Hair (Long)

[Levi]

My school doesn't allow boys to have long hair. I want it. I'm leaving at the end of the semester anyway and I'd like to already have some hair by then. Does anyone know of some way I could style my hair so that it doesn't cover my eyes or go below my ears or collar?

[Magnanimous]

My school doesn't allow boys to have long hair.

How long is "long"?

My marching band experience gives me about five different ways to stuff long hair into a hat, but I doubt you're allowed to wear hats indoors...

[++$_]

My school doesn't allow boys to have long hair.

This is stupid and evil.

Does anyone know of some way I could style my hair so that it doesn't cover my eyes or go below my ears or collar?

I imagine you can use gel to make it stick straight up (this was not a method I personally tried). I imagine that the school would not approve of this any more than they approve of long hair.

You can tie a bandanna over your head to keep the hair above your collar and ears (I never did this in public, but it works nicely if you can pull off the look). I imagine the school would not approve of this either, especially as your bandanna will likely be considered "gang-related clothing" or something like that if you live in the US. To avoid this, you could use a pink bandanna, preferably decorated with purple "My Little Pony" icons. I think that it would be difficult for the school to call this gang-related clothing, but it has its downsides for those of us who feel constrained by social conventions.

You can use a hair elastic to tie it back. This requires it to be long enough for that to work. In addition, somehow, I think this would still count as "long hair" from the point of view of the school.

Therefore, I suspect your best option is simply to allow all the hairs on your head to grow as long as they are legally permitted to. This is not too much of a step backwards anyway, since although it will delay your hair getting long, it will result in having less severe layering once your hair gets longer. The hardest part will be keeping the hair out of your eyes. You can prevent this either by using a headband, slicking it back, or sweeping it to the side.

[Microscopic cog]

I'd say just do it and wait untill the school says something about it. Hair takes a while to grow, and in the four-five months untill the end of the year it will not have grown that long yet, but that depends on how long it is right now. Either way, you can get a haircut at some point to have it half-long and not like ridiculous.

When the school complains, try one of the methods mentioned above. Maybe you could try braids in your hair as well. Like, braid'm all and they will be a lot shorter. Or dreadlocks. They will make your hair 1/3th of their original length.

Otherwise, hats.

[keeperofdakeys]

If you are really determined you could try to find the exact rule in the school rules, and try to take it up to the next level if you really want to. They will most likely go, "Our word is the final word" though, so not sure about this.

[frinklabs]

Tell them you are growing your hair for spiritual reasons and being forced to cut it would be a (Canadian) Charter of Rights or (US) Constitutional violation of your right to freedom of religion.

I use my Pastafarianism as a reason to take Fridays off, not drink and not engage in non-committed intimate relationships and no one squawks.

[++$_]

Maybe you could try braids in your hair as well. Like, braid'm all and they will be a lot shorter. Or dreadlocks. They will make your hair 1/3th of their original length.

Dreadlocks seriously damage your hair and tiny braids are not too much better in that regard, so only do these if your desired end state is dreadlocks or tiny braids.

[nitePhyyre]

Just grow it and tell the school to fuck off.

They seriously don't have the authority to tell you how to style yourself. Unless you are at some kind of private school. Although even then I doubt they could do anything. They try to expel you, takes time to go through bureaucratic processes, by then you are done school.

[Microscopic cog]

Maybe you could try braids in your hair as well. Like, braid'm all and they will be a lot shorter. Or dreadlocks. They will make your hair 1/3th of their original length.

Dreadlocks seriously damage your hair and tiny braids are not too much better in that regard, so only do these if your desired end state is dreadlocks or tiny braids.

Hmm as far as I know, dreadlocks can damage your hair seriously if you put them in and then take them out again. But, it depends on the way. There are several ways to put them in, and some of those are suitable for dreading and then undreading. However, in most cases it is better to just cut them off.

For braiding, I didn't know it could cause any harm to your hair. ( Except making it look funny after debraiding. ) But after thinking about it, it sort of makes sense that your hair would get damaged from braiding and unbraiding. However, you said tiny braids so maybe if you put in large ones it might work.

[++$_]

For braiding, I didn't know it could cause any harm to your hair. ( Except making it look funny after debraiding. ) But after thinking about it, it sort of makes sense that your hair would get damaged from braiding and unbraiding.

The really tight braiding can produce traction on the scalp. Also, depending on your hair type they can put permanent kinks and creases in your hair, which are likely to develop into damage once the hair is unbraided.

[Malt]

Does anyone know of some way I could style my hair so that it doesn't cover my eyes or go below my ears or collar?

If all else fails, you could always go with a mohawk.

[mzellman]

Or a turban... I doubt any school official is going to want the kind of attention that would come from punishing a student for wearing a turban.

[keeperofdakeys]

Or a turban... I doubt any school official is going to want the kind of attention that would come from punishing a student for wearing a turban.

France disagrees with you.

[P13808]

My school doesn't allow boys to have long hair. I want it. I'm leaving at the end of the semester anyway and I'd like to already have some hair by then. Does anyone know of some way I could style my hair so that it doesn't cover my eyes or go below my ears or collar?

If in Usa, try ACLU getting ACLU pissed off at sexism? (If not Usa, use ACLU-equivalent if it exists in your nation?)
Or just give the administrators the finger because what's the worst they could do about it?

[Levi]

If in Usa, try ACLU getting ACLU pissed off at sexism? (If not Usa, use ACLU-equivalent if it exists in your nation?)
Or just give the administrators the finger because what's the worst they could do about it?

