# Why do men like long hair ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085 "2006-09-17T17:15:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/41 "2006-09-18T05:41:35Z")
[QUOTE=Excalibre] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/42 "2006-09-18T06:21:40Z")
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?) ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/43 "2006-09-18T06:35:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/44 "2006-09-18T10:12:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/45 "2006-09-18T10:13:35Z")
(that “me” in “happy with me” refers to the owner of the hair) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/46 "2006-09-18T12:33:26Z")
[QUOTE=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”. [/QUOTE] It’s not just society. Biology is also a factor: just ask a balding man. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/47 "2006-09-18T12:53:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/48 "2006-09-18T14:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=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”. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/49 "2006-09-18T15:09:43Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] 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?) [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/50 "2006-09-18T15:16:37Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] Besides, sometimes women find guys with long hair sexy (stupid sexy hippies) so that kind of disproves the “diferentiation of the sexes” theory. [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/51 "2006-09-18T15:39:28Z")
[QUOTE=boytyperanma] I know a few heterosexual guys thet prefer girls with shorter hair as well. [/QUOTE] _— raises hand —_ [pretty](http://www.natalieportman.com/images/magazines/np_ny01.jpg) [hot](http://almostlucid.com/images/blogpics/natalie_portman_shorthair-thumb.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/52 "2006-09-18T15:41:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/53 "2006-09-18T15:49:46Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] _— raises hand —_ [pretty](http://www.natalieportman.com/images/magazines/np_ny01.jpg) [hot](http://almostlucid.com/images/blogpics/natalie_portman_shorthair-thumb.jpg) [/QUOTE] Perfect proof of a matter of taste. She looks much better to me in the first picture than the one you labels hot. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/54 "2006-09-18T15:57:41Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Perfect proof of a matter of taste. She looks much better to me in the first picture than the one you labels hot. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/55 "2006-09-18T16:11:12Z")
[QUOTE=Excalibre] 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. [/QUOTE] 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 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/56 "2006-09-18T16:19:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/57 "2006-09-18T16:33:47Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] less makeup is better in my opinion [/QUOTE] That 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. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/58 "2006-09-18T17:07:19Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Perfect proof of a matter of taste. She looks much better to me in the first picture than the one you labels hot. [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/59 "2006-09-18T17:26:30Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] 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 [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085/60 "2006-09-18T17:34:55Z")
[QUOTE=Yookeroo] 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? [/QUOTE] 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-like-long-hair/373085.md?page=4)