What Men Think of Short Hairstyles for Women

Michelle

My lovely boyfriend definitely has an overall preference for longer hair on women, but will be the first to sing the praises of those who achieve a good look with a cropped cut. For instance, he’s very adamant that Halle Berry looks her very best with a short dew. There was another recent example that’s escaping me right now, too. I’m grateful for his open-mindedness on this point, as I think I’d be very upset if a partner of mine decided to categorically reject all wearers of a certain look out of hand. My boyfriend definitely does prefer more length on me, which actually synches up well with my own preferences. That said, he makes no objection when I want to experiment with looks of any kind. I wore my hair at chin length for years, and the most he said was a nostalgic mention of when I had it longer. When I announced my intention of growing it again, he said he hoped it wasn’t to please him.
I want to go give him a hug now.

July 29, 2011 at 3:54 am

Cynthia

(website)

Oh, I’ve definitely had men say this to me (and my hair’s nowhere near as short as yours). I broke up with a guy once because his response to me getting a chin length bob was to say, glumly “why do my girlfriends always cut their hair and get fat?” (note: he’d only known me a short time, during which I’d actually lost weight) And I briefly dated a guy who, I think, was borderline abusive a couple of years ago (got out of that quick and without injury, no worries). But he used to say quite frequently that he’d drop me like a hot rock if I cut my hair. So, when I decided that I needed to get rid of him and make sure he wouldn’t come back, I got my hair chopped off into its bob again.

July 29, 2011 at 3:54 am

Irene

Veteran

I think it’s very cultural too. I find that less conservative men like it more when a woman goes beyond the limits of what’s considered ‘normal’ and cuts her hair short. It may seem so easy for some women like us, but when I got my pixie two years ago and went abroad, where I constantly met people who hadn’t known me before, I got two different reactions from women: some actually were surprised when they saw (in older photos) that I used to have longer hair like they did. Others asked WHY I had had it cut that short, as if there should be a super strong reason for that, like a difficult break-up, somebody’s death or a cancer when, in fact, I just did it for the sake of it. Some actually admitted to feel like having it short some times but didn’t dare to take the plunge, which made me feel strangely ‘brave’ myself. To me, short hair is just that: short hair. But for many people it stills means a lot more than that. Of course guys told me I should let it grow and that I’d look sooo much better with longer bangs. The only guy that actually liked my pixie was dad, who always says that beautiful women look even more beautiful with shorter hair (yeah, dad loves me a lot). Mum has had a pixie for as long as I can remember too. Now I have it long again because I missed the different styling options with pixies, but I know when I grow older, and have kids, and no time to take care of my hair, I’ll have it short again, and it’s fine with me. Besides, I’ve been told it actually suits my facial features (and not only by dad lol), but never by men. Most men find short hair in women very masculine and totally not sexually attractive, or so I’ve heard/red.

July 29, 2011 at 3:58 am

Barbara

My husband likes my short hair- when I first cut it short, he was asked by a friend of mine if he liked it. His answer was that it made it much easier to kiss my neck!
Of course, since I like my hair short, and that makes me happy; he likes it short.

July 29, 2011 at 4:01 am

nicky

My teenage son loves short hair on girls. His current girl friend has a Mia Farrow pixie.

July 29, 2011 at 4:08 am

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I have longer hair right now but for at least 25 of the last 30 years, I have worn my hair short – sometimes very very short. My partner says he thinks I look good in short hair and but prefers it longer like it is now. I just grew it out in the last year but the last and only time I had it longer was around the time we met four or five years ago and I cut it short within the first year.

July 29, 2011 at 4:11 am

Anya

When I met my boyfriend he used to tell met hat all man prefer the hair long on their girlfriends. Sadly for him, i had but bob cuts the last three years. Sometimes I neglect my bob and grow it out. ( It takes like 6 months from bob to shoulder length), and he says to me that he much prefers a kept and trimmed bob to a “horse hair” =aka hair long with no purpose, layer , style, split ends, etc. Other than this, he says that my asymmetrical bob suits my personality and face. Maybe he just lies me beautiful, but I I love my short cut. I had a pixie in my las year of high-school, and I loved it. While my girlfriends were horrified, there was a guy who told me: you look better this way , you’re fiercely feminine! So much for the male consistency.

July 29, 2011 at 4:15 am

Sharon

Veteran

My husband is in the long hair camp. My hair is currently very short, and he does not really like it. I once said to him “I look better with short hair” and he replied “Yes, but I like long hair better” . So I think it isn’t so much about how I look in particular, but more about how my appearance compares to a stereotype he has in his head about feminine appearance in general. And I’m quite happy to violate that boundary, and he accepts that it is my hair and I will wear it however I choose.

July 29, 2011 at 4:21 am

Jessica

(website)

My husband strongly prefers me with hair short (maybe because when we met I had a bob that only came to my chin), which I have always known to be unusual. Every time I go in to a different stylist for a shorter cut, they gasp, “What do you think your husband will say?!” and I have to assure them and he actually LIKES short hair. lol. Oddly enough, though, even though he’s never mentioned it, I’m pretty sure he prefers longer hair on other women.

July 29, 2011 at 4:22 am

lex

I have pixie short hair and every time I try to grow it, my husband tells me not to bother as it suits me much better short. He’s right.

I can’t believe so many men prefer longer hair on women – I think it’s very retrograde!

July 29, 2011 at 4:28 am

patti

(website)

Active Member

I think that “in general”, meaning “survey says”, men will say they prefer long hair. It’s a cultural stereotype they get exposed to starting as babies. But one on one, and in a relationship, most men will say “you look great” if they like/love the woman, no matter her hair style.

July 29, 2011 at 4:31 am

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

My husband loves my hair long but also loves short hair on others. He is a person that is very discerning about what suits one’s character and features. I am a long hair person in spirit and he knows that . He would be happy no matter what I did with my hair.

Angie- you could pull off any hairstyle with your fashion savvy and beauty. I am certain Greg would love whatever style you had because you would make the style work with other elements. I would love to see you in a Gweneth Paltrow look- straight and sleek and parted in the middle. You could wear a very severe pulled back look and look so chic and polished but edgy.

I also love your short hair!!

Men that notice individual differences in women will be less likely to prefer long or short hair. I think younger me are more apt to like short hair, not sure why.

July 29, 2011 at 4:35 am

lydee

(website)

Since I met my husband, my hair has gone from long to short, to long, to short short, like your cut, and currently, back to long. He says he likes them all.

July 29, 2011 at 4:36 am

Deborah

Veteran

If I’m happy my husband is happy;). Hubby is quite aware of the fact that certain lengths suit different people, so on one woman he might think a longer look is nicer and on another he may prefer shorter…he is kind of good at seeing what is most flattering on a person. In the time we have been together I have always worn my hair in a short bob (with variations every now and again) and he likes it. On another note my hair is naturally wavy but i wear it straight and he has said he thinks it would like nice worn naturally (wavy)…oh no…quick where are my straightening irons!! Lol

July 29, 2011 at 4:38 am

Laura

(website)

Veteran

You are so lucky to have an open-minded husband and Papa! Unfortunately I think they are the exception rather than the norm.

There is definitely a connection that American society makes between long hair and femininity, or being sexually attractive. As someone mentioned already, there’s a notion that sometimes when a relationship ends, a woman will cut off her hair — as if trying to free herself from the man.

I’m sure a lot of men don’t like my pixie cut. But I like it and know that it’s one of the few cuts that suits my fine hair, so what do I care?

July 29, 2011 at 4:51 am

Julia

(website)

It’s my perception (and not necessarily the truth) that men care for what style women look as a whole and not in parts. Some may say they prefer a glam lady who always tries to look her best, others a homey one who doesn’t spend much time or worry on always looking perfect, others may state that they’re very attracted to fit and energetic women. The length of the hair seems a secondary thought, a part of the style.

Which I’ve found every man I’ve ever talked about the issue with (not a great number I’m afraid) is that they prefer healthy looking to hair that’s neglected or abused, or hair that sports an unnatural color (blue or green, but nobody worries about extreme blondness ). And while some stated preferring blondes or not liking graying hair, it seemed that men appreciate women who know their style and what works for them, whichever that style may be (though only a few were able to articulate that thought).

Onto short or long hair… I’ve found women to be more wary of change than men, and that fear of what men would think more of an excuse for their real feelings.

As far as scissors are concerned, I know no fear (I’ve sported every possible haircut under the sun in the past 15 years), and when doing the switch from anywhere from shoulder to waist long to bob or shorter, I seem to become a hair style therapist. Female acquaintances tell me out of the blue why they hair looks the way it does, and why they don’t change… even if I’d never ask such thing myself! Or what’s really funny (and somewhat rewarding), all of a sudden women whose hair wasn’t looking the best show up with a refreshed cut or color.

July 29, 2011 at 4:51 am

Majmaj

The BF kept grumbling when I told him that I wanted to chop my (then long) hair short, but mostly as a joke. A lot of 30-something male friends have the same bias toward women’s hair (“Real women have long hair”).

But then I eventually had my hair cut in a short bob, and everybody admitted that it suits me well. I am tall, strong-minded, feminist, independant and not girly by any mean, so I suspect that I am not a “real woman” by some men’s standards anyway (sarcasm, here !).

Now I let them grow back because a short bob takes time to style day in and day out, not because of anyone’s opinion. I had my hair very short a long time ago, people kept calling me “Sir”, so I won’t do that again. However, how I style my hair is no-one’s business but mine.

July 29, 2011 at 5:04 am

cheeky

Active Member

My husband, along with most men that I know, belong in camp long hair. I personally adore very short, sassy hair so there have been plenty (most) of times during our life together he’s had to suck it up. Short hair makes me feel sassy and most of my friends agree it suits me. There are a few women I know who make it known to me how feminine long hair is when I grown mine out for a spell. Needless to say these are not close friends because it comes across as rather passive aggressive. But, no hard feelings. I adore short sassy hair on women esp. when it suits their facial features, their style and their personality.

BTW Angie, your hair rocks! I seriously love Bei-Jing’s short edgy crop as well.

July 29, 2011 at 5:28 am

Angela

I wear my hair short, and have for the most part for the last 20 years ( I am 40). Every now and then I grow it and I think my husband likes it longer but it is a nightmare to keep and looks untidy to me.

I feel like it is my hair and I will do what I want. My best girlfriends liked it long but when I cut it, said ‘that’s the Ange we know’. I mess about with the cut, angle the back, cut the bangs, grow them, change the colour, but basically keep it short. I think men who like really long hair are obsessed with stereo types.

One of my stylists said once (and a man) “it takes a really strong woman to wear short hair!”. I think of that often

July 29, 2011 at 5:33 am

Angela

Ps, but you do need to wear makeup with short hair, in my opinion

July 29, 2011 at 5:35 am

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

This is an interesting one and as many of you posts has quite a timing for me personally – I’m going for a haircut tomorrow and am thinking about what to do. But, my husband is in “no short hair” camp at least when I’m concerned. Anything shorter than bob wouldn’t be too welcome I think.

However, my hairstylist has a theory that the man like their partners with the hairstyle or hair length the most similar to the one they sported at the time when they met. That definitely applies on my husband, he prefers me to have the hair I had when we first met all those years ago.

July 29, 2011 at 5:44 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

In my single days, I never found I got less attention from the opposite sex when I had short hair — in fact, I heard from a number of men that I stood out in the crowd with short dark hair among the sorority-girl types that seemed so prevalent at the time — tanned with long blonde hair.

My husband may not be typical — we’re not a very conservative, traditional couple — but over the last 13 years, I’ve gotten some of the best rave reviews of haircuts that were the shortest. I just got my hair cut the other day, and I considered chopping it all off again, but my hairstylist talked me into working some edginess (which I felt I was lacking) into the length I’d achieved. My husband loves it, but he’s loved my short cuts just as much.

I think in the abstract, a lot of men say they prefer long hair, but when shown how great a woman can look with a well-styled, flattering short cut, they realize it can be every bit as sexy, if not more so, than long hair.

July 29, 2011 at 5:49 am

Alicat

I have short hair and my husband loves it! He thinks I have cute ears.

July 29, 2011 at 5:51 am

Sally McGraw

(website)

Active Member

Timely indeed. I lopped off my locks this week and am now sporting a long-ish pixie. And Husband Mike really, really dislikes it. My dad has also had conniption fits every time I’ve ever gone short.

July 29, 2011 at 5:53 am

Hannah

My husband likes it when I’m happy! My hair has always received compliments because of its texture and color (loose curls, naturally multi-dimensional brown), so as a teenager I attached a lot of emotional significance to it. Bad hair cuts nearly always meant a cry fest! I’ve gone from waist length to currently bob length, and I’d love to go pixie; and my husband said he’d love to see me in a pixie, as long as I don’t cry :)!

July 29, 2011 at 5:57 am

Vani

Veteran

Every man I know has given me nothing but compliments when I chopped off my hair. Though some of them (not DH bless his heart) did express concerns anytime I would mention it, they were the ones with rave reviews after.

