They were sometimes referred to as the `` long-haired kings '' ( Latin reges criniti ) by people of the time , for their symbolically uncut hair ( traditionally the tribal leader of the Franks wore his hair long , while the warriors trimmed theirs short ) . They were sometimes referred to as the `` long-haired kings '' ( Latin reges criniti ) by contemporaries , for their symbolically unshorn hair ( traditionally the tribal leader of the Franks wore his hair long , as distinct from the Romans and the tonsured clergy ) .