Would you let your son keep his long?
By snoopy04
@snoopy04 (718)
United States
January 26, 2008 10:38am CST
I was at a friends house Friday night with my husband and kids and after dinner we were sitting around talking and we engaged in a conversation about boys and long hair. My friend saw a story on our local news about a boy who was suspended from school because he wouldnt cut his hair. I saw the story as well and I said I thought the boy was right. His hair was long but it was neatly kept and he had it in a ponytail. The parents of the boy were on his side and didnt want him to cut his hair either.
So my friend asked me if Zac and or Logan wanted to grow their hair long would I let them. I told yes as long as it was kept neat and tied back and it was clean. She thought I was in the wrong and that my kids wouldnt be able to get a good job because I would let them look like hippies.
I realize that appearence is very important in getting a job but as long as they dress like clean cut kids and their hair is pulled back then it shouldnt matter. Logan is a special needs child so we know what his limitations are. Zac is a very smart boy who I hope will do great in school and maybe go on to college someday. As long as he gets good grades and tries to be the best that he can be then his hair length shouldnt matter. I believe in supporting my kids and try to steer them down the right path and for me fighting over my sons hair length isnt worth the time or effort. They are responsible little boys and later on if my sons want long hair then I will support them 100%.
What are your views; would you support your son if he grew his hair long?
3 people like this
18 responses
@ky1119 (698)
• United States
26 Jan 08
My oldest boy, Logan :), is almost 15 and he has longer hair. It's not real long, but long enough and he likes it that way. It's clean and kept neat, so I see no problem with it. Besides, sometimes you have to pick your battles, and trying to make him cut his hair is a battle I wouldn't want to fight.
I had to snicker when I read your post. My son's name is Logan and his best friends name is Zac, even spelled the same.
1 person likes this
@gantwick (849)
• United States
26 Jan 08
I have no problem with long hair, as long as it's kept clean and doesn't become a problem at work (my sister dated a guy who got his long hair caught in a high school shop machine and had about half of it yanked out). If either of my sons wanted to let their hair grow long, I'd tell them just what I said here.
1 person likes this
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
28 Jan 08
As long as they take care of it and it is neat then I see nothing wrong with boys with long hair. My 6yo son is growing his out. The back now comes past his collar and the front and sides cover his ears. We're probably going to have to cut it soon because he goes to a Catholic school and they have rules about boy's hair. But I don't have a problem with it and I think he looks cute. It's a little too shaggy for my taste now and needs to be trimmed and evened out.
My dad is constantly on my case to cut it because he thinks boys should have clean, short cuts.
My son has been growing it out for over a year now.
I also have 3 girls and right now I think I'm going to take my oldest two to get their hair chopped off. Same rules apply--if they keep it neat then I have no problem with them having long hair but they refuse to brush it and won't let me do it either. They are 7 and 5 and their hair is a mess. It is always tangled and matted in the back and my 7yo goes to school like that because she fights me when I try to brush it and makes us late.
I'm tired of the fuss so their getting it cut short (above the shoulder, I think).
@livintx49 (245)
• United States
27 Jan 08
100%.I have a 12 yr.old grandson and his mom is letting him grow his hair.It's something so small so why make a big deal over it? He'll want it short oneday.Life is to short to be bothered with things like that.If they want to pick on kids go after the ones that show the underwear!!That's repulsive.
@snoopy04 (718)
• United States
27 Jan 08
You are so right about the underwear. I hate seeing kids with their underwear showing and I want to try to teach my sons that kind of dressing is not acceptable. I would rather have them grow their hair long then show their behind to the whole world.
@johndur (3052)
• Pasig, Philippines
3 Feb 08
long hair for men?it all depends on the kind of person they are and most schools doesnt tolerate boys to have long hair...rules are rules they should follow rules in order for them to grow more mature and law abiding citizens...how can they be a good citizen if they cant follow the simple school rules?besides long hair are meant for womens and not for men only band memebers and painters have long hair because of their work...
@raeann682008 (32)
• United States
26 Jan 08
I feel that the schools are starting to take away the kids rights. They need to be able to be an individual. I don't care for the pants at the knees, or the short tops and shirts. But come on, Why can't kids be who they are.
My son (now 14) from age 7-10 grew his hair long, he was trying to grow it for locks of love. Sadly we got it cut and it wasn/t long enough. Now 14 him and his twin brother are both growing their hair out agian, with no objects from me. As long as they keep it neat and clean it isnt hurting anyone. One of the pastors and a few of the ministery leaders have long hair and they have it kept neat. Mind you I go to a church that is very laid back in dress, but very spirtual.
Who says that these kids aren't goingto gain wonderful employment? And who knows if whenthy are ready to apply for a job that they wont decided , wait im gonna be a doctor (though one of my docotrs has beautuiful long hair and he is an awesom doctor).
