Why do men like long hair ?

[justqwerty]

I've been wondering for a long time now, what is it with men and long hair? I mean, why is that so many men like it when a woman wears her hair long? If your hair is short then sooner or later you'll have to answer zee question, and possibly when you least expect it. "So," - a handsome stranger will say. - "You told me that you used to wear your hair long. What happened?" and then look at you expectantly as if he's asking you about some horrible injury.

Now, don't get me wrong. I can deal with questions, and I like it that my hair is short. It's too much of a hassle to make my hair look at least half-decent when it's long. But the question remains: why do men make such a big deal out of long hair?

[boytyperanma]

I don't like long hair. It is a turn off to me.

I know a few heterosexual guys thet prefer girls with shorter hair as well.

[constanze]

Esp. since the men asking about this are very often the macho guys with ultra-short buzz cut themselves?

My guess is that long hair for a woman is considered traditional, while a short (practical) cut signals "women's lib", and that turns old-fashioned guys off.

Of course, depending on the individual, long hair may just look better on a particular woman than a not-fitting short cut, and the man asking that question sees that. (Just like some women look better with a short cut, some women look better in a dress, while some women have the figure where pants look better).

I would ask them why they don't grow their own hair long, if they want something to stroke, and have a hassle with washing and combing. :)

[zamboniracer]

Esp. since the men asking about this are very often the macho guys with ultra-short buzz cut themselves?

My guess is that long hair for a woman is considered traditional, while a short (practical) cut signals "women's lib", and that turns old-fashioned guys off.

Of course, depending on the individual, long hair may just look better on a particular woman than a not-fitting short cut, and the man asking that question sees that. (Just like some women look better with a short cut, some women look better in a dress, while some women have the figure where pants look better).

I would ask them why they don't grow their own hair long, if they want something to stroke, and have a hassle with washing and combing. :)


Woman's lib? You've got to be kidding. Just my WAG, but women had longer hair back before they had children, and then once the kids came long hair took too long to groom so the women now mothers had their hair cut shorter for practicality's sake. Libbers didn't do it; stay at home moms did.

[capybara]

I think it's 'le difference'-- it makes you look like what they are not, sort of like boobs. It's an othering thing. If our culture had a norm of men having long hair, they might want women with short hair, eh? Actually, I guess historically that's not the case, but historically there were a lot of other obvious gender markers, while hair is one of the last ones we have left for a lot of women.

[Little Nemo]

It could be an age issue. Long hair is associated with youth.

[samclem]

Not really a General Question. Moved to IMHO.

samclem

[mks57]

From an evolutionary biology point of view, it's an indication that the woman is young and healthy.

[Valgard]

Esp. since the men asking about this are very often the macho guys with ultra-short buzz cut themselves?

My guess is that long hair for a woman is considered traditional, while a short (practical) cut signals "women's lib", and that turns old-fashioned guys off.

Of course, depending on the individual, long hair may just look better on a particular woman than a not-fitting short cut, and the man asking that question sees that. (Just like some women look better with a short cut, some women look better in a dress, while some women have the figure where pants look better).

I would ask them why they don't grow their own hair long, if they want something to stroke, and have a hassle with washing and combing. :)

I agree that long hair looks good on some women and not on others, the same way for guys. Personally I find long, straight, dark hair to be very attractive. Why? Beats me, it just pushes a button. There's definitely a tactile thing to it, running my fingers through silky hair feels gooood :-)

Doesn't mean overly long like Crystal Gale though. OTOH there are some women who look fantastic with short (or even no) hair. It's a secondary part of beauty - as long as it's clean and healthy it's all good. The only hair I find unattractive is crunchy or greasy or dirty, that's nasty.

Can't speak for other guys but the reason I don't wear my hair long is twofold:

1. I did when I was a kid. In hindsight it didn't look as good on me as on other famous long-haired men (Fabio, perhaps there are other examples).

2. Genetics has made the decision simpler. It started to get thin on top in my 20s and I realized that if I let it grow out I look a lot more like Gallagher than Conan so I went with the popular "Ed Harris" do and keep it buzzed to 1/4". This looks good on me (I've got the right head shape, some of my friends look freakish with the same cut) and it's definitely easier to maintain.

