You don't need to be a Greek God or a headbanging guitarist in a metal band to pull off a long hairstyle. Men really should try long hairs more often as it not only looks stunning, but it opens doors for you to create some of the trendiest hairstyles. From slicked-back looks, to ponytails and braids, you will have plenty of options to choose from.
The common worries among men who are afraid to let their hair grow out are, How am I going to maintain it? and will it suit me?. By following simple tricks and guidelines, taking care of longer hair will be a piece of cake.
Whether it is going to suit you or not depends upon the choice of hairstyle, the health of your hair, how you maintain it, and your natural hair type.
If this is the first time in your life that you have thought about letting your hair reach your shoulders, then you might want to take a look at the information that we have compiled below.
The motivation for long hair —Why choose it?
Going on a long hair journey is not for people who give up fast. In order to gain something, you should be ready to give up something, and in this case, you will be giving your considerable effort and time.
There will come times when you'd just want to get a haircut and get it over with, but staying goal-oriented is the key here.
Keep your focus on the reward that awaits you- long and glorious hair! Remember, in the end, it will be worth the wait. Here is some motivation for you to help you along the way.
1) You'd be able to do new things with your hair
Indeed, you have a plethora of options for short hairstyles, but there are only so many things you can try with the same hair type, length and texture.
With your hair all grown out, you'd be surprised to know how many new hairstyles will finally be within your reach.
Carrying the same old look can be exhaustingly boring. Having long hair will allow you to frequently transform yourself into something different.
If that's not enough motivation, then think about the appreciation and compliments, you'd be rounding up by the people you know.
2) Get ready for a whole new level of confidence
For some people, staying in their comfort zone is everything. These fear-driven comfort zones hold people back from having unique experiences in their lives that might prove beneficial to them. Stepping out of your comfort zone can sometimes feel equivalent to jumping out of an airplane for some people. Are you one of those people? If so, then we have some words that may hit home for you.
Always try to find the audacity to push through the hard times, and later on, you'll be glad you did. By stepping outside of your comfort zone, you will finally open up to your true self and overcome the fears of the unknown.
Once you have reached your desired length, your upgraded appearance will give you a whole new level of experience.
3) Stand out in a crowd
Consider a room full of men with similar looks, and you walk in with your unique mane-like hair, you can be sure that everybody will take notice. For some people, getting noticed and appreciated means the world to them.
If you seek such distinguishable looks and attention, then long hairstyles can be a real difference-maker.
No matter where you go, whether at a party or a crowded wedding, you would be easily recognizable.
Moreover, if you have pulled off a stunning hairstyle with the length, then no doubt, you would definitely be the focal point of extra attention on any occasion.
4) You will learn resilience and patience from the journey
Refraining from haircuts sometimes can be a strenuous task, especially during the phase when your hair is not short enough to carry a style and not long enough to have slicked back nor braided.
At that point, all you are wanting to do is head out to the barber and get rid of all the trouble. Moments like these can define how goal-oriented you are and how strong your will power is.
To gain something, you have to stay calm and focused. Just think of the golden results you are going to get after the long wait.
5) Get into a competition with your friend
Going through all that trouble alone is harder than it is when you have a companion with the same goals.
It is best to have a friend that not only motivates you but also helps you to stay focused and never lose sight of the destination.
Therefore, engaging in a competition with your friend can prove helpful.
Set a reward and whoever gets to the desired length faster wins! This will increase the chances that you will survive without a haircut.
Moreover, it will make the whole thing a fun and memorable journey.
6) Prepare yourself for appreciation
After successfully getting to the desired length, you will find yourself at the center of people's appreciation.
Everybody you know may secretly admire you for what you have accomplished, especially the ones who never got to reach the same hair length.
You will also be an inspiration — someone to look up to, especially to people who failed to reach the same point that you did.
7) You'd be able to pull off a rock star look
Seeing a metal guitarist headbanging like crazy makes you stand up wherever you are and imitate it. However, without the shoulder-length hair, headbanging just isn't as much fun!
For rock music lovers, being able to bang their heads just like their favorite performers can be enough motivation to let their hair grow out.
8) You will learn how to maintain your hair
Taking care of your hair and managing an efficient care routine is a part of letting your hair grow.
You'd have to use appropriate oils, suitable hair care products, correct moisturizers and stay away from things that compromise the health of your hair. In the end, you would get the length as a reward, but do not forget all of the expertise to take care of your hair.
How long does it take to grow hair?
The growth rate varies from person to person depending upon the health of your hair. But on average, a person's hair grows about half an inch in one month.