July 29, 2011 at 6:00 am

Kristine

Veteran

I suspect my husband prefers long hair but he’s careful to be supportive and encouraging of whatever I choose. He says it’s just hair. He can like shorter hair for women if it’s somewhat edgy or chic. I think what he would dislike the most is the old lady helmet, a shorter matronly style.

July 29, 2011 at 6:19 am

Sihaya

Veteran

My husband prefers long hair but he also likes my current very short pixie haircut and has never complained. I wonder if men are more in love with the idea of long hair but that they find many short haircuts, once they actually happen, are actually fine.

July 29, 2011 at 6:23 am

Hannah D

Active Member

I’ve had my hair down to my butt and at about ear length (layered, not a bowl cut or anything). My SO is pretty clear in his preference for longer hair – he says it suits me better and I agree. My dad has always adored my hair and was really sad the first time I chopped it off, so he’s probably pleased that I’m growing it out now. I think most women seemed to like my hair shorter and I got more comments on it than I do now, but I’ve never had negative comments about it except from those close enough to me that I expect some criticism from them!

Can we get a picture of your new ‘do?

July 29, 2011 at 6:25 am

Diana

Veteran

I agree with Sihaya, that a lot of men seem to love the IDEA of long hair but are fine with the short hair once it happens and they see it. BF definitely loved me with long hair but I think he has gotten used to it being shorter and loves that too, although now I am growing it out again-just a little though, nothing like the waist length it was when we met. I don’t know what he would think if I went really short though… probably he would freak out at first and then be fine with it and even like it.

July 29, 2011 at 6:31 am

KB

Maybe it’s a regional thing.

My boyfriend strongly prefers long hair (luckily, I do too). Even if I point out an example of someone who looks good with short hair, he’ll say “yes, but she looks/would look even better with long hair.” I haven’t polled many other guys I know, but judging from the girls they’ve dated I’d say long hair is the general preference.

I won’t judge guys for their preference though because I know I have very strong preferences in that department myself. I like shorter hair and a clean shaven face on men, no long hair or scruffy facial hair please!

July 29, 2011 at 6:34 am

Queen Mum

Veteran

I was going to bring up the point that Ornela made. I once heard that a woman marries a man with plans to change him, and a man marries a woman hoping she will never change. Perhaps there is something to men wanting to still see a glimpse of the 20 something that he married. In fact, before my last haircut, my husband told me that he wanted my hair to look like it looks in the picture in my parents living room. Haha- he even took a picture of that picture with his cell phone. I said, “Sweetheart, I was 22 years old in that picture and it was 1987! Nobody wears 1987 hair anymore.”

July 29, 2011 at 6:43 am

Lori

(website)

Active Member

DH and I have had this discussion just this week – how timely! While he certainly prefers my hair longer, past my shoulders in fact, he recognizes that it is my hair to do what I please with. He says he loves me for me, not my hair. Now, we will have to see if I am brave enough to cut my hair as short as I plan to at my scheduled appointment next week…..

July 29, 2011 at 6:44 am

ruthe

Active Member

I have been married 36 years and my hair has been short all those 36 years. My husband likes my short hair and once in awhile will even say to me, “Isn’t it time to get a cut?” Mr C also appreciates short hair on other women. He also likes longer hair on others, but not just for the sake of long hair. Hair (on women or men) makes a powerful statement, whether it be short or long. That’s my .02 cents this morning

July 29, 2011 at 6:46 am

Debora

Veteran

I impulsively chopped off my long locks when I was in college and instantly regretted it. My boyfriend at the time dried my tears and told me that he loved it. He’s now my husband of 30 years and to this day tells me that he loves my hair short. I knew back then that he was a keeper!

July 29, 2011 at 6:51 am

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I’ve worn my hair in some variation of a pixie for most of my 50-plus years. But once every decade I grow it out for a change; it never goes longer than shoulder length. I’m in a “long” phase right now (layered, just past my chin) and it’s one of the better long-ish cuts I’ve had so I am enjoying it, but I’m also looking forward to cutting it again soon.

If you ask my husband, the day of cutting can’t come soon enough. He loves short hair in general on women (even on those it doesn’t particularly suit) and he loves it in particular on me.

I do think this is unusual. And yet all the men I’ve had significant relationships with have shared his openness to short hair. I guess they’d have to, or they wouldn’t be with me!

July 29, 2011 at 7:00 am

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Sigh. This was such an issue for me during my college days. I sported a pixie cut and loved it.
But I had many boys (and I do mean many) tell me that they liked me except for my hair. I don’t know WHY, but one even went so far as to say “well, I guess when you find the right guy he’ll be worth growing your hair out for”.

I decided to grow out my hair on my own accord, but met, and fell in love with my husband while it was still short.
Bryan prefers my hair long (for me) but is extra supportive and would never let his opinions stand in the way of my happiness.
It frustrates me when I hear women say “my husband won’t let me x, y, z” when it comes to personal appearance. Probably because of my past experiences.
I don’t think short hair is for every girl, but I am very supportive of any woman who wants to sport it. I think it shows confidence, and it really truly emphasizes the face so beautifully. I love yours Angie, and whenever I see Ana I can’t stop staring at her cute crop.

July 29, 2011 at 7:05 am

Momraths

I was surprised to the point of disbelief when my now husband told me he disliked long hair on women. I always operated under the assumption that men found long hair sexy. He says its messy. Since I’m getting shorter and shorter cuts, this is a really good thing!
I am a huge admirer of short hair cuts on women – I LOVE your short cut, Angie. However, not everyone can pull the look off so well. One needs to have a certain bone structure I think very short cuts. I had always thought that Sheri Belafonte’s extremely short hair in the 80s was amazing and wished I could look half that good with hair that short.

July 29, 2011 at 7:09 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW, Fascinating comments!

Deb, Alicat, Laura and Barbara, you rock your super short haircuts!!!

Michelle, Emma Watson is another lass who looks so much better with short hair in my book – like Halle Berry.

Cynthia, I’m glad that you are rid of those men in your life.

Patti, wise words.

Cheeky and Sarah, I appreciate the compliment.

Sihaya, I think you are onto something.

Lex, “retrograde” is an excellent word to describe this perception.

Laura, I am so with you. Long hair just doesn’t look good on everyone.

Ornela and Queen Mum, I had long hair when Greg and I met 24 years ago and he does not pine for it at all. It sounds like my Greg is *definitely* different to other men.

Greenglove, thank you! I appreciate your kind words. I’ve had a Gweneth Paltrow sleek straight bob before actually. A very modern stick straight bob works quite well for my style.

Janet, LOVED the last paragraph in your comment.

Ladies, I wonder if we are giving these men enough credit. I also think that women *think* men automatically prefer longer hair – when they often just love it when a woman looks fabulous, healthy, confident and is comfortable in her own skin. Beauty and style are a package deal – with either long or short hair.

July 29, 2011 at 7:15 am

Susan Brennan

Active Member

My stylist says that most men, when given a choice, want women to have long, blonde hair. I honestly think that this preference is not complex or symbolic. It’s just a thing they like.

That being said I like my hair short and highlighted with copper and brown, with very little blonde. My husband loves me anyway and reminds me that it’s MY hair and I can do what I want.

But, I have a current dilemma. My daughter is getting married in March and he’s suggested that I grow my hair longer for it. I don’t know why. I don’t know why I even agreed. But, I’ve come to believe that my hair is too thin and fine to look good longer, and I will keep it short with sassy layers. That’s me and it’s not my wedding. Everyone will put their hair up in elegant styles and I will use extra product that day!

July 29, 2011 at 7:22 am

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was made to have short hair all through grade school and so once I was allowed to grow it, I did. I’ve had mid back length to waist length hair for the last 30 years. Lately I’ve been going on the shorter side, to shoulder blades or so. When I mention thinking of going shorter (like shoulder length) the BF says he thinks I won’t be happy. Meaning, he doesn’t mind but he knows how I might regret losing my locks. Oddly, my friends and coworkers are the ones who tell me not to cut my hair. I have thick waves and it’s quite healthy even when several feet long. I understand some folks can’t wear very long hair, but I don’t need to wear mine that way to make them feel better!! My father was the only one who wanted my hair short, and told me so many times. Of course, he was the one who made me have short hair all those years, so ironically he was part of the reason I went long instead!

July 29, 2011 at 7:23 am

valleycat1

My husband doesn’t care, and it’s a good thing because I’d never wear long (or short) hair just because that’s what he prefers (he doesn’t cut his hair to please me, either). My hair has too many unruly & assymmetrical curls & waves to be manageable without curling or flatironing, which I refuse to do & am lousy at. Most women I know with long hair wear it pulled back or up anyway, so why not just cut it off?

But I laughed out loud when I saw the post headline today. A few days ago I bought a pair of electric clippers to keep the neckline cleaned up between appointments. Went online to watch some videos, as I knew I’d decide to use them for more than that. YouTube is full of videos of young women shearing their heads either bald or super short, and the comments from men are scary – almost all are (shall we say) “favorable” toward the final look and “really enjoying” watching the process. I guess Internet Rule 34 is true!

July 29, 2011 at 7:26 am

mamark

I prefer my own hair to be about shoulder length, but I have worn it as short as chin length. It’s always my decision. I’m interested in what my husband thinks, but I would just not be in the sort of relationship where I had to ask his permission (ugh, I get the creepy crawlies just typing that) for any aspect of my appearance. One, I like to think our relationship is more than skin deep, and two, I am my own person.

I like short hair on other women but not myself. I think there’s a certain bone struture and neck length required to rock the look successfully.

July 29, 2011 at 7:32 am

Elly

Veteran

Oh gosh– this IS a problem in my life. My ex-fiance always told me that he didn’t care about hair, that was until I cut my shoulder length hair shorter (Not short, just a bob). Then he saw me in pictures as a child and spent 2 years pestering me to grow my hair out and cut bangs like I wore as a child. Now out of that relationship, I find it and some of his comments creepy. He LOVE my long hair and insisted I keep it long, but also insisted that it couldn’t touch him when we were sleeping or cuddling.

I would write that off as abhorrent, but my father also prefers long hair. Everytime I cut my hair he and my mother both like to make comments on how I look like a “dyke” and will never find a man.

I also work in a community where most men prefer long hair probably because it is an ethnic and cultural norm. While I share that ethnicity, I am also mixed and did not grow up in the culture and community. I tend to get flack when I do things culturally adherent, especially since I already don’t “look” the part.

My very first boyfriend dumped me after I cut my long hair.

On the other hand, one of the times I have felt most beautiful in my life was with short hair. I didn’t have a boyfriend or get hit on often, but I really appreciated compliments and the (sweet) attention I got from older men.

July 29, 2011 at 7:42 am

Elly

Veteran

With my dad and my brother, it is possibly a reaction to the fact that I have many of my dad’s facial features. I don’t look like “a man” but I look like “a specific man. Maybe his features become more apparent to him when I cut my hair?

July 29, 2011 at 7:45 am

Jane

In the Spring I cut my longish hair and have a variation of a pixie cut now (similar to Suz’s). I got a lot of comments from men when I did it….the most common comment was that it was “sassy” …which I took as a positive comment. One man offered that he usually didn’t like short hair on women, but he liked mine.

My husband likes it a lot and keeps commenting on it even though it’s been months since I cut it. I agree with Julia that for him, it’s the whole picture that matters more than just the hair.

But then, these things are very individual, don’t you think?

July 29, 2011 at 7:46 am

Jonesy

Veteran

It’s funny, but I’ve never talked about this with my SO. When we watch What Not to Wear together (the makeover show), we both always comment on the women who can’t seem to let go of their (usually very unkempt, dated) long hair. Once they get a new cut (usually shorter) we always agree that they look so much better. So based on this evidence, I’d say that he doesn’t have a preference for longer hair :).

July 29, 2011 at 7:50 am

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My husband has a preference for short/medium length bobbed hair. Luckily, so do I. It doesn’t bother him when I go shorter, but it’s what he likes best.

July 29, 2011 at 7:52 am

Rad

My boyfriends generally liked longer hair on me, but my husband, who is the most style-oriented of the lot (he is very particular about his own clothing, too), thinks that shorter hair can be more edgy than long hair, which often risks falling in the “flat and boring” camp. He does believe that short hair can be frumpy and overly practical, and it depends on the wearer, the style of the cut, and the hair texture.
That said, I’d love to go super short (like Angie) but I have a low hair line on my neck, which makes the back look very awkward. The hairdresser buzzes it off but that only keeps for about a week. Oh well.

July 29, 2011 at 7:52 am

Kelsey

Active Member

I have long long hair, and I’ve always worn it that way (it’s low maintenance to the extreme – no haircuts). I’ve had lots of guys tell me they like my long hair (and a couple say that it’s a bit TOO long). Interestingly, my bf is always telling me he’d like me to cut it shorter. He recently told me I should do a pixie cut. Go figure.

