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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Anyone go all rustic? (Beard/Hair)

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March 13, 2010 11:53 a.m. PHeller Dork

This is my last semester of my undergraduate degree, and while most of my contemporaries are floundering around desperately trying to find a job in the environmental policy and GIS fields, I'm comfortable with delaying my search until after I've done some traveling. I've never been west of Ohio, and really want to take my time seeing the National Parks.

Anyway, I've kept my hair pretty much Mil-Spec for the last 5 years, as that's what the ladies liked (demanded). It was also convenient for outdoor activities and hard labor involving lots of sweat and grime.

Now though, I've landed me a lady who much prefers her men to look like well...Brawny commercials. Jeremiah Johnson type stuff. So she supports my endeavor to get a little crazy.

Any pointers on how to gracefully grow out one's hair in today's job market?

Summary: - Soon to be college grad wants to travel before settling down (Env. Geography/Envi Sci) - Wants to grow out hair - Worried longer hair will ruin potential opportunities
March 13, 2010 12:08 p.m. SVreX PowerDork

You mean THIS guy's long hair???

No matter how hard you try, there will ALWAYS be a moment of nasty unkept appearance as you go from trim to rustic. Kind of like painting a car... it always looks worse (in bondo and sanded) before it looks better.

However, if you are going to be traveling, who cares? What job opportunities are you going to be interviewing for while you are hiking the Appalacian Trail??

If your lady likes it, sounds like the decision is made!
March 13, 2010 12:09 p.m. Fletch1 New Reader

I watched Jeremiah Johnson the past two nights. One great classic. I say go for it. Let that hair hang down and grow a burly beard and go do what you want to do. That would be sweet. I'm not sure what the standards are for your career. Well, I don't have much advice, just wanted to tell you to go for it. And that lady of yours sounds pretty cool. She wants a real man rather than a metro. Good luck!
March 13, 2010 12:19 p.m. EvanB HalfDork

The good thing about hair is you can always cut it when you need to get a job if it is required.
March 13, 2010 12:29 p.m. PHeller Dork

That dude.

Whatever the case may be, I always wondered how to approach the subject of being willing to cut my hair if need be for a job. I don't want to cut my hair before an interview, only to get denied. Can I mentioned during the interview that I'd be willing to cut my hair, or do I just give it my all and see what they say? I've read that many non-sales oriented jobs are allowing male employees to wear long head and facial hair, and since I'm not really looking to get into sales...
March 13, 2010 12:34 p.m. neon4891 UberDork

I have kept a full beard for almost 5 years now, but I do keep it trimed. My only deviance was in '08 I shaved it all off for my job interveiw, after that I kept it at a go-tee over the last 2 summers.

It is nice As I don't care too much for shaving.

And at one point I went 2 1/2 years without cutting my hair. It was kind of a pain as my hair starts to curl after 1". The stage between short and long enough for a pony tail was a PITA. A bandana was a must. But once it got long it looked good.
March 13, 2010 12:39 p.m. mtn UltraDork

I've always wanted to get "Miracle hair", like in the movie. Problem is is that mine gets all poofy after a little while, and not even close to long.
March 13, 2010 1:03 p.m. poopshovel UltraDork

Go fat jesus or go home.
March 13, 2010 2:34 p.m. Hasbro HalfDork

How long are you thinking? As Neon stated pre-pony tail is a pain and can look pretty messy. Mine's been growing for 2 1/2 years (mid chest) but I work for myself and don't give a monkey's hiney what people think. Actually, I get positive feedback but I'm an artsy eccentric guy so it fits. I only have a mustache and keep around the ears trimmed which makes a much cleaner look.
March 13, 2010 3:11 p.m. pigeon HalfDork

Grow it out while you explore, then when you decide you want a job it's time to cut it off. First impressions are everything. There are some people who will make a negative snap judgment about long hair, I don't know anyone who makes a snap negative judgment about short hair. Once you get the job then you can grow it back out.
March 13, 2010 3:19 p.m. modernbeat HalfDork

Going rustic? Be prepared to be called either Grizzly Adams or Jesus depending on how your hair styles itself.

That's me in the grey coat.
March 13, 2010 3:58 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

240sx is kind of a Japanese Camaro- Go MULLET!
March 13, 2010 4:03 p.m. SkinnyG Reader

Go big or go home.
March 13, 2010 9:06 p.m. oldsaw Dork

Your personal relationship hinges on whether, or not, you have a head of hair and a beard?

Put your follicles to use if she is contracted to provide all your financial needs - for life. If lacking a "certain" look is a deal breaker for her, maybe the deal is already broken.