[Kiros]

I wouldn't overthink this one. To most guys, the vast majority of women are more physically attractive with medium-length or long hair than with short hair. There are exceptions to every rule, and personal tastes differ... but for the most part, that's just how it is. It's feminine. It's aesthetically pleasing. It's enjoyable on a tactile level, and often it smells great. I'm sure there are subconscious biological cues at work, as well. Anything that goes into reasoning like "long hair is indicative that a women has accepted her traditional role within society, and thus makes her represent safety in her role as a home-maker and child-bearer"... well, that may or may not be true (causation vs. correlation vs. incorrect assumptions), but it's probably overthinking the matter.

As a personal opinion, most women who are attractive with short hair are attractive despite their hairstyle, not because of it. Again, exceptions, everything else, but... yeah.

[DrDeth]

I like long hair, just like I prefer nice frim breasts, tight buns and a "great set of gams". Well-done nails, sexy lips, and etc.* Why? Becuase these are all part of what makes a woman look sexy. Short hair isn't sexy. It can be "cute", if you are petite. Lady-Dopers; don't trust the gals at the salon- all they want to do is cut, cut cut and more cut. They make more $$ that way, and few beauticians can keep long hair, thus they are jealous.

*But my fave is intelligence.

[Rigamarole]

Because it's purrty.

[Queen Bruin]

Esp. since the men asking about this are very often the macho guys with ultra-short buzz cut themselves?


:dubious: My husband's hair is longer than mine (waist-length on him, elbows on me), but he'd certainly be upset if I came home with a pixie cut!

And he'd be really surprised if someone said my long hair = traditional. :D

[MikeG]

Count me in the "love short hair on women" camp. Now that I think about it, I'm not all that hot on really long hair, my gut reaction is that it's a pain to deal with I guess.

[Thudlow Boink]

I definitely prefer longer hair on women (down to the shoulders at least; not necessarily down to the waist). If you asked me why, I don't think I could explain beyond "it looks more feminine that way" or "I just do." People don't rationally choose what they are or are not attracted to.

So, if you have short hair, your sex appeal is probably going to be significantly diminished in my eyes. But unless that actually matters to you, so what? If we're not in a relationship, you don't owe me any explanation or apology for the way you choose to look, and I don't owe you any explanation or apology for whether or not I like it.

[DianaG]

From an evolutionary biology point of view, it's an indication that the woman is young and healthy.
Also, it's pullable, thus making it easier to drag the woman back to your cave. :rolleyes:

Like Kiros said, long, healthy hair looks good and feels nice. Really, it's not that deep, y'all.

[John DiFool]

I don't like long hair. It is a turn off to me.

I know a few heterosexual guys thet prefer girls with shorter hair as well.

I'm one of them-usually makes them look very cute, and I like cute.

[sandra_nz]

Ha! I have had long hair for the past eighteen months then came home from the hairdressers on Thursday with a short-medium length bob and my husband hasn't been able to keep his hands off me ever since! ;)

[Marley23]

Esp. since the men asking about this are very often the macho guys with ultra-short buzz cut themselves?

My guess is that long hair for a woman is considered traditional, while a short (practical) cut signals "women's lib", and that turns old-fashioned guys off.
Uh... no. I've got very short hair, but I'm not a traditional guy and I'm sure not turned off by "women's lib" (and speaking of old-fashioned, when was the last time anybody called it that?). I just think long hair is usually more attractive.

[Excalibre]

Also, it's pullable, thus making it easier to drag the woman back to your cave. :rolleyes:

Like Kiros said, long, healthy hair looks good and feels nice. Really, it's not that deep, y'all.
Right. And the question is why it "looks good and feels nice." Restating the question is not a satisfactory answer to the question. If you don't like when people discuss a topic, don't read the topic. Getting resentful and pissy people other people are talking about something that doesn't interest you is unattractive, whatever your hair may look like.

[Hanna]

I've had long hair most of my life (a few forays into shorter styles) and it is a big myth that long hair is harder to care for. Really.

Short hair needs to be cut more often - if it grows out even a little bit it starts to look unkempt, it usually needs to be styled, and about the only thing I give it care-wise over long hair is it takes a shorter time to dry. I just wash and go (no hair dryer, it's bad for hair) with my mid-back length hair. I get regular trims when I get my roots touched up (I went grey early, and hate it), but that's about it.