July 29, 2011 at 7:53 am

gina

(website)

My boyfriend really likes short hair on women in general, and he likes my short hair. I also think there’s something to what you said, Angie, about change. Now that my hair has been short for almost a year, he occasionally asks me if I’ve thought about growing it out again. Last time I grew it out, he was asking me if I was going to cut it again.

I’ve only dated one guy who had very strong stated preferences for women’s hair, and he preferred long dark hair, which I had at the time. Possibly related to that, I started highlighting my hair right after we broke up.

July 29, 2011 at 8:03 am

morethanbeige

Veteran

When I was little I was told that my hair was too fine to wear long. So of course I always wanted long hair. My husband’s main comment regarding my hair over the years is “don’t cover your face with your hair.” He often suggested that my hair would look better short. He’s always game for whatever I want to do with it….he says “remember…hair grows” (not a very comforting comment when I come home from the salon with my latest look. haha)

July 29, 2011 at 8:15 am

taylor

Veteran

My husband MUCH prefers short spunky hair on women (older) not high school age.
My hair was pixie short when we met and he always loved it….it was long when we married (mid back) . I have worn it short again the last 5 yrs.and he prefers it:)

Angie, I love your short crop…adorable, stylish, spunky and ever so feminine!

July 29, 2011 at 8:15 am

April

Veteran

I had extremely short hair when I was first married (late 1980s) — short enough that the sides were cut with an electric shaver, with the top a bit longer. My then-husband liked it, but I didn’t enjoy having to get it cut every four weeks.

It does seem that short hair is particularly out of favor at the moment — much more so than it was then. When I go to my son’s school, I’m amazed at how few teenaged girls I see with short hair, or curly hair for that matter. Long and flat-ironed is the overwhelming norm.

Not sure if it’s the girls who prefer that way or if they believe it’s what the boys prefer.

July 29, 2011 at 8:16 am

Lisa

Active Member

This topic is very near and dear to my heart. I have had short hair for almost 25 years now. While it took a little time to get to Angie’s length, there was a lot of drama before the cut. I am like Angie in that I like to change up my hairstyle, but I do it to please me, not others. I have also often heard that men like women with longer hair. Ladies, I have seen beautiful long hair that I also admire. It is not for me though.

Ironically I have had nothing but compliments on my short hair except from my sister. I am often stopped by men and women who compliment the style and color. I would love to see a post on color! I even get picture requests from women trying to help their stylist understand what kind of cut they want. Yesterday, while I was in the salon, my stylist mentioned that the owner always compliments my hair when I come in. I agree with others though, it has to compliment your face structure, your personality and style. I’m never impressed with women who use short hair as an excuse not to style it.

July 29, 2011 at 8:25 am

Ginny

Veteran

I have had many women tellme oh i would love to wear my hair short like yours but my husband would not like it!! And would never try it. I have had my hair at all lengths and when I met my now husband it was really short. He has been supportive thru all my hair changes and when I went short and spikey he loves it and loves to see women with short hair. He thinks it gives them an edge. I have had my hair long and I feel more polished and “fixed” with a short style. One of my daughters friends told me I am the only mom person she knows that has a style to her hair. She said so many have it long, brushed and up.

July 29, 2011 at 8:28 am

Cheryl

Interesting thread! I personally love short hair but my hair type makes it way too high maintenance – I have thick, wavy hair that needs weight to pull it down. I’ve had shorter haircuts in the past but they end up being so much work! However, I think there are tons of celebrities that have rocked short haircuts – loved Gwenyth Paltrow when she had short hair (remember “Sliding Doors”?), Ginnifer Goodwin, Emma Watson (so cute!), even Courtney Cox used to have the cutest haircuts on Friends and had a variety of different lengths. That being said, all of these women (including Angie!) have delicate features and very well proportioned faces. I myself have a had a huge variety of hair styles and lengths – everything from long wavy hair to short haircuts that required flat irons and product. My husband loves change, and is extremely open minded, but I’ve also noticed I’ve gotten much, much more male attention when I’ve had long hair…

July 29, 2011 at 8:28 am

MsMary

Veteran

My hubby is a member of Team Longer Hair on Women. He thinks you’re beautiful, Angie, but he says you’re the exception that proves the rule! LOL His position is that very short hair on older women, especially very short gray hair, is the equivalent of wearing a sandwich board that says “I’ve given up caring about my appearance.” I think that’s TOTALLY wrong, but that’s how he feels.

He’s super happy now that my hair is longer than it’s been in years.

July 29, 2011 at 8:46 am

k-t

A little anthro / pysch 101: Humans are programmed to view shiny and light colored hair as more desirable as it is an indicator of youth and health. See http://www.psychologytoday.com.....man-nature for a brief explanation. Longer hair shows a longer history of health and makes it more obvious if the hair is thin or not.

Thus as a generalization, men prefer longer hair on women. But hopefully we are surrounded by enlightened men who can recognize what is most flattering for an individual’s face, style and life. My dad prefers short hair on women because he prefers no-muss, no-fuss types.

I wish I could sport a pixie, but I have fairly masculine features, which when paired with minimal makeup and a not-so-mod wardrobe, just isn’t a good look for me. A long bob works pretty well when I am thin. At 10 lbs over my ideal weight, past the shoulders works better for me. Luckily I have very healthy hair and a lot of it, so it doesn’t look dowdy.

My husband prefers me in long hair and doesn’t really even like it up, although he adores the baseball cap and ponytail look. But he will grudgingly agree that some women really are better suited to short hair.

July 29, 2011 at 8:57 am

qfbrenda

Veteran

My husband feels very strongly about women having long hair. He doesn’t even want mine shoulder length… that’s too short. He would love it if I grew it out to my waist but that isn’t going to happen. It’s funny that he’s so opinionated about hair because he’s a very sweet laid-back guy in general. We have very few double standards in our marriage, but this is one: he won’t cut his hair to please me. Go figure.

In his defense, I’m not a fan of super short hair on women either. But I don’t consider shoulder length to be super short.

Several have mentioned their significant others liking change. That might be part of this issue. DH hates change with a passion. He would love it if my hair was to my waist forever… no change until I was in my grave.

July 29, 2011 at 8:58 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I can’t help but wonder, reading many of the comments about men who decree a hairstyle for the women in their lives, how many of those men consult with their wives/girlfriends before growing facial hair or changing their look.

July 29, 2011 at 9:01 am

marianna

Veteran

Very interesting conversation. I LOVE short hair styles (I prefer them!) and I wear my hair a little below chin length. My fiance like when my hair is longer, and prefers long hair in general… but I like my hair shorter, so I wear it shorter! He doesn’t mind but I know that he would like it if I wore my hair longer (and darker!) Oh well.

July 29, 2011 at 9:01 am

Meredith

Active Member

Very interesting topic, Angie!!! I think the right short hair cut looks fabulous on women. I wore my hair short once, and it looked so awful, that I haven’t gone back since. I wish I were brave enough to try it again, but I fear that I will end up with another wacky hairdo with my naturally unruly hair.

Your short hair looks amazing on you!!

July 29, 2011 at 9:30 am

rachylou

Veteran

Long hair is *it* according to family, boyfriends, and male friends. My boyfriends have (mostly) suffered in silence, knowing what’s good for them. But I had a cousin who mournfully whined at me when I showed up with short hair once. Whined at me! Honestly, if I want a date, I get fat and grow my hair long. But whatever.

The two exceptions to this are my brother, whose style is *moth eaten,* and my dad who insisted short cuts were great… but this could have been because he made me cry by giving me my first bob ever… accidentally. I think I was seven.

July 29, 2011 at 9:33 am

rachylou

Veteran

@Janet – I have to admit, while the men in my life don’t seek me out for a hair consultation, they do wait to be told and I tell ’em. When I mention their hair is long, they high tail it to the barber. LOL.

I wonder if it’s a cultural / tribal thing. They all behave that way: woman in charge of hair

July 29, 2011 at 9:41 am

Joy

Veteran

I was surprised when I last had my hair trimmed that DH thought it was really short…too short. He rarely comments. It’s a bob that’s shorter in the back and chin length in the front, so not nearly pixie-like.
We were married 8 years before children. In that time I wore my hair long or in a longish bob. When pregnant with our first, DH wistfully commented that he hoped I wouldn’t cut my hair short after the baby came like so many women do. I got the feeling that men feel that women in short hair look more like mothers (maybe their mothers!) than wives/girlfriends. I made a point of keeping it long after babies.
My features and hair are not right for a short pixie style.

July 29, 2011 at 9:42 am

Scarlet

Veteran

As far as I understand it, my brother loves short hair on women, but his wife does not like it for herself. I guess love is stronger than hair My sister wears her hair as short as you, Angie, and always has since before she met her husband, so I suppose he must dig it too. My sweetie has never voiced an opinion. This exhausts my knowledge of men

July 29, 2011 at 9:50 am

taylor

Veteran

Weighing in as a professional stylist , I will say this…Not everyone can wear a pixie, or even short hair. I does take a certain look(features, head shape) confidence and a bit of EXTRA style .

And not everyone who wears long hair looks good with it long…..And some women look much better with some length…Most women find a happy place that they and thier significant other are pleased with.
I really have never met a man who fallls into the “I don’t like short hair” catagory.

Typically the shorter the hair …the more girlie my look becomes.

July 29, 2011 at 9:59 am

stefani sarah

I look better with short hairstyle. I have wavy frizzy over volume hair that needs high maintenance. My husband and my whole family approve my (very) short hair. When my hair is short, other parts of my face get to show. Eyebrows, eyes, and cheekbones often disappear when I wear longer hair.

July 29, 2011 at 10:01 am

LibraCyn

Active Member

My husband likes whatever I like. If I want a bob, he’s into that, if it’s long, he’s fine. He tells me now that if I wish to go really short (which I am itching to do now) that he is very open to it! I don’t understand why it’s such an issue with men, but there have been men in my past who insisted on my hair being waist-length. As if that makes you sexier. . . I admit that I feel I look better in slightly longer hair so it’s been longer these past 15 years, but I love short haircuts that are smart and precision-cut. My problem is I do not trust my hair stylist to cut it that short because I feel she will ruin it–possibly it’s my own paranoia. Love, love, love your hair, Angie. It’s always very shiny, sleek or funky, and obviously your stylist is fantastic.

July 29, 2011 at 10:05 am

Melinda

What a coincidence! My current boyfriend didn’t want me to cut my hair short (which I did anyway), but as an example of how attractive it could be, I sent him a picture of Angie! He agreed that she looks great, but said he still likes longer hair on me (although he never complimented my hair when it was longer).

Unfortunately, he was right. When I was young (I’m mid-50s now), I could wear my hair very short and look adorable, but I have to admit that as my features naturally soften (OK, “sag”) with time, it’s not as attractive; I don’t have Angie’s killer cheekbones. I wanted to look edgy and fun, but my naturally curly hair looks like I’ve had an “old lady” perm. I cut it short to avoid all that styling time, and now I spend as much time styling it to avoid looking conservative!

My 82-year-old mother has worn her hair short for 30+ years and wishes she weren’t “an old lady with short hair,” and I guess I don’t want to be that either. So I’m going to grow out my hair again!

July 29, 2011 at 10:08 am

Pat

My head, my hair.
Actually, no matter what a sweetie were to suggest my fine hair simply doesn’t look good much past the chin. No amount of skillful barbering will put style into a longer look on me.
Have I wished for a long bob, a 60’s braid down my back? Oh, yes And I do like the style I can play with at this length. Also like the wash and go aspect of short hair.

July 29, 2011 at 10:09 am

Melinda

P.S. I echo MaryK’s comment about “I’ve given up on my appearance.” I think older women are in such a bind: we don’t want to look like we’re pathetically trying to hold on to youth, but we don’t want to look sexless and matronly either. To many men, short hair looks youthful on women who are young, and sexless on women who aren’t.

July 29, 2011 at 10:14 am

DanaLynn

Active Member

My husband doesn’t have a preference beyond what looks healthy and what flatters that individuals face. I have very curly hair and have had it both very long and very short. He says he prefers the current length- a longer bob- because I can do more with it. I wear it down just as much as I wear it up. When it’s really short the most I can do is add clips or a headband, when it is really long I put it up all the time to get it out of the way. I think he has a soft spot in his heart for women who dare to go really short. He likes strong confident women and the pixie cut definitely is a daring cut.
.

July 29, 2011 at 10:21 am

rae

(website)

Veteran

I honestly don’t know what men think of my hair. I like my hair long because it provides the illusion of thickness, volume, and body for me (my shoulders kind of hold it out and away from my neck). I think I would look so terrible with short hair (flat skull shape, head lumps, weak chin, narrow face) that I wouldn’t dare try it.

July 29, 2011 at 10:25 am

Lori

Veteran

The men in my life definitely prefer my hair long. My DH groans every time I even mention trimming my hair. That definitely has not made me stick to long hair, I’ve given the pixie a go around and many other lengths in between and feel like I can wear almost any length. When I have had shorter hair he’s very complimentary, he just hates the change from long to short. Both of my little boys love Mama’s long hair and give me a hard time whenever I tease and say I’m going to cut it. That won’t stop me either when I’M ready to cut it.

