Why does everyone in Lord of the Rings have long hair?

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by 8BitNinja
...I also think it mentioned that Boromir had cropped hair....

From the Council of Elrond:

"[Boromir] had a collar of silver in which a single white stone was set; his locks were shorn about his shoulders."

So, shoulder-length or thereabouts, long by modern standards but not when compared to the elves.

Originally Posted by Pex
They do mention men having shoulder-length hair, when Strider is introduced….

Here’s the passage from the Prancing Pony:

“Frodo found that Strider was now looking at him, as if he had heard or guessed all that had been said…. As Frodo drew near he threw back his hood, showing a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes.”

This is all that’s mentioned of Aragorn’s hair when he first meets the hobbits. Neither long nor short, just unkempt and hinting of rugged middle age.

Originally Posted by Pex
…and the men of Rohan heading to Helm's Deep.

I didn’t see anything about hair connected to Helm’s Deep, but there is this passage from much earlier, when Eomer’s riders first overtake Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas:

“The men that rode [their horses] matched them well: tall and long-limbed; their hair, flaxen-pale, flowed under their light helms, and streamed in long braids behind them; their faces were stern and keen.”

Originally Posted by Pex
This could be because they couldn't afford to wait for the male actors to grow their hair and/or afford the necessary wigs.

No one is going to hold up production for someone to grow out his hair; they’ll just hire actors who already have long hair.

This was a sticking point for Harrison Ford when he signed onto American Graffiti, because his character was supposed to have short hair, but he was concerned that if he cut his hair he wouldn’t be able to get other acting gigs. Lucas compromised by giving him a cowboy hat to hide the long hair.

Originally Posted by GolemsVoice
Long hair was also a popular style for men in the early to mid middle ages....

Also in the 70s.


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