that are outside of current trends is subject to a range of responses from disapproval to punishment through the denial of opportunity and progress. I wish Kir had made a different choice and stood firm in keeping her length. However, I totally understand her decision. It is particularly difficult for minority/ethnic/non-white (pick your term) women to keep long hair as it has the association of cultural backwardness. Those of us who are established in our careers need to break the back of these attitudes within the workplace and help destroy the myth that professionalism is in any way indicated by the length of hair. This belief is illogical, stupid and damaging. Uzma ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Karrinne
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 9:54am
|
Uzma, I agree that the corporate world thinks a person needs short hair to fit in and succeed. As I said above, I am a nurse, and the first week of nursing school, they said we needed to cut our hair above our collars. I refused. I said I could pin it up and be much more out of my way and do just as well. I did so, although I got a lot of flak from my instructors and the director of the program. That was going on twenty years ago. I STILL have not cut my hair off and just marvel at the number of women who cut their hair off for their job and/or their "age". Oh, HOW I hate that "women of a certain age" thing!!!! Saw a woman who has ALWAYS had beautiful classic length chestnut hair cut it off when she hit 35, "I'm too old for long hair." Now WHAT made her think that? Guess I have always been a bit of a non conformist, even my kids tell me women "my age" don't wear butt length hair and tie dyed tshirts. Well, maybe they don't, but I DO!!  ------------- hair today/hair tomorrow/hair always ??/37/52 See my hair at http://karrinne1960.tripod.com - http://karrinne1960.tripod.com |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 10:25am
|
Good for you, Karrinne. I admire your resolve to keep your hair long despite the pressure to conform. The social and professional dictats that short hair is required/appropriate for corporate workers and post-menopausal women is a recent phenomena. In Britain, prior to the 1920s arrival of the flapper, short-bob and flat-breasted look for women - long hair was the norm. And you only have to walk through the National Gallery or Hampton Court to see that long-haired men were the norm for centuries. I knew I was born too late (sigh). In a lot of eastern cultures, women wear long hair all their lives, although they too are increasingly under pressure to conform to short hair which is falsely correlated with modernity, progress, wealth and development. Lets you and I and all the other longhairs and wannabe-longhairs make a pact to challenge these prejudices with our Shining Intellect and Big Smiles in the face of long hair hating frowns. Boo to the hair haters! Hail the Long Hair Liberation Front !!! I think every woman who grows long hair past 45 deserves a medal and every man who does so regardless of age deserves a medal and a kiss. Uzma (rocking on her heels and LOL) ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 10:33am
|
LOL, Uzma! And good for you, Karrinne! You should be able to wear your hair as long as you want it, no matter what your age is! But it's true that a lot of women cut their hair when they reach a certain age. Like I said in another thread, a colleague of mine is in her fifties and has the most gorgeous long hair. But some people are talking about her back, saying she's just trying to look young with that hair. But she looks gorgeous! I don't get it, I really don't. If your hair suits you, age has nothing to do with it! ------------- |
Posted By: hairalways
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 11:43am
|
Good for you Karinne!! You wear that gorgeous hair proudly! I am for Long Hair Liberation!! So wierd to be saying that - I am hispanic so long hair was always expected, but lately (since I turned 35) it has been "why are you growing your hair long?" so I guess after 35 you are not supposed to have it long anymore. What is that about? Oh yeah, the last office I worked in I was the only top level person with long hair - THE ONLY ONE!!m there were about 20 women in the office. I wore my hair in a low ponytail with a 4 inch thick strap (leather or fabric) Think horsetail wrap. Then I would put oil or gel on the rest of the length to keep it all together and it would just sit on my back. It was a great look and so easy. Watch old episodes of Ally Mcbeal for lots of great hair ideas - Portia DeRossi had really long hair and wore it in the coolest styles. take care. jacqui ------------- |
Posted By: papillon_purple
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 12:00pm
|
Just a note on eastern cultures. It's vastly different from what "was" and what "is." In schools, all students are required to have short hair, altho it is more lax now than a generation before. All girls were required to have chin (or shorter) length hair. When I went to school in Asia, the hair requirements were a bit more lax, ie you could perm your hair, but most students still had short hair. I apparently became very used to having short hair, and didn't even start having shoulder-length hair (as I do now) until my last few years in college. Go uzma! I'm starting grad school in the fall, but I'm not going to cut my hair! I like my hair at shoulder-length, and I want to grow it longer. I'll be running through the halls of the biology building with bra strap length hair! ------------- |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 8:41pm
Karrinne, kudos to you for sticking with your wishes!
There may (or may not!) be a correlation, but I firmly believe there is NOT a cause-and-effect relationship. On the contrary, I would hypothesize that people are more truly happy (free of commercial inducement and from spoken and unspoken societal pressures) and productive when they feel free to choose voluntary aspects of their own appearance.
