long haired guys travelling abroad
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=616
Printed Date: July 29 2025 at 12:40pm
Topic: long haired guys travelling abroad
Posted By: gilles
Subject: long haired guys travelling abroad
Date Posted: May 22 2003 at 11:23am
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Last year, I got invited to visit some people in Saudi Arabia for a few weeks. In their letter, they pointed out the fact that long hair on men is not accepted in Saudi Arabia, therefore that I should cut my hair before coming. I declined their invitation because I love having long hair and will not cut it just to visit a country for a few weeks. When I told a few co-workers about my decision not to travel to Saudi Arabia, most of them told me that I was having a unique opportunity and that I should cut my hair. They were saying that my hair will grow back. It was true but it would have taken quite a few years to grow back to the length it was. If my hair would had been shoulder length, I might had cut it but seeing that it was 3/4 down my back, that was another story. I wonder if you Dave or any other long haired guys on this forum with hair much longer than shoulder length would have cut your hair to go to Saudi Arabia or would have done exactly what I did and kept your long hair and stayed home? Apparently, there are still quite a few countries in the world where long haired men are not welcome, mostly in arab countries and South East Asia. So I'm afraid I will not be visiting them in a near future! By the way Dave, you are doing a great job as being the moderator of this forum. Thanks for all the free time you donate to all of us long haired people. It's greatly appreciated. Gilles |
Replies:
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 22 2003 at 7:50pm
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Hi Gilles, First, thank you for your kind words of appreciation. To me, it is the participation of you and everybody else who posts that makes this board a fun place to be. Secondly, thank you for providing me an opportunity for me to comment on the subject. In the situation you described, my choice would be extremely easy to make. If Saudi Arabians cannot accept the temporary presence of a long-haired man in their midst, then it is not a place I would even want to visit. Part of the basis for enjoying a vacation to a far-away land is hospitable treatment from the locals, yet, from what you say, this would not be possible in Saudi Arabia. I enjoy occasional travel and have seen parts of three continents, but Saudi Arabia has never been on my radar as a potential tourist destination. Even if they did permit long-haired men to visit, I still wouldn't view it as a "unique opportunity." (a "unique opportunity" for a haircut? no thanks!) I intend no disrespect to the land, but it just has never held any interest on my part. This topic could be the impetus for a slightly tangential discussion of the politics of long hair... but I'll refrain for now.  ------------- |
Posted By: Kintaro
Date Posted: May 23 2003 at 12:26am
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Stay in countries where freethought and freedoms exist. I've also looked at what places can socially accept long hair, and well, most of those places are where civil liberties are NOT at a minimum or not inexistant.... edit: i said the reverse ------------- I hate all of the following and lots more : Fundamentalists, racists, sexists, fascists, ageists (people saying seniors = senile , kids = stupid , 18 = immature or a combo of them), and bigots for causes yet to receive their own designation. |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: May 23 2003 at 1:29am
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Hi Gilles I have ancestral roots in "Saudi" Arabia and family living there at present. It is a very oppressive society for the locals themselves. Free expression and creativity is not permitted and the police that walk the streets with batons have the "right" to beat you they think you are not behaving in a appropriate manner. Tourism was not recognised as a valid reason to go there for many years, and they make it very difficult for non-Muslims to (a) enter the country unless work-related (b) go to certain parts of the country at all. I personally will not go there except for the pilgrimage to Mecca. It may be an idea to try other parts of greater Arabia. I don't envisage you having the same trouble in most of the Gulf countries, Lebanon, Jordan or Egypt. Also, many local men cover their head and hair with the traditional male headgear. So if you were headed for a very conservative area, you would blend in. Hope that helps somewhat. Uzma ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: IowaBiker
Date Posted: May 23 2003 at 8:29am
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My hair sounds like its about the same length as yours and I know how long it takes to grow. My answer would be the same as yours: NO THANKS! PS: the way things are going over there, it doesn't sound too safe anyway. |