# Women w/ short hair, has it negatively impacted your life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012 "2009-05-19T21:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/41 "2009-05-20T02:59:09Z")
I’ve seen some women look VERY attractive with short hair. It’s certainly no bar to being attractive. And it’s YOUR hair, not your father’s hair anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/42 "2009-05-20T03:11:39Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Last year I cut all my hair off and have kept it in a buzz cut since. Excellent! > [@](#): > > My way of thinking about it is that if someone doesn’t hire me because they don’t like my hair, it’s really not someplace I’d want to work anyway. Similarly, if someone won’t date me because they don’t like that I have a masculine haircut? Good, that’s a bullet dodged. Attitude to go with the stubble! WOOT! > [@](#): > > I admit I am a little bit nervous about the job I’ll be starting in the fall, which I got entirely through e-mail and phone interviews, and how people will react, since I’ve been in the cloistered shelter of a college campus since the great de-hairing. On the other hand - once again, if someone doesn’t like it? Tough for them, I have more important things to worry about than whether someone thinks my haircut is appropriate or not. Plus, the benefits of having hair this short are fantastic - I don’t need to worry about what to do with it for a given event, don’t need to deal with combs and brushes and mousse and so on, and a bottle of shampoo lasts ten times as long. And I don’t need to fork over twenty bucks to a stylist ever couple months! As long as you dress appropriately for the business environment, without many visible tattoos & piercings, people should get over the shock of your cueball fairly quickly. If you have lots of tats and metal, it will prolly be a longer, harder win. I know. I heard stuff like in the OP way back when I cut my butt-length hair off and went bald. My mom was crazy with how bad I looked, how I looked like a criminal or a mental patient, how no woman would date me looking like _that_ (I’m a guy, btw). Needless to say not only was she wrong, I started a trend and now it seems like at least 60% of all men from 20-60 have little to no hair. It’s practical, it’s easy, it’s cheap, and on many of us, it looks damn good. I applaud any woman who breaks free from societal constraints enough to try the cueball (or even the Noguide; same thing really). And I bet you look great, so just mentally roll your eyes at your dad and move on to some other subject. ---
**Author:** ![wolf-alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9e8a1a/32.png) [@wolf-alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf-alice)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/43 "2009-05-20T11:32:19Z")
I emphatically second the “wrong, mean and sexist”. The only differences I noticed when I cut my hair from nipple-length to boy-cut was a) I don’t get asked for ID anymore (I guess because long hair might be perceived as juvenile?), and b) I don’t get the immediate, mostly negative “shouting from passing cars” sort of male attention. I am freaking hot with short hair and I bet you are too. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/44 "2009-05-20T12:47:32Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Joe Namath has not [hit on Suzie Kolbert](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc65NC44dSk&feature=related) since she [link broken]grew her hair out. So there. Please note that the second link was not only NSFW, but made my Avast! Antivirus scream “Malware!” ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/45 "2009-05-20T13:25:59Z")
If my dad tried to attack my hair cut choice by addressing its impact on my sexual attractiveness, I would be completely skeeved. I wear my hair short because it looks like hell long. It becomes giant poofy eighties hair even without the help of styling products. Women seem to like my short hair more than men do, but I have a boyfriend now who, unlike previous ones, never tries the old “you’re pretty with short hair, but I bet long hair would look even better. Why don’t you grow it out?” routine on me, and who even actually likes my short hair. It’s a refreshing change. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/46 "2009-05-20T13:47:45Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > My hair is short, but not by choice. It’s growing out after the chemo. > > As far as having a negative impact on my life, no. Ivylad, who likes long hair, says I look very nice with short hair because I have a pretty face. I think he’s a wee bit biased. 🙂 Nah, he’s right. 🙂 To the OP: your dad’s smoking something odd. Hilary Clinton seems to have done alright with short hair. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/47 "2009-05-20T13:56:58Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > One time I cut my hair really short, I was visiting my parents, and they sat me down for a “serious discussion” and asked if I was gay now. > > Really! This happened! I believe you – it happened to my friend, too! (She’s not gay but I guess she wasn’t bringing enough guys home to meet them.) While the OP’s dad comes off as nuts,it’s nt anything I haven’t heard before. In my late teens I went from waist-length hair to about [this](http://www.womenshairstylesonline.com/Hair/Gallery/Very_Short__Blond_Haircut_17613.jpg). It certainly made my head feel lighter. Beyond that, it had about the same impact as going from blond to brown hair – I felt like I had to wear a bit of make-up to look feminine and could get away with hyperfeminine clothing, but also reveled in some hot androgynous looks. As for guys, I wasn’t really looking, but having short hair certainly does weed out some… simpler folk. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/48 "2009-05-20T14:04:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Please note that the second link was not only NSFW, but made my Avast! Antivirus scream “Malware!” Really? I thought it was just a solo head shot of Suzie with long hair. Apologies if I screwed that up. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/49 "2009-05-20T14:18:48Z")
That’s dumb. I had super-short hair for years. Nobody thought I was gay. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/50 "2009-05-20T14:47:58Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > Last night he told me that I have pretty much ruined my life. He said that I am a lot less attractive and will have serious trouble getting hired anywhere or finding any man who wants to date me. > > I’ve always known there was a slight prejudice agaisnt women with short hair (and men with long hair), and I am willing to take responsibility for it. I’m loving my new do, but I don’t think things are as grave as my father percieves them. Yeah, your dad is crazy. Even if you had “ruined your life”, it GROWS BACK. Sheesh. Short hair on women is not that big of a deal. My boyfriend actually prefers short hair on women. I have long hair right now simply because I like it, not for anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/51 "2009-05-20T15:00:40Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > I wasn’t allowed to get haircuts until I my senior year in high school, when I turned 18. :eek: Your dad is a control freak. And a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/52 "2009-05-20T15:09:05Z")
