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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

He's mentioned my hair a few times now.

496 replies

Melonslice444 · 13/01/2021 13:08

I'm involved and moving forward with a nice man. He says lovely things all the time and would feel bad if he had hurt my feelings. But he keeps mentioning my hair and his comments make me abit paranoid.
My hairs naturally aurburn. I have always had lovely compliments on the colour. It's thick. Down just past my boobs as no hair cuts due to lockdown. I've been doing the unicorn cut on it and it's healthy looking. I'm always looking after it with conditioners and serums etc. I straighten it. I tend to wear it down alot. Just feel more happier with it down. Always have. Bobbles hurt my head after a while.

He's mentioned a few times I'm pretty and should have it up so I can see my face more. Which is fine. He's seen it up a few times when I'm tidying or whatever and he always says he loves it. He found the one photo of me on Facebook with it up and said that's his favourite picture of me.

He called me earlier on his break at work. I told him I was out walking and my hair was going frizzy as it's raining. He then brought it up again. Asked me why I wear it so long. I said because of lockdown it's not been cut for a year. Then he said you are so pretty you look so lovely with it up when it looks shorter.

Now I know he's complimenting me to an extent. But it feels abit like he's also insulting me.

I feel silly but he's making me feel insecure. Is he just doing a terrible Job at complimenting me?

OP posts:
Meowchickameowmeow · 13/01/2021 13:42

If he mentions it again just say to him 'do you have a problem with my hair'? or 'are we going to have problems about my hair in future because you keep bringing it up'. Take the conversation from there and tell him you'd rather he stopped.
There's no need to insult his penis, you're not children.

madrose · 13/01/2021 13:43

wow - your hair is gorgeous. My mum was gutted that none of us had hair like yours (and my dad's)

Your hair - you do what you want.

Catlover77 · 13/01/2021 13:43

I get the controlling comments. However, may he actually be complimenting you? I ask that, as I have lovely long hair but I am well aware that I look ten times better with it tied up. It slims my face and I feel like me with it tied up

StillGoingToWork · 13/01/2021 13:44

Run for the hills OP! He sounds weird to me.

Eviebeans · 13/01/2021 13:44

Are you similar in looks to his ex do you think? Would you look even more like her with the hair style he suggests...

PearlescentIridescent · 13/01/2021 13:45

Your hair is gorgeous, truly.

I have seen on Reddit that some men have a weird ponytail fetish because of women tying their hair up in order to perform oral sex 🤢🤢🤢

HyacynthBucket · 13/01/2021 13:45

Either wanting to control you, and eventuallly restrict you for the usual control reasons, or he is trying to make you over into some fantasy woman he has in his head. I once read about a man who did this with his girlfriend because he was obsessed with Mariah Carey, and tried to make her look like her. Either way, OP its not looking good. The way to find out is to challenge him as others have said on here. Say very definitely that it is your hair and you will wear it the way you like it - and see what happens.

ramarama · 13/01/2021 13:47

Jesus, the above posts are weird and largely unhelpful!

It doesn't necessarily mean he's controlling, it doesn't mean he's anything other than unthinking in what he says. It could do, but not necessarily.

People like what they like, and find different things attractive. OP your hair is gorgeous (and great that you want to keep wearing it that way!) But maybe he was bullied at age 10 by a girl with auburn hair? Maybe he had his heart broken at 21 by a gf with a long haircut styled just like yours? Maybe he loves a short haircut and thinks you are pretty enough to pull it off? He may really not know why himself and in all likelihood has not thought about it.

Either way, next time he brings it up you need to answer him firmly and make it clear you don't appreciate him mentioning it, and why. Just politely and in a jokey manner is fine (I had to do similar with a new-ish partner recently about a different issue)

But please don't assume he's a controlling git, not yet anyway.

Givemeabreak88 · 13/01/2021 13:47

Your hair is gorgeous, I find this weird as most men prefer long hair, maybe pp is right and he is trying to make you less attractive to others?! Sounds very weird either way.

suggestionsplease1 · 13/01/2021 13:47

Just tell him to stop mentioning it if it bothers you - 'Hey - can we have less focus on my hair please, I'm quite happy wearing it the way it is!'

