Brain Game: Get a Haircut, Hippie!

I've had long hair since 1992, when my wife-to-be said she liked me better with lengthy locks. Eighteen years later, my hair is grayer, but it's still long.

By changing one letter at a time to form different English words, and leaving all other letters in their original positions, convert LONG into HAIR in the fewest steps possible. Good luck!

L O N G _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H A I R

Here is a six-step SOLUTION.

A 6-STEP SOLUTION:

LONG > LONE > LANE > LAND > LAID > LAIR > HAIR

Did you come up with a different solution? Feel free to share it by commenting below. Thanks!