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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What do you find hot in a man? What do you think men like on a woman? Lighthearted Friday chat 🤷‍♀️

243 replies

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 12:08

In a man:
Muscles
Height (sorry)
Aura - are they strong or weak?

I think straight men notice:
Skin (does it have that dewy look)
Shape
How much you care for yourself (manicure, hair, etc)

OP posts:
freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 14:11

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 10/04/2026 12:55

Men: I don't have a type really but I like solidly built and kind. I have to find them physically attractive. I don't find skinny men attractive.

Women: my type is dark haired, pretty eyes, curvy. Most of the women I've liked are very tall.

A dark haired hannah waddingham?

OP posts:
Starlight1979 · 10/04/2026 14:11

Capable
Supportive
Loyal
Funny
Good morals and work ethic
Physically fit
Nice bum
Strong arms
Calm and dependable in a crisis / bad situation

Thankfully DH has / is all of the above (or do I find them hot because of DH?! 🤔)

OldHattie · 10/04/2026 14:13

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 14:09

Omg musicians

Matty healy is hot for this reason

I know! There is just something about being able to play an instrument.

I think mathematicians might be a weird one though 😬. My dh is quite gifted mathematically, and I am definitely not, so I do find it weirdly really attractive. I heard him on a work call a while ago and out of nowhere thought "hot".

BobbieTables · 10/04/2026 14:16

I like both men and women.
In both:

  • funny
  • has integrity
  • has a reasonable amount of confidence and faith in themselves

For women I'd add that they have a nice shape like a good waist and bum, I don't like straight up and down, but think most women are physically quite attractive.
For men I'd add that they one or two physical things that I can like, strong hands, wide shoulders, nice eyes, hot smile - something like that, tbh I'm not as physically attracted to men.

Devilsmommy · 10/04/2026 14:22

Additup · 10/04/2026 14:02

Has anyone else had a sudden change in type?

Up until having children when I was early 30s I had a general type, boyish charm etc think Damon Albarn when he was in Blur.

Once I had children I suddenly saw the appeal of more obviously masculine, competent men (ie not complete knuckle draggers), think Bruce Willis in Die Hard.

I assume its hormonal.

Definitely agree with this. As a teen/early 20's I was into rocker looking guys. Then mid to late 20's I all of a sudden wanted shaved head and hairy body. I wanted a manly man if you see what I mean. Definitely hormone related I reckon 😁

Heyhelga · 10/04/2026 14:22

What I look for:
Funny
Loyal
Good with children
Decent size cock

What I think men look:
Loyal
Not overweight
Someone who brings peace not drama
Decent size boobs

Mellowz · 10/04/2026 14:25

Good arms
glasses
intelligence
kindnes
more introvert than extrovert
Calm
funny
i think everyone likes different things but I have been told

eyes
bum
personality

Eclipser · 10/04/2026 14:38

Competence is a huge turn on for me. Doesn’t really matter what they’re doing, if they’re doing it well. Something about a strong man being very gentle, or doing something that requires a light, careful touch, makes me a bit weak at the knees.

For men, seeing that they make you happy is captivating and listening to them talk has a disproportionate impact.

Wipeywipey · 10/04/2026 14:45

OldHattie · 10/04/2026 14:13

I know! There is just something about being able to play an instrument.

I think mathematicians might be a weird one though 😬. My dh is quite gifted mathematically, and I am definitely not, so I do find it weirdly really attractive. I heard him on a work call a while ago and out of nowhere thought "hot".

When I was on social media years ago, there was a group for Men Reading in Public Places (pictures of men reading in public) that was phenomenally sexy. I think men underestimate holding a book and holding a baby as ovary clanging siren behaviour.

UnderHousemaid · 10/04/2026 14:48

Wipeywipey · 10/04/2026 14:45

When I was on social media years ago, there was a group for Men Reading in Public Places (pictures of men reading in public) that was phenomenally sexy. I think men underestimate holding a book and holding a baby as ovary clanging siren behaviour.

Edited

It depends on the book, though. Nul points for The Da Vinci Code or a footballer's autobiography that he hasn't even read!

