Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53: Previous Next
Hi,
I'm still (relatively) new to this forum but have asked a few questions recently. I am still completely new to the idea of men growing long hair but really started to like the idea. One thing I don't like, however, is my curly hair as I had desired it to be straighter when I decided to let it grow long. It was only after it grew did I even know it was curly.
I have heard many people refer to the "grass is greener" cliché in terms of desired hair type, and it definitely holds true for myself as I have not (at least not yet) gained any appreciation for my hair. "Everyone" wants their hair to be different, I have been told. But I started to wonder how true this is. If you can spare a moment, please take the short survey I have created on the topic. At the conclusion of the survey, I will share the results.
As a side question...are curly-haired guys at a disadvantage when it comes to hair choices? It seems far more common and much easier for people to have their hair curled than to have their hair straightened. I would imagine that the cause for this would have to be either that curls are far more desired or that straight hair is far more difficult to achieve. I'm just a newbie, so please advise.
Thanks
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Doug on April 03, 2004 at 15:22:59: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
I think often the answer is "yes". A hair stylist told me once that everyone wants different hair than they have. I've read more messages here about guys straightening their hair than curling it, but guys are interested in both. I think if you go to a good salon either can be done well, but you have to be prepared for possible hair damage from the chemicals. I think one reason curling may seem to work better is because there's more room for error. If the hair comes out a little more or less curly than expected, it still looks about the same. But you can see immediately if hair is perfectly straight or still has a little wave or curl in it.
I think it's really best to try to find a hair style that works with your natural hair, although it might make sense to do something to it to help during the awkward stage.
Doug
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Luckskind on April 03, 2004 at 15:44:00: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
Took your survey.
My answer is that maybe most people have, at one time or another,
wished their hair were different than the hair they actually have.
Mine could be best described as 'wavy'.
But to be more a bit specific, it is sort of straight for the first
several inches at the top of my head.
This then turns into large waves as you follow it downward.
The last several inches (toward the ends) are somewhat curly.
All of the above is most likely due to the weight of the hair.
If I could change my hair a bit, I would have more waves and curls at the top.
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 15:56:46: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Luckskind on April 03, 2004 at 15:44:00:
The reason I am not too fond of my curly hair is that I dislike how it is simply growing upwards (and it seems like if it were straight it would go down at this point). I am hoping that it will (eventually?) start to fall down, but my hair doesn't seem too heavy except for when it's wet. I worry about exactly 'how' curly it is and how it will look when it falls down. The reason being is that I just don't like the look of really tight curls. I would prefer my hair to be wavy if not straight. I want to be able to see (at least most of) the true length of my hair without having to pull it. My hair is 3.5 inches long but curls and only appears to be 1 inch. I am skeptical about hair straightening stuff and wish it was as easy to go one way as it is the other, since making hair curly seems to be a pretty popular thing, at least with a lot of women.
Thanks for taking the survey; I will have the results in 10 days if anyone else is interested in them.
: Took your survey.
: My answer is that maybe most people have, at one time or another,
: wished their hair were different than the hair they actually have.
: Mine could be best described as 'wavy'.
: But to be more a bit specific, it is sort of straight for the first
: several inches at the top of my head.
: This then turns into large waves as you follow it downward.
: The last several inches (toward the ends) are somewhat curly.
: All of the above is most likely due to the weight of the hair.
: If I could change my hair a bit, I would have more waves and curls at the top.
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Luckskind on April 03, 2004 at 19:03:01: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 15:56:46:
Curly hair is more of a challenge when growing hair long.
I would imagine that the awkward phase would be more difficult too.
Curly-wavy hair would also take a bit longer to show its true length, as
you mentioned in your post.
Good luck on your Journey!
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Sorted on April 04, 2004 at 11:09:35: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 15:56:46:
: The reason I am not too fond of my curly hair is that I dislike how it is simply growing upwards (and it seems like if it were straight it would go down at this point). I am hoping that it will (eventually?) start to fall down, but my hair doesn't seem too heavy except for when it's wet.
I wouldn't worry, eventually (probably in just a few short months) it will be growing downwards.
