AIBU to think men prefer fake looking women?

[Bumpitybumper]

I can't help but feel suspicious everytime I read the results from a survey where it is suggested that men prefer the "natural" look. This just doesn't seem to reflect my experience in real life and also what I see on social media or on TV.

We have Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian who have both obviously had a LOT of work being viewed as the pinnacle of female attractiveness whilst Meghan from Love Island who has apparently been completely remodeled by surgeon seems to have attracted the most men in Love Island.

AIBU to suggest despite their protestations that men actually don't favour the natural look at all?

That 'someone else' being.... yes you've guessed it, men!

That's the irony... This thread is about women wondering or arguing about what men find attractive. What does it matter unless you want them to see you as beautiful?

I quite like muscly men to look at but would not want one for a boyfriend be necessarily

That's the irony... This thread is about women wondering or arguing about what men find attractive. What does it matter unless you want them to see you as beautiful?

So you're posting on this thread because you want men to see you as beautiful?

Must be, since according to you there couldn't possibly be any other reason to post here.

This man much prefers natural, and would REALLY prefer a world without perfume.

I am a man.
My experience..
Weak men shit themselves when they meet a 'real' woman.
In women the 'real' things they are scared of include hair not on their heads, orgasms, income, opinions, wearing no make-up, having a toolkit or being able to change a tyre, muscles, female friends, male friends, hair (again), self-confidence, small tits and don't care who knows. The list is endless.
They choose fake women because they are fake themselves and are shitting themselves people will notice.

So you're a self proclaimed "strong man" then Chris??

You're taking it to a micro level about you specifically. I am talking about macro level, were a mass of women are marketed to, and 'on the whole' are conditioned.
We all are, but the techniques and effects are individual to us all.
It no use saying my gran smoked 100 a day so smoking does kill. In the same way, saying you are immune to marketing of beauty products and the perception of beauty doesn't mean it's not happening on a wider macro scale.

My point is it’s such an individual thing, I’m not sure you can generalise all women.

That's the irony... This thread is about women wondering or arguing about what men find attractive. What does it matter unless you want them to see you as beautiful?

I’m not interested in whether men find me attractive. I have a partner, he finds me attractive, I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks.

*So you're posting on this thread because you want men to see you as beautiful?

Must be, since according to you there couldn't possibly be any other reason to post here.*
That is not what I said though us it?
I said it doesn't matter what men think unless you want to be attractive to them.
Posting here does not mean that, and I can't see how you came to that conclusion.

@TornFromTheInside
That's the irony... This thread is about women wondering or arguing about what men find attractive. What does it matter unless you want them to see you as beautiful?
I'm just interested in what I see as the paradox of men saying they prefer "natural" women when almost all evidence would seemingly suggest otherwise. It doesn't hugely matter to me in regards to how I think men perceive me as an individual but I would genuinely love to know the definitive answer.

I think it's because often men can't tell how fake some women are so they think they like a natural look. In love island Alex said he liked Alexandra because she was so natural. She is. Apart from hair extensions, dyed hair, lip fillers, and Botox. He had no idea.

I said it doesn't matter what men think unless you want to be attractive to them.

On an individual level, I honestly don't care 'what men think'. Most men really aren't worth the bother imho.

I've been posting on this thread because, like the OP and others, I've noticed a gap between what men say they like and what evidence suggests they actually like.

Were you under the impression that women are posting here in the hope of finding tips as to how to get men to fancy them more? Or what?

My point is it’s such an individual thing, I’m not sure you can generalise all women.
You can't, which is why I've never said 'all women'.

However you can say 'on the whole', because huge swathes of advertising is affecting women 'on the whole'. It affects men too, but less so with beauty.

As I said, there are probably 20 beauty magazines targeting women for every one that targets men. There are probably 20 beauty products for women for every male one.
Those beauty products don't sell in such volumes because everybody is content, they sell because the advertising helps to make you feel discontent and in need of that product.
It can be quite subliminal, but the effects are far reaching.

I think the "fake" look has traditionally had a subliminal message of sexual availability, and I suspect that's what men might be finding attractive. Not the look itself, but it's implication.

