trivial and kind of stupid question for the guys ...

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blueroses
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08 Jul 2011, 8:58 am

Why do many men tend to dislike short hair on women so strongly?

I recently got my hair cut very short (pixie length) and really like the way it feels, especially since the weather is very hot and humid where I live this time of year. The last long-term relationships I was in were with guys who hated short hair and got upset when I talked about going short, but I've been single for a while and have always wanted to take a risk and try it out. So, a few weeks ago, I thought, "Screw it, it's my hair and I'll do whatever I want."

I've gotten nothing but positive feedback from women, who I do realize are more inclined to just say things to be nice. But, the feedback I've gotten from male friends and coworkers has been lukewarm or openly negative. I did have one nice compliment from a coworker, only to hear him lamenting a few days later about how his wife got her hair cut shorter and how he absolutely hates short hair.

Just curious as to what you think, since I know a lot of people on this forum aren't afraid of being totally honest and direct about their opinions ...



Quartz11
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08 Jul 2011, 9:04 am

To me, and this probably will sound horrible - but many can't pull it off too well. That and to most guys, really short hair is dominion of lesbians.

Now how short are we really talking here?



Megz
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08 Jul 2011, 9:06 am

I think it might have something to do with perceived femininity. Like somehow long hair is connected to your identity as a woman. I don't really get it either, but that's my best guess.



b9
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08 Jul 2011, 9:15 am

i could not care less how long a girls hair is. i was only(?) thinking the other day about how, as a species of animal, humans are very strange in the respect that if humans do not cut their head hair, it will grow to a length that seriously hinders their survivability.

no other animal has such a wildly unattenuated growth of an aspect of their physical existence as human head hair. it keeps growing for the duration of a person's life(no matter how long), and there seems to be no biological mechanism that attenuates the length of head hair once it becomes burdensome to the owner.

only intelligence can save the life of an animal who's head hair grows to ridiculous lengths (and weights) if not intercepted with a cutting mechanism.

the same can be said for fingernails (except for the weight factor, and inclusive of the manipulation deficiency factor).



izzeme
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08 Jul 2011, 9:16 am

actually; as a guy, i wonder this myself too; i prefer a girl to have short-ish hair (like ear-length, usually)



johnsmcjohn
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08 Jul 2011, 9:27 am

Presuming you can pull the look off(and as it's been said already, not everyone can), there are a few things that men perceive when they see short hair. First is the overwhelming majority of women who have short hair are lesbians(whether this is true or not, I don't know, that's just the perception). Second is men subconsciously judge women's overall health based on their hair. When women have long, healthy hair it's a good indication that she's reasonably healthy, and capable of having healthy children. The overwhelming majority of men will never admit this but they perceive it without thinking about it. Finally, long hair has been a symbol of femininity since ancient times. Whether or not it should be, it's been ingrained into society and will take a long time to reverse. Anyway, enjoy your new hairstyle, and remember, the best thing about hairstyles is they aren't carved in stone. If you don't like it, it'll grow back.


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Grisha
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08 Jul 2011, 9:38 am

Although I'm not picky at all about hair color/length, most of what's been said here sounds about right to me.

When I see a woman with short hair, I tend to think "romantically unavailable" for some reason, not necessarily that they are a lesbian.



Jonsi
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08 Jul 2011, 9:51 am

I really have no problem with shorter hair. Though I'm attracted to both genders.



Last edited by Jonsi on 08 Jul 2011, 12:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mindslave
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08 Jul 2011, 10:02 am

Well, it depends on your look. Typically women with round skulls can pull off the short hair much better. Women with more oval skulls can't pull it off as well. There is also a feminine aspect to it. When I see a girl with long hair, the primitive part of my brain says "Ready to f**k" and "If she is willing to take time to maintain her hair, I'll bet she has time to put up with me and my stupid nonsense" and things like that. Men are going to be attracted to more, ahem, "gentle" women, because women are more gentle. I don't mind short hair, but it depends on who is pulling it off. I actually like short hair better, more like a bob than a buzzcut, but it's nice. So yeah, the guys are frustrated because now you aren't perceived to be as sexually available as before.



Iloveshoujoai
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08 Jul 2011, 12:02 pm

short hair is great. Maybe men don't see it as very feminine. I think it's very cute though if it's cut well. On some women I prefer it to long hair.



LostAlien
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08 Jul 2011, 12:03 pm

I've heard that longer hair indicates availability in women whilst shorter hair is supposed to indicate that a woman has a partner or is less available.


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08 Jul 2011, 12:28 pm

Quote:
Second is men subconsciously judge women's overall health based on their hair. When women have long, healthy hair it's a good indication that she's reasonably healthy, and capable of having healthy children.


I strongly suspect that nails it right there. Similar to how males tend to be attracted to certain body types more, and those types are more likely to be healthy breeders.

Pixie length hair can be very cute. It can also make you look very young, which may or may not be a problem. It can also emphasize "flaws" in facial structure (big nose, chubby chin). I would say if you wear pretty barrettes, dangly earrings or strong colored lipstick you will look just as "feminine" as if you had longer hair, but that's just my notion. Or do some streaks or something.

I don't do short hair because I then have to go pay to have it maintained. I haven't had a professional near my head in 15 years, for a perm, and a lot longer than that since it was short, maybe 30 years. It stays long. I wash it, let it dry, braid it up, and I'm good to go. On the other hand, I'm also in a long term marriage and not trying to attract guys. :)



The_Face_of_Boo
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08 Jul 2011, 12:38 pm

I think men are too used to see women with long hair, that's why. A long hair would also incite the "caressing" instinct in men as well.



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08 Jul 2011, 12:40 pm

If you get it cut right to the point that its still feminine I find it to look great. But some get it and look a bit masculine.



Erisad
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08 Jul 2011, 12:40 pm

I would get my hair cut at chin length and men didn't like it at all. Women did and I did because it was easy to maintain. Now I'm at about shoulder length, which is good. :)



MXH
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08 Jul 2011, 12:48 pm

The_Face_of_Boo wrote:
I think men are too used to see women with long hair, that's why. A long hair would also incite the "caressing" instinct in men as well.

that may be true, I am used to short hair since my mom has always had short hair.