FWIW I adore short and super short hair women and think it totally kicks up their style a notch or two when it’s right cut on the right face.

July 29, 2011 at 10:34 am

Lauren

I’ve never had short hair (really short hair) but my impression has always been that the vast majority of men prefer long hair. I love pixie cuts but most men don’t seem to like them. Men and women have different taste in hair. I love the way sleek, straight hair looks and men seem to love messy, tossled curls. Basically men love long hair because it looks so different from their own, they can play with it and to them, it makes women look sexy. It’s similar to the reason why men like curves. They like it when women’s bodies don’t look boyish. Whereas women tend to want less curves.

July 29, 2011 at 10:37 am

Petite Marj

Active Member

As a 60 year old, with a rather square-shaped face, and several cowlicks that arrived post-chemo, I have to say that I get more compliments about my “sassy, silver, very short hair” than any other look I have ever worn. Many of my customers have commented that they wished that they had the courage to let their hair go grey then chop it off. I don’t know about the courage part, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Four weeks after a cut and I’m ready for another one. Hubby has only known me one way, so there have never been any comments from that camp either. I frequently compliment other silver gals who are sporting very short doos. I think they look fab and perhaps as Angela said, strong!

July 29, 2011 at 10:53 am

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

My male best friend prefers me with longer hair. Looking back at pictures of myself recently I look better with longer hair. I do not have overtly feminine features and longer hair adds a bit of softness to my look.

July 29, 2011 at 11:02 am

taylor

Veteran

Rae,
Both you and Aida are PERFECT examples of looking FAB with long hair!!

You both have youth, a playful tomboy edge and natural beauty!! BRAVO!!

July 29, 2011 at 11:05 am

Marley

Veteran

My husband thinks that I am the most beautiful woman in the world and that whether I wear my hair long or short or in-between is so very insignificant that he really doesn’t even have an opinion on it!

July 29, 2011 at 11:19 am

Kim

My hair is down to my chin, shorter in the back, and my husband of four years still wants me to grow it back to my shoulders like when he first met me. It is fine, and I never even had truly long hair as a little girl (instead, I had a permed bob!). It looks so much better a little shorter, and every single one of our friends, including the male ones, agrees that it suits my face better. It is easier to style and therefore looks healthier. But he wants it longer.

Plus, every time one of my friends goes shorter or really short, he laments it. Every time What Not to Wear is on, he groans something about “short hair, again,” the minute the stylist shows up on screen.

I have no real point to add, I just find it really annoying and wanted to tell other women.

July 29, 2011 at 11:48 am

Alli

(website)

My bf says that he likes short pixie cuts on women. I think he likes a sortof elfin look. I look more like a troll with a pixie, and he seems continually pleased with my short bobs to long locks. All my bfs barely notice my hair. They tend to look at other parts of my body.

July 29, 2011 at 11:52 am

Lynne

Veteran

Taylor, I’m glad you’re chiming in. I love pixie’s on others, but I know I feel best with some length. I got head lice when I was 13 and the wisdom at the time was to chop ALL your hair off. It was awful, and I have NO photos of myself from that time :).

July 29, 2011 at 12:25 pm

Lisa

Veteran

Hubby is a long hair fan. I recently had a haircut and came home with it pulled back. His first words in panic “where is all your hair!”

July 29, 2011 at 12:37 pm

klauren

Active Member

How timely! I’ve been wearing my hair a little longer than shoulder length for about 2 years, but after moving to SJ where it is much warmer had me putting my hair up alot – folks commented (men and women) positively on my “updo” almost every time I wore it clipped up – so about 2 weeks ago, I got it cut shorter. People have said how much younger I’m looking, etc. And it’s so much easier to style and cooler (temp. wise) and yes, I think I look sassier and more approachable.

I think if I want to get a longer look, I’ll do falls or wigs – this whole business about having long hair is really kind of a pain. For me, it takes so much styling time, as mine is very thick and heavy and really kind of curly. As it gets longer, the weight of my hair pulls out the curl to waves. And with long hair on a round full face it just doesn’t suit me and really kind of looks like I don’t care about my appearance even if I’ve spent a while working on the hair.

July 29, 2011 at 12:40 pm

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

touchy touchy topic! i’ve had both longr and short hair over the years – i like it both ways, it just depends on where i’m at. i think it’s a lot of fun to have a drastic change from time to time as well. i know the stereotype is that men prefer long hair, but i’ve never gotten much flack from guys about my hair length.

women, on the other hand……..yowch! one female relative in particular is obnoxiously adamant about her preference for my having short hair (to the point of scaring hairstylists and bystanders). expressing an opinion in passing is fine, but when a person can’t let it go (over decades) it can get really – aggressive.

it’s especially frustrating because in this case i know it has nothing to do with me – her ex liked her in long hair, and so she has a lot of feelings about hair length wrapped up in that. yikes!

in the end, hair is very personal. to me it seems very wrong to push my opinion about another person’s hair on them, just like i would never dream of telling them what type of underwear or shoes to wear – it’s none of my business and it will affect them every day. but at the same time hair is pretty public, out there for all to see, so i guess certain people run with that aspect of it.

Angie, at 85 comments and counting it looks like you sure hit a nerve with plenty of people besides me!!! steph

July 29, 2011 at 1:01 pm

Sandi

Active Member

While my husband prefers long hair, he is fine with however I want to wear it. But I am one of those people who cannot wear my hair short. I have a large head and large features. When I wear my hair short – bob, pixie, anything much above my shoulders – my head looks like a basketball! Luckily I have thick hair, so it looks OK long. But my hair just isn’t a great feature on me.

July 29, 2011 at 1:17 pm

Rachel

Active Member

I think that preferring long hair is the default preference for most men. Years ago, I had a much shorter ‘do and my boyfriend at the time told me that he had always preferred long hair before, but he had totally changed his mind because he loved my hair. My husband once saw a photo of me from that time and said he was surprised how great I looked because he thought he liked long hair best. I recently went from long to medium length hair which my husband first pouted about (he hates change!) but he got on board when I pointed out that I no longer wear ponytails all the time.

July 29, 2011 at 1:22 pm

esme noir

(website)

Active Member

great subject for discussion. i’m lucky that my husband loves short hair. in fact, he prefers mine super-short. but i too have talked to lots of women who are afraid to go for a short hair-cut for fear of displeasing their men. the good thing about hair is that it grows! so if you get a cut that’s a bit too short for your taste, time will take care of it. i love how easy my hair is to wash and style—when it’s first cut i barely need a comb.

July 29, 2011 at 1:41 pm

saretta

(website)

Most guys just do like long hair on women because they find it to be more feminine. I think it’s also a sign of youth/fertility and all that. Older women tend to cut their short, so perhaps men associated long locks with young, firm bodies, etc. Personally, I don’t see what the difference is. Hair can be scraggly, uncared for and long…where’s the attraction? Or short, perfumed and shiny…in other words beautiful. Go figure!

July 29, 2011 at 2:23 pm

Claire

(website)

A funny tidbit: I once dated a guy who preferred women to have short hair because he thought all that hair left in the shower was gross. And I happen to feel exactly the same way in that regard, lol!

Short hair suits my face and personality so I love and own it. I’ve gone from waist-length hair when I was young to practically buzzed recently and everything between. Interestingly, a remark I often hear whenever I cut it super-short is a wide-eyed, “Do you like it?”

Hubby is rather progressive and very tolerant of my ever-changing hair, although I think my current look pushes even his boundaries. But he simply said, “I need a little time to get used to it. Now you have the shortest hair in the family!” Meaning him and our doggie… and he has complimented me on my styling since then.

I don’t assume how a random man will react to short hair since I’ve rarely had negative feedback, but I do happen to think one’s reaction to this type of thing is “tell” and an excellent clue to the content of one’s character. A man of integrity and kindness will always be gracious.

July 29, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Jen

(website)

I’ve had hair nearly every length and color under the sun. I’ve noticed that I FEEL differently about myself with different haircuts, and that people tend to react to me differently (like when meeting for the first time). Short hair is synonymous with lesbian culture if you’re young, or an admittance of getting older. I live in SoCal, where perceptions are skewed.

I think the media is partially to blame for the desirability of full, long hair. Everyone we see on TV has beautifully styled long hair. I know it’s extensions, curling irons, and a prep team that does everything for you. But for some of us it’s another unfortunate standard that gets passed on to the laywoman who can’t live up to it.

My guy and nearly every guy I know honestly prefers long hair. The ones who don’t are young, hipster/urban, and don’t buy into the long hair = beauty and youth fallacy. Some people look better with shorter hairstyles, myself being one of them thanks to my fine, straight hair that transforms into a stringy curtain when it gets past my shoulders.

Honest question: Who has long hair as a lifestyle choice? As an active gal, I cannot stand hair in my face or getting tangled in my bike helmet/backpack.

July 29, 2011 at 3:04 pm

krishnidoux

Veteran

There is an French oldie from 1924 – “Elle s’était fait coupé les cheveux”
(She Had Had Her Hair Cut Off/ Cut Short). It was a very popular song when it came out.

vidéo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CqsaaQUpmI

(The video is a 1950-60’s version of the original)

The lyrics go like this:

The other day my wife tells me: You see my darling
For you, I did something quite sweet
I did what all women do these days
to be completely in the trend!
Sweetly, she removed her hat.
And astounded, I immediately realized…

REFRAIN

Ell’ s’était fait couper les ch’veux (She had had her hair cut off)

Comme un’ petit’ fille (Like a lil’ girl)

Gentille (Sweet)

Ell’ s’était fait couper les ch’veux (She had had her hair cut off)

En s’disant ça m’ira beaucoup mieux (Thinking, it will suit me much better)

Car les femm’s tout comm’ les messieurs (Because women, just like men,)

Pour suivre la mode (in order to follow fashion,)

Commode (conviently,)

Ell’s se font toutes (They all have)

Ell’s se font tout’s couper les ch’veux (They all have their hair cut off)

Furious, I go straight to find Mother-in-law
A lady who’s roughly between sixteen and forty years old
My mother-in-law as she sees me says softly
Look what I did for you
Sweetly, she removed her hat.
And astounded, I immediately realized…

REFRAIN
(…)

July 29, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Steph

Veteran

I know a lot of men in the long hair camp (or at least the “not short hair camp,” since there are mid-length cuts. My dad is one of them–my mom cut her hair short once and although he has never said “don’t do that again,” she could tell it wasn’t his favorite style for her and has never tried it again. To be fair, I actually think she looks better with longer hair as well.

I do think most men are willing to make exceptions if someone looks really great with short hair. It’s rare to hear a man say “Halle Berry would be really pretty, if only she grew her hair.”

Since I know I would not look good with short hair, it has never been an issue with me in my relationships. However, I cannot imagine being with someone who told me they “wouldn’t hear of” me cutting my hair. The entire idea of having another person dictate my hairstyle completely repulses me. But I’m also not a person who goes out of my way to please my partner with my appearance–I know that my boyfriend thinks my hair looks better when I straighten it, but I don’t make any special to do so on his behalf, and he never makes me feel like I look bad when it is curly. I straighten when I want to (and I actually do agree with him).

July 29, 2011 at 3:25 pm

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I feel like I must stand by my man and in the light of many comments I must say that my husband is by no means on the “don’t do the short hair” camp, if there was any room to misunderstand that from my previous comment. I cut my hair any way I want, but he just doesn’t like it too short – on me. I did have it very short once, he wasn’t too impressed to start with, then a few days later after his eye had adjusted to such change (I went from my longest ever length to my shortest ever) he said he actually liked it. But, I didn’t repeat the experiment because I myself felt that having it that short once was enough and I was happier with longer hair.

July 29, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Kyle

My husband loves my short hair, and always has. I’m sure other men do, too, but the negative comments I’ve heard through the years are mind-blowing.

In the early 1980s, when I cut my hair short for the first time (and it was sooo cute), a co-worker over lunch told me he “hated it” because “short hair is for lesbians.” Huh? I hope recounting this does not offend anyone, but I am accurately reporting his extraordinarily ignorant comment. I received SO MANY compliments on that haircut — from women.

At that same time, a female work colleague complimented me on my new short ‘do, adding, “my husband would never let me cut my hair.” That sent me into orbit, too, and not in a good, Angie-like way.

More recently, a client told me he does not find short hair attractive on any woman. “If there’s nothing for me to run my hands through, it would feel like being with a man.” Again, seriously? Have you ever seen Halle Berry? Michelle Williams? Emma Watson? Natalie Portman?

Everyone is entitled to their preferences and opinions, and short hair is not flattering for all women, but I can’t get my head wrapped around this mindset at all. So many men would find a bird’s nest of bleached out, damaged (but long!) hair more attractive than a flattering crop of healthy hair. It baffles me and, honestly, makes me kind of mad.

