If you want to grow your hair long but lack the confidence to do so, we will guide you on how to grow long hair without being awkward.
Before deciding on growing out your locks, you have to be aware of the proper styling and the maintenance long hair requires.
There’s a very fine line that separates shiny and glorious hair like Jason Momoa and having hair like a Viking from the year 950. Long hair looks great on males if it’s full, styled appropriately, and well-maintained after it’s reached the ideal length.
The awkward stage of growing long hair for men
While you grow your hair, you go through many stages, and the worst one is the awkward stage.
Awkward hair length is from the point when you start to look shaggy and a little unkempt. People will often comment about your hair or politely ask you if you are planning on getting a haircut.
This awkward stage usually reaches a turning point when you can start to tie your hair up from the front, back, and sides into a ponytail or a high ball.
This whole awkward hair growth stage can take up to 5 to 8 months or longer, depending on the length of your hair when you started.
The Other Stages of Growing Long Hair for Men
First Ask Yourself: Is Long Hair for You or Not?
Before you even begin to grow your hair out, you should decide whether or not you really want to grow your hair long and whether or not long hair is right for you.
As we just discussed, the line between appearing like a scruffy caveman and a Hollywood celebrity is razor-thin. So before you begin the time-consuming process of hair growth, see if long hair is suited for your face shape.
This can be done by editing pictures of yourself to see how you will look with longer hair, or you can try on a wig to get an idea of how it would actually feel to have long hair.
This will only take a little bit of time compared to the length of time it will take you to actually grow out your hair, so it is worth doing before making your decision.
Which Hairstyle Suits You?
After determining whether or not long hair is appropriate for you, you must select a hairstyle that complements your features.
A haircut that complements your face shape may drastically alter your looks, either for the better or for the worse.
If you have a thin face, a longer, sleeker haircut would be appropriate. However, if you have large features, a short hairstyle would be appropriate.
While growing your hair, pick a hairstyle that complements your facial shape.
Changing Hairstyles
While you must prepare yourself to struggle through the uncomfortable stage of growing hair for months before you get the results you want, it is manageable in certain respects.
Taking care of your health and regularly applying hair products and possibly getting a few trims along the way, as well as keeping your hairdo, are essential.
Changing your hairstyle allows you to experiment with various looks while also promoting healthy hair growth.
Maintaining the Long Hair After Reaching Your Desired Length
Once you’ve gone through all the awkward stages and finally have the hair you have always wanted, you should enjoy it.
However, you must continue to manage your hair to keep it healthy.
‘The first thing you should do is have regular trips to your barber and make sure to use the right hair products.
If you start tieing your hair with rubber bands, the force and friction will ruin it. Instead, you must use proper hair ties.
If you invest in the right products for your hair’s health and maintain it regularly, it will look much nicer.
Stages for Growing a Man Bun
Having patience is the key factor while growing a man bun because there is no such thing as growing your hair to your desired length overnight. It takes time.
In order to grow long hair for a man, at least 6 months is needed to get to a good length where you can put your hair in a bun.
You will need to have a good base haircut because the shape of your hair that you start with will determine how your hair looks while it grows out. Or alternatively, you can trim it after growing it out for a while to alter its appearance.
The best base haircut is to have more length on top and cut the back and sides shorter before you let your hair grow out. This makes it look better throughout the growing phase and allows for easier maintenance.
When you start growing your hair, you need to be prepared for the awkward stages. You’ll almost certainly have many awkward moments which will draw a lot of attention, and you may even receive prompt suggestions for a haircut from your friends and family.
You just need to keep your eyes on the prize. In 6-12 months you will most likely reach the goal of your desired hair length and you will be able to style the hair the way you intended.
Keeping your hair healthy is vital throughout this process. Stay away from any hair products or treatments that could possibly damage your hair.
How To Avoid a Mullet When Growing Your Hair Out
To avoid the mullet phase, you would need to get your hair’s length cut to get it to match up with the rest of your hair’s length. The hair of your back doesn’t grow faster, but it has a shorter distance to reach the neck and upper back, therefore making it appear longer. It is very common for people to grow their hair in mullets. Therefore, the hair growing from the back of your hair may need to be trimmed while waiting for the hair on top, front, and sides to catch up.
How to Style Awkward Looking Hair
The awkward stage of hair growth is the most uncomfortable time. Many men just get fed up with all the comments and suggestions about their hair, so they give in to the pressure and cut their hair short.
Hats and beanies are the secrets to covering up your awkward hairstyle. Simply disguising your weird hair length is the easiest way to deal with this phase.
The second option is to just go all-in for a messy appearance and make it a part of your style, which indicates that you are a very confident person who is not overly concerned with how your hair looks all the time.
Final Thoughts
Growing your hair comes with different obstacles, but the joy you get after reaching your desired length is worth the hardships you face while going through the growth phase.
Don’t get discouraged and maintain your hair growth even if you go through an awkward stage. There is also always the option to go visit an expert like a hairdresser, a barber, or a stylist to get tips on how to keep your hair looking the best while you are going through this process.