I find it cooler to thave long hair in the summer - I pull it up in a ponytail and get it completely off my neck. When my hair was shorter there were always strands that stuck to my neck...ugh.

[What Exit?]

I think many men from their taste for women while in their teens and young twenties. At this age, the pretty girls of similar age tend towards long hair and older woman (mother types) tend to shorter hair.
Personnel esthetics plays a large part, or most men just like the look of long hair.
There is also the point the long hair is eye catching for a distance. I don’t know if you ever noticed that most men are attracted to large breasts. (Not me, but I love long hair)
Long shapely legs are very eye catching also. So I think men get use to features that easily identify a potentially attractive female from a distance and find these attributes more attractive.

Jim

[Beware of Doug]

Esp. since the men asking about this are very often the macho guys with ultra-short buzz cut themselves?Yeah. The current double standard squicks me a little, eg: whenever I see some scrumptious girl-next-door type next to a guy with a haircut better suited to yelling obscenities up people's noses.

[astro]

Med to short hair is nice. Too long gives trailer parky deep country vibe or indicates there's a faith based thing going on.

[What Exit?]

Med to short hair is nice. Too long gives trailer parky deep country vibe or indicates there's a faith based thing going on.
I realize that is your opinion/point of view, but I have always associated long hair more with hippies then the Religious/trailer Park. In fact, I thought the stereotypical trailer park look was a cheap beauty shop look?

Jim

[DianaG]

Right. And the question is why it "looks good and feels nice." Restating the question is not a satisfactory answer to the question. If you don't like when people discuss a topic, don't read the topic. Getting resentful and pissy people other people are talking about something that doesn't interest you is unattractive, whatever your hair may look like.
Hmm. That wasn't actually meant to be pissy. You certainly seem to have taken extreme umbrage, though. Perhaps your mood is the one that's a bit suspect.

[Quartz]

I have a sword bound with human hair. Apparently it was the tradition in the area for girls to not cut their hair until they got married. When they got married they cut their hair and the hair was used to bind the swords.

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

Med to short hair is nice. Too long gives trailer parky deep country vibe or indicates there's a faith based thing going on.

What's up with the faith based long hair, anyways? I'm a big fan of long hair on women, and I knew a girl way back in high school who had very long, dark, further than waist-length hair. I was madly in love with her... until I found out that she never cut it due to some pentecostal faith-thing. And then I never found her attractive again. I think that there's something about the fact that a woman spends that much upkeep on something (because long hair that isn't kept up, ahem, religiously, looks terrible) in order to look good is very appealing.

[Sternvogel]

What's up with the faith based long hair, anyways? I'm a big fan of long hair on women, and I knew a girl way back in high school who had very long, dark, further than waist-length hair. I was madly in love with her... until I found out that she never cut it due to some pentecostal faith-thing.

This page (http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/29331) addresses your question. The relevant verse is from the First Book of Corinthians:

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

[astro]

I realize that is your opinion/point of view, but I have always associated long hair more with hippies then the Religious/trailer Park. In fact, I thought the stereotypical trailer park look was a cheap beauty shop look?

Jim

Just to be clear I'm taking long hair down the far lower back, or waist and below, not just the middle of your back.

[Sage Rat]

Just to answer this as a poll-type question, personally I like short hair on women as the sexiest. (And personally have long hair (Male))

That said, it annoys the hell out of me that my mom cut her hair short and bleached it blond. But that's an issue that she seemed to like it long, but then felt that she needed to do that to "keep looking young", and ended up looking like a 40 year old woman (now 50) with the hair and clothing of a little girl. Letting her hair grow out and not bleaching it to hell so that it wasn't all dry and she'd look ten years younger.

So that's just an issue of seeing someone doing all the wrong things to achieve their stated goal. If I thought she herself wanted to have shorter hair, I'd have no issue with it.

[What Exit?]

Just to be clear I'm taking long hair down the far lower back, or waist and below, not just the middle of your back.
My wife and my daughter both have very long hair. I am just old enough to remember all the older teens when I was little were wearing their hair long as it was the late 60s and early 70's. This was in the Bronx & later suburban Jersey.
So for me, I associate it more with Hippies/Late Sixties. I like the middle of the back length plenty of course and I have seen very many very cute girls/women for whom short hair was well suited. I just generally prefer longish to long hair and in general most men seem to. We all know this is far from universally true.
It is common for men to like "large firm racks"*. I prefer smaller but don't generally consider a woman's breast a primary point of interest. I am interested about face, hair, legs and butt. That is just I. Everyone has different tastes.

