My young friend's first braid!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206373)
Walnut Creek, California
May 6, 2018 4:29pm CST
As many of you know, I have a "pretend son" who is my neighbor kid. We have been buds since he was three, and I am a father figure to him. He is learning guitar with me, knows as much about planting as I do, and knows as much about sanding speakers (and other wood objects) as I do. Plus, he knows where things are in my house better than I do.
His mom has let him grow his hair long, and I think it looks rather good on him. Yesterday, after a trip to the pool, I asked him if he'd let me braid his hair. My early girlfriends had long hair, which I'd braid, and my horse's mane was subject to my braiding skills for 23 years.
He was delighted, and enjoyed letting me braid his hair. I'll attach a picture of the result. Later, he took the braid out, and asked me to do it again, with a rubber band at the top, so less hair would hang down in the front. Of course, I obliged.
Would you send your boy to school with a braided ponytail? Do you like braiding hair? I enjoy it, and hope to learn to do a good "French braid" before I am dust.
21 people like this
25 responses
@sallypup (58088)
• Centralia, Washington
6 May 18
I saw a teen boy with a tight top knot on his head the other day. I thought it made him look tough. I've never been good at stuff like braiding. Funny how much of society expects that if a person is a female, they will automatically be good at such things as hair. Its totally bull---
4 people like this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
6 May 18
The braid is very beautiful.In China, if the boy braids, it is estimated that he will not be admitted to school. 
2 people like this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
6 May 18
@TheHorse Most schools prohibit boys from having long hair.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 May 18
@caopaopao Why is that? Can girls have long hair?
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58192)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
6 May 18
Its adorable. My friend who was in the army who passed away in February had a top knot and bun for years before joining. It worked on him.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
7 May 18
@TheHorse My son has worn his hair in little buns. They're essentially a ponytail that hasn't been pulled all the way through.
2 people like this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
7 May 18
Yes, I do .. I like braiding my hair..
It's so nice picture
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 May 18
@Jessabuma It never got super long. But it used to be a lot longer than it is now.
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
8 May 18
@TheHorse ohh that's nice! So it meansv, you used to have long hair..
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
7 May 18
You did a great job :) He has nice hair!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
8 May 18
@TheHorse Yep it's lovely :) I love it and the color, too.
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 May 18
@LadyDuck Yeppers, I agree. But hair length is not one of the things that concern me. Things like intellectual curiosity, and respect for nature, animals and other humans ARE, so those are the things I nurture in kids. Music too, of course, if the interest is there.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 May 18
I'm glad he enjoys it. I just see it as bonding time. When I worked in Oakland, black American women would spend hours braiding each others' or their daughters' hair. It was just a quiet bonding thing. When my hair was longer, a couple of black girls (aged eight and nine or so) actually gave me multiple braids in the style of many black girls here. Of course, we took it out before I went home, but it was just a sign of affection, and an opportunity to sit quietly together.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 May 18
I think anything is nowadays, the man bun?!
I can braid my own hair and I do it most days in the summer. I learned to do it blind with just my hands.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 18
@andriaperry When I thought about it, I realized I had done it. But it has been a while.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 May 18
@TheHorse Probably, just divide and flow the layering, since you know how to braid it should be easy.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
7 May 18
That braid looks good on him. And he has beautiful hair. Perhaps, I would let my future sonhave a braid too. I just the basics though. It was our nanny who used to braid my hair in school.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 18
@mlgen1037 I'll ask him what he chooses to do tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
7 May 18
@TheHorse I hope so too. He is handsome and the hair is really nice.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
6 May 18
Some guys wear their hair in a rattail braid. It is a very thin braid in the back of their head.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
6 May 18
@TheHorse a normal braid but very thin. Hanging down of course, unless your the Wendy's girl. 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 18
@Starmaiden When I used two scrunchees, it kind of stuck out toward the back.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157660)
• United States
7 May 18
I have had nephews that wore braids. Some of them have beautiful hair. If clean I do not care how they wear their hair. Hair is only a temporary thing that can be cut, if necessary or grown longer. I know a young man transferred into our area and he had long straight black hair. He appears Native American or Mexican American although his name does not reflect either. Over the last few months he has had his hair cut to shoulders, then neckline, and now to ear length but not short. He was very stressed when he first came, with lots of anxiety issues, mostly due to a custody issue. I think his hair has made him feel secure with the move and it was accepted here.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49114)
• United States
7 May 18
I haven't worn braids in years, but I do like them.
1 person likes this