It's a private school, so I think they're allowed to do that. Even if they aren't, going to court would be a pain in the ass.

Tell them you are growing your hair for spiritual reasons and being forced to cut it would be a (Canadian) Charter of Rights or (US) Constitutional violation of your right to freedom of religion.

I use my Pastafarianism as a reason to take Fridays off, not drink and not engage in non-committed intimate relationships and no one squawks.

It's a Christian private school. I don't think that's gonna work.

If you are really determined you could try to find the exact rule in the school rules, and try to take it up to the next level if you really want to. They will most likely go, "Our word is the final word" though, so not sure about this.

There isn't another level to take it to. The administration made the rule.

Therefore, I suspect your best option is simply to allow all the hairs on your head to grow as long as they are legally permitted to. This is not too much of a step backwards anyway, since although it will delay your hair getting long, it will result in having less severe layering once your hair gets longer. The hardest part will be keeping the hair out of your eyes. You can prevent this either by using a headband, slicking it back, or sweeping it to the side.

That should work. Thanks. Do you think I could keep it above my collar by making a bob of some sort?

None of the hat ideas will work; head coverings are not allowed.

Just grow it and tell the school to fuck off.

I've considered that, but I'm teaching a middle-school extracurricular class there and I'd like to keep doing that. Plus it's small and all the teachers will be on the side of the administration. I'd get way more shit than it's worth. (and I'm fairly sure my parents wouldn't have it)

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[ExplodingHat]

You could either part it or comb it backwards and then wear it behind your ears. (Thereby averting the eyes and ears issue.)

[Meteorswarm]

Could you put it up in a way that didn't let it hang down? Some kind of bun or knot might look sufficiently manly, although you'd have to be able to do it yourself so if it came out you could fix it.

[TaintedDeity]

And there's no chance itwould be long enough to do that when it's just getting to that longish stage.

[Jacque]

It's a private school, they make the rules, so there's not much you can do about that. It's just hair; hair grows back. Cut it to the max length allowed and keep it there until you switch schools.

Or, time to invest in hairspray and go for a man-beehive hairdo.

[_Axle_]

As Jacque said, as a private school, they have the right to be 'unfair'.

Have you seen or heard of anyone that got in trouble or talked to about having long hair? It could be an old rule that really isn't checked much. I would probably say that you grow it out, put it in a pony tail and hide it in a hood,under a light jacket or something similar, at least during class hours. If it gets too long and they talk to you, then cut it to the length they say.

[Jahoclave]

Tell them you are growing your hair for spiritual reasons and being forced to cut it would be a (Canadian) Charter of Rights or (US) Constitutional violation of your right to freedom of religion.

I use my Pastafarianism as a reason to take Fridays off, not drink and not engage in non-committed intimate relationships and no one squawks.

It's a Christian private school. I don't think that's gonna work.

Oh, well in that case.

This is your lord and saviour.


Now look at me. Now back at your lord and saviour. Now back to me.
Are your going to tell me that you would tell Jesus to cut his hair? No, you're not. Now look back at your saviour, now back at me. Bam, I'm going for the Jesus look.

[++$_]

This is your lord and saviour.

Obviously photoshopped. Jesus would never point a gun at his dad like that -- it's a total violation of gun safety.

[Jahoclave]

This is your lord and saviour.

Obviously photoshopped. Jesus would never point a gun at his dad like that -- it's a total violation of gun safety.

Yeah, well, I don't see that God ever did something as awesome as this?

Jesus don't give a fuck bout safety. If he's gonna die for our sins, he's gonna bring da PAIN!

[FuzzyPanda]

My school doesn't allow boys to have long hair. I want it.

First of all, reading this made me angry. What right does some administrator (administrator: a person who was so terrible at teaching that (s)he was promoted to protect the students) have to tell people what to do with their own bodies?

Anyway, if you feel like making a splash you could claim that you identify as female (gender identity is not biological). This could be difficult if your school is conservative, but discrimination on basis of gender can cause serious problems for a bureaucrat.

Warning: this could easily get bigger than you want it to or make you an outcast from the close-minded assholes which make up a significant portion of school.

Bonus Points: Start a revolution to set up non-oppressive standards of gender

[katethegreat]

My brother went to a parochial high school, and they got detention if they didn't shave. He is as hairy as a bear and abhors shaving, so he had detention on more than a few occasions. And he always grew out a disgusting hobo/lumberjack/pirate beard over vacations.

I'm sure they had a long hair policy too. Hmmmm... If there was a way to put long hair up to make it look short, it'd probably require loads of gel and hair spray and bobby pins. Not exactly realistic for school everyday. If you're that set about it, maybe you could wear a wig? Or, (I think this would be way too damaging to the hair), get a perm. Tightly curly hair I'm guessing is shorter than straight hair. And then if you want to go with long hair on the weekends, use a hair straightener and TADA! This probably has several flaws...

[squareroot]

I feel... so... sorry for you.
I love my hair (which is pretty damn long).

[Kendrubbin]

My school doesn't allow boys to have long hair.

Once again, cruel and evil.

It's a Christian private school.

I think I have found the problem!
Anyway, going with the others, grow it long enough to not be considered long, then you can grow it out after you leave.

[Gerino]

Remember Hair?

"...my hair like Jesus wore it, hallelujah, I adore it!"

[Little Richie]

I was not aloud to have long hair either. My solution was to have it as long as I could, I didn't cut it until I actually got in trouble for it. A year later, I moved to a less retarded school,grew my hair out, and went back to visit the old school to shove it in the administrations faces.