Jim

* not my words, but a common phrase from my Navy days.

[Thudlow Boink]

For what it's worth, the world of classic rock weighs in in favor of long hair on women:
Where did that long hair go?
Where is the girl I used to know?
What made you lose that happy glow?
-"Caroline No"
She's got hair down to her fanny
-"Legs"
I belong to the girl with the flashing eyes:
Long haired lady.
-"Long Haired Lady"
I wish you'd listen when I tell you now
Baby let your hair grow long
There's something missing with you darling now
Baby let your hair grow long
-"Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long"
Well I don't want no bald-headed woman
-"Bald Headed Woman"

[XJETGIRLX]

The way I figure it, if my guy prefers my long hair he's welcome to it (http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianala/241996796/). :D

[AHunter3]

I just like hair. I like my own hair long, I have facial hair, I like women's hair (don't dislike it short, which can be perky and cute, but I appreciate long), I like women's other-than-head hairs wherever they grow (which seems to make me an endangered species these days), hair is fun!

[gfloyd]

My boyfriend, on more than one occasion has begged me to shave my head. I think he was kidding, although he makes a point of telling me he'd like it to stay short. I have lots of fine, curly hair. It gets in the way and he feels that occasionally it's trying to kill him. I like it shoulder length when dry: any shorter tends towards an afro, any longer it does take much more work to take care of. But I hate getting my hair cut, as no one seemes to be able to cut curly hair right, so right now, it's partly down my back.

For me, I think long hair is a turn off. Anywhere beyond midback just looks weird to me.

[Rilchiam]

My hair is so long that I'm at the point of accidentally tucking it into my jeans. Mr. Rilch's hair is down to his shoulders. We have an agreement that I will never get a soccer mom cut, and he will never go back to a flattop.

Me: As I understand it, women who go for the Dorothy Hamill cut as they approach 40 are doing so in the hope that it will give their face a lift. To that I say, optical illusion can only go so far, I've done what I can for my face by staying out of the sun, and women with the SM cut all look like clones of each other. I always wanted Galadriel hair, and now I'm free to have it.

Him: He and his mom were discussing this the last time we were at her place. She wishes he would go back to the flattop, while he insisted that, as large as he is, he needs long hair to keep his head from looking like a melon on top of a crate. I chimed in to say that the short hair = masculine is a relatively new concept, and he added that as many guys in the WWF have long hair, you can hardly say long hair is girly, if the guy wearing it has a man's body.

Never heard of faith-based long hair. The faith-based hairstyles I'm familiar with have either been the SM cut, or Og forbid, feathered hair.

[Excalibre]

Never heard of faith-based long hair. The faith-based hairstyles I'm familiar with have either been the SM cut, or Og forbid, feathered hair.
The long hair worn by women in conservative Christian (typically Pentacostal, if memory serves) churches tends to look particularly bad, as they forbid so much as trimming the ends, which predictably tends to result in rather nasty-looking hair.

[River Hippie]

I think short hair on women is sexy as hell, provided the woman in question has the features for it. It's a strong preference for me.


Extra long hair on woman is a turn off for me. It's just too "Little House On The Prarie"*




*OK, I've never seen that show but I think you know what I'm sayin'.

[msmith537]

Um..you guys are thinking too hard about it.

Guys like long, well groomed hair on a woman because it simply looks sexier. It helps shape and flatter her face. Some women just don't look that good with short or pony-tailed hair - big or oddly shaped nose, ears or chin forehead becomes more pronounced.

Now some girls can get away with short hair and it looks good on them. Depends on how their head's shaped.

Another thing, I don't like to generalize but it has been my experience that women who wear super-short hair like a "pixie" cut tend to be a bit on the wacky (IOW "insane") side. It's a very severe haircut that screams "LOOK AT ME!!!!!"

[mrald]

The long hair worn by women in conservative Christian (typically Pentacostal, if memory serves) churches tends to look particularly bad, as they forbid so much as trimming the ends, which predictably tends to result in rather nasty-looking hair.


