[lE3l6Lgn]

Hey everybody!

I'm going to Thailand in about six weeks, and I will be spending an extended period of time there. Though perhaps these questions may seem a bit wacky, I have some questions concerning hair styles, facial hair, and how they are perceived in Thailand:

1. What are culturally appropriate hairstyles for men?
2. What are culturally inappropriate hairstyles for men?
3. Does a shaved head carry any particular significance?
4. Does long hair carry any particular significance?
5. Does facial hair (e.g. beard, fuzz, moustache, etc.) carry any particular significance?
6. Does a ghotee carry any significance, or is looked down upon, etc.?
7. Are there certain male hairstyles that come across as more masculine or more feminine?


The main reason I ask this is that I am not sure whether my hairstyle and ghotee are too extreme or weird for Thai culture, or if they carry some significance in Thai culture that I don't know about. I want to be able to blend into Thai culture as much as a farang can, though I would like to also be able to retain some level of self-expression. Any thoughts concerning these questions as they pertain to both city and rural culture are welcomed! Thank you! :-)

[WertyNtont]

It depends a lot on age. In general, a man should be clean-shaven with short hair. A shaved head is likely to get you confused with a monk, or someone who is observing abstinence from carnal pleasures. This perception would likely be accentuated if you wear white.

[Caursedus]

5. Does facial hair (e.g. beard, fuzz, moustache, etc.) carry any particular significance?

When I visited the Koh Surin park in 2005, one of the boat drivers told a bilingual person he thought I was German because I have a moustache. I'm not sure of the local opinion of Germans, compared with Americans...

[ignonsoli]

I want to be able to blend into Thai culture as much as a farang can, though I would like to also be able to retain some level of self-expression.

Can we see a picture of you and we will pass it around our Thai friends

Seriously, I think many Thai people will respect you for your efforts to be culturally sensitive. Just walk down Khao San Road and you will see what Thai people call "a freak show". Certainly, Thai people in that area are used to strange looking foreigners. However, if you are planning on going to places that tourists don't normally go then everything you do and say will reflect back on not only you but your entire motherland.

For Thai people, they have the opinion that only animals have body hair. If you want to have a beard or goatee, I would suggest you keep it neat and clean at all times. At my school, our administration actually asked one of our new teachers to shave his beard before his first day at school. They said that the younger children would be too scared and would cry at the sight of a hairy farang. However, we have had visitors to the school since who had beards and there were no tears.

Bascially, this is part of old culture and these opinions are becoming less important with the new generation. They have seen "handsome" foreign men in the movies with facial hair. Many Thai pop stars these days now have their own versions of a goatee. I say their own version because Thai people actually have difficulty in growing facial hair. For them they don't need to shave every day. They just pluck at their hairs every now and then.

In summary, if you have a wonderful personality and always smile, then this will shine greater than anything else that might be "wrong" with your face. Be respectful and you will be respected.

Have fun and please come back to let us know how you got on.

[Wachearex]

Just wanted to add like Vision chaser said, I have a very close shaven head and had a lot of jokes about it would be easy for me to become a monk which was always quite funny hehe.

[Crilosajsamq]

I'm a little confused about this discussion. One of the men in the extended family I just got back from visiting in Ang Thong province has a very nice moustache. I don't usually care for moustaches, but his makes him look very handsome. I could imagine him in "Gone with the wind".

But I don't recall seeing much other facial hair...

[lE3l6Lgn]

Hey everyone! Thanks for your excellent feedback. This is definitely a great site to get some insight into Thai culture, and ya'll are a great help.

Can we see a picture of you and we will pass it around our Thai friends

If you feel like giving this a shot, you can grab a picture of me right here, hahaha. Thanks for the huge reply, Richard! Your insight is great.

[RCQDnMp5]

Depending on where you are, I guess kids might like to touch your beard... When I showed a picture of my dad to some school kids they started giggling and pointing and and were amazed at how much hair some farangs have in their faces... Some of them even called out "monkey, monkey!" just to see how I'd react! But I guess generally it's accepted very well if it is kept neat - like Richard said. In some rural areas you'll attract people to stare anyways, with or without facial hair!

[reervieltnope]

Jude24to25 you'll do just fine. You look like many other young farang tourist I saw in Thailand.