I worry about exactly 'how' curly it is and how it will look when it falls down. The reason being is that I just don't like the look of really tight curls.
Once the hair gets some weight to it from extra length you'll probably find you hair will not have such a tight curl. Besides, there are always ceramic straightners for a different look.
:I would prefer my hair to be wavy if not straight. I want to be able to see (at least most of) the true length of my hair without having to pull it.
My hair wavy, and I would prefer it to be straight. Like Luckskind my hair is straighter on top and more wavy towards the ends, (though only 8.5-9.0 inches long). This kinda re-iterates my previous point. But also to say, that we all want our hair to be somewhat different from what it is.
But our preferences are also drawn from fashions. Back in the 80's there were a lot of perms going on - everyone wanted curly hair. In the past 5 years we have been bombared with images of long straight hair, so it becomes the preference. But hey, its swings and roundabouts, in a couple of years time long curly hair could be the next major trend.
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Surferdude on April 04, 2004 at 11:52:18: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Sorted on April 04, 2004 at 11:09:35:
Sorted, have you got a picture of your hair when you first started to grow it? Your hair looks awesome now, but I was thinking, i just wanted to see the transformation.
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Theron on April 03, 2004 at 16:19:30: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
Hi :-)
Yes, I think you are right, and that for most people the grass is always greener on the other side. I am a former stylist, and people with straight hair were always getting perms to make it curly, and those with curly hair wanted theirs straight. For myself, I have perfectly straight hair, and I have always wished it was naturally curly. I have always thought those with curly hair looked to have hair that was fuller, and that the waves and curls were flattering to the face...where as I find my straight hair lifeless and limp, and just plain boring, after all it just hangs there, lol.
Theron :-)
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by baldie the eagle on April 03, 2004 at 23:47:13: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
I agree with the other replies - I have always had wavy hair, so for every three inches it grew, an inch would be used up in the wave, s it would only seem to have grown two inches.
I think wavy hair looks better once it has grown, though, and you'll do a lot of damage trying to straighten yours, so let time and length sort it out instead. It is true that the awkward stage takes longer to get through, but it will be worth it in the end.
Happy growing
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by PiccoloNamek on April 04, 2004 at 12:59:59: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
Yes! I'd love to have perfectly straight hair. Right now I have what I like to call "Borderline Curly Hair" or "Extremely Wavy Hair" and I can't do anything with it. I think I lose about half an inch of length for every 3 inches of hair because of the big curls in it.
If I could have any hair type, I'd like to have hair like Vega from the Steet Fighter Games.
Oh well. At least I don't have "Extraordinarily Curly Hair" like my brother.
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Sid on April 04, 2004 at 14:11:45: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
If you want to know whats going to be "in" or not, just look at Jennifer Aniston. It seems that everyone copies her hairstyles, like for years she had it straight and that's what people were doing. Now she is starting to wear it more naturally wavy and so other people are starting to follow.
Me, I just think people should be happy with what they have! (Although I wish my hair wasn't so thick!)
Re: Is the grass greener on the other side?
Posted by Doomlord on April 04, 2004 at 20:15:32: Previous Next
In Reply to: Is the grass greener on the other side? posted by Qwer Ty on April 03, 2004 at 13:06:53:
Yup, Ive also found this to be true. I, like others here have wavy hair, the kind that starts out straight and gets wavier as it gets longer. At first I always wanted straight flat hair, but after years of people complimenting me on it, I decided I started appreciating what I have.
Ive noticed a lot of people who want something different just end up damaging their hair in the hopes of getting something different, then they end up with something a lot worse that they started with. Oh well.
: I'm still (relatively) new to this forum but have asked a few questions recently. I am still completely new to the idea of men growing long hair but really started to like the idea. One thing I don't like, however, is my curly hair as I had desired it to be straighter when I decided to let it grow long. It was only after it grew did I even know it was curly.
: I have heard many people refer to the "grass is greener" cliché in terms of desired hair type, and it definitely holds true for myself as I have not (at least not yet) gained any appreciation for my hair. "Everyone" wants their hair to be different, I have been told. But I started to wonder how true this is. If you can spare a moment, please take the short survey I have created on the topic. At the conclusion of the survey, I will share the results.