In theory women should be able to dress how they like without any presumption that they are displaying sexual availability. But.... its very much a WAG look - someone whose main source of status and income is derived from their looks, so they want to maximise their assets - and the implied effect on men. And some men probably do want a trophy wife - albeit its not all about looks.

Men might find themselves either drawn in or intimidated by this. But it's definitely a showier, more noticeable look than the natural look. It's a look that gets noticed.

I can't decide if this is me being a dinosaur, 20th century sexual politics that we're trying to escape from. My husband would probably kill me if he saw me post this many clichés about men....

When the new Twin Peaks was on last year, loads of men I knew said how much they had fancied Shelley in the original series. I couldn't ever remember anyone else having such universal appeal among men I knew, who had otherwise fairly different interests and different types. (Only one preferred Audrey, whom the 90s media had tried to show as the series' female sex symbol.) Shelley is a great example of the sort of appearance I think is meant by 'natural look' and which also IMO often has a certain kind of idea of traditional naturalness and normalness about personality attached.

I think 'I prefer the natural look' is a statement you most often hear when younger men are talking about younger women. Middle aged and older men seem more likely to take an attitude like 'looks after herself but doesn't go to extremes'

I'm just interested in what I see as the paradox of men saying they prefer "natural" women when almost all evidence would seemingly suggest otherwise. It doesn't hugely matter to me in regards to how I think men perceive me as an individual but I would genuinely love to know the definitive answer.

But what is this evidence?
Aren't most of us average? Are we all seeking someone more beautiful? I don't believe we are.
I think the evidence tends to support the assertion made.
I think overall, they 'prefer' a more natural woman because that's perceived as more down to earth and rational which longer term is a better and more satisfying option.
Of course their perception of natural might actually be a look that women put real effort into acheiving, but the men do not know this. They are actually saying the prefer understated looks that are not overtly exaggerated / fake.

But also, the women they wake up with, out of the shower, zero makeup etc... I think they find that hugely attractive in a way that many women don't quite believe. That's where I think the conditioning overrules the men... That the only way to look 'better' is with product. Many men are saying no, but the marketers are saying yes.

The stuff on TV like Love Island is no measure of normality. At least not in my opinion. They aren't random people, they are hand picked for entertainment.

@cloudspotter
But.... its very much a WAG look - someone whose main source of status and income is derived from their looks, so they want to maximise their assets - and the implied effect on men. And some men probably do want a trophy wife - albeit its not all about looks.
Yes, the term "trophy wife" for me conjures up an image of a very groomed woman who doesn't really look natural at all. I find that interesting as the use of the word "trophy" implies that this is something to be prized presumably by other men. More evidence against the preference for natural looks I would suggest...

My partners ex wife has fake boobs, the kardashian nails, eyelashes, fillers etc, hair extensions and a perma tan. She’s actually day glo. I’ve met her numerous times. He constantly tells me he prefers my natural look, my natural is my own long nails, a decent lash lengthening mascara, I’m as pale as I was born. My hairs dyed to cover the greys but the rest is all me and he tells me I’m gorgeous. I can’t speak for all men but my brothers, my partners brothers and my ex all have partners who aren’t modified. I work with a lot of young girls (I'm in my early 40’s) and they all have lip implants, extensions, fake boobs etc and it’s like a competition against one another. I don’t think it’s for men. I think that look is actually off putting for men. I see these girls up close and they are actually odd looking. Look flawless in pics but IRL it’s a very odd look.

@TornFromTheInside
I have listed on my previous posts what I consider to be evidence that a fake look is actually preferred. I think a more interesting question is what evidence exists to suggest men prefer the more natural look other than believing what they say?

I don't accept the fact that most men have settled down with more natural looking women as evidence that they prefer natural looking women. Statistically there are far more natural, normal women around than women that adopt the more fake look so unless hoards of men were to stay single then it would stand to reason that whatever men's common preferences were most men would settle down with natural looking women. I also believe men choose a life partner on far more than image and looks anyway.

