It’s 2023 and we’re still not used to seeing long hair on men. In our minds, it's usually reserved for surfers, punks and rockstars. We rarely think about the time and effort that one needs to invest to have thick, shiny and healthy hair. 

And what about the societal aspect? The stereotypes, society's expectations and beauty standards for men? There's a lot to unpack about the politics of hair, especially when we consider all ethnicities. Sometimes hair doesn't even need to be long for someone to deem it inappropriate.

But this time let's talk about the reasons for and implications of long hair for men. First, is it unprofessional for males to come to work with their hair swinging past their shoulders? Best Fit Work writes that it depends on the workplace. If it's an old-school traditional environment, then probably yes.

On the other hand, if you keep it neat and your overall appearance is professional, there's nothing wrong with long locks. Keep in mind that sometimes long hair can be a safety or hygiene risk. That's mostly relevant in the food industry – you wouldn't want to serve somebody soup with your hair in it.

Some people believe long hair is feminine, and for a long time, people thought only women should be sporting long hair. Women grow up conditioned to know how to grow, style and take care of their hair. Mothers and grandmothers pass down secrets to their daughters. It becomes a part of their culture, heritage and personal history.

Men don't get the same luxury. Naturally, they find it harder to take care of their hair. How to brush it properly? How to style it? What products to use? And what are split ends? 

As a person who grew up socialized as a female, I went through my fair share of products and styling techniques. The lesson I learned is that it's a painfully personal journey and what works for someone else doesn't necessarily work for me.

The Longhairs blog writes about the issue of long hair and masculinity. One of their authors, Josef Stark, writes that generally, long hair for men is okay as long as there's some other masculine trait that the long-haired man possesses. 

"Sure, I'd love to have a bush on my face to match the mop up top," he writes. "And who wouldn't love to be ripped like Jason Momoa? That doesn't make me any more of a man though."

The author concludes that his hair is part of his personality. Copying other styles or trying to mold himself according to people's perceptions just doesn't make him feel like himself.

"It was only when I accepted that masculinity is just another form of self-expression that I realized it's different for every person, much like a personality, or even a hair style," Josef Stark writes.

Stark gives a very beautiful, well-rounded observation on masculinity and why it is not related to the length of one's hair. "To be masculine is to be a helper, a leader, someone to look up to."

"You lead, you take responsibility and most importantly, you love. To be a man is to be a rock for others to stand on, be there when your friends need you, and to show love freely."

One other misconception about having long hair is that people automatically assume it requires a lot of maintenance. YouTuber and grooming specialist Jorge Fernando said that his long hair required the same amount of care as when he had a buzzcut.

"Even if there's a lot of hair now instead of no hair, 90% of the time I don't care about it. I just put it in a bun or just have it messy and scraggly."

Hair takes the most effort and time when it's in the awkward phase. It's that period after cutting it short and before it reaches a point where you can tie it up. I, too, had a short cut in my rebellious teenage years, so I understand you, fellas. 

It's hard to style awkward-phase hair because it's shaggy, unruly and just all over the place. If you're not a hat and beanie person, try a product with a strong bonding agent. However, it might be a slippery slope and you may end up looking like Lloyd Christmas.

Whether or not this list inspires some fellas to try growing their hair out, let's leave the old stereotypes about long hair and masculinity in 2023, what do you say?

And let this be my open letter to all men reading: please don’t be afraid to grow out your hair. Maybe it’s just my personal experience, but it can be quite the kryptonite for some ladies...