This may seem like a weird question but, I am a guy and have quite long hair...should I cut it before I go to Thailand?

My dad went there quite a while ago and he had long hair and probably looked like a hippie. Anyways he said that it seemed like people in general respected him less (he took it to be the long hair) is this just crazy talk?

Also I will be going with a friend of mine who smokes pot, is it safe for her to keep it like at the bottom of her backpack or something? Or could we be subject to random searches by cops? Do they do this? Would they want to search us more since we kind of look like people that would have stuff on us?
Also i read on one of the forums that some people get random drug tests (that sounds really crazy and ridiculous), that can't be true is it?

I really don't know if what I'm saying is crazy talk or not, but I've heard getting caught with drugs in Thailand is really really bad.

Thanks in advance!

Appearance is everything in Thailand. You will be treated as your appearance seems to merit.

In Thailand, with few exceptions, long hair means druggy / bum. Although most people will tolerate you. you won't garner much respect.

It will draw attention to you. You will stand out enough already. The hair will add a negative connotation. This isn't good with a pot packin' partner!

Plenty of tourists visit with long hair, beards, tie dye and sandals. They had better, however, keep their noses very clean.

Curt covered the long hair quite well, though no need to cut it, just know that some will be less respectful, no more than your home country....LOL

as far as smoking a doobie while here, i would NOT, as it presents a perfect opportunity, at best, to scam you for money, deport you prematurely, OR, at worst, SIMPLE POSSESSION, carries a 5 yr max sentence.........why roll the dice. looking like a hippie, will make you stand out and be noticed, if in a club, they occasionally raid and spot check, urine test, and you really don't wont to fail, see above.....LOL. a wee bit of common sense goes a long way. the herb here is nothing better than your home country's home grown, hydophonic excellent stuff.

be safe, not sorry. watch 'brokedown palace', good movie, or even current 'briget jones diary' though not very accurate as BP.

__________________
https://sites.google.com/site/lareegem/

In many countries, not just Thailand, long hair on an adult usually means you are a loser and or a druggie. Sure, maybe 4 or 5 out of a hundred are not losers but who is counting? Even better odds with tattoos all over your neck and face.

Yes, there are random drug tests in some nightclubs in Thailand. If you and your buddy are using maybe skip some of the nightclubs will be a good idea! If you or your friend are worried about being frisked for drugs your friend won't be caught. Many hard core druggies just store their stash in their friend's bags anyway!

Up to you!

crucio185, welcome to the forums. I think it is a really positive sign that you are concerned about how your appearance may be interpreted by Thais. To me it suggests you are sensitive to cultural norms and that you will be a good ambassador for your country, not an insensitive tourist who couldn't give a flying f!ck about how they represent themselves.

I also think your concerns are unjustified, however. Sure, people the world over will make judgements on you based on your appearance, be it hair length, skin colour or whatever. I like to think I am more aware of this than most and yet I still catch myself doing it. It's just the way of the world.

But in the circles you are likely to operate in, it's just not an issue. Unless you are working a job or doing business in Thailand, settling down in a local neighbourhood or trying to marry a high class Thai girl (good luck with that, whatever your hair length!), the fact you have long hair will not matter a fig in the tourist world you will inhabit of checking into guesthouses, buying tours, entering bars etc. How you carry yourself as a person - hopefully as a tolerant, calm, polite, friendly, compassionate traveller - will be what is noticed.

I backpacked through South East Asia with fairly long hair - at least, longer than the societal normobot I am these days. Through my day-to-day encounters with Thais, Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Singaporeans and Malaysians I never once encountered disrespect based on my appearance. The only times I felt self-conscious about my appearance was when I was invited to drink in a bar in a Hong Kong 5* hotel and when I checked in, backpacked up, into a 5* hotel in Vietnam for a night (paid for with Airmiles!), and both of those occasions were largely a result of my backpacker clothes not really fitting my surroundings rather than my hair length.

As for "losers" with long hair, sure, they exist - I met several who slotted right into the stereotype - but I met far more expat, tourist or sexpat "losers" in Thailand who were balding or had short cropped hair. I didn't make a judgement on their appearance; it was how they put themselves across to me that sealed the deal.

So don't worry about your hair length. Thailand is not the Singapore of 20 years ago, where "unkempt" people were refused entry. After all, this is the country where transsexuals are embraced more than any other on earth, I would suspect. You are far more likely to be judged by your skin colour (non-Thai tourist = rich) than by your follicle activity.

The drug issue has been covered to death on this thread and the other you posted, but I would quickly add my tuppence worth. I would never condone doing illegal drugs in a foreign country, not least one in which the penalties can be harsh and where the police force can effectively hold you to ransom with eye-watering fines (read: bribes). In reality, you may find opportunities within the backpacker community, particularly in the islands like Ko Pha Ngan, where you can secure some weed and smoke it in relative safety. If you encounter such a chance, use your common sense, buy from tourists rather than Thais (who might be on the make with the police) and be safe. This was never a risk I took, even when it came to the "special shakes" (mushroom shakes) that could be openly bought in certain bars, as I felt way out of my comfort zone. So please impart all of this advice to your friend, as the penalties when caught are at best financially crippling for budget travellers and at worst positively hellish in the "jails" they have for foreigners who transgress Thai law.

Have a great, safe trip and call into the forums when you want more advice on planning your travels.

Steve

__________________
Owner, travelforum.org
My latest travels: Shikoku Pilgrimage

You call that a beard and long hair?!

I changed my avatar to illustrate that my perceptions aren't coming from a judgmental snob. Been there; done that. Probably spent the best part of 30 years with long hair and beards. But, now I live in Bangkok.

My opinion is based on what I have observed and have learned living in Bangkok for the last 4 years, and the opinions of my Thai family and friends.

Yes, you will get by. Yes, most will smile and fire off a wai. But, the long hair will help you stand out, even more than the normal tourist. It's just one more opportunity to be the one picked from the crowd.

But, don't shave your head or cancel your travel plans. You will be fine, as long as you pay attention, keep your senses and keep your nose clean.

Curt

Is the Avatar change a permanent one?

We'll see. Some don't like the "Charles Manson" look!

Ahahaha... I call it "fairly long hair"

Impressive growth, Curt! I get to a certain stage (like in my pic) and then have to shave it off, as it itches too much.

After operating in the world of work I did enjoy going travelling and not really having to worry how the stuff I looked. Go with the same feeling, OP!

__________________
Owner, travelforum.org
My latest travels: Shikoku Pilgrimage

That growth was during my working period. This was actually my second growth; the first was longer.

My beards would come and go. But, I probably went about 25 years without seeing my upper lip!

My longest, without a haircut, was about 3 years - a true relic from the 60s!

Now, my hair gets over a couple centimeters, it annoys me.