July 29, 2011 at 4:59 pm

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I can’t believe I’ve missed this post until now when it is so relevant to me and I thought I’d share my story with you!

My husband is strongly on the “prefers long hair” camp. He associates long hair with femininity and often thinks that short hair can look incredibly ageing and matronly on women.

After looking at some photos of my mother with short hair (which suited her very much), I decided in a moment of craziness to cut my hair from being shoulder length to a pixie. “Hey,” I figured, “I look like my mum – if it worked for her, it should work for me!”. So in I went and demanded my hairdresser cut it all off. (Despite the worried look in her eyes.)

My goodness, the degree of shock when it was over cannot describe how I felt. I kept saying to myself “It’s only hair!”, but I realised that as a woman, even I had somewhat bought into the notion of long hair = femininity and this latest caper was most certainly challenging it!

When I broke the news about “what I’d done” (haircut wise) over the phone to my husband, he hadn’t seen me and earnestly told me he was a little sad that I’d cut it so short, but that of course he loves me no matter what hairstyle I choose to wear. Bless him.

However, that evening when he saw me for the first time and nearly every day since then, he will comment about how beautiful I look. I swear he spontaneously makes more comments now about my appearance and my “beauty” (ack!) than he has the entire time I’ve known him. I think it is because I have a small face and head, that longer hair tends to “hide” or mask my features. Now, for better of for worse, it’s all on display for the world to see.

As such, I totally agree with Taylor’s comments – some people look especially lovely with long hair, some people look wonderful with short hair and some people are lucky enough to look gorgeous no matter what hair style they wear.

Ultimately, if someone has a haircut that is truly doing them justice – from a bone-structure, style and persona perspective, I really think that the vast majority of people will be able to overlook or at least make an “exception” for the preferred bias. Just ask my husband!

July 29, 2011 at 5:15 pm

Elaine2

On hair, I think this something someone should decide for themselves, despite what other family members might think. It grows back, it’s something that is easily changeable, and I don’t really care what my husband or other men would think about it…..

July 29, 2011 at 5:48 pm

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

My dh prefers shorter, and even super short, hair styles. He likes to see a woman’s neck and what better way? I also suspect he likes the implied spunky attitude of a Pixie cut.

July 29, 2011 at 5:57 pm

clearlyclaire

When I met and married my husband, I had medium-short hair. I assumed that all men liked long hair and that he was just being polite when he told me he liked mine. I don’t know why, but I had a hard time believing that he didn’t wish I had long, thick hair down to my waist (like Eve!).

He watches WNTW with me, too, and always likes when the haircuts are somewhere between the top of the shoulders and chin length. He dislikes super-long hair because it can be messy and unkempt, taking on a life of its own (and getting all over the shower, which he finds unappealing). Also, when my hair has been long, I’ve worn it in a pony tail most of the time, which he thinks looks about the same as having super-short hair….which he thinks looks a bit masculine on me: I have a very “athletic”– (read “flat-chested”) frame.

July 29, 2011 at 6:22 pm

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

All of the men in my life think that my short hair is terrible. They say it means that I’ll stay single for forever, even though I don’t really look good with long hair! They insist all men like long hair – Oi, I say that if they like it so much, then they can have it and they can spend all the time and effort maintaining it!

July 29, 2011 at 6:37 pm

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I know that my hubby liked my long hair when we were dating and newly married. He liked to touch it and run his hands through it – and I had quite beautiful reddish brown hair then.He also mentioned several times that he likes long hair – but it never stopped me from getting the haircuts I felt great in. Also my hair is not the same as it was in my 20s and it would not look as attractive long as it did then. In addition I could never wear my long hair loose as it was getting in the way and irritated me – so it was a bun or a ponytail for me 80% of the time. What is the point of having long hair if you tie it back all the time – and not in the most attractive way.
Now he never says anything about the long hair and I don’t ask…I don’t care really as long as he likes me as a whole

July 29, 2011 at 6:54 pm

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I was tired of trying to grow out my hair disaster and spontaneously decided to chop it off one day at work. I love my new short hair and my husband does too. I don’t think he liked it as much when it was longer.

July 29, 2011 at 7:52 pm

Barbara

Veteran

What a great post, Angie!

I had long hair all through high school and loved it. When hubby and I married in 1976, it was long enough to sit on! It was stick-straight, super thick and absolutely glorious. Through the years (35 to be exact), I went shorter and shorter, with no complaints from him.

I’ve had my super-short spiky ‘do since 1991 and he thinks it’s fabulously sexy. It’s become my signature and makes me feel (and look) younger and super sassy.

I wouldn’t consider growing it out – short hair is WAY more fun! Your Papa is right.

July 29, 2011 at 7:57 pm

Melody

Active Member

I’m very lucky in that my husband almost always tends to like whatever look I’m currently sporting best. He didn’t care for the blunt bangs I had cut earlier this year … said it reminded him of the sixth graders he teaches.

I got married, graduated college, and got my first job in a 2 month period and immediately chopped my hair off pixie style and he loved it. In fact, he couldn’t keep his hands off it … he liked to twiddle freshly cut ends. These days, my son is the one who can’t keep his hands out of my hair … my hair is his blankie and he twirls my hair when he’s tired, sick, or feeling lovey so I’ve kept my hair longer for him.

July 29, 2011 at 8:18 pm

3style

Veteran

In response to Jen’s question about “who has long hair as a lifestyle choice?” that would be me. Mine is at bra-strap length in the back. I have many health issues such as chemical sensitivity, sensitivity to heat, sensitivity to touch, etc., which make going to the salon a nightmare for me. And my hair grows super fast. So with long hair I can go about every 10 weeks or so and look fine in between. My hair is completely straight if I comb it when it is wet and lightly (not frizzy in the least) wavy if it is humid, and I don’t comb it. I naturally have that sleek glossy look. I just let it air dry unless it is freezing out. And I pre-soak it with water nowadays, before I put on my stretchy speedo fabric cap, took it in a little rubber-band bun, and the color stays on just fine.

I have gotten positive hair comments at any hair length. However, I find that when I look back at photos with shorter hair that isn’t perfectly cut and styled, I tend to look 10-15lbs heavier (big round mop-head) so I find longer hair a safer bet. I have done down to my navel a few times, but have decide that actually starts to look bad too, as then it is overwhelming on me.

July 29, 2011 at 8:31 pm

shelley24

Active Member

I’ve always struggled with thick wavy hair that tends to frizzy with humidity. It looks very wild when left to its natural wave so I always keep it under control, unlayered & shoulder to chin length. Recently I rebelled against all of the constant work my hair requires and went for a shorter length and I love it. My wave actually works at this length! I expected some comment from my husband because he’s always so flattering after a trip to my magic-making hair stylist. I’ve decided not to ask because I don’t want to hear a negative for something I like. To address your question, most of the comments I hear from men about other women is yes for long hair, even when it’s not flattering or healthy, go figure!?!

July 30, 2011 at 7:26 am

Barbara

Veteran

Thank you, Angie for your sweet comment about me rocking my short hair.
I consider it an honor to be complimented by such a stylish lass as you!

It’s quite an ego boost to be 56 and still rocking!

July 30, 2011 at 7:53 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

More fascinating perspectives.

Taylor, thanks for your awfully gracious words about my own pixie. YOU rock short hair with the best of them!

My pleasure, Barbara

MaryK, do thank hubby for me. That was a lovely compliment.

Steph, this *is* a tricky subject.

Katiepea, what a great story!

Melinda, I’m flattered.

Ornela, I’m glad that you stuck up for hubby

Kyle, some people have no idea what comes out of their mouths. Some of those comments were obnoxious. I have a hard time with the mindset too.

Taylor, as a hair professional, I am glad that you chimed in a few times. At the end of the day it’s like you said – some ladies look best with short hair, while others look best with longer hair. Who doesn’t want to look their best! If you look better with longer hair, OF COURSE your significant other will prefer it. I will too.

The more I think about this, the more I want to give men a little more credit. I truly think that many women assume that men prefer longer hair – when in actual fact, they might pleasantly surprise you. I can’t think of a man I know that would prefer unhealthy long limp and lifeless hair more, than an attractive shorter and more healthy crop.

July 30, 2011 at 8:40 am

Jennifer

Went to my salon for color and trim last week and told my stylist that I feel like I’ve fallen into the trap that I’ve seen other 40 something experience. For some reason we feel like our long tresses enable us to maintain a loose hold on our fleeting youth. I have a very petite frame and I felt that my long hair overwhelmed my appearance. Overhearing the conversation, the salon owner walked over and said yes, yes, you should go with a short stylish bob. I have a busy lifestyle that limits the amount of time I want to put in on my hair. The glamorous women with beautiful long hair we see on the magazine covers have devoted an enormous amount of time to get that look. I agree with most of the women that men love long hair, especially here in the south.(Alabama) I did get the shorter cut and I love it and have gotten many compliments . My husband has not said he likes it, but is very accepting of whatever I do with my hair. For those of you married to such supportive guys, appreciate them, as I think they are the exception. Since my cut, many of the staff members in my office have said that they wish their husbands would be ok with a shorter look!

July 30, 2011 at 9:44 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I first read this blog post yesterday, but only had the time to come back and read the comments a little later on. I initially asked my husband his opinion which was a very straight forward ‘ it depends on the woman’.

I think it is wrong to presume that all men like women with long hair or that all women like men with short hair. They may be the cultural norm but it is good to push those boundaries of what it means to be feminine, sexy or even young.

Fashion and style will continue to evolve, gender roles will continue to evolve, who knows what hairstyle will be preferred by men in the next 50 or 100 years.

July 30, 2011 at 9:47 am

Mellllls

i’ve always been a long hair kind of girl so my husband has never had the opportunity to really see my hair at a short length. but i once asked him his feelings on this and his response was that he think my hair should be “longer than his”. Considering he keeps his very short, this is just not an issue. Interesting, my grandmother has always been a vocal proponent of short hair all my life.

July 30, 2011 at 10:59 am

rute

Veteran

This is also a cultural issue! Portuguese men prefer longer hairstyles! They are more conservative!

July 30, 2011 at 2:43 pm

slythwolf

(website)

I don’t really care what they like or don’t like. I wear my hair the way I like it and so does every woman I know. My feeling is that if they feel strongly enough about it to make an issue, I probably don’t want to be around them anyway.

July 30, 2011 at 3:51 pm

Kari

Veteran

Sally – wow, I am amazed that you took the plunge and got a very short crop! I’m sorry that you haven’t had a positive reaction from your husband. Maybe you will both come around. What do you think of the cut yourself? I know I tend to like my haircuts best after a couple weeks when my hair has a little more length and I’ve figured out how to style it the way I like.

I’ll keep my eyes peeled for pictures on your blog!

July 30, 2011 at 5:33 pm

Kari

Veteran

This is something that is close to my heart, too, being very much a medium-to-short haired girl.

Personally, I really don’t see short hair as being inherently masculine, just as I don’t believe that long hair is feminizing or flattering on everyone. We have so many stellar examples of women on the YLF forum who look stunning with their short crops, and in my opinion even more striking in some ways because of how the short hair highlights their features. (You, Laura, Kyle, KatiePea, Ana, Lyn, Sveta, Taylor, to name just a few…)
I do think that Taylor has a point that perhaps not every person can carry off a short cut, not only due to their features, but also their personality.

I do know many men who prefer longer hair on women, and I’ve dated some who were very disappointed when I went for a shorter cut. But it is my hair, and while I’d understand someone being thrown off if I went for a very different cut that wasn’t flattering on me, the overwhelming consensus from most people I’ve encountered is that my hair looks at its best when it is chin length or shorter, and I feel that it suits me. My hair falls so flat when it’s long, regardless of how many layers it has. The ends get frayed and split and dull very easily. And I feel that a shorter, spunkier cut – and the red hair – plays up the sassy aspect of my personality a bit better than my formerly long, blonde hair did.

July 30, 2011 at 5:45 pm

krishnidoux

Veteran

I feel very sad when I read these comments. So many are from women whose will is restrained in a way or another by their husband or men in general. While it’s true that some women look striking with longer hair, not all do. And long hair (long good looking hair) is difficult to upkeep. It is false to think it is cheaper: after a certain age, when hormone level drops, keeping a full head of lush, shiny, healthy hair demands more and more time, effort and money. Not counting coloring etc.

Some women are blessed and suffer less hair loss or hair damage; yet they are a minority.

As Jen pointed out, there is lifestyle. For most women, in the world we live in, shorter hair is so much more practical. Less time consuming on a daily basis. Nowadays you can find a hairstyle that suits you and works for your hair type. It doesn’t have to make you look fat nor old. Beautiful Angie is a living proof if you are looking for one.

Anyway there are many, many valid reasons why any woman would want to cut her hair, and keep it short. But sadly, so many of us continue to burden themselves with energy-consuming locks for the sake of what others think.