LOL. I'm with you in spirit, Uzma. ------------- |
Posted By: Lady Maria
Date Posted: April 28 2003 at 10:37pm
|
Well I guess I could care less if women have long hair or not because I'm hetrosexual, so I don't care how women wear their hair . And as you all know by now, I wear my hair short, and I prefer it that way, and feel feminine with my hair in a short pixie/crop ! So I don't care one way or the other how women wear their hair, since I see women with long and short hair anyway. But I do wish more guys would wear long hair, especially if they keep it well groomed and clean! Twenty years ago when I was a little girl you used to see many more guys with long hair than you see today, and most of the guys in rock bands had long hair back then. What happened? Well the styles changed. Dave you and your long haired brothers have to start a new "long haired guys crusade"! A new trend! From what I know of the "hippy" era in the1960s and 70s, I am not really into those politics, and certainly not that lifestyle with the drugs and everything, but the guys were just darling with their long hair back then! They should bring back that hair fashion again for guys!!! ------------- Lady Maria |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 2:49am
That reminds me of something. (and p.s. the following is not directed at you personally, Maria) There's a theory that (heterosexual) women primarily try to look good for other women, that male opinions are less important in that respect . It's a well known fact women can be absolutely ruthless when it comes to another woman's appearance, way harsher than men. ------------- |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 4:44am
By the same token I don't care how men wear their hair. And, like you, I appreciate long hair on the opposite gender. But the issue is whether or not people -- men and women -- feel free to pursue their preferred hair length choice. Kir is one of countless examples of women who did not feel empowered to retain the long hair she treasured, instead sacrificing it on the alter of the widely-held notion of what constitutes a "professional" appearance. Ironically, by cutting her hair she "helped" perpetuate the perception.
Well that's flattering but the only topical "crusade" I would wish to see would be one in which people feel free of compulsions to cut their long hair for the sake of career aspirations, fashion, or other inter-personal pressures. And in small part, this board could help encourage the people who visit here to feel more empowered to keep their hair long, if that is what they wish -- Kir notwithstanding. ------------- |
Posted By: hairalways
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 4:51am
|
Dave - So wonderfully well put. I so agree. jacqui ------------- |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 4:53am
Hi Isla Q, At another time and place in my life, I observed this phenomenon (a woman I knew told me the same thing). When I first noticed it, it was both mildly amusing and a bit unsettling to see the women furiously (yet as subtly as possible) checking each other out and not noticing the guys around at all. ------------- |
Posted By: Lyris
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 7:23am
|
Although I have "long" hair for corporate America (shoulder length and working toward another 3-4 inches longer....eventually...) I think there's another reason so many gals around me cut their hair short around birthday #30: I live in Michigan where summers are unbearably hot and winters cold and windy. Less hair is easier to deal with. Sure, some people say you have to style short hair for hours a day but everyone I've talked to at my office this week disagrees. They say they keep it short because they've got kids who would otherwise be yanking on it, they don't have time to work with it and it really is easier than long hair. I don't think it is entirely about conformity--there's an element of convenience in there. Personally I would love to try short hair someday just to experience it....but not now because I love having long hair! ------------- Look for beauty, and you will find no intelligence. Look for intelligence and you will find both.Proud member of the Cult of All Soft |
Posted By: Karrinne
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 8:24am
|
I've talked to a lot of people who cut their hair thinking it would be easier to take care of, (these are normal people, not like some of us who are ALL wrapped up in their hair care). And when I see them a few months later they are growing out, short hair being just as aggravating. And here in the midwest/upper south area, short hair has the disadvantage of being right on the neck here in the summertime and no way to get it up being a big complaint. I've never had short hair so can't compare but I just don't see how it's any easier for the average person (other than quicker dry times). Most short cuts require curling, gel, whatevers so the time is still there. ------------- hair today/hair tomorrow/hair always ??/37/52 See my hair at http://karrinne1960.tripod.com - http://karrinne1960.tripod.com |
Posted By: Madeleine
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 12:34pm
I've had several different lengths and styles between waist and pixie and always found the shorther ones to be more work. I never got the pixie for me to work no matter how much time and products I spent on it, but I did like the look of a chin length bob on me quite a bit. I gave up that one because I was tired and sick of washing and blow drying every day to look decent, and heaven forbid fog or rain. For my fine, thin hair anything above the shoulders is high maintainance and I'm laaazy With long hair I don't have bad hair days. Even if I don't get one of the more complicated styles to work for some reason, a bun takes me ten seconds, looks good and never fails. ------------- Cheers, Madeleine --- Pixie/BS/Waist 1CFi |
