Why are men so turned off by women with short hair?

[MissTessmacher]

Just idly musing.

I recently cut my hair quite drastically. Changed my photo on OLD to one with the new do (previous photo was very glam/pin-up style with shoulder length hair).

I've gone from a very steady average of 10-15 messages a day to zero .

It's not the first time I've observed this phenomenon. The few times before I've cut my hair very short I have noticed it's like a cloak of invisibility when it comes to men.

Anyone care to enlighten me? Is it because women with short hair are considered unfeminine? (What a crock of shit if so).

[OneFlewOverTheDodosNest]

I think Mary Beard gets a hard time because she's
a) a woman who has got to the top of her field
b) a woman who refuses to bow to society's expectations of female beauty
c) a woman over 35 who hasn't disappeared
d) hasn't apologised for a-c

[Stepawayfromthezebras]

I think it's a fashion thing as well, Liz Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Di were never short of male admirers but in the last 15 years'ish, there's been a trend for longer and longer and bigger and bigger hair.

[almondpudding]

Preference for long hair in women is cross cultural though, isn't it?

I would assume because it reveals something of your health history over the previous three or so years. It is similar to unblemished skin with no scars.

The more interesting question is maybe why some cultures have a preference for men with short hair.

[hugoagogo]

How short are we calling short?
I don't think I've ever thought of Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana as having had short hair.

[motherinferior]

During my phase of Extreme Slapperdom I had very short hair indeed. Mind you, I also have enormous breasts. Perhaps they compensate?

[motherinferior]

Agree totally about Beard. Also she vocally doesn't give a toss what idiot blokes think of her. God she's wonderful.

[thegiddylimit]

I agree with OneFlew, certain men are significantly more attracted to 'trophy' women with hyper feminine characteristics (including long glossy hair) and dare I suggest may also be more likely to be on OLD looking for ONS.

I do think it's funny though that people are saying 'only certan types of face shapes suit short hair', what about men and boys? Most of them have short hair whatever their faceshape, would you say only certain boys/men can carry off long hair (if so what about the 18th century?)? I think socialisation and fashion is to blame, just think about the comments made when Lady Mary cut her hair on Downton, a bob was seen as very masculine and modern in the 1920s, now it's a safe and sensible option. Short hair is 'edgy' because at the moment we are very much in a 'women have long hair' stage so other women love it, nice men will look beyond your appearance and love you for what's inside and shallow men will find short hair challenging.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

Agree with Soozy. I think you need delicate features to get away with a pixie crop type cut. I had my hair cropped in my teens when I was very slim but I still ended up looking like a bloke. Sadly DD has the same problem!

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

X post Giddy ! Yes. But it's not a problem if a short haired man looks male because he IS male. Few women want to look like a man hence the concern about whether their face shape can carry it.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

Plenty of men find short hair attractive.

[Lottie2611]

I definitely think it's thought to be more feminine and youthful to have longer hair.
That's probably it.

[Suddenlyseymour]

Well my hair is only just growing back after chemo so is uber short but tightly curled (the "chemo curl", apparently ) still seemed to have bagged a new man tho sooooo

[Pyjamaramadrama]

I think the opposite is men having long hair or being bald.

People are saying 'only women with certain features can pull off short hair'.

People say 'only men with certain features can pull off long hair/being bald'.

[RoLoh]

I don't think there is always a logical reason for what a person does and doesn't find attractive.

I don't find men with long hair attractive, even really good looking ones. Or men with excessive facial hair. Or excessive body hair. Does this make me shallow? Probably, but it is what it is.

Sorry, not very helpful I know!

[BabyGanoush]

I think it is about showing willingness to please a man.

Short hair signifies: I like this, don't care what others (men) think

I think lots of men like a woman who tries to please them.

I also know men my age (40s) who associate short-short hair on women with lesbianism and radical feminism.

[janethegirl2]

Being very basic, it's difficult to wrap short hair around a man's cock tho'

[motherinferior]

Why does my cropped hair suggest I don't care what others think? I think it's very fetching. Winsome and charming and generally attractive.

Granted I am also a shock horror feminist but I have also entertained a good few gentlemen callers who also appeared to like my hair.

[Lanark2]

Yes, some men are so paranoid about being, or being seen to be gay they wouldn't dare message a woman with short hair, or smaller breasts, or clever, or 'too' fit etc etc.
I love short hair, and it's both sexy and practical. Though there is a type of short hair, derided as 'mum hair' so it's maybe even more important to get it cut well.

[Lanark2]

Also here is the obligatory evolutionary psychology explanation...the run of the mill man likes to have a woman who is effective at gathering, and women with long hair stay warm around the ears even when fairly slow moving. Higher status males liked more universally active women who could but hunt and gather and keep warm by vigorous physical activity. This is because higher status males also managed the tribes and needed more care. Short haired women remain a catch only limited men can handle emotionally

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Also there is significant overlap between men who dislike short hair on women, and those who think that women with small boobs / athletic builds look like men

I imagine there's a lack of intellect involved

May be they just have a physical preference? My husband much prefers small boobs, has no particular preference on long or short hair and doesn't find athletically built women at all attractive.

I.e he is attracted to women who look like me and has coped with waist length hair, French plaits and buns and Louise Brooks' bobs
Does 2 out of 3 indicate a lack of intellect?

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Why does my cropped hair suggest I don't care what others think? I think it's very fetching. Winsome and charming and generally attractive

I have a short, beautifully cut Louise Brooks bob. It costs me £120 every 5 weeks. It is also very fetching etc, etc. If I didn't care I'd have long , straggly grey hair. I don't find long straggly grey hair attractive on women or men.

[LadyB49]

I have always had short hair, I also carry extra weight. Neither has ever been a hindrance. .......
Make sure the sort style is funky, edgy....

[DrSeussRevived]

Princess Di definitely had short hair. Marilyn's varied, IIRC.

[YouCantCallMeBetty]

Watching this thread with interest. My DH is definitely a man who likes a super feminine aesthetic. His family of origin all value looks and good grooming and generally 'making an effort'. Mine less so. He would like me to have long, blonde, wavy hair every day (I have very thick hair, this would rob me of an hour or so of sleep each time), to wear pretty, feminine clothes and to be on top of waxing, hair colouring etc. I'm a lazy cow less concerned with how I look and will happily wear jumper, jeans & boots all the time when not at work (if I really can't be bothered with having sex then I'll wear my Nikes and 'feminist glasses' as well as they're fairly guaranteed to turn him off).
I say sometimes that he's superficial, he says it's about making an effort and wanting to be attractive to the person you're with.

I fluctuate between of course wanting him to fancy me and telling myself that actually it shouldn't/doesn't matter as he loves me and it's not possible to be on my game every single day of the rest of our married life so I might as well socialise him into loving me as I am now!

[WanderingTrolley1]

Longer hair is more feminine.