Imagine for a moment the reverse situation. Wow, I think men with long hair look better (I have in mind of course some guy model on the cover of an Arlequin novel). Would my husband for a second consider this when sitting on the barber’s chair for his monthly chop? Would yours? Would he grow them, and go through the hassle of shampoo+conditioner + bi-monthly moisturizing treatments + fighting with it every morning + daily blow dry + ironing ?

Okay. Ridiculous. But let’s say we compared with facial hair. What if we were to claim that long beards were sexier? Do you think the men in our lives would start growing and tending for them?

July 30, 2011 at 6:34 pm

Maya

Veteran

Maybe it’s just me but these “what would men think?” questions never even cross my mind. Of course, I have been single longer than most women could probably stand, so maybe no one should listen to me.

I wear my hair long because I like it that way and because I can. Eventually it will become gray and wirey and thin and I will probably have to cut it short, so I may as well enjoy it now.

That said, plenty of women of all ages and hair types look wonderful with short hair. I like both as long as they suit the wearer. I don’t honestly think most men care about hair, just like they don’t care about shoes or jeans or anything else. If you look good overall, they will appreciate that rather than singling out any one thing.

I actually find short hair much harder in terms of maintenance. My long hair is way easier to care for. I just wrap it up in a towel while I get ready, spray some product, and fly out the door. I get it cut maybe 3 times a year. With short hair I would have to go once a month. I also find short hair puts so much emphasis on the face, which means more time spent figuring out makeup.

July 30, 2011 at 7:25 pm

Tiffany

My husband likes my hair best when it is super-short. It just suits my face better that way, and I like it short too – it doesn’t occur to me to care what anyone else might think!

July 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm

liasophia

I don’t think it really matters wether you hair is short, long or bald.
It just matters that you like it on yourself and how you love seeing yourself in pictures and your friends, family, lovers and strangers say you look great!
There is nothing more sexier than a confident woman and men especially notice that!

July 31, 2011 at 12:41 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

RoseandJoan, I couldn’t agree more with this statement:

“I think it is wrong to presume that all men like women with long hair or that all women like men with short hair”.

Krishnidoux, the role reversal is very compelling. And thank you for the kind compliment.

Kari, I love your very short red bob and I bet that the people around you do too. Thanks for the compliment.

July 31, 2011 at 6:43 am

Tessera

Interesting topic! As we all know, conventional wisdom says men like long hair. However, since we’re presumably involved with “a” man, not “all” men, that doesn’t matter so much. My husband enjoys long hair on me. Since I want to continue to be attractive to him, I’m happy to keep it relatively long, i.e. shoulder length or longer, although he would never dream of insisting on it. He likes to bury his hands in my hair, see it shine in the sun, blow in the wind, slide over a shoulder, and so on, so I think it’s a sensual thing for him. My sons also like to play with my hair, brush it and braid it. I’ve had short hair (above the ears) and really enjoyed how it showed off my earrings (yes, I’m a jewelry lover), but found it to be too much work – I had to blow dry it whenever I washed it, and style it every morning or it would stick out in weird ways. With long hair, I can choose whether to blow dry or air dry, and to leave it down or put it up in a French braid or French twist. I’m too lazy for short hair, although I think it’s adorable on people with great bone structure like Angie.

July 31, 2011 at 7:52 am

Lauren

(website)

I’ve had my hair done in a million of different ways so I find this topic interesting. From my experience, I think men generally prefer long, messier hair. But- if you are attractive, they just notice the entire package put together. They don’t really break things down like we do. So if you’re attractive they just notice that you’re attractive, and they’re probably not going to be too concerned w/ hair length. When I started dating a past long time boyfriend, I started out with a chin length bob, and I cut all my hair off. I mean a short, short mans cut. I told him I was doing it before hand, and he begged me not to. But afterwards, he told me how attractive I looked and we continued to date for years after that. And I still had men approach me when my hair was like that.

After all the hairstyles I’ve tried, I really do think men like longer, messier hair the best. I now wear my hair natural, so its messy, and it looks about shoulder length in the natural state. Out of all my styles, I think men like this the best. I prefer my hair straight, but natural is just so much easier and cheaper to care for that I stick with it. Oh, and also men like blonde hair. When my hair was blonde, I got the Most attention. I mean men would just approach me anywhere all the time. It was such a crazy experience for me.

These opinions of course are just from my experience, but keep in mind, I’ve worn my hair a million different ways.

July 31, 2011 at 12:02 pm

Lauren

(website)

I should clarify messy. I don’t mean messy, like you just woke up and didn’t do your hair, but messy as in tousled and carefree. Not too done looking with your hair in every place.

July 31, 2011 at 12:09 pm

afterism

Active Member

I have my hair cut short, not pixie short, but close.

My fiance hates it. Everybody else, including men, loves it.

Every now & then he mentions that he prefers it long & I simply tell him that I know.

He accepts this, loves me anyway & it certainly doesn’t seem to have had a negative effect on how attractive he finds me

On the other side, I recently mentioned that I liked it when he had his beard a different way to what he was doing, 2 days later he was in the bathroom asking me to tell him what I liked again. If he hadn’t I wouldn’t have cared.

We are all entitled to opinions on what hair/clothing/makeup we think ppl look better with. Nobody is required to do what we tell them.

Personally I think it’s good for him to remember that I am a person, with opinions etc.
I gently remind him of this whenever he is being patronizing or gives me permission for something silly. A simple, “Thank you for your permission dear,” does wonders when he reverts to Tarzan mode.

July 31, 2011 at 7:45 pm

paralleltotheworld

(website)

Active Member

http://www.teenvogue.com/beaut.....61061.html

Emma Watson! she makes me want a pixie!

July 31, 2011 at 9:12 pm

Lena

Active Member

Wow, this post definitely got a ton of responses.

I’m a big fan of short hair on women, but I do understand it’s not absolute and it depends on several factors.

I’m loving my short hair right now. It’s the only haircut I remember that makes me smile every single day. I had a similar short crop in college, but didn’t enjoy it much, and only stuck with it for 4yrs because I couldn’t bear the growing out process. Then I grew it to bobs of various lengths and styles, I was never satisfied and easily bored. So I took the plunge again and I couldn’t be happier.

Honestly, I don’t value most mens’ opinions when it comes to my style and fashion. I don’t know what I would do if my significant other didn’t like my hair style, or my eclectic perfume choices, and etc.

I hear compliments about my short hair, and they come mostly from women, sometimes totally out of the blue. I don’t hear a lot of opinions from men, one way or another, and I think it’s because these specific men are not vocal about such things to begin with (at least to my face). I know some men who like short hair, I know some who don’t. I know some who don’t prefer my short crop. My Dad is not very fond of short hair on women as principle.

Every time someone mentions how men prefer long hair on women, I think about all the men who are crazy about short hair. Several years ago I was searching for pictures of short haircuts and I came upon a forum where it’s practically a fetish for men. It was an eye-opener.

July 31, 2011 at 9:48 pm

City Poodle

Active Member

I have met men who love long hair, short hair, no-hair, stylish hair, certain hair colors, and who don’t have a preference as long as a woman presents herself well.

My bf loves long, bouncy 70’s Breck Girl hair… and, although he has never been a jerk or treated me differently when I bobbed my hair, I’ve been letting it grow because I know it makes him happy,

I’ve begun dip dying the ends a high-contrast blonde to match my personal sense of aesthetics, but I know it’s only a matter of time before I get bored with it and want to get it cut. And while I won’t have his blessing, I know I am not banned from it either.

August 1, 2011 at 12:19 pm

Roxanne

Active Member

I kept my hair long for a really long time mostly because it was naturally wavy and I did not think I could manage a short do with the type of hair that I had. The longest I had it was to the middle of my back. About a month ago I cut it all off for an angled bob. Best haircut/style I’ve ever had! And most flattering too.

I think long hair sort of distracts away from the face. Short hair is confidence. I do like both lengths though!

August 1, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Sara

I’ve never commented before, but I had to chime in on this one! I always had long hair (which is also super thick and wavy), but I didn’t like taking a lot of time to deal with it, so it honestly rarely looked good. Then a little over a year ago I took the plunge and cut it all off in a short pixie cut similar to Angie’s, and I’ve gotten nothing but compliments since. Even my father, who is adamant about long hair looking better on women, has to admit it looks good (though I can tell it pains him every time I get it cut!). My boyfriend liked me with long hair, but he also likes my short hair cut too. I love how easy it is to take care of, but I also love how I look with it short. After I got it cut, everyone kept saying how stylish and chic and sophisticated I looked. I was very “Parisienne” or very “New York”, and people I hadn’t seen in a while were pretty much gushing. My hairdresser and the women at the salon where I go always say I have the perfect face and hair for the cut. I let it go a few months between cuts and it gets a little longer, but I prefer it in the pixie.

When I got it cut I thought I might grow it out again later, but right now I can’t imagine going back to long hair. I think I look so much better with it short!

August 1, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Sara

Also, one of the most out-of-the blue comments I got recently was from a passport control agent in London… she looked at my long hair on my passport photo and commented that I looked soooo much better with short hair!

August 1, 2011 at 3:01 pm

Inge

I’ve had a pixie cut for many years now and the only really negative experience I ever had was with my boss (of all people!) at my very first job. He somehow thought it was alright to constantly remark how masculine short hair looks and how I needed to grow it out. (I still constantly wonder where people get the idea that it is ok to say things like that?)

I was a little surprised about the many “absolutely nots/yesses” in the comments. I don’t usually think in absolutes and especially like what Roseand Joan, Lena and Taylor wrote. I too really believe that which hairstyles look good on any given person depends so much on facial features, hair texture, confidence AND personality. In the end you like what you like, of course, and that’s perfectly fine, but I do like to believe that there are plenty of people (men and women) out there, who “judge” this kind of thing case per case.

August 1, 2011 at 5:50 pm

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

For a good part of the 80s, I had spiky short hair which I bleached lighter than my natural blonde color. It was a little punk but not ultra punk. I was then working as an Assistant Brand Manager at one of the big consumer goods houses in NYC. In my class of 20 new recruits, I was the very last one to be promoted to Associate Brand Manager because the ex-marine (male) VP of Marketing did not like my haircut.

Since then, I have never worn my hair short again. The most I have done is a short bob.

August 1, 2011 at 11:33 pm

Imo

(website)

My ex-husband couldn’t stand my hair even being in a bob – he wanted past the shoulders long. One more thing we disagreed on!

August 2, 2011 at 2:51 am

kimana517

(website)

Active Member

My hair has been a range of lengths since I was about 16 years old, which was the first time I got it cut shorter than my shoulders. Sometimes it would get very long simply because I’m lazy and didn’t go to the salon. Then I’d cut it short and let it grow again. For the past year I’ve been very much enjoying my first pixie cut (see my user photo) and I quite think it suits me. My husband loves it. He thinks it’s basically like my wearing a ponytail every day because of how well he can see my face and neck, except it looks much nicer than a ponytail.

FYI, my husband is conservative and he likes my short hair. My father pastored small evangelical churches when I grew up and that whole time my mother had short hair and he didn’t mind at all. (Heck, they had four kids, so I’d say he liked it just fine!) My husband’s mother and one of his two aunts also have short hair and they’re conservative too. I’ve heard some say that black men prefer women with long hair but for some reason I have always been appealing to black men and they’ve hit on me the same with short hair as with long. So, clearly, not all conservative men prefer long hair on women, and neither do all men of a certain ethnic background. I think we must be very, very careful when stereotyping a group of people, because generalizations suck no matter what they’re about.

August 2, 2011 at 8:26 am

elizabeth

Like your hubby, mine prefers my hair pixie short. I do think I pull off a pixie well. Every time I think about growing it out, I ask him what he thinks and he says “grow it if you want to, but if you are asking my preference, super short.”

I’ve had a pixie since 2006, and had one a few years before that. Mine is actually fairly similar to Angie’s.

I think some can wear a pixie better than others, and I think people have to find a hairstyle that suits their individual features and overall style. A pixie is a great option though, but I get that it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

August 2, 2011 at 9:31 am

LoriM

Oh such an emotional topic for me. I married late and actually had one friend who told his wife if I’d just grow my hair I’d probably be married within a year. LOL, she should never have told me that becuase I let him have it! He stood by his opinion and I stood by my style. My hair is MUCH too heavy to grow long – believe me, I have tried. Love my short easy ‘do and I think it suits me and my husband agrees.

August 2, 2011 at 12:08 pm

Bianca

Veteran

Good talking point. Overall, I do feel they like it longer. However, In my profile pix, I had gone short (that was 2 years ago). Hubby loved it, but after a while said he would like to see it grown out, which it is now. However I think styled short hair looks way better than long shapeless hair that just sits on your head. I think the men would agree.

August 2, 2011 at 2:48 pm

Linda

Well, I just went from long to tres short. My husband loves it as do I. My hairdresser said it all, “you have to own it!” Short hair can be so much fun and very freeing but if you are insecure about it, don’t go there. Also I have found over the years that for me, short hair demands a good fun colour. I love the change.