I disagree with this. There is a large following of Pentecostal/Holiness churches in the area where I live, (no I am not a member myself) and the women of these groups have the most beautiful hair. Many of them don't blow-dry it or use harsh chemicals, so is is undamaged. I have a close friend in one of the churchs and she has super long black hair that is gorgeous, and which she trims off the dead ends regularly. The greater majority of the churches do allow for a hair trim, their rules lean more toward the women (and men) looking there best at all times.
For the record my once, butt length hair is now to my ears. My husband told me he liked it short but wishes I would grow it back out. I think I will appease him, I miss the feeling of my long hair.

[Walloon]

Anything that differentiates the sexes is considered sexy. Women have less body hair than men, so the woman who shaves her legs and armpits is emphasizing the difference. Result: "sexy".

Society decided a few thousand years ago that women will wear their hair longer than men. So the longer a woman's hair, the more sexual differentation. Result again: "sexy".

(Zero points for those who gave the non-answer of: "It just looks attractive." That's just restating the question, not answering it. Why does it look attractive?)

[Fish]

I guess I've always liked long hair because a woman can do so much with it: put it up, let it drape or blow in the wind, whatever. A short haircut is... well, it's a short haircut.

I wonder if it's relevant that when I was growing up, my mother always had long hair. Maybe that's where I make the association — I remember being horrified when she had it cut.

[Nava]

Straight female here: well-cared for long hair (in men or women) says... well-cared for and happy with me. You know your hair is one of your assets and you "flaunt what you've got"; I'm sick of how so many women's mags keep sending the message that we should average ourselves out: if you have big boobs you should wear something that makes them look smaller; if they're small, you should wear WonderBra. And good hair looks very touchable.

Mom always kids me that she can tell when I'm ok in my job because my hair keeps "sliding" longer, although I still do see the hairdresser. Professional I'm-an-engineer look for interviews, short hair. Happy with my life and don't need to convince anybody of my engineerdiness, long hair.

I like bald too. Heads that look like you're being devoured by a mop, or attempts to disguise bald, nope.

[Nava]

(that "me" in "happy with me" refers to the owner of the hair)

[Thudlow Boink]

Anything that differentiates the sexes is considered sexy. Women have less body hair than men, so the woman who shaves her legs and armpits is emphasizing the difference. Result: "sexy".

Society decided a few thousand years ago that women will wear their hair longer than men. So the longer a woman's hair, the more sexual differentation. Result again: "sexy".It's not just society. Biology is also a factor: just ask a balding man.

[Mathochist]

Well as for myself I get this real brillo thing going on when it's short. The longer it gets the more the weight holds it nearly straight. Besides, it's just sort of unusual and it's become almost my trademark around the button-down world of academics. Or something.

Oh.. on women. Search me.. hair length isn't a deal-maker or -breaker for me.

[John DiFool]

Anything that differentiates the sexes is considered sexy. Women have less body hair than men, so the woman who shaves her legs and armpits is emphasizing the difference. Result: "sexy".

Society decided a few thousand years ago that women will wear their hair longer than men. So the longer a woman's hair, the more sexual differentation. Result again: "sexy".

For me personally, I have a definite tendency towards "androgynous" women-
NOT "Pat"-women, who are undifferentiated, but someone who easily and
effortlessly can rely on either masculine or feminine traits as the situation demands.
Hence long hair and typical fem trappings screams "ultratraditionalist" and hence
is unappealing to me. But have someone mixing things up a little (but still recognizably
female) and that intrigues the heck out of me and is very "other" since you simply
don't see it very often. YMMV.

[msmith537]

Society decided a few thousand years ago that women will wear their hair longer than men. So the longer a woman's hair, the more sexual differentation. Result again: "sexy".

(Zero points for those who gave the non-answer of: "It just looks attractive." That's just restating the question, not answering it. Why does it look attractive?)


Isn't that kind of saying the same thing? Society decided long hair was sexy so now it's sexy?

Besides, sometimes women find guys with long hair sexy (stupid sexy hippies) so that kind of disproves the "diferentiation of the sexes" theory.

[Excalibre]

Besides, sometimes women find guys with long hair sexy (stupid sexy hippies) so that kind of disproves the "diferentiation of the sexes" theory.
Some do, but it's hardly universal or even anywhere near as common as the preference on the part of men for women with long hair. Which sort of goes against the whole "it just looks good" theory, doesn't it?

