To think most women keep hair long to be attractive to the opposite sex?

[Ilovegreentomatoes]

It's always been said men prefer long hair it looks more feminine etc.
I know many women hate having their hair short and are devastated if their hairdresser cuts of more than an inch.What is the obsession with long hair? I have fine hair and cut it short because long hair looks crap on me but I'm definitely in the minority. Even women who look better with short hair because of their hair texture insist on keeping it long. Do you think that's because we are subconsciously taught mainly by men that long hair is more attractive. Plus all teen girls have that uniform ultra long hair there is no diversity. And no I'm not jealous because I have short hair!(well very short bob to be fair.)

I’ve never had long hair. It’s really fine and tends to be frizzy curly so at most I’ve had it long enough to scrape back and tie up.

Start of lockdown I fulfilled a long-standing dream. Took the clippers to my head and gave myself a number 2 all over. Bloody love it. Husband also loves it as he’s always preferred my hair short. I think it suits me and can’t see me ever growing it out.

This is actually interesting because it's made me think about why I have long hair. It's a bit of both I think. I have long hair because I think it looks better on me which of course is linked to how I perceive other people to see me including men. But it's also partly laziness because it just so was to wash and put in a bun if I can't be bothered to do anything with it. And it looks fine not being cut regularly so it's a money saver as well. I don't dye it anymore either so I think my currently hair style is probablt more for me than for anyone else.

I got the most attention from men when I shaved my head. I did not do it for that reason though because most women don't give a flying fuck whether men find them attractive.

I have long hair.
I keep it long because it's very fine and flyaway when short.
The weight of it being long keeps it in order AND I can tie it up more easily. Plus other choices of style.
I also have a flattened head at the back so very short hair would not suit my head shape.

I am over 50. I have no intention of going to the middle-age short cut or bob, as it would look atrocious on me. I have been told, by some very retrograde person, that I'm now "too old" for long hair - what is that? there is no age limit on having long hair. Anyone who thinks there is, well, I'm not interested in THEIR opinion.

Snow White has a bob in Disney, by the way.

I do not in the slightest bit care what men think about my hair - I do what suits me, in terms of ease and keeping it tidy. I also only go to the hairdresser about once a year (if it's lucky!) so save money and time that way too.

Curious op. I assume this thread means conversely you don’t feel your own hair cut is attractive to men? Is there an issue there in self esteem? Envy?

I’m fifty one, my hair is past my bra strap, I’m not going short any time soon, I’ve had it short and it ages me. I still got hit on but I personally didn’t like it short, so nothing about men.

However I don’t understand why you seem to perceive wishing to be attractive as something negative. There is nothing wrong with wishing to be attractive to the opposite sex, or to feel attractive.

As the thread shows though, long hair on women is seldom anything to do with men, and everything about the woman’s own feelings. The fact some men prefer it is a side fact.

My husband prefers my hair in a bob. I like it long and tied up. My hair my choice

I keep my hair long enough that it can be tied up and out of my face. And I just wash it in the shower along with everything else and don't bother to blow dry.
Having short hair means also having to have haircuts more regularly just to maintain it.
Short hair isn't necessarily the easier option.

No I have really thick hair and short hair looks stupid on me so I keep it variously between long bob and long to weigh it down. - should be noted DH likes it shorter/bob length -but it’s my hair, I like it tied back most of the time as it’s practical so that’s How it is. I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone how to have their hair and I expect them to extend the same courtesy.

Nope. I keep long hair because it’s convenient to be able to tie it back.

@Bluemoooon

I agree OP- the tumbling tendrils fairy tale princess look on women in business wanting to be taken seriously - I think it is just to look sexy --- why wouldn't you just tie it back or in a loose bun. Confuses me.