August 3, 2011 at 4:46 pm

Lindsey in AL

(website)

I cut off over two feet of hair a few weeks ago. The response has been nothing but flattering from everyone I know, most of all my husband. Many women immediately ask, “What does your husband think??!” as if he’d certainly be disappointed or something. He absolutely LOVES it. I had been mulling it over for about six months, seriously considered it and discussed it with him for about a month, then did it. I like to think of all the possibilities for it now, whereas when it was long I could hardly consider cutting off just a few inches. Weird, no?
I also LOVE my new short hair (which is the shortest it’s been since high school (18 years ago) and am thinking about getting it a little shorter next time, especially on top. It grows so fast that it’s really not a big deal to cut off an extra half inch

August 4, 2011 at 6:41 pm

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

It’s interesting, because my husband loved my hair when it was extremely short, a la “G. I. Jane” (although I’m a pacifist), when my hair was growing out after chemotherapy from breast cancer treatment, although that was seven years ago and my face has a few more lines on it. now So, I’m a bit reluctant to expose my face more! My hair is now a bob and I’m considering doing an “Angie cut” as my hair is really fine and the older I get, the thinner and finer it seems to be getting. I highlight my hair and will probably kick it up with some really blonde highlights.

I actually received many compliments from men, whether I was filling up my car at the gas station or shopping. It was quite fascinating, because I seemed more approachable and everyone was really friendly. My other concern is that I have a very long face and chin with a high forehead, so bangs are a must. In the meantime, I’ve make a few copies of Angie’s photos (from the Queen Mary Restaurant shots). We’ll see.

August 29, 2011 at 11:22 am

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

p.s. Regarding your fab hair stylist, Theresa, in which camp does she fall when deciding whether to keep the neck natural versus shaving the neck at the base of the haircut in back? I’ve heard hair stylists, on both sides, adamantly express an opinion about this. I’m just curious as to what Theresa thinks. Thanks!

August 31, 2011 at 1:34 pm

Nancy

(website)

My man love my short hair. He actually prefers it.

September 10, 2011 at 5:39 am

Rosie

I am 6 foot tall and recently got my first ever pixie cut.
It all started when I had my straggly long hair, damaged by dying and colour stripping, cut to chin length. I noticed that the shorter length gave my hair, which is very fine and naturally straight, much more body. The only drawback was that my eye was drawn to the remaining inches of bleached hair. I started toying with the idea of a pixie cut.
With a very supportive and open-minded boyfriend, I can’t say I was too concerned about whether I would be seen as masculine or unattractive. In fact, one of the many things that prompted me to take the plunge and go for a short style was my irritation at the number of hair care websites stating that tall women should not go for the pixie style as this would make them look like, and I quote, “pinheads”. It also concerned me that many women said they would like to cut their hair short, but worried about what men would think (really?!)
In an image-obsessed society, it’s sad but unfortunately true that it does take some guts for a woman to cut her hair short. I would encourage any women considering this however to go for it. Hair is much easier to care for, looks amazingly healthy and anyone worth listening to will respect (and often envy) the confidence that it takes to pull the look off.
My partner loves my hair and, embarrassingly, tells friends and family about an experience I had where a lecturer of mine commented that I look like a younger Mia Farrow.
We all have different types when it comes to the opposite sex. Inevitably some men will only date women with long hair, but in general I’d say most men find confidence sexy and aren’t as traditional as the media would have us believe.

December 29, 2011 at 9:23 am

JENNILEE

I had beautiful red wavy hair to my butt and last week finally got up the courage to have it all cut off as I was so bored with it. In line with my need for a drastic change I had it all clippered off in a barbershop as the salon refused. I have not regretted it for a moment.
Since the clippers stopped buzzing, leaving me with a peach fuzz stubble, and I looked down at a sea of red curls, it looked stunning on me. It drives my boyfriend crazy in a good way and everyone wants to touch it. Lots of male attention and friends wishing they
had the courage. One actually did, and looks great buzzed. i had a number one and would totally recommend it. Not all men like short hair, it’s a myth. BE ADVENTUROUS!!

January 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm

Kayla

Just thought I’d chime in…

I had long, mid-back-length hair (with occasional chin-length cuts a couple of times) my entire life up till I was 24 or so. Then I got a couple of short cuts, shorter and shorter each time, until it became a pixie cut.

When I saw my hair, my immediate reaction was, “Oh, THAT’S what I look like!” Like it’s the cut I was always meant to have. It just fits my face so much better than long hair EVER did. I’ve had a ton of people (guy friends, mostly!) tell me out of the blue that my hair looks so much better now than it did when it was long, that it fits my face and personality so much better, etc.

Like other people have said, it really depends on the woman. I have very nice, healthy hair, if I do say so myself, but I just don’t think I look good with long hair. It’s very straight so it tends to just… BE, even if I have layers cut. Basically it only looks good if it’s freshly washed and blow-dried. Short hair, on the other hand, looks better and better the more days go by without washing it! Hahaha. I guess it’s the gradual product build-up. Obviously there comes a time (3 or 4 days) when it gets yuck, but in general styling is so much easier. I also feel like I can be much more creative with short hair… it can lie down or stick straight up, it can be my natural dark blonde or dyed dark brunette or bleached platinum – it doesn’t matter, because it’ll be gone in 2 or 3 haircuts, anyway.

The only drawback is that I have to get haircuts much, much more often… usually every couple of months with a self-administered bathroom cut in-between. So basically once a month.

I’ve only had one guy say to me (unsolicited, of course), “You should grow your hair out. You look way better with long hair.” Incidentally, the guy had A) never actually seen me in person with long hair, and B) was a very party-boy type of guy who preferred his woman (and there were LOTS, and he was sure to brag about it incessantly) to be not-too-bright, worship-him kind of girls… so I didn’t take his opinion too seriously. Haha.

The point is…. rock whatever look you want! You’ll be sure to attract a guy with your same tastes.

January 3, 2012 at 7:53 pm

dana

After months of deliberation I had my long hair razored to a super short buzzcut. Since then I decided that the way to carry off the look is to go very feminine with clothes.
When I had hair, I NEVER wore skirts or dresses. After having it all shaved off, I never, ever wear trousers. The buzzcut really suits my features so I’m lucky. I NEVER used to wear makeup until I had all my hair cut off, now I wear heavy makeup all the time.
Mostly I wear pleats to ankle length with strappy sandals.
I also wear big earrings, including some that are made from my old curls! I was never into jewelry much before.
I believe short hair to be very feminine as it needs constant grooming to look at it’s best.
The shorter the better on a woman, to make a bold statement and get maximum attention. I have no complaints there!!

January 11, 2012 at 2:11 pm

jodie

when i split with my ex, i did the classic thing and sat down in a salon chair saying two
words “ALL OFF!” when the scissors stopped snipping, the clippers started buzzing. when they stopped, my thick mid back mane was gone and i had an ultra short pixie with
shaved back and sides which was half an inch being the longest that was left. i wore a short bob wig for a week before showing anyone. when i went public the reaction was very positive. since then, i went even shorter to an all over buzz. i love it and never waant long hair again as it also turns heads wherever i go.

January 11, 2012 at 4:06 pm

Kennie

I think it depends on the woman. I know women with very short hair cuts and believe it or not it is more feminine on them than longer hair. I also know of women with very short hair that looks very masculine, and sometimes asexual. I can see how a man would not be attracted to a short hairstyle that makes a woman masculine, but to each his own! I like all kinds of hair styles, so do what you love.

If I could pull off short hair I would, but I find it to be a little too high maintenence for me and my lifestyle.

January 14, 2012 at 7:24 pm

Barb

Member

As a hairstylist I see women in every length of hair and when cutting hair short most women have a length that accents their face perfectly. It is not alway as short as they want and someimes it is shorter. I have a client who never wanted to go short because she said her husban likes long hair. last year she came in and we talked for a while and she made the decision to go short. The next day she was back with her spouse and I though I was going to get slammed. Alas it turns out he wanted it shorter with clippered sides and back. So when women say their spouse does not like short hair I think in a lot of cases it is the client who is afraid and blames the spouse.

January 15, 2012 at 7:38 pm

shanie

i wear my hair in whatever style or length my husband finds attractive. That means i’ve had every style, color and length from butt length to buzzed all over. i enjoy the changes and i know he does because they’re his idea and that’s what matters. my hair is there, or not there, to attract him alone. i’m not trying to attract my friends and certainly not trying to
attract his. their opinions don’t count. i keep him interested and that is what counts. he won’t go looking for burgers if he has steak at home. no other woman would please him like i do because i change for him.

January 16, 2012 at 10:13 am

Carla

My boyfriend used to tell me that my hair wasn’t important when I was 25. We got married when I was 27 and I had long dark curly hair to my waste. I found the length problematic when I was 30 to go to the gym and it was more difficult as I got older to manage. So, I cut it to my bra strap and all was well and I donated about 16 inches to a charity. At 33 my friends suggested I was too old for short hair. So, I listened and made an appointment to cut my hair in a short bob. I felt weird at first, but the compliments from my girlfriends elevated my self-confidence. I was excited to show my husband and he didn’t say anything about my new style. He just gave me the deer in the headlights look. After a month it seemed he was avoiding me. So, I decided to do a special dinner and some special bedroom fun. I found out that night my husband couldn’t perform for short haired women. I felt so bad, like I was to blame. So, to test his theory I bought a wig that was identical to my previous style before the cut. He was able to perform then. I felt so unwanted and alone after that.

So, we had a talk and he explained why he was having problems. I agreed to grow it back out to a reasonable length and after a year our love life was back on track. His reasons weren’t for an egotistical reason nor for control over me. It was due trauma in his youth from short haired women and his time in the military. I thought he was lying and wanted to control an important aspect of how I look until we spent three weeks in couples therapy after the wig incident. The morale of the story ladies, talk to your husband/boy friend or significant other before making a short cut because things can come to the surface that show where compromises need to made on both sides. Other than the hair incident, I have had a near perfect marriage with a wonderful man of 10 years. If I have to grow my hair longer, it is worth it because he has given me two kids, a wonderful life, and support in everything I do.

January 17, 2012 at 6:09 pm

Ronnie

I’ll admit that I strongly urged my very dear friend NOT to cut her lovely mid-back hair short. When she did, it was medium length and not very special. But she shocked me and went shorter, exposing some ear and neck. When she pushed her remaining hair behind her ears, she looked more impressive, so I suggested that as long as it was short, and she obviously had attractive ears, take it off the ears and neck next time. The results were amazing. Not every woman looks as good with hair that short, but honestly, I look forward to seeing her right after she cuts it. Yes, I still prefer the long hair, but dang, she’s in love with the cut, so who am I to complain? lol

January 18, 2012 at 1:40 pm

Kevin

A long comment from this man’s perspective… and some questions.

I need help wondering what what women like so much about cutting their hair short. I apologize for the length of this post but I want to adequately explain some things before I ask for your thoughts. I hope this topic is not too old.

Some of you are spot on with your comments. Some women look great with short hair while others do not. Some women look great with long hair and others not-so-much. It is a matter of aesthetics as much as personal preference. I’ve encountered other women who were attractive with short hair. On other occasions, I’ve found short hair has made some women look masculine. Men’s opinion about hair length and style is more likely due to a combination of factors both visual and tactile. This is true for me at least. It seems this is not any different for women given the strong preferences expressed in a corresponding thread regarding men with long hair.

My wife had long hair when I met her. She has beautiful hair (think Victoria’s Secret model hair) not just long for the sake of being long. I love the tactile aspects of long hair surrounding us as we make love as well as the smell of her perfume in it. I also find her long hair very alluring when she wears it down or even when she just wears it in a ponytail. During the time we were dating, on a whim, she got a *very* short haircut at the urging of her stylist. She told me later that she hadn’t planned it. Her stylist friend showed her a photo and she said, “OK, do it…” She didn’t tell me. We had dinner plans that evening. She came bouncing out of her building, jumped in my car and waited for me to react. I have to admit she looked stunning. She had also changed the colour slightly to a darker shade of her natural colour. The change was striking and very sexy, especially her eyes. I could hardly stop looking at her while driving and this continued through dinner. An interesting thing that I’ll ask about later… When we got to her place, she literally pounced on me when we got inside and dragged me to the bedroom. Normally, she was a more ‘romantic’ sort of girl.

Like her long hair, I found myself attracted to certain tactile aspects of her short hair. The back was just a fraction of an inch long (her hair was shorter than mine at the time). I loved the fact I could touch her hair and run my fingers through it rather than getting tangled in it. She said she liked it when I stroked the short hair upward from the base of her neck and described the feeling as ‘electric’. She had it cut every few weeks because it was looking shaggy. She was obsessive about keeping the back very short. This obsession continued until we got engaged when she decided she had to grow her hair long for our wedding. Our plan was to marry after we finished university.

We’ve been married for 12 years. Her hair is long right now. I LOVE it. It’s really beautiful. Some of the haircuts (and colour changes) over the years have been duds that transformed her from total hottie to rather ho-hum (like colouring her hair ‘mud brown’). Others have been literally jaw-dropping because they possessed some magic combination of elements that made her look simply amazing. How many husbands would admit the money she spends at the salon is worth every penny?