[Cervaise]

I know a few heterosexual guys thet prefer girls with shorter hair as well.— raises hand —

pretty (http://www.natalieportman.com/images/magazines/np_ny01.jpg)

hot (http://almostlucid.com/images/blogpics/natalie_portman_shorthair-thumb.jpg)

[Cervaise]

Turns out the first site doesn't allow direct image linking. So do this: Right-click on the link; say "copy shortcut"; click on the link; in the "not found" window, paste the shortcut into the address bar; click Go.

[What Exit?]

— raises hand —

pretty (http://www.natalieportman.com/images/magazines/np_ny01.jpg)

hot (http://almostlucid.com/images/blogpics/natalie_portman_shorthair-thumb.jpg)
Perfect proof of a matter of taste. She looks much better to me in the first picture than the one you labels hot.

[Excalibre]

Perfect proof of a matter of taste. She looks much better to me in the first picture than the one you labels hot.
I seem to have inadvertently turned into a matronly old woman, because when I see women looking like that, I have the urge to tell them not to bury their pretty faces in so much makeup. Seriously, too much eyeliner.

[What Exit?]

I seem to have inadvertently turned into a matronly old woman, because when I see women looking like that, I have the urge to tell them not to bury their pretty faces in so much makeup. Seriously, too much eyeliner.
I agree, but as this was about hair, I stuck to hair. I think I mentioned, I like the natural or Hippy look, so less makeup is better in my opinion. But that is only my opinion. I fully expect others to disagree.

Jim

[Bippy the Beardless]

Perhapse it has something to do with what hair styles look good for women. I think more types of women can look good with long hair who would look silly or intimidating with short hair. Though the right women can look fantastic with a short hair cut, it is a difficult thing to get right. Similarly and oppositely men usually look fine with a short hair cut, but it is rare for a man to look good with long hair and many can't pull it off.
Whether this is a subjective thing, or whether these feelings are mostly from the idea long hair = girlish, short hair = boyish, I don't know.

[Cervaise]

less makeup is better in my opinionThat much I agree with, but I couldn't find a good picture of her without the glam. The intent was to represent the hair. Were I to find a similar picture, showing the short cut and a clean, scrubbed face, I would have labeled it "blistering scalding magma habanero hot." ;)

And yes, I also agree, it is entirely a matter of taste. Different people like different things.

[Yookeroo]

Perfect proof of a matter of taste. She looks much better to me in the first picture than the one you labels hot.

Me too. Not that I would turn down a bald Natalie.

What I hate is a beautiful long-haired girl who wears it up in more formal situations. Do they really think they look better that way?

[John DiFool]

I agree, but as this was about hair, I stuck to hair. I think I mentioned, I like the natural or Hippy look, so less makeup is better in my opinion. But that is only my opinion. I fully expect others to disagree.

Jim

Not I, as a continuation of my thought in my last post. I had a blind date with a
woman once where she literally spackled on her makeup (apparently). My
buddy apparently never bothered to tell her that I prefer little/no makeup.

[you with the face]

What I hate is a beautiful long-haired girl who wears it up in more formal situations. Do they really think they look better that way?

Yeah. That's usually how it works.

As someone with long hair (especially when its straightened), I feel more self-conscious when my hair is all down. It attracts attention and makes me feel like a show off sometimes. This feeling is heightened when it's straightened because in addition to feeling like a show off, I feel like a phony.

[The Weird One]

Besides, sometimes women find guys with long hair sexy (stupid sexy hippies) so that kind of disproves the "diferentiation of the sexes" theory.Actually, I realized some time ago that I like men with long hair because I'm attracted to men with some feminine characteristics. Likewise, I like women with short hair because I'm attracted to women with some masculine characteristics. I sometimes think my long (mid-back length) hair makes me look more feminine and traditional than I actually am, but it looks much better on me than short hair does, and it saves a lot of time and money on haircuts. And I think my lip piercing negates any "traditional" effect. :)

[Sailboat]

My understanding is that it has to do with sexual selection (http://www.dorak.info/evolution/sselect.html).

Like antlers on a buck deer, or gorgeous plumage on a peacock, well-maintained long hair imposes a survival cost (see the link above) on its owner while also demonstrating health in a clearly visible way. Sure, it's not a very high survival cost to have long hair, but it's there.

