LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Traditionally we let our sons decide on the clothes they like and the hair styles they want to sport. I let my son sport a mohawk long before it was 'cool' and got some looks from the soccer brigade. I've let Noah wear long sleeved polos and jeans in August because he liked them best and Superman costumes to the mall because it certainly wasn't hurting anyone.

But.. now NoNo wants long hair. I don't love that shaggy look - but the challenge isn't even the end result - it's the growing out stage. We started to let him grow it in December or so.. and by April it was still just an uneven, disheveled mess. I was willing to let him keep it - but Rob insisted that it had to go and one day I came home to Noah in tears with his new shorn locks. He agreed to the cut after a long, persuasive argument and bribe from his father - but after the fact he was so upset!

So now he is back to wanting long hair and insisting that we not ever cut it again. We can't avoid the fashion - every young guy seems to have it - including my friend's teenaged sons. He says he wants to look like Nat Wolff from the Naked Brothers Band (see below).

Now - I am willing to just let it grow - but after the last time it is clear that it will take a little longer than a couple of months to look manageable and my husband is absolutely against Noah having that middling mess going on again.

I told him that I think most parents would understand that we don't allow our kids to be a wreck all the time and that the hair do isn't going to speak volumes about him or us... but he thinks I'm wrong.

What do you think?

PS (my avatar is from last month when he had the messing/growing out hair)

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Message edited 5/13/2009 5:34:18 PM.

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Some close up pics to show you the mess that his hair was after a few months.

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Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

No advice
Just for Nono!

And for Superman to the mall!

Message edited 5/13/2009 5:48:54 PM.

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

I dunno.... I don't mind that hairstyle at all.... much less than some of the other things you already permitted (superman costume, mohawk). it seems fairly kempt to me.

I would make a deal with him that he CAN grow out his hair to that style, but it must be regularly trimmed, shaped, and styled, even during the intermediate gowing-out phases. If he reneg's on the deal, he gets a short cut again.

He probably thinks that that hair just ends up that way if you stop cutting it. he doesn't realize that it's a fairly sophistocated haircut, with layers...

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Let him have long hair!!! He will only resent it if you don't, its his way of expressing himself, and at a young age, its often hard to express yourself and to feel like an individual. Its a gorgeous hairstyle, and if he likes it, well what else is there! I think he looks gorgeous!

eta, I totally think he looks adorable, his hair isn't a mess. Just because it isn't a short back and sides doesn't mean its not neaty and tidy!!!

and look, my Noah had that haircut when he was only 18 months old!

Message edited 5/13/2009 5:59:38 PM.

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Posted by rojerono

But YOUR Noah doesn't look like a wreck! He looks dreamy.

I don't mind having the long hair... Rob is more worried about how he and we will be perceived if we permit it.

Message edited 5/13/2009 6:04:00 PM.

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

Posted by rojerono

Posted by racheeeee

I think you are overthinking it, I think the kid is his own person, and you should encourage that. Who cares what other people think about you, and if people think badly of you because your son has long hair...well I thought that went out with the draft & racial segregation! And if they don't like your kids hair...well, are they really people you want to be involved with, someone who would think badly about you because of your sons hairstyle?

He certainly doesn't look like a wreck, he looks like a happy, lovely boy with a gorgeous smile and a zest for life!

When Robbie went to kindergarten orientation he had a mohawk. We didn't sit with our kids - just kind of observed them interacting at one point. When we got to the cafeteria (leaving the kids in the classroom) - one mom came over to chat with me and was saying "Did you SEE that kid with the mohawk? Can you even IMAGINE having your child with such a hairstyle?" She even insinuated that her child would never be allowed a play date with that kid.. then that kid came over and hugged me. She was mortified - but whatever. It just makes me think that there are parents who might not 'like' Noah because he has unkempt hair. And - like I said - I don't really give much of a rat's fanny. But Rob really and truly does. I think I need ways to convince him that if someone DOES judge NoNo on his hair than they aren't the kinds of people we need in our lives anyway.

that's going to be a tough sell.

Re: LOOONG! Boys and Their Fashion Foibles.. WWYD?

honestly i am having a hard tim figuring out why your DH was so upset - yes, his hair is definitely not "neat" in the pics you posted, but he still looks adorable! and it's not bad by any stretch of the imagination. i think it looks cute, and will only look cuter as it grows out.

can you guys style it so that it looks like it's supposed to be messy/shaggy in that in-between stage? so that it looks like you are doing it on purpose? that would be so cute!