For some people, it is even slower, around ¾ inches per month. We know what you might be thinking- that it is surprisingly slow!
To reach from your normal hair length to shoulder length, it may take a year or in some cases, even longer than that.
Some factors are directly responsible for altering the hair-growth rate for everyone. Let's look into what defines that growth rate.
Hair type
A general misconception that most people have is that curly hair grows slower than straighter hair.
This is not entirely true, as the growth rate is the same for both hair types, but because of the spiral formation, it may appear to grow slower.
Moreover, it is harder to keep curly hair healthy, and health is something that affects the growth directly.
The health of your hair
Needless to say, long length and good health of hair go side by side. You need to construct an efficient haircare routine to maintain the health of your hair. If you already have damaged hair, then first thing's first, you must restore the health of your hair before letting your hair grow long.
Ethnicity
You may not have thought that something like ethnicity can affect hair growth. Although the contribution of this factor is oftentimes negligible, it still plays a vital role in forming a hair care routine for long hair.
For instance, the more straight your hair is, the easier it will be to grow long. That's why the Asian hair growth rate is slightly faster than Caucasian and African hair.
Genetics
We all are now aware that male and female pattern baldness is strictly related to genetics. In addition to that, how much length your hair obtains is affected by genetics as well.
Gender
Growth is the same irrespective of gender. However, on the contrary, you may have heard from people that men's hair grows faster than women’s hair. Why is that? One possible explanation might be related to the fact that women's hair is prone to heat styling, harsh hair care products, and breakage, while men usually go natural.
Age
After genetics, nothing affects your hair more than age. The older you get, the weaker your hair follicles become, which results in hair thinning. That is why you often see older men with bald crowns.
Long hairstyles for Men
Whether you want a slicked back look or braids, it is not possible unless you have sufficient length. Here is the list of some trendiest long hairstyles for men.
1) Slicked back hairstyle
This is the most common inspiration for people who seek a long classy hairstyle. This hairstyle not only goes with formal occasions, but a textured version of it can give you a cool casual look as well.
In order to pull it off, you don't have to wait for the hair to reach shoulder length. This particular style is fine for both medium length hair to long length hair.
People with wavy or textured hair often get into a dilemma about whether to choose a lengthy hair style or not. They shouldn't worry because except for kinky hair, slicked back hairstyles look great with every type of hair.
Celebrities with a slicked-back look: How can anyone forget the famous Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) slicked back textured hairstyle. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who has pulled off the textured version of this hairstyle with such grace.
2) Ponytail
Some people still think that this hairstyle belongs exclusively to women. But the truth is men have often rocked this hairstyle better, especially in this modern fashion world. The ponytail is perfect for people who do not want to spend much effort and time on their hairstyle.
Just pull back all of your hair at once and tie it together. It may look too worked up if you do not go easy on the hair. To avoid it, just leave some hair-sections from the front loose.
Celebrities with ponytail hairstyles: Orlando Bloom in "Pirates of Caribbean" left a legacy with how gorgeous his ponytail hairstyle was. Moreover, David Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Chris Hemsworth have all rocked the ponytail look.
3) Long textured waves
It wouldn't be wrong to say that a long-textured look is among the classiest styles carried by men in the fashion industry. Textured waves go with both medium and shoulder-length hair.
However, in order to ensure the ideal look, you must use hair serums or pomade to keep the waves loose and tangle-free. The best thing about this hairstyle is that it goes with every facial shape.
Celebrities with long textured waves: After Jason Momoa's first screen appearance with long textured waves, this style became an instant hit. We can't really talk about long hair without mentioning Jason. He single-handedly made long hairstyles the top choice among men in our fashion world today.
4) Man bun
The symbol of pure class, man buns have been ruling over our fashion industry for a long time. Because of its artful vibes, it is quite a popular choice among artists and musicians. It can be easily adjusted per your facial structure. The best way to enhance this hairstyle is to go slick on top with a strong defined beard.
Celebrities with man buns: From Jason Momoa and Jake Gyllenhaal's messy man bun to David Beckham's slicker look, you will notice that the fashion industry is saturated with multiple versions of this particular hairstyle.
5) Long hair part
This particular style is not everybody's cup of tea. Typically you would need a defined bone structure to pull this style off properly. All you need is a wide-toothed comb to highlight the part and healthy-looking dense hair that goes all the way down your shoulder.
You can go for multiple stunning versions of this style by using texturizing sprays on the roots or going for a slicker finish with a wax.
Celebrities with long hair part: No one has carried it better than Timothee Chalamet or known by another name "Elio" from his global award-winning film "Call me by your name."