You have to perform some serious research on both the culture of potential employers and the lady in question.
March 13, 2010 9:17 p.m. Josh Dork

Old people are really weird about silly things like hair. So, to recap, he'll be unemployable with anything but a crewcut, and he should dump his girlfriend because she thinks he'd look good with a beard. To be honest, any place that would hire or not hire someone based on what's growing out of their head is a place I'd be miserable working at, mostly because it's run by shortsighted idiots.
March 13, 2010 9:35 p.m. oldsaw Dork

Josh wrote:

Old people are really weird about silly things like hair. So, to recap, he'll be unemployable with anything but a crewcut, and he should dump his girlfriend because she thinks he'd look good with a beard. To be honest, any place that would hire or not hire someone based on what's growing out of their head is a place I'd be miserable working at, mostly because it's run by shortsighted idiots.

I'll wager teenagers label you as "old" , and old people think you're a mere "kid".

Which group signs your check?
March 13, 2010 9:36 p.m. neon4891 UberDork

poopshovel wrote:

Go fat jesus or go home.

Seriously, that is EXACTLY like how my hair was. But my beard has never been that full.

I'd post some of my older pics with long hair, but it isn't working
March 13, 2010 10:08 p.m. SVreX PowerDork

Josh wrote:

Old people are really weird about silly things like hair. So, to recap, he'll be unemployable with anything but a crewcut, and he should dump his girlfriend because she thinks he'd look good with a beard. To be honest, any place that would hire or not hire someone based on what's growing out of their head is a place I'd be miserable working at, mostly because it's run by shortsighted idiots.

I lost a lot of years thinking that way.

Young people are equally weird about silly things like hair ("What I look like doesn't matter"..."First impressions aren't important"..."Why should the company care if I do my job"). Because THEY write your check, and YOU represent them, and first impressions DO matter.

The truth about my own long hair when I was younger was that it was indicative of my lack of self confidence and pride, my apathetic attitude, and was an outward sign of my rebelliousness. Companies saw it, and they were smart to call a spade a spade. I believe it still holds true.

But even if it doesn't hold true, it IS true that people THINK that way. A company knows that their customers will think that way, and shagginess on the part of the employees will cost them business.

I keep my hair close, and my beard tightly trimmed. I'm also lazy, and that way I don't have to shave. Wish I learned the lesson a long time ago. I'd easily have earned 2-3 times over my lifetime what I have.
March 13, 2010 10:10 p.m. Salanis UberDork

PHeller wrote:

Any pointers on how to gracefully grow out one's hair in today's job market?

Easy, stop getting it cut. http://www.instantrimshot.com

Seriously: I think the answer is just to keep it groomed. Long hair is one thing, but unkempt hair is another.

I also second the close facial hair as very convenient. I only grow a goatee because my beard is too patchy, but I figure I can fail to shave for a day or two and not look scraggly. I get my hair cut when it gets pushed into my eyes if I put a helmet on.
March 13, 2010 10:51 p.m. 96DXCivic HalfDork

Rock the sideburns. They are God's gift to man. I should know since I am rocking them.
March 14, 2010 8:04 a.m. SVreX PowerDork

This thread is really worthless until some of the ladies check in.

Something a little weird about a bunch of testosterone pumped gearheads pontificating about what looks good on a man.
March 14, 2010 8:33 a.m. 924guy Dork

If your gonna do it, do it right..
March 14, 2010 9:39 a.m. bluej HalfDork

Salanis wrote:

PHeller wrote:

Any pointers on how to gracefully grow out one's hair in today's job market?

Easy, stop getting it cut. http://www.instantrimshot.com

Seriously: I think the answer is just to keep it groomed. Long hair is one thing, but unkempt hair is another.

I also second the close facial hair as very convenient. I only grow a goatee because my beard is too patchy, but I figure I can fail to shave for a day or two and not look scraggly. I get my hair cut when it gets pushed into my eyes if I put a helmet on.

this. i just grew a full beard for the first time this spring (had done a goatee before but wasn't really enthralled with the look.) and it was scraggly for a week or two until it got long enough to do a trim and after that it's been great. i've gotten a lot of compliments. you can actually have the beard work for you in an interview. like salanis said, it's more about being groomed than length/location. a well kempt beard can help lend you an "older look" for first impression if the top of your head is well kempt as well. my advice for traveling would be to buy a good battery operated beard trimmer. use a medium length for your beard and the longest one to do the top of your head. it'll be easy and you'll look "Brawny" but not "homeless".
March 14, 2010 11:42 a.m. cwh SuperDork

I have had a beard of one type or the other for 30 years. Had a goatee for the last 10, and recently let it all grow. After 2 months I had to do a major trim. I looked like a homeless dude! WAY to scruffy. Now it's a lot neater, but the sides of my face don't grow in very much. I'll probably cut that off soon. But, nobody sees me at work, so don't worry about that. Interesting that my hair is solid brown, my goatee is pure white.
March 14, 2010 12:13 p.m. JeffHarbert Reader

Just let it grow. You'll reach a point where you'll need a trim every couple of weeks to keep things business-presentable. A couple months after that it'll just be the usual maintenance.

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