I also believe men choose a life partner on far more than image and looks anyway.

So why can't 'natural looking' be seen by many men as a slight indicator of other attributes - that they are more sensible, less narcissistic etc.
If men do (and I agree with you) prefer many other factors then can't a lack of overtly fake looks be part of that assessment?

Consider these two scenarios (both of which many will have witnssed):

Scenario 1)
Group of single women out on the town, spot a stereotypically beautiful but fake man - tall, good body, great skin, tanned, crazily white teeth etc etc. Lots of nudges and swooning laughter and sexual comments. Many of the women 'participate' in the ritual, but wouldn't actually want to do anything with him.
One of the women makes out with him.

Scenario 2)
Group of single men, spot stereotypically attractive woman - legs up to her neck, slim, blonde, fake tan, extra white teeth etc etc
The men make gestures and sexual comments, and one of them makes out with the woman.

Why can't most of the men be like most of the women, and 'going along' with the ritual, but not actually want to do anything with her personally.

In both scenarios, it 'seems' like the fake looks are hugely attractive and easily gets the opposite sex interested, but in reality, 80% of the ladies and 80% of the men were 'going along' with it, but actually would prefer someone less fake.

I honestly think this happens a lot and we all end up thinking we know what the other sex likes in men / women, when in reality we are seeing a ritual being performed where most of the opposite sex are playing along. Get them alone and you get a very different story about what they really like.

Ok let’s look at this logically and settle this.

All men like fake bolt on tits, huge lips and asses with gravitational fields. No free thought of their own. Who are only here to please us.

All women like muscle bound guys. Who are great at sport, have a huge wallet not to mention special sex room where they can slap them about whilst in period clothing.

We can all go home now and watch tv so it can tell us what we all must like. So the ladies can buy more make up and flick through comestic procedure phalmpets. Whilst us guys work out, all while investing our cash in high flying stocks so we can buy more skinny jeans and faded hair cuts. Did I mention we all like fingers up our bums? Cosmo said so.

No no I don’t care if you disagree. This is only true fact.

This and free Parker pens with life insurance and cats go mental for dreamies.

I overheard two men yesterday evening, obviously discussing their wives or girlfriends.
(I don't eavesdrop by choice, but the acoustics in that bar were weird and it was unavoidable.)
"Clever is priceless" said one, and the other agreed.

I just asked my partner about this, to get his opinion. He said “somewhere inbetween looks best on women.”

Aren't most of us average?

Well....exactly! People tend to marry people who are 'on their level' in every way, including looks. So unless you're a hottie yourself, you're probably not going to get with Chris Hemsworth or Charlize Theron. You'll likely end up with someone on the same, ie average, level of attractiveness as yourself. That doesn't mean it's your ideal. And no, I'm not saying people choose partners only on the basis of looks, but insofar as looks are important, there are only so many 'hotties' to go round, and chances are they'll be with other hotties.

But what is this evidence?

To repeat:

Look at the women in ladz magz.
Look at the 'trophy wives' chosen by men who have their pick of women.
Look at the women who will turn men's heads in everyday life.

Not a hairy leg, grey hair or scrubbed face among them.

I'm not saying men generally go for the Kardashian/Love Island type. I agree that that level of obvious fakery is not attractive to most men or women. However.... make up; styled, maybe coloured hair; shaved legs and pits; perhaps a subtle 'tweak' here and there? Yes, I do think most men like that look and prefer it to a total 'state of nature' look. As someone else said, it's 'natural fakery'.

The local city here is full of the Kardashian wannabes,perfect eyebrows etc and contouring but mostly the younger girls/younger adults but I am of the opinion that men may say they prefer 'natural' beauty but I don't think it's always true but it does seem to be the fake looking ones that get the louder blokes.

As for myself I'll admit I wear a lot of make up to go out but its nothing to do with the Kardashian/love island thing. I myself am into a certain particular retro look and it does take a while to do my make up but I'm doing this for me as it's what I'm into and what I like,I'm not doing it to impress anyone. I really couldn't care less what any guy thinks to how I look,it's not for them anyways.