She stumbled upon this topic while looking for hairstyle ideas then asked me to read the comments and THEN asked some rather contentious questions about why ‘men only like long hair’. I quickly criticized her ‘convenient’ memory. I reminded her of the days when we were dating and she hopped into my car with her hair cut shorter than mine. I asked her, “Did I love it or did I hate it?” She just smiled.

I think she’s learned her ‘magic combination of elements’ and uses the knowledge to great effect. The jaw-dropping part comes just about the time I think her long hair cannot be any more beautiful and sexy she’ll stun everyone by changing it up and chopping it all off into some variation of that incredibly short haircut she got way back when we were dating or like a short bob she got on our honeymoon. I left our hotel to go for a run. I came back to find a note, “Be back soon…” so I took a shower. While I was out she had slipped away to the salon for what she later called a post-wedding chop. When I came out of the shower, there was my jaw-dropping wife waiting with a new short haircut. She seemed even more sexy than she did with the “beautiful long hair” men love so much. Here is why I think this is true… My wife exudes a sort of mischievous sexual energy (naughty!) when she cuts her hair short. As much as I love the way she looks with long hair, I love this naughty side of her too. Unfortunately, the mischief lasts only as long as the novelty of her new haircut.

I think our conversation about this web site and her hair is a hint that she’s wanting to cut her hair short again soon. I am both dreading this and looking forward to it. I really love the fact that at any time, my beautiful, long-haired wife will disappear and a naughty, redhead with short hair will hop into my car and take her place. She’ll smile playfully at my stunned expression knowing I won’t be able to keep my eyes off her while I’m driving or keep my hands off her once we get home. She can still make me crazy with long hair or short hair.

So, now the question I need to ask is “Why do women have this ‘thing’ about cutting their hair short?!?” I’ve read the comments here and observe many of you have this urge to cut your hair wicked-short. I find this as mysterious as you all seem to find men’s attraction to long hair. My wife and I discussed this. I asked her why she cuts it so short. She said it’s because the experience is terrifying like jumping off a cliff. She said her heart pounds and she feels like she wants to yell “STOP!” until they’re well into chopping it off. After that, she said it’s kind of exciting to see it all go. She went on to explain that she feels energized when it’s cut very short. She compared herself to our dog. She’s terrified when she goes to the groomer but scampers around like she’s a little puppy afterward. Is this it? Really?

I asked her, “Why do you turn into a little sex puppy when you cut your hair off?” She claims she doesn’t know! She’s aware it happens but says she doesn’t know why. She got frustrated when I pointed out our dog’s absence of amorous behaviour after a visit to the groomer. She said, “I don’t know, OK? I just like it!” and left the room, thus, ending our discussion on this topic.

So, my wife doesn’t want to speak about this anymore. It does seem silly for me to invest so much time worrying about and discussing my wife’s hair but you all seem to discuss it endlessly. (I’m just saying…) Besides that, I believe this is about more than just hair. I’d like to understand this and maybe understand her a bit better in the process.

Some questions:
Is there really some sexual ‘thing’ related to women cutting their hair short or is it just her ‘thing’?

Is she conditioning me? Using our dog as an example: Bugs hated her crate and had to be dragged and pushed to get her into it. We trained her by giving her treats. Now Bugs associates her crate with a yummy treat and goes right in. Is she ‘training’ me to love her short haircuts?

Is she feeling less sexy with short hair and overcompensating sexually to prove she can be just as sexy without long hair? That would be awful if it were true, right? True, I find her long hair sexy but I also associate her short hair with her being ‘naughty’. Which brings me back to the first question… Have I been ‘trained’?

Other thoughts?

January 24, 2012 at 12:12 pm

fashionista

Veteran

I just depends on the way you carry yourself…I am from South east Asia and people here have stereotyped images of women with long hair….my boyfriend too falls on the category and he loves long hair on me….but like lemonade said when i will be a mother of two and cant take care of my hair, i will chop it off let my boyfriend or husband sulk for days….

February 4, 2012 at 9:31 pm

Rachel

This is quite the hot topic with me too..I have sported a short pixie ( think anne heche in the Psycho remake) short.I have since 2005.I LOVE my hair short, DH loves it short too.I have done the long hair thing because I was duped into the “women look like a man thing”.Everyone in my life HATED it long.I got comments about how I looked fat,older than I was and tired with long hair.I love my hair short because I feel my very best,pulled together,chic self with it.I put more effort in my appearance and accessoirzing too.When it was long I would always pull it up in a pony, or I would spend so much time on my hair, the rest of me was an afterthought.There are some rather rude, nasty comments I have gotten.Most I would never repeat here.But the overwhelming majority love my hair.I have been stopped by complete strangers asking where I get it cut, or if they can take a picture to show their girlfriend or stylist.The latest was when I was on vacation in Florida, at Universal.I had a woman and her husband beg me to take a picture of my hair so she could show her hairdresser when she got him..the fact is the pixie is not only hair, it is an attitude and an air of confidence.SOme people can Rock the look, some can’t.But different strokes for different folks.I don’t understand all the ridiculous comments out there about short hair=butch or not feminine , nor do I buy into that thinking anymore.I sure as heck don’t tolerate it when I get those comments made to my face either.If you can Rock it, own it and to hell with everyone else

February 6, 2012 at 12:35 pm

Amy

I actually have a very strong opinion about this. My hair is very short, has been for several years, and I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback from men. I think you have to wear your hair for yourself and not to suit anyone else. In doing so, you feel at your most confident and attractive and it is common knowledge that what guys find the most sexy on any woman is confidence. I have gotten ALOT of comments from guys about my short hair and the general concensus is that it is sassy, strong, sexy, individual, and makes them want to get to know the kind of girl that would be sassy enough to choose that hairstyle. More than a few have said that it also has just the right amount of a just rolled out of bed vibe, which is in and of itself, alluring. They have said to me that while long hair is pretty and the stereotypical standard of sexy men are supposed to want, it can also be boring, because it tends to make all women look alike. You can’t distinguish one from another and they all begin to run together. Who wants that??? I certainly don’t. When I walk into a room, I am at least different. A new flavor, if you will. They may not care for my flavor, but at least it’s different!

February 16, 2012 at 7:32 am

Alex

Im a 26 year old man and would go as far to say i wouldnt date a women with long hair. I know that sounds horrible but short hair is so damn sexy. Anyone who has longer hair looks better once its cut short. Not to say women dont look beautiful with long hair because they do, short hair is just my personal choice.

April 17, 2012 at 9:52 am

v65

I have long hair both because I like it, but more importantly because I find it easier than when I had it short. It’s thick, and when it was short I had to get it cut all the time and always wash and style it every morning. With long hair, I cut it 3-4x year (multiple stylists have said it doesn’t need more, no split ends), I wash it at night with minimal blow drying, and if it doesn’t look good, why then it simply gets pulled back or up. I’m careful to change the style/shape occasionally, too, so I don’t look outdated. The short hair was cute, but ultimately not worth the hassle for me.

The men in my life have usually said they prefer it long, but that’s probably just self-selection as the men who are attracted to me probably prefer long hair or at least are neutral to it. The couple of years I had it short I was living with a Finnish guy who was neutral on length. I do think on average, American guys prefer long hair much more than European guys. Although it was a really cute, stylish cut, I felt like I almost went invisible when I cut my hair off, it was pretty unnerving really despite having support at home for it. You never realize how much subtle attention you get until it disappears, literally overnight.

April 23, 2012 at 8:12 am

Marie

Active Member

As a teen, I thought men preferred long hair on girls/women & always wore my hair very long. I was “shocked” when my first husband begged me to cut my hair short becaused he loved short hair on women. Not for him, I cut it short after the birth of my first daughter for less styling time. I despised it and so did others but not the husband lol. I do not have facial and neck features suitable for short hair on me. I love my long hair and it is an integral part of my style.

May 3, 2012 at 5:17 am

TotheMoonAlice

Member

Thick, long, shiny hair is a sign of biological fitness, so men find it attractive.

Men can like/love short hair:

– if a woman’s neck looks feminine (thin/long) in proportion to her head width/jaw shape, and shoulder width

– if the style looks balanced with the width, height and proportions of the rest of her body

– if a mannish cut is tempered by feminine, figure flattering clothes

If a man keeps society with style-savvy women, likely he does not mind short hair because he’s used to seeing it presented attractively.

Men who keep society with women who are not-so-savvy don’t like short hair based on associations with it usually seeming unattractive.

May 11, 2012 at 11:52 am

Nikka

I have had many years of short hair and there has always been a mix of what men say about my hair. They either love it or say I need to grow it out. Since I work with football players, I get lots of comments about my hair and how I need to grow it out because I look like a boy with curves of course but some are so sweet and say I look absolutely cute or beautiful or even nice with my short hair. It really differs from person to person.

May 27, 2012 at 1:12 am

Suzanne Dekyvere

(website)

I also have short hair and my husband loves it too!

May 29, 2012 at 4:52 pm

EvaNadine

(website)

i think my husband would actually shed tears if i ever grew my hair back long. he LOVES short hair on ladies, especially me.
without going into a long diatribe about things, i think everyone has their preferences, both for themselves as well as what they like to see on others. if we all liked the same things, the world would be awfully boring, so im quite happy that some people love it and others dont like it.

May 29, 2012 at 4:57 pm

déjà pseu

(website)

My husband would definitely prefer that I grow my hair out (cut in a pixie right now which I intend to keep) but he accepts that I really don’t like how I look with longer hair. My hair is very thin and fine, and just hangs limply when longer, and I think it makes me look frumpy. My short haircut feels bold and sassy!

May 29, 2012 at 5:50 pm

Carol

My husband likes my short hair better. Would like to see your super short hair.

May 30, 2012 at 4:44 am

TRex

I don’t much care for men who have strong opinions about how the women in their lives should look. Bleh. And I hope that the women in *my* life will always do what they want with their hair, no matter what their significant others may say.

I think maybe some men are just afraid of change. My BF dyed her hair a slightly different color, and received disapproving looks and comments from her then boyfriend. I’m glad she eventually gave him the boot.

May 31, 2012 at 1:14 pm

Joy

I like my hair short and I don’t care if men (or other women) find it attractive or not. My husband doesn’t care either way, long or short. If we live our lives to constantly satisfy others, then we’re really not living our lives, are we? I keep it clean and neat, nothing wrong with that!

June 19, 2012 at 6:49 pm

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I’m coming to this conversation a little late! My husband is pretty openminded in most things, but when it comes to my hair – he is pretty adamant that he prefers it longer and I should keep it as such. He knows I will pretty much do as I please – my hair, my choice – but he has made his feelings about it clear. I think he has this association with short hair being on frumpy style-less middle aged women, and I keep showing him examples of women who are quite the opposite.

January 17, 2013 at 11:44 pm

MaryLouise Tucker

(website)

Active Member

I am real late to this conversation as I just joined. I have short grey hair. It’s been short since high school. Twiggy had short hair and I thought – why not? I also have grey hair that I have never coloured. My husband has very little hair and he has never seen me with long hair. We’ve been together since our 30s and are now in our mid-late 50s. Never has he expressed a desire for me to grow my hair. I wouldn’t grow it anyway because of the maintenance required. I’m wash and wear and bike helmet ready, so short it stays (we have to wear helmets here in Australia). MLT

September 13, 2014 at 5:48 am

Sarah

I have had a pixie cut for about three years now, and the only men (and the only people, actually) who have complained about it to my face are my dad and my brother. Let’s just say they’re those kind of people that should have been born in the Victorian era, when women had hair down to their waists and wore corsets every day. They are both extremely sexist as well, but that’s a completely different story. I have asked other people that I know if I looked better with longer hair, but every single person I’ve asked (except my dad and my brother – let’s just ignore them for now) has said that I look better with a pixie. Also, I noticed that the guy I’ve liked for the past eight years has been looking at me more often since I got my hair cut short, so I guess I’ll keep it as a pixie cut for a while longer, maybe until August or sometime around then. I will probably grow it out at some point, because I have always wanted to have really long hair (like down to my waist long) so I can do loads of pretty braids and stuff with it, but at the moment I just want to keep it short. But it does annoy me whenever my dad sees me in a group photo, because he always “casually” mentions that I’m the only girl in the photo with short hair… I mean, I get that it’s not a very popular hairstyle with girls my age, but jeez, just let it go…

November 2, 2014 at 11:55 am

alianasoulfire

Member

Funny thing is, men flirted with me constantly when I had a cute, pitch-black, pixie-cut. It allowed my better features to actually be noticed, like my eyes, and my cute cheeks.
I was even about 40lbs heavier then, too. Since then, I’ve lost that weight, am losing more, and now that my hair is past my shoulders, I hate it. I miss the cute stuff I could do with shorter hair, which is why, in a few days, I’m getting it cut off into a bob! So excited to go back to short.

November 3, 2014 at 9:20 am

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