But plenty of people do have preferences, it comes up on Mumsnet about beards, moustaches on men fairly often....some people are quite adamant telling their partners they don't find these attractive, or don't want to kiss them whilst they have them. Is this situation much different?

I guess if it's a weird deal-breaker for some then they just have to move on.

Mylittlepony374 · 13/01/2021 13:47

He's making you uncomfortable. And I think it's on purpose. I think he's testing the waters to see if he can control you. It's the repeated mentioning of it that bothers me. And jokey reference to him cutting it.
For context I had similarly long hair when I met my now husband. I knew he liked it, because he told me. After my first baby I just didn't have time to keep it well so I chopped it right up near my ears. When I came home from hairdresser he was like 'oh that's a shame I loved your long hair' I told him it's my hair my choice, he said fair enough, laughed and hasn't mentioned since.
Just take care of yourself with this guy.

Henio · 13/01/2021 13:47

@Melonslice444

Not the best way of showing you at all to be fair.
Its beautiful 😍
Melonslice444 · 13/01/2021 13:49

Ok I've just text him and said you seem to mention my hair alot. Are you saying your are not attracted to long hair and like shorter hair?

He replied no not really just when I've seen you with your hair pulled away from your face you look so so pretty.

So what does that mean in man's land?

OP posts:
Mamanyt · 13/01/2021 13:50

He isn't insulting you. He's telling you that he prefers your hair up. Either decide that you don't want to deal with him at all, and break it off, or if you really like him, either tell him that you prefer your hair as it is and the constant comments are unnecessary, or put your hair up when you have something planned...but do mention that you did specifically for him and for that even, and have no intention of keeping it up all the time. If he can't take either one of those second choices in good part and without pouting, ditch him anyway.

Sunshineandflipflops · 13/01/2021 13:50

My bf said a few times that my hair looked really nice long (he saw older photos of me on fb). I have had it shorter (long bob) for a few years now and prefer it so just said to him "thanks, but I prefer it shorter". He's stopped mentioning it now.

He's also said a few times how "different" I look in some photos and it started to make me feel paranoid so I told him. Again, he has stopped now. Some of the photos where I look "different" are from 15 years ago, before I had kids so no shit I look a little different!

Sometimes I think men just don't realise how what they say comes across but you need to tell him straight that you understand he likes your hair up but that you don't so to drop it! I don't like my hair up either so I know how you feel!

Mamanyt · 13/01/2021 13:51

That EVENT, d*it!

CremeEggThief · 13/01/2021 13:51

He does sound a bit creepy to me. I wonder if he could have a hair fetish? That joke about cutting your hair for you is making me think that.

Plumsforjam · 13/01/2021 13:52

Hair looks lovely but you don’t need our approval or anyone else’s. You like your hair and you can wear it any way you like. It’s OK for people to have a preference (as your boyfriend clearly has) but not OK pressurise someone to change to that preference. If he’s a good egg in other ways I’d mention it and if he continues then I’d be having doubts about continuing with him.

Hadjab · 13/01/2021 13:52

Bluntness100 - He wants you to look less attractive to other men. So he wants you to cut it off or hide it. You madam have a problem on your hands

Wow that's a bit of a jump. Are women with short hair or who wear it up unattractive?

My thoughts exactly - my husband liked me with long hair, but absolutely loved me with short hair, which I know for a fact definitely suits me more

greenemerald · 13/01/2021 13:53

I don't see the big deal. So he prefers it up? I prefer my DH with a beard.. if he didn't have it I'd probably mention that I preferred him with it. I can't see the sinister intention here. However if he's mentioned it a few times it can be quite annoying. I'd just say 'no I prefer it down, stop commenting on it now' and end of convo.

NameChange84 · 13/01/2021 13:53

The kind of comments, the joke about offering to cut it for you, the repeated comments about your hair all spell hair fetishist to me.

senua · 13/01/2021 13:53

So what does that mean in man's land?
I don't know. Why not TALK to him instead of texting?

greenemerald · 13/01/2021 13:53

Btw, your hair is lovely

mcmooberry · 13/01/2021 13:54

I expect your hair looks great down or up looking at it and some people do look better without hair hanging down - but we'd have to see both versions to be the judge of it!
Would be a bit worried that he wants it out the way!

londongirl12 · 13/01/2021 13:55

What's a unicorn cut??