Maybe you’ve seen actors in movies sporting long hair and wonder, is that something I could pull off? Of maybe you’re already growing your hair out and wondering how long you should go. As far back as Samson (and probably further) long hair has been a double–edged sword for men. We talked to some men who have or have had long hair and they gave us some interesting insights.

It’s Eye-Catching And Attractive... True Or False?

This is true. Long hair on a guy does turn heads, but it is a very delicate line as to why. Think of guys who are known for their longer hair… John Rzeznik, Matthew McConnaughey, Johnny Depp. All these guys show up on most women’s lists of hot guys, but also realize that these guys are also known for looking good no matter what length their hair is.

On the other side of the coin, you have the long curls of Howard Stern and the Pauly Shore. Neither of these guys were catapulted into the upper echelons of Hollywood hotness by their long hair. In fact, that may be why Pauly Shore cut his off. Eric, 27, a “recovering long-haired man” in his own words, explained that, “for me it wasn’t really worth all the fuss and expense because in the end I looked more like Weird Al than Captain Jack Sparrow. Ask your stylist, your girlfriend and your guy friends for honest feedback – and take it to heart. I ignored it for too long and have the pictures to prove it.”

It’s Hard to Maintain

No matter which side of the issue you land on, there is no denying that long hair takes more time and effort to maintain than short hair. Men with long hair – especially those who have grown it out more recently – can find themselves in uncharted waters when it comes to hair products. This may or may not be a deterrent to some guys, but know now that you will need to become very aware of the character of your hair – how prone it is to dryness, how to prevent fly-aways, what causes frizz and what controls it. Of course your girlfriend can tell you that the answers to these questions will vary from individual to individual and even from day to day.

Roger, 35, who has recently cropped his hair short, told us, “I started growing my hair out in high school and had to take my mom with me to help me make sense of all the hair products. She gave me some good advice, but after ten years with long hair, I was the one giving her tips and tricks. It was a little different, but it was also a lot of fun.”

When we asked why he cut it off after all this time, he responded, “I was just ready for a change. I might grow it out again someday.”

The Stigma

Even today in our more enlightened society, there is still an underlying stigma attached to guys with long hair. “I get singled out for random searches by airport security more often than my friends do,” says Steve, 24, “But I don’t mind it too much. I love my hair. I take care of it, but I don’t obsess.”

To us, that seems to be the best advice. If it works for you, then work it. Find products that you can afford that keep your hair healthy and manageable, but please, please, please never pull it back into a pony tail – especially under a baseball cap.

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