I recently made the switch from long hair to short hair, mostly because I got sick of the maintenance and look after events, but I can’t deny how awesome flowing locks look in the middle of a race. Every joker had to make the totally unoriginal quip about how I was going to run/bike/swim faster without the extra hair (nothing said about my beard, of course), so let’s talk about that.
How do you keep your hair? Buzzed, short/cropped, medium, or long? Male or female? And what has your experience been with it?
Medium, Male. I could pull it back to a ponytail, but add in the shaved legs and lycra and I have a real problem convincing my wife that I’m still in love with her.
I have to admit, I’m getting frustrated with it. My wife won’t let me shave my head anymore because I’ve ruined too many family photos.
Well, I’ve had a beard longer than you have, 40+ years. So it never comes off. I do clip it shorter during the summer but that’s it. From a hair perspective, while at one time it was shoulder length, let’s just say that it doesn’t grow on parts of my head anymore. I now keep it pretty short but not buzzed. Real easy to look after it all and it all dries pretty quick. Generally get trimmed every 2 to 3 months.
I can only aspire to live long enough to say that I have had my beard for 40+ years. Some teammates have been giving me crap for keeping a beard, but I think it’s just jealousy. Besides, I’m a year-round trail runner. The beard just kind of goes with the territory, if this dude is any evidence…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goZNN8h6M6E
Hair length has varied during the various stages in my life…funny only this thread made me look back and think about it.
I’d say when convenience is listed high in the priorities short hair wins by far. When looks rank higher in the priorities i agree that a well, cured and maintained mane has some kind of appeal to it.
But the main thing that comes to mind is timing, as in age. A young person can get away with most everything, as people grow older certain things begin to look out of place, and long hair, in my opinion, is one of them. It’s all relative as “old” doesn’t equal a specific number in years; however I’m yet to see someone over 40 that looks good with long hair.
BTW I’m male, and re reading my post it definitively shows I’m referring mostly to the male case.
Never had really long hair, but once I started balding, I just shaved it all off. $20 clippers used
about every 1-2 weeks has made life much simpler (apart from the need for hats or sunscreen).
I highly recommend giving it a try.
Short. Male. I’m younger (mid 20’s) and look even more like a kid with my hair buzzed…but damn, it was so convenient. I’ve contemplated going back but I work in an environment where I’m already awfully young and in other areas try to do things that make me seem/look older, more mature, more seasoned, etc. I’d love to grow my hair out, but 1.) see previous comment about job, and looks being important, and 2.) my hair is insanely straight and grows straight outward, which results in the whitest, white boy 'fro until my hair would be several inches long. Do not want.
Short hair and clean shaven is definitely my preference when it comes to racing triathlons, especially when I am feeling serious and want to race fast. Typically I grow a beard over the winter and then shave prior to the racing season. This year I started taking Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and after the 5th lesson about dumping debt, I pledged I wouldn’t shave my beard or cut my hair until I was debt free, I had $14,770 worth of debt at the time and it was the beginning of March, I was just starting to think about shaving…
Unless I sell the van, I won’t have everything paid off until July or August, so I’ll be racing most of the season with shoulder length hair and a full beard. It does make for some unique race photos… I considered contacting Geico regarding sponsorship, “Triathlon, so easy even a caveman can do it…” but they probably wouldn’t let me shave my legs then…
When it comes to the actual racing, mostly I just let the hair go, though occasionally I will do a headband or visor. Then I wear a visor a lot before and after the race to keep the hair under control.
Tony, that look is awesome! I am so envious of your caveman look. If I could pull it off without becoming suddenly single, I might do it. Of course, I’m moving to Kentucky soon, so it might work out. Best of luck on the debt mission. I’m sure things will pan out soon.
When I was rockin’ the locks, I became very well-acquainted with the local shop’s selection of cycling caps until it was long enough to stay out of my face.
I almost cut my hair, it was happened just the other day.
It was gettin’ kinda long, I could’ve said it was in my way.
But I didn’t and I wonder why, I feel like letting my freak flag fly,
And I feel like I owe it to someone.
Well, must be because I had the flu for Christmas and I’m not feeling up to par.
You know, it increases my paranoia, like looking in my mirror and seeing a police car.
But I’m not givin’ in an inch to fear. I promised myself this year.
I feel like I owe it to someone.
When I finally get myself together, I’m going to get down in that sunny southern weather.
And going to find a space inside to laugh, separate the wheat from the chaff.
'Cause I feel like I owe it to someone.
Got you beat, razor it all off. Just go from top to bottom, no need to switch it up.
I guess it depends how often you do it. I think I could use a razor if I did it daily, or maybe every few days,
but that seems like a lot of work. When I’ve tried a normal razor at the 1-2 week interval, it gets all clogged
and ends up being more of a pain than the clippers. So I’m not sure which dimension you have me “beat”,
price, time, or look? My plan is mostly optimized for time, although the price is pretty good too.
I couldn’t imaging racing / sweating with a full beard. I’ll let it grow for 4-5 days and it bugs the crap out of me.
I have short hair and it the sides certainly grow more full than the top does now. Dammit. I kinda want to shave it all off, but I am afraid of what it will look like. I have slammed my head against a ton of things over the past 38 years.
I coach a girls youth soccer team. I told them that if we win our next 3 games that I would let them shave me head. They were all excited except for my daughter. I think she might cry if this happens so I need to think of a new reward.
Ha, nice. Makes me think of the NHL’s “Playoff beard” tradition, or Bjorn Borg’s old superstition about not shaving for Wimbledon.
I grew mine out in college after I got out of the military… it was kind of a messy PITA during the ‘in-between’ stage until it got long enough to just do a simple ponytail. I gotta say, my hairline is full enough and I get just enough wavy not-quite-curls that I could pull off a pretty bitchin’ rock-star mane back in the day.
Finally got it cut when I graduated. Nowadays, I let it go a bit during the winter and pay for a few haircuts to keep it looking presentable at the office, but I’ll bust out the clippers at the beginning of spring and keep it buzzed down all summer. I’ll start with a #3 guard on top (fading down to a #1 on the sides) and then as the season progresses and it gets warmer I’ll ratchet down to a #1 all over. Part of it is the super-low maintenance aspect, but the other bonus is converting what I’d spend on haircuts into a more generous beer/margarita allowance. The $25 clippers paid for themselves the first couple months.
Best of luck on the debt mission. I’m sure things will pan out soon.