Why do Men Love Long Hair so Much?

In case you haven't noticed, I'm black.  I have been for a really long time, and for as long as I can remember the question has always been what should I do with my hair?  A quick review of photo albums, chronically my life will demonstrate I have worn just about every hair style imaginable.  Although I never did the mohawk or mullet; not a fan of hairstyles that begin with the letter "m".

Recently I have found refuge in a weave named Emily.  Not my invention--the manufacturers named her that.  She is quick and easy and keeps me from having to do the tedious wash and wrap routine infamous among black women.  Not to mention the laborious relaxer that needs to take place every 2 months to "keep the kink out."  Really, I am just sick and tired of all of it. 

So I am going to unleash the beast.  The Afro.  Within the confines of Emily, a natural untampered, kinky beast has been growing--and its time to unearth her.  She is authentic and outspoken.  She is at least 4 inches high and completely unapologetic.  Don't sit behind me at a lecture if you want to see the presenter.

But I wonder what the reaction will be?  Let's keep it real, men love hair.  They like it thick and long and flowing.  And although Emily was a total lie...she attracted many suitors.  And I had a lot of fun swinging her around on the dance floor when I would go out to the club.  But I am feeling a really strong pull from the other side.  And if I attract less men, well honestly that might be a good thing.  Emily hasn't exactly been a lucky charm.  She's helped me get a lot of numbers, but I'm still single...

This weekend I will lay her to rest and see how it feels to be afro-chic.  But If I am not feeling the new look, I reserve the right to resurrect Emily and have everyone go back to pretending she is my real hair.

Comments

[hairstyles]

Long hair is any hairstyle which is relatively long. For men who take the effort to maintain their long hair, for themselves, or for others, appearance as an issue.

[Genova]

Bee. I understand completely!!! A few years ago, a stressful divorce and a health crisis led to massive hair loss for me. I was devastated...or so I thought. As a result of the hair loss, I started experimenting with all kinds of wigs and weaves. I mean, I've tried everything...braids, long and straight, short and sassy, cute and curly...you name it, I've tried it. As a black woman, you are taught from a very young age that your hair is your "crown and glory". I'm sure this is a phrase that you have heard many times. And my experience has always been, those who have it don't know what to do with it and those who don't enviously crave it and will do almost anything to get it.

As for men and their preference for long hair, I can only speak about the men who have and have not pursued me. Like you, I had my old faithful, her name has LG-11 (not nearly as cute and sassy as the name Emily) but boy was she a winner!!! Medium length silky curls that bounce like crazy when I walk or throw my head back in laughter. And the boys loved her!!! As someone who had always had short to medium length thin hair, I wasn't prepared for the increased attention that I began to get when I started wearing "her" a year ago. But I adjusted quickly. :-) Now, recently, I decided I needed a little bit of a change, so I traded in LG-11 for Genova Girl, a long, straight, layered look with brown highlights. When I tell you the response has been phenomenal...that is an understatment. It's only been a week and I can already see the difference. More men have held the door this week, a normally busy and distracted client greeted me whit a hug and a kiss on the cheek the other day (WTF???). And as we stood there in the very public lobby of our building, he fingered a silky tress and said, with a smile and a wink "I love what you've done with your hair." Once again...WTF??? For the past year and a half, I didn't think this guy even knew I had hair!!! Now he "loves" what I've done with it. Ok, I'll go with that. And just now as I was walking to my car, wind blowing my hair all over the place, a guy driving down the street stopped and insisted that I take his card and give him a call because he would love to take me out for drink. All of this while 4 cars waited very impatiently behind him.

So, yes, I agree with you...men prefer long hair. Why, that I can't help you with. But for now, I'm going to roll with it!!! Like you, I'm VERY single. So if Genova is going to give me that extra edge in this dog-eat-dog dating market, here in DC...I'll take it!!! Moving forward, in honor of Genova, from now on my new "club name" is GiGi. LMAO

BTW...Keep the post coming!!! I love them. :-)

[dchoneybee]

Dear Genova aka GiGi aka The Woman Who Stops Traffic:

Take your edge and run with it! Lawd knows I did. I let Emily swing from one end of the club to the other when I was out with my girls. I even over heard conversations like, "Gur-r-r-rl, you know dat ain't her real hair..." But I didn't care. HATERS!

However, I want to comment on what you said about being V-E-R-Y single. Hummmmm. That makes me curious, are there varying degrees of singleness? If so, where do I fall? And what makes one more or less single. I will have to ponder that and get back with you.

Thanks for stopping by Bee's little corner of the cyber universe. Please come back again real soon!

~bee.

By The Way: B.T.W are my initials: Bericka Tamara Wilkins...(I’m so popular!)

[Brianna]

I say go for it... Honestly I just relaxed my hair and sometimes I feel like I did the wrong thing.. I was natural for about 5 years and even though it was a pain to up keep.. It gave me a personality... So not only does it attract others to you it changes who you are... But now I have to wonder is it like a mask does it give you the ability to act differently? Or is having natural hair a way to find yourself?

[TBB JR]

Bee-

I can't wait to see the Afro! Not all men want the Emily, some still prefer the Afro. I happen to be one of them. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the effort that goes into the long and flowing style, rather it be the hot comb method or the Emily. To me though there is nothing like the natural god given beauty of the afro. It is unique to black women. There are many imitators but only one African-American afro! Let the Fro out!! Free the beast!! I can't wait to see it!!
TBB JR.

[Eric Silver]

The downside of long hair: It sheds and ends up all over the place – the floor, bed linens, my underwear, clogging the vacuum cleaner brushes, etc. As a neat freak, that bothers me. (Cleaning up one ex-girlfriend’s very long hair negated any attractiveness I had towards it.)

For me, anything more than shoulder length is too much. What would be interesting is if women began shaving their heads. In my opinion, “Genevieve” in Rush Hour 3 was sexier bald than with her needlessly long hair.

[Tischa]

I have long hair and I agree with the shedding comment. :-) It also doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a man with it (I'm still single) but I have it because I like it! I think some men like long hair and some don't it just depends. I've had short and long hair and to me my head is too little for short hair. Do what works for you and what makes you happy! :-)