# Why do politicians feel the need to have that poofy combed hair? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785 "2006-07-31T22:00:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/1 "2006-07-31T22:00:10Z")
I was just looking at a picture of governor Mitt Romney and was struck by his poofy, combed-to-the-side, cotton ball hairstyle. Why do so many politicians feel the need to style their hair this way? John Kerry is rocking the look hardcore. John Edwards, too, of course. George Bush has it. Always combed to one side, immaculately, and of medium legnth. I just looked at the picture of every single male governor in the U.S. at the present time, on Wikipedia, and with only one exception, EVERY SINGLE ONE had the parted-to-the-side hairstyle. The exception is [Joe Manchin,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Joe_Manchin_official_portrait.jpg) who verily rocks the slicked-back gangster style, making him look like [Frank Vincent.](http://www.ataleoftwopizzas.com/Frank%20Vincent%20web%20pic.jpg) In my mind, this is a _good_ thing. How many other governors are daring to try something different? ZERO! Would it kill these guys to not all part their hair the same way? Could we have just one politician with short, non-parted hair? Spiked hair? (Not punk-rock spiked, just the frat-guy spiked.) Even a flat-top would be more unique, harkening back to retro styles of the 50s. Please, politicos, comb your coifs counter to the common crowd. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/2 "2006-07-31T22:14:42Z")
[Arnold](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Arnold_Schwarzenegger_bio.jpg) seems to have a pretty good pompadour going on. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/3 "2006-08-01T00:57:08Z")
I am assuming you did not include [female governors.](http://www.governor.wa.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/4 "2006-08-01T01:23:10Z")
Is it used to disguise The Bald? ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/5 "2006-08-01T01:29:53Z")
They learn it, along with the fake sincerity and greasy smile, at Smarm School. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/6 "2006-08-01T01:34:52Z")
It all started with JFK, who’s campaign motto was “it’s the haircut, stupid.” ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/7 "2006-08-01T04:57:58Z")
I guess they and their handlers feel better conforming to some “safe” look rather than risking the voters won’t like it if they try something different. Sort of like how the conventional wisdom is that having a beard or moustache will turn off voters. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/8 "2006-08-01T05:11:24Z")
J-FRICKEN-K baby. Ronnie had great hair. Probably the nicest hair after JFK. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/9 "2006-08-01T13:35:48Z")
[QUOTE=Annie] Is it used to disguise The Bald? [/QUOTE] No, it’s probably done more to show they don’t _have_ to disguise The Bald. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/10 "2006-08-01T14:13:09Z")
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi has THE BEST hair of any politician anywhere!!111one et cetera. Former British PM Maggie Thatcher’s might have been scary, but it was pretty unique. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/11 "2006-08-01T15:46:28Z")
I’m going to need some photos demonstrating this phenom. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/12 "2006-08-01T15:52:03Z")
[QUOTE=racer72] I am assuming you did not include [female governors.](http://www.governor.wa.gov/) [/QUOTE] Yes, but female politicians have a standard hairtyle too (and your link captures it perfectly) – medium length, dry, parted in the middle, subtle (sometimes not so subtle) highlighting. Definite blow dryer action going on. They all look the the back jacket photo of a [Patricia Cornwell](http://www.246.dk/cornwell.html) novel. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/13 "2006-08-01T15:54:26Z")
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands has excellent big hair as well. It’s almost a piece of installation art on her head. [http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/QueenBeatrixI.htm](http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/QueenBeatrixI.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/14 "2006-08-01T15:55:05Z")
It’s the same hairstyle I see on all of the corporate big wigs around here. It’s called “Middle-aged White Collar White Guy”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/15 "2006-08-01T16:05:06Z")
Molly Ivins, explaining Texas big hair, said if your hair is as big as your butt, it evens out your proportions. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/16 "2006-08-01T16:22:44Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Would it kill these guys to not all part their hair the same way? Could we have just one politician with short, non-parted hair? Spiked hair? (Not punk-rock spiked, just the frat-guy spiked.) Even a flat-top would be more unique, harkening back to retro styles of the 50s. Please, politicos, comb your coifs counter to the common crowd. [/QUOTE] Ugh. _Nay_ to the frat-guy spiked hair! As if _that_ would be counter to the common crowd, anyway. Hair should not be so crispy with product that it can draw blood. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/17 "2006-08-01T17:12:03Z")
Now that you mention it, there is a lot of unfortunate hair in politics. Behold, [Jerry Jennings](http://www.albanyny.org/government/officials/officials_mayor.asp) (Mayor of Albany, NY) and [Senator Joe Bruno](http://www.senatorbruno.com/). They’re also a lovely shade of orange, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/18 "2006-08-01T17:29:17Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] The exception is [Joe Manchin,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Joe_Manchin_official_portrait.jpg) who verily rocks the slicked-back gangster style [/QUOTE] I gotta say, he looks _exactly_ like someone named “Joe Man-chin” should look. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/19 "2006-08-01T18:40:59Z")
Eighteen posts about politicians’ hiar and no mention of [Gavin Newsom](http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/general/NewsomLecture05.asp)? For shame! ---
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785/20 "2006-08-01T22:14:14Z")
Hey, you forgot Governor Hair! That would be [Governor Rick Perry](http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/photos/) of Texas. Enjoy, y’all! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-politicians-feel-the-need-to-have-that-poofy-combed-hair/366785.md?page=2)