There is way to much violence,bullying,hate, homelessness. kids lost becuasue they arent wanted out there that hair shouldnt be the issue that we look at.
thats my 2 cents
1 person likes this
@wrknggirl68 (96)
• United States
27 Jan 08
The length of someone's hair has nothing to do with the ability to do a job. As long as it is kept clean and neat and doesn't interfere with completing job duties, it shouldn't matter. These kind of comments just show we as a society have still failed to stop making snap judgements based on outward appearances. If a job, due to safety or other commen sense reason, requiring short hair would exclude a long haired person from applying, they would have to decide if the job was worth it. I would say having an income would trump the hair though.
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
28 Jan 08
This is sick. No school, no church, no organization...should be able to determine if a child needs to cut hair or not. I guess the one exception that is accepted is in the military where boys pretty much have to have their heads shaved. I have always let my kids do what they want with their hair. They pretty much keep them in long brush cuts. Some days they spike them with lots of gel. One of my sons has talked about bleaching his spikes. Fine with me. My stepson wanted blue hair and I helped him with it. Suspending a child for a haircut or lack thereof is totally wrong.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Well i never let my boys have long hair when they were growing up..It was never an issue with them they knew that they were not to have long hair....My son in law had long hair when my daughter married him and she hated it, she was always trying to get him to cut his hair but he never would...well when he had to finally go out and get a job, the employer always complained about his long hair, he always kept it neat and in a pony tail, but they always rode him about his hair..He was able to get a really great job with a lot better pay but there was one problem " yes it was the HAIR" he had to either cut it or no job" so he cut it...I have to agree he looks so much better..I do not think long hair makes a boy bad, but it does carry a stigma with it, people look at them as hippies, its sorta like tatoos, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of employers for a man with long hair...You do not have to fight your boys about their hair, but when they are older and want to get ahead in life they will face a problem with getting ahead in life finacially if they have long hair...I think that a school has rules to uphold and if they do not want a student to have long hair, i feel that they should have it cut, it really is not healthly for your children to try and buck the system,it teaches them to disrespect authority..Right now your boys are young bit if their hair becomes a problem then i feel they should abide by the rules....
@Lovett (464)
• India
27 Jan 08
i would allow my son to keep his hair long if he wants it,,,as long as its kept clean n ties neatly. But if the school or his offce doesnot permit him to do so,,,i would then make him cut it off,,,well we have to abide by the rules of the schooll,,,after all,,rules r rules,,,later on,,,i would not wants a bad tag put on my son's resume that he was kicked out of school,just becos of stupid long hari,,,which is avoidable of course!
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Long hair must be the new thing all the boys in my family are growing their hair out and I think it looks so messy then they take as long as a girl to get ready with all that hair. My nephew has thick hair and its just everywhere. I guess every boy goes through this because I remember when my brother had long hair and my husband has pictures when he was growing up with long hair. I think long hair and facial hair makes someone look dirty.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
27 Jan 08
I happen to love long hair on men and yes, if I had a son and he wanted to grow his hair then I would allow it. I know very many successful men who have long hair. When it is neat, clean and styled it is very attractive...look at fabio. The boy is right.
@Estina54 (385)
• United States
27 Jan 08
I think so too, people should be judged for what they have "under their hair" not only by appearance. It is denigrating to treat somebody like this, adult or child, to have to look like he was in some kind of prison anf have his hair short, almost shaved.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
27 Jan 08
My Son is 13, he has long hair, he is a Skateboarder with eclectic other hobbies and sports. He decided he wanted to grow out his hair about 2 years ago, and I let him. He is an A student does not give me a moments grief and He and I share a very good relationship. I support him 100%. He gets a lot of flack from other people, kids and adults. He handles all the jokes and ribbing in stride. I am proud of him for that. His older brothers hate it. They give him such a hard time.
I am like you however as long as he does what I want him to keeps his grades on level that I know he is capable of, he will wear his hair as he wants to. There are limits to what is acceptable even for me but long hair on young men is not one of them. I was of the generation that adored guys with hair. I get so tired of all the southern men walking around with heads cut military style.
Dad Gum at least My Son will be able to say he remembers when he had hair before he starts balding like his Father LMAO.
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
27 Jan 08
I believe that hair is one thing that goes with our personality, so yes, I would support my kids if they like to let their hair grow long, even if it is my son. However, my son do not like long hair. So when ever it grow to much he make a cut when he goes to his father. I think you are right. You can not form your kids after your nature. The kids will form them selfs. And if that mean they will have long hair, so be it. It is who they are, what they do, what they want to be, thats matter. We as adult should not put our values in how other people think or do. It seems your friend has values that she should be aware of. I do not think a chief will put so much in how the hair goes, when employ them, I mean, you might have short hair when you get the job, but years later you let your hair grow.....would you lose your job because of that. No, I do not think so.
have a great day
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Hair is a personal issue. Its a way kids use to express themselves and find their identity. Whether its long or short, if its clean and neat it should not be an issue. There are a lot of other things to worry about these days than the length of their locks. Kudos to you for supporting them in their decision!
