Was this weird of me at work?

[Handsomesquidward]

I'm a straight woman, I work in a semi-formal office environment. We have a young girl there who has beautiful long, blonde Rapunzel hair and who is just beautiful in general.
I haven't really spoken to her as she's in another department. I saw this girl and I just said 'Hi I hope you don't mind me saying, just wanted to say I really love your hair, you look beautiful!'
She seemed really happy I'd said it and appreciated it.
My other colleague was in the toilets too and had heard, she told me it was really weird and creepy id said that.
I feel so embarrassed now and wonder if I shouldn't have said anything. I was just trying to be nice, I imagine some women would be very jealous of her and she gets some cattiness, I don't think I said anything inappropriate.
Just wondered what others think? Surely it's a sad world where you can't compliment people.

It just gets worse and worse...

I agree. This person doesn't know you and could easily misunderstand your intentions.

I think it's fine to compliment someone, not weird or creepy, especially in a private ish area like the toilets. It's not like you've drawn attention to her looks in a meeting.

I do like giving compliments and I'm very happy to receive them too.

No this is lovely. Women should be building each other up!

There's definitely a difference there I agree. Ideally both shouldn't happen but the complimenting someone's dress sense when you know them and perhaps have discussed fashion over the years is way more acceptable

By referring to them as barbie dolls?

I don't think it's bad but it can feel a bit personal in a work environment or to a stranger. I once had a female colleague who would always comment on my hair - we worked in a dept full of men and it always made me a bit self-conscious. They never got comments! And also had a female colleague who would go on about how beautiful one of our colleagues were. This colleague was very beautiful - but a) I didn't really think about my colleague like that until it was raised. b) It did make you feel a bit like, what am I, chopped liver?! When she kept going on about how stunning someone else was. Felt a bit high schoolish.

I frequently get complimented on my hair (never the you're beautiful bit) by strangers, men & women - it's always really nice to receive compliments - and if I'm having a bit of a down day it can really boost my mood.

And telling someone they look beautiful in the women's toilet isn't at all weird or creepy?? !

I still get compliments from female strangers about my hair, and I'm always flattered and pleased. It's nothing like some perv looking you up and down and saying they like your tits.

She was fine with it so it was fine.

However, other people might not be, because they might want to be complimented on their work rather than their looks.

You're lovely, OP. My day would be made if somebody paid me a compliment such as this!

I personally don't think it's creepy and OP clearly didn't intend it to be.

We need more compliments & kindness in the world. Anyone that thinks that was weird needs to lighten up. You didn’t say anything of a sexual nature like “you have a lovely arse” ffs 🤦🏼‍♀️ Lovely compliment about her hair it would’ve made my day! I like your warmth OP ignore your cranky mate.

By giving them compliments! Saying someone's hair is lovely and they look beautiful is not referring to them as Barbie dolls. What an odd comment.

Where is the line though?

I’m sure I've read plenty of threads on here about parents wishing strangers would refrain from commenting on little girls’ appearances, all the “you’re so beautiful”, “you look so pretty in that dress” etc.

I was reading this article the other day: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lab-preschool-girls-study-beauty_n_663faf84e4b0866a5b2bfb51?utm_source=cordial&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hp-us-reg-morning-email_2024-05-31&utm_term=us-morning-email&email_hash=19d8c722410e3e31fea5dba7689bfb525725a586

I don’t love Huffpost or agree with all of it but having recently read it, the post by@Handsomesquidward makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.

I also would go out of my way to compliment other women but moreso for their personal style, something they are wearing or haircut/hair-do or cool hair colour, not for being pretty. I don’t think that’s appropriate in a workplace either!

"Makes me feel uncomfortable" really? I wonder what it must be like to be terminally offended.

It's a great thing to do, I think.

I compliment people. A couple of years ago I paid a compliment to a young student working in our local shop. She had glorious rust coloured, huge curly hair, which I absolutely love anyway. She didnt seem unhappy about it. I also told her she was beautiful as well, cos she was. But I felt self-conscious that I'd said it and proceeded to assure her I wasn't a weirdo . She just laughed and thanked me.

As a dyed-in-the wool Gen X, I won't be applying the fundamentals of sexism and infantilism of women, peer reviewed or not, every time I want to pay someone a compliment as long as I know it comes from a good place. The terminally offended can kiss my menopausal behind.

I think it's creepy. Toilets are vulnerable spaces for a lot of people as it is, that's why there are signs on the door when the cleaner is a bloke

It was fine. I always give compliments and love getting them. It uplifts people and makes them feel good. Nothing wrong with it at all. I imagine many ladies don't want to tell a beautiful woman that her hair's nice, because of jealousy. Good for you for being genuine and nice.

Surely it's a sad world where you can't compliment people

Absolutely this. How sad that telling someone they look good they is viewed as creepy and weird. At this rate people will be afraid to even make eye contact with other people, let alone talk to them.

There's an Instagram account where a guy walks round London shouting out compliments to people, you can tell it gives them a lift. Also the guy who stops people and takes their photo - Model strangers. It's wonderful, I recommend it if you haven't seen it.

Not weird at all - if you can make someone happy, you should!
One of my Dad's care at home peeps said only today to my daughter "aren't you a beauty!" and my daughter (14yo) was delighted.
Your colleague is just mean, ignore her bitter ass ☺️

Think that says more about the woman who commented than anything else.(Perhaps a tad jealous.)
Why is it creepy? You didn't ask her out just paid her a compliment.

You've not said anything wrong at all. You've said something nice and she took it as a compliment. Your work colleague sounds like an idiot. Don't think on it and good on you for saying something kind to someone, it can make someone's day being given a compliment.