Seriously? They should hide their hair so they don’t look sexy? Tie it back so as not to distract? Should they also bind their breasts? Wear thick heavy shapeless clothes? Never wear make up? Just in case a man perceives them to be sexy?

most women don't give a flying fuck whether men find them attractive

I'm not sure this is true

OP I have really fine hair so I have mine short, usually around my shoulder. Had about 3 inches taken off post-lockdown. I'd love to have long hair but sadly my hair turns to rats tails if it gets too long! I'm happy with mine shorter though, it seems to suit me (in my opinion anyway)

I have long hair because I'm lazy. Short hair on me needs styling to look any good, and leaving it to air dry ensures its flat and looks shit.

Long hair I can avoid the hairdresser for months on end, and I can wash my hair and leave it to dry itself.

Having said that, I have been thinking about getting it cut short, but your post has made me reconsider (based on my own response), so thank you for saving me time and effort!

I’m a lesbian so I don’t care what men think and would rather they didn’t find me sexually attractive. I have long hair because it’s incredibly thick and wavy and I’ve never found a short style that doesn’t require endless maintenance, while with long hair i almost always just shove it in a ponytail and am done.

”If you have ultra fine hair I find in nearly all cases shorter styles look better.”

It’s not all about the hair type.
You have to have face shape for short hair too.

I too have very fine hair, and to make things even worse, and egg shaped face.

I have had short hair.
And i looked like an egg, who someone for some strange reason, had put an a bad toupée on it.
Not a good look.

But also yes, i do believe there are lot of women who have long hair for reasons you stated.

I have fine hair that looks terrible long (unless it's all one length but it still doesn't look great) I have mine short as it makes my hair thicker. I bleach it blonde as I am very fair and my natural hair looks terrible. I can actually style it and use heat products on it as much as I like whereas long hair I was constantly trying to protect it and getting split ends. My husband prefers long hair but after a childhood of it constantly being tied up (and hurting while up) I'm so much happier it being short

My hair was short through my late teens early 20s and I had no problem attracting boyfriends, grew it longer through my late 20s then went short after I’d had D.C. and had years of scalp issues, went longer in my late 40s and my scalp recovered.
I have loads of almost straight thick hair it was wild during lockdown but at least I could tie it up.
Never once have I considered what a man thinks when deciding what to do with my hair

I have really nice thick hair so I keep it long. It does look better long on me as I have a round face but I see what you are saying. I think a skinhead would feel amazing (but I’d probably look like a psycho so wouldnt do it)

I love my hair short, I love my hair medium, I love my hair long. But medium and long allow for ponytails, which are really useful. Then again, I love that when you sleep with short hair you can roll over without having to pull your hair out from under you.

I have very fine hair and wear it shoulder length. It would look wispy if I had it any longer and it would look awful short as it is quite wavy/curly.

Couldn't care less what men find attractive as I actively don't want a relationship at the moment.

I've been thinking about this since my last reply and realised that one of the first things I did after leaving my abusive ex was cut all my hair off. He hated women with short hair and I think unconsciously it was a bit of a fuck you to him. I also don't want attention and never have so with my big face it's a good way to be ignored.

I have fine hair and find the length helps. When short it is a flyaway mess, long and the weight really helps.

I don't agree :) I had both long and short hair and I like them being longish, because I don't have to spend time styling them and it's niiice! idk why, it's just my perception. But short hair are easier to dye and I remember myself trying on different hair colors in photoworks software and then rushing to the store and dying them right away, they were bob length at that time. And I got compliments with long hair as well as with the short style!

Also, women who judge others as "only having long hair to look sexy for men"...that says more about you then it does about the long haired women

I know I look better (‘prettier’) with slightly longer, shoulder length hair - but I cut it short a few years ago and OMG life was so much easier. 5 minutes in and out of the shower, no faffing in front of the mirror, no need to factor in 30mins hair washing/drying time after a swim, run or gym trip. I loved it. But my mum hated it and she is not one to hold back - she’d actually cry when she saw me. In the end I grew it back for a quiet life. But left to my own devices I would definitely value the practicality over the ‘prettiness’.