Pernicketywishes · 10/04/2026 14:49

Funny in a quirky way
academic but not boring
beard
completely stable
full head of hair

bonus points for. -
posh Welsh accent (iykyk)
brown eyes

ChamonixMountainBum · 10/04/2026 14:49

Holymolyrigmorole · 10/04/2026 13:23

In a man, I’m physically attracted to

broad shoulders, narrow waist and hips

eyes that can speak

a freely given smile

strong hands

clothes that fit

Other attributes that make me go weak at the knees:

academic and emotional intelligence

acts of service towards me and others

a large community of decent long-standing friends both male and female

Creative/artistic - plays instruments, writes, that sort of thing

Things that men have said they find attractive about me

my shoulders to waist proportions

naughty eyes

big smile, huge laugh

party-vibes

big brown eyes & curly brown hair

Bum

appetite for life

intelligence and seniority at work

confidence

Freckles

You dont want too much do you! 😂

Wipeywipey · 10/04/2026 14:50

UnderHousemaid · 10/04/2026 14:48

It depends on the book, though. Nul points for The Da Vinci Code or a footballer's autobiography that he hasn't even read!

I physically recoiled when a lad on a bus was reading The Stoics.
It isn't usually the Alpha Bro types who gravitate towards literature...

YerMotherWasAHamster · 10/04/2026 14:52

I forgot to put hairy on my list. I like hairy men. Really hairy men. Gorillas, if you like.

Ideally. My husband has less body hair than I do.

But I did like cuddling men with lots of long soft body hair.

I might start getting him to bathe in regaine

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 14:57

Wipeywipey · 10/04/2026 14:45

When I was on social media years ago, there was a group for Men Reading in Public Places (pictures of men reading in public) that was phenomenally sexy. I think men underestimate holding a book and holding a baby as ovary clanging siren behaviour.

Edited

See if I saw a man reading in public, I would automatically assume he is doing it to impress women and would get the ick 😩

OP posts:
freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 14:59

OldHattie · 10/04/2026 14:13

I know! There is just something about being able to play an instrument.

I think mathematicians might be a weird one though 😬. My dh is quite gifted mathematically, and I am definitely not, so I do find it weirdly really attractive. I heard him on a work call a while ago and out of nowhere thought "hot".

I get what you mean

Being gifted is hot

OP posts:
Netcurtainnelly · 10/04/2026 15:01

definitely not any tattoos.

Netcurtainnelly · 10/04/2026 15:03

Heyhelga · 10/04/2026 14:22

What I look for:
Funny
Loyal
Good with children
Decent size cock

What I think men look:
Loyal
Not overweight
Someone who brings peace not drama
Decent size boobs

as you can't see their cock straightaway do you dump them if it's not a 'decent Size'?

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 15:03

Netcurtainnelly · 10/04/2026 15:01

definitely not any tattoos.

Oh I like a tattoo 😏

How come youre not a fan?

OP posts:
ToffeePennie · 10/04/2026 15:04

Men;
kindness in his eyes
the ability to make me laugh
upper arms
bit of a belly (I like a dad bod!)

women;
I notice long and glossy hair first
eyes (especially wide/big eyes)
a great arse!

personality attracts me first but these are physical attributes I always notice.

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 15:04

Netcurtainnelly · 10/04/2026 15:03

as you can't see their cock straightaway do you dump them if it's not a 'decent Size'?

You can assess dick length by looking at how it sits when they're wearing trousers!

I'll find the tiktok about it and share 🤭🤭

I would dump a guy for having a small willy, 100% lifes too short

OP posts:
ainsleysanob · 10/04/2026 15:08

freedomformeismotherhood · 10/04/2026 15:04

You can assess dick length by looking at how it sits when they're wearing trousers!

I'll find the tiktok about it and share 🤭🤭

I would dump a guy for having a small willy, 100% lifes too short

Nah. I disagree in some cases. The old grower not show-er. One I’ve seen was unbelievable, like a kebab skewer until you presented it with the slightest bit of attention and it was like a medieval longsword.

YerMotherWasAHamster · 10/04/2026 15:09

Not really. Some of them dont gain much length but others seem to balloon out of nowhere!

One minute it's a little fat ball and the next minute it can poke your eye out from across the room.

BestZebbie · 10/04/2026 15:16

I suspect that "willing to have sex with me" is a top scorer for 'what men find hot in a woman', tbh.

IsItBeesThoughLooshkin · 10/04/2026 15:18

A big beautiful nose that looks like it belongs on an ancient marble statue. So beautiful.

Big strong chest and big thighs. A little bit fat around the middle. Not a big belly but a bit of softness. I hate visible abs on men.

Nicely shaped stubble on the face which ends at the chin and a smooth hairless neck. (Does that make sense? I don’t know what it’s called. Designer stubble?)

Hair with really short back and sides, like a fade. I just want to touch it.

Small ears.

Men like a thin waist, big butt and long hair.

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