Posted By: Brent
Date Posted: April 29 2003 at 7:19pm
|
Madeline: Welcome! .....nice to have someone from someplace other than the U.S. or the U.K. on board with us. Your writing of the English language is excellent Madeline. Women I know who have pixies find it is not much work at all to take care of if the pixie is very short. Longer pixies might be more work I would assume. ..........The important thing about hair length is freedom, the freedom of men or women to wear their hair any length. I believe people can do that more today than in the past. I hope so! |
Posted By: Madeleine
Date Posted: May 02 2003 at 9:15pm
Thanks for the welcome and compliment :)
Probably - my hair was rarely shorther than about 3cm (1 1/2"). I don't like wearing make-up and find that ultrashort styles require at least some eye make-up or the whole look easily becomes too masculine for my taste (another reason why I prefer long hair on myself). ------------- Cheers, Madeleine --- Pixie/BS/Waist 1CFi |
Posted By: ~CHoney
Date Posted: May 04 2003 at 8:58pm
|
I have had long since I was 3. When I was in elementary shcool I could sit on it. My mother forbade me to cut it, so I did once. Ugliest it has ever been! hehehe. Only other time I cut it was when my twins were born and two babes tugging leaving me with no free hand to remove my tresses from their grasps! I actually cut it from 20 inches to just above my chin. Functional, but looked really really bad on me! I have decided that I will never cut my hair. I am the only woman in the office with long hair (24") and I get complimented quite a bit from the other women. I love some of their styles (very short) but I know myself well enuf to know it looks bad on me! I love to do lots of different styles with my hair. I do struggle with dry ends, but I love my hair and so does my hubby! The people I work with are finding that I am indeed intelligent and jsut because I have long hair does NOT mean I am brain dead! HA!!! 
|
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 05 2003 at 7:11pm
Hi CHoney, Welcome to the board. Of course you are not unintelligent. Anybody who thinks long hair indicates lack of intelligence is, well, lacking in intelligence!Good for you for being true to your heart and wearing your hair long. It sounds like it is appreciated not only by *you* but also those around you. Congratulations. ------------- |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: May 08 2003 at 4:54am
|
I had Waist long thick black hair for years. Due to professional reasons, last week I got it cut to just a bit longer than Shoulder length (I discussed "How to wear long hair to work" on this board) Actually i told the hairdresser to cut it to BS length. But she has lopped 4-5 inches extra - closer to shoulder level. My hubby is wild at this and has fought intensely with me. Can somebody tell me how long it may take me to (1) Reach BS length. (2) Reach Tailbone length. |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: May 08 2003 at 7:22am
|
Jeez, some of these hairdressers are just pure evil! Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that your not happy with your current length. But if you don't mind me asking: do you want to grow it for yourself, or do you want to grow it for your husband? Regarding your question on how long it takes to go from just past the shoulders to BS-length: it took me personally 9 months. ------------- |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: May 09 2003 at 2:55am
| where do you live i live in hastings its a lot cheaper to have your hair cut |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 09 2003 at 6:17pm
Seems Kir's saying she's had enough hair cut for awhile... ------------- |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: May 10 2003 at 12:56pm
|
Kir I don’t understand. Are you now going to grow your hair long again? Is this because your husband wants you to? From what I’m reading, you cut it because your workplace is anti-longhair. Has that changed? Are you able to put up with possible anti-longhair comments at work in order to avoid possible anti-shorthair comments at home? What do you want for yourself? Truly. Uzma ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: May 12 2003 at 11:59am
|
Yes. I want to grow out my hair to BS level for my husband's sake. It is right now about 2-3 inches longer than shoulder level. I am asking you all these questions because i had waist long right from the beginning. This is the first time i have got it cut short, other than occassional trims. So i dont know how long it trakes to grow. Please somebody tell me how long it may take me to grow it to : (1) BS Level - immediate goal (2) Tailbone length - just in case i decide to grow it out to the original glory. |
Posted By: Karrinne
Date Posted: May 12 2003 at 12:08pm
|
The average person's hair grows a half inch a month, sometimes more, or less. So depending on how long your torso is, is how long it will take to grow out. You could be approaching your BS goal by Christmas. Waistlength, a couple years maybe. Just depends on your growth rate. I'm sorry cutting your hair has caused you trouble at home. I cut mine once, took eight inches off the bottom of it and my hubby threw a fit. That was sixteen years ago and haven't done it since. It was still long after it was cut, though. Hope you will be happy with your new decision to grow it out again and maybe growing it out slowly will enable you to have long hair at work without anyone bothering you about it's length there. ------------- hair today/hair tomorrow/hair always ??/37/52 See my hair at http://karrinne1960.tripod.com - http://karrinne1960.tripod.com |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: May 13 2003 at 2:42pm
|
I really hope that YOU will be happy with your hair, Kir. It can't be easy, people pulling you in different directions like that. Good luck to you. ------------- |