ESSAY WRITING | Group 5

1. Aditya Amalia Farcha

2. Doni Mulia Putra
3. Ednazara Rangga Luna
4. Grisva Ohoiledjaan

Men and Long Hair

Hair model has a big influence on men's appearance. The 2024 MEN/O/LOGY survey
involved 1,500 male respondents aged 15 to 55 years throughout Indonesia showed 96.7
percent of men think that model of hair greatly influences their appearance (Republika.
Accessed March 22, 2024). Men aged 15 to 55 years old, each have their own hairstyles and
preferences based on the model. Mostly, they preferred in short hair model which looks
cleaner, tidy and discipline. However, not a few men are growing long hair as their hair model
and it signs them as courage, wealth and freedom, against the short hair stereotype. This essay
will explain why long hair model in men's world portrayed them to have the traits of courage,
wealth, and freedom.

Courage as the first trait to explain the long hair. Leonardo Da Vince once said, “Hair is
essential to a face, as the frame is to picture” (Chertsey Museum. Accessed April, 2024).
Through earliest history of mankind, hair is one of human’s body part that holds the important
key to express personality, long hair in men has significant role to identify a person is
considered as an alpha to lead their entities. An alpha male has courage and strength in both
physically and mentally to intimidate enemy. This trait can be depicted through dark, long and
wavy hair model. We can see the prove through the warriors in previous period were
longhaired men such as Achilles, Alexander The Great, King Arthur etc., no place for the short
hair (Tsirulnik. Accessed April, 2024). The immersion of long hair as courage is still used until
this time, even in today’s era is dominated by short hair model, it gives the long hair an
opportunity to show their courageous decision, creating an expression of breaking the rules.
Therefore, men with long hair stand out for their courage to defy norms, highlighting the strong
link between long hair and bravery.

The next trait is long hair for men has wealth legacy from 17th century. Men with
shoulder-length hair were considered as wealthy and reputable person, at some point, they
wore wigs include with its style to symbolized the status of their wealth. On the other hand,
short hair were seen as poor people or low-status (Chertsey Museum. Accessed April, 2024).
After years, it seems that the legacy continued until now, people are imitating the culture to
create a value to generate wealthy trait. In modern day, long hair such as Curly Cascade, Classic
Waves, and Long Slick Back are the posh preference to express natural and effortless lifestyle
(Men Deserved. Accessed April, 2024). Rich people's reason of maintaining the wealthy trait in
long hair is to identify themselves as high status or simply as the non-worker society, while
average people using the wealthy trait for self-image and personal desire. In a word, since the
past, long hair on men defied wealth and status. Shoulder-length hair and wigs showed
richness.

The last trait of why long hair is selected by men is portraying freedom. Through all
ages, men will say that they have rights over themselves, desire for expression and exploration
in order to gain knowledge and positive insights (Psychvarsity. Accessed April 1, 2024).
Furthermore, long hair in men also portray them that their personality is capable to do
something out of pattern, it means the act of thinking or doing are processed creatively, there
are plenty of smart long haired men that contributed their brilliant innovations such as
Archimedes, Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal etc. (Kognisia. Accessed April, 2024). This perception is
in opposite with the short hair that gives them disciplined looks and restricted in thinking
matters. To sum up, men with long hair expresses themselves more creatively and it symbolizes
their desire to break from rules and become themselves’ version, unlike the restricted look
which associated with short hair.

In conclusion, this essay has explained the traits of long hair for men briefly. It can
influence men's appearance and as a media to express themselves, such as expressing courage,
symbol of wealth legacy, and portraying freedom personality. Throughout years passed, the
three traits of the long hair for men are still relevant today. Moreover, long hair as a model
against the men which have short hair, is to prove the world that long hair should not be
sentenced as a bad model anymore. People should remember the legacy of long hair model in
men from history of mankind, due almost all great figures were long-haired men.

References:

Chertsey Museum (April, 2024). Hair: The Styling of Society.

Retrieved from https://chertseymuseum.org/hair

Gondrongisme. Retrieved from https://kognisia.co/gondrongisme/

Men Deserve (April, 2024). Men's Long Hairstyles: The Coolest Trends for 2024. Retrieved from
https://mendeserve.com/blogs/hair/the-coolest-long-hairstyles-for-men-in-2024
Psychvarsity (April, 2024). Unraveling the Mystery Behind the Psychology of Guys with Long
Hair. Retrieved from https://www.psychvarsity.com/Psychology-Of-Guys-With-
LongHairKognisia (April, 2024).

Republika (March, 2024). Survei Pria Lebih Peduli Gaya Rambut Dibandingkan Wajah. Retrieved
from https://ameera.republika.co.id/berita/s83tys425/survei-pria-lebih-peduli-gaya-
rambutdibandingkan-wajah

Tsirulnik (April, 2024). Long or Short Hair in Men. Retrieved from

https://zirulnik.com/en/news/novosti/long-or-short-hair-in-men.html