As the link says in more detail, there is some tension between sexual selection making an animal more distinct from the other gender (dimorphism) and more noticeable (survival cost) versus natural selection pressuring an animal to blend in with others of its kind and not to be noticed by predators...although it should be undertsood that said tension can be over-emphasized.

Sailboat

[pullin]

Forgive me for stating it this way; But I've always felt that hair length can be a key to a woman's "consistency" (for lack of a better word). Flaky woman will always have short hair ("Oooh, I want it short today... Oooh I want it long today") Since it takes a considerable time to grow really long hair, it's evidence that she can make up her mind and stick to it. If she can't make up her mind, then her hair will always be short.


Parsing carefully... please note I did not say all short haired women are flakes. I just think all flaky gals will have short hair.

[What Exit?]

Forgive me for stating it this way; But I've always felt that hair length can be a key to a woman's "consistency" (for lack of a better word). Flaky woman will always have short hair ("Oooh, I want it short today... Oooh I want it long today") Since it takes a considerable time to grow really long hair, it's evidence that she can make up her mind and stick to it. If she can't make up her mind, then her hair will always be short.


Parsing carefully... please note I did not say all short haired women are flakes. I just think all flaky gals will have short hair.
Wow, you never met a flaky long hair girl? I love long hair but I just cannot accept this statement. I believe you either have a small sampling or you are projecting or something. There is even a commonly recurring character in fiction of the crazy or eccentric older woman with long grey hair.
I guess I don't try to read too much about another person by the length of their hair. I just know long hair attracts my eye much more than short hair.

Jim

[mrklutz]

Parsing carefully... please note I did not say all short haired women are flakes. I just think all flaky gals will have short hair.
You need to get out more. My ex-wife has long, gorgeous hair. She's a dear, sweet woman, but she's an utter flake. Flaky enough to make Tony the Tiger weep with envy.

[Wnabtokio]

I like having long hair b/c it gives my boyfriend something to pull during, umm, our "recreational activities". He likes me having long hair b/c it gives him something to pull during those times. I can't speak for anyone else, so YMMV.

It's fun, though. Good times. I think well-kept, short hair looks really good on women, but I'm learning over time that a lot of things that I (and other women) think are necessary to be attractive are things that men don't give a damn about. Again, in my experience.

[Autumn Almanac]

I'll put in another male vote for short hair over long. Long hair can definitely look great too, but a cute woman with a very short haircut will grab my attention right away.

As to why that is, I can only come up with one reason beyond simple aesthetic preference: A woman's neck is a very sexy part of the body for me, and long hair tends to cover it up.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

It could be an age issue. Long hair is associated with youth.

I think it's this more than anything. There's more involved than just the woman looking younger; it makes the man in her life feel younger also, or older if she perms it up or bobs it.

[Enter the Flagon]

I'm attracted to women who are highly intelligent. When I see a woman with short hair, I feel sure that the odds increase that she's a smartie. Now, I'm not saying that all women with short hair are intelligent, or that all women with long hair are dumb. I'm saying that women with short hair tend to be more intelligent than average.

Ditto for women who wear little or no makeup.

Oh, and eyebrows. To me, nothing says "help me figure out how to spell my own name" than overplucked eyebrows.

[A.R. Cane]

It comes in handy for draggin' her back to your cave. :)

[Loopydude]

I think women can look good with either, but a full head of really nice hair cascading down can simply be very pretty. Toss it over just right, and it goes from pretty to way sexy. It's also very nice to touch if it's soft. I really don't care if it's traditional or not, beautiful hair is beautiful, and if there's lots of it, lots more beauty. Sorry, hope this isn't offending anybody! Is it wrong to like something that's really quite lovely in a wonderfully feminine sort of way? Again, I could give a crap about traditional gender roles if they're absurd, but I like what I like.

[Fish]

I've been thinking about this some more, and I think there's more to it than simple looks.

Women can wear their hair longer to disguise or camouflage parts of their face and neck that they think are suboptimal, so some women look better with longer hair because of what you're not seeing.

Some women look better with short hair because they've got good features for it.

Some women would look better with longer hair, but wear it short anyway; and vice-versa.

Therefore, the examples of long haired vs. short-haired celebrities may be flawed due to self-selection. Maybe the question is better answered by imagining short or long hair on a woman who, in other respects, you do not otherwise consider attractive. :)