Is this a religious thing? Like **Harriet** mentioned, there are sects that believe that a woman’s hair is their crowning glory and a reflection on their values. But to answer your question, I’ve had short hair and long hair, good times and bad. But I don’t think my hair length has negatively impacted my life, no. I only have long hair now because maintenance on short hair is a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/53 "2009-05-20T15:11:25Z")
I had hair down to my elbows through most of my life (a short stint with a “Dorothy Hamill” int he 70’s [shiver]). After the Celtling came, I just didn’t have time for it anymore. _I gained an hour a day!_ Between shampooing, conditioning, rinsing and drying, it was impossible to go anywhere in less than 90 minutes. Now, I shower in about five minutes, step out and run a comb through my hair - done! (well, there’s still clothes, but you know . . .) I absolutely love it! I am deeply sorry that I wasted so much time and energy over the years on it. The only trouble now is getting to the salon for a haircut every six weeks or so. I’m seriously considering a FlowBee. . . All that said, I’m at a point in my life where I just don’t give a flying farina what I look like. As long as I am appropriately dressed, and the bikin areas are covered, it’s just nobody’s business. As far as jobs go, I agree that I would never want to work for an employer who was concerned about my hairstyle. (Rejected a really great offer from Disney in the 80’s for this reason.) I also wouldn’t want a man who chose me because of how I looked. I did my time as a walking Barbie, and trust me, it does\* NOT \*attract the kind of men that an intelligent self-respecting woman would be happy with. (Well, it attracts them, but they never do anything about it.) Tell your Dad that if he wants to be a receptionist at a Fashion Magazine and date shallow men, you will help him learn to style his new locks as they grow . . . ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/54 "2009-05-20T15:12:01Z")
I’m 36 and the longest my hair has ever been - ever in my life - was shoulder length. Most of my life, it’s been very short, including the time it was really hot out so I had a friend buzz the whole thing with #3 clippers. It has been my experience that short hair is considered more professional. I don’t necessarily agree with that, but almost every woman I’ve ever known in a managerial position has had short hair. Also, I’ve certainly never had a problem finding a date. In fact, my husband hates long hair. I think it’s really bizarre that a woman in her mid-20s has her father weighing in on her appearance. Tell him to mind his own business. ---
**Author:** ![RedRosesForMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/55 "2009-05-20T15:13:10Z")
Aside from an asshole ex-boyfriend trying to make me grow my hair out because he didn’t like my “dyke haircut” (his words) I’ve never had any problems with short hair. I’ve had everything from a 0 buzz cut (i.e. no guide) to a short flapper bob (I have curly hair so it looks like Chicago hair no matter what I do) to elbow-length ringlets. If you have the face to pull it off (not everyone does) a pixie cut is super-cute. As some others have said, you might just want to wear a bit of makeup or put on a skirt unless you like playing up the androgyny. BTW, **Ninjachick** , I remember your thread about your new 'do and it looks great on you. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/56 "2009-05-20T15:37:39Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > The only trouble now is getting to the salon for a haircut every six weeks or so. I’m seriously considering a FlowBee. . . I had to look that up. [Gah!](http://www.infomercial-hell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/flowbee.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/57 "2009-05-20T16:27:37Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I had to look that up. [Gah!](http://www.infomercial-hell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/flowbee.jpg) As horrifying as it sounds… some years ago, I worked with a woman who had really cute hair. Yep, she did it herself with a Flowbee. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/58 "2009-05-20T17:03:17Z")
I had super-short hair for about 10 years. Got lots of compliments. (When I first got it cut, from shoulder length, a guy asked me, “So did you get about six haircuts??” :D) I used to put mousse in it and blow-dry it while bent over upside down and mussing it up, to make it all spiky. I met my husband during that phase, and he loved being able to “muss up” my hair and I didn’t care, as opposed to women with coifs that can’t be touched. I did get called “sir” a few times, which was baffling as I was also into makeup and big dangly earrings and huge purses. It was older men calling me “sir”; perhaps their vision was impaired. I think I was pretty clearly female. Now I’m trying to grow it out, but am successful only to just past shoulder length. No bangs – which my mom hates because “you have such a high forehead.” :rolleyes: Yes, Mom, and I also have two giant cowlicks in front that make me look like Dagwood Bumstead when I have bangs (see all of my school pictures for a reminder). With long hair they actually form cool swoops. I’m growing it out because my mother and aunts have gorgeous silver hair, and mine is starting to come in, including a cool “bride of Frankenstein” streak. At a recent family gathering, several people told me that they would pay to have their hair colored like mine; it looks like ash highlights. Eventually I love to have a gorgeous silver mane. But again, my mom says “Long gray hair looks terrible.” Oh. bite me. Enjoy your pixie cut and don’t listen to your dad. He’s a big jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/59 "2009-05-20T18:20:15Z")
That is BIZARRE. The only thing I can think is that your dad isn’t used to it. I always had long hair, and then a few years ago I had it cut short on a whim. (I’d gone to the hairdresser for a trim and then when I got there I was like, “I’M CRAZY TODAY, LET’S CUT IT ALL OFF!”) I got a bunch of really weird responses, including a coworker who would not shut up about how pretty my hair had been before and WHY had I done this to myself?!? My hair is long again now because in the end, I think it looks better on me. Much to _my_ dad’s annoyance. He thinks short hair looks best. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012/60 "2009-05-20T20:48:50Z")
I had a friend whose husband belonged to some religion that requires long hair and dresses on the women-folk. Kind of like the Kookie Kult in the Kompound. Some of these ideas are deeply entrenched. I don’t get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-w-short-hair-has-it-negatively-impacted-your-life/497012.md?page=4)