Do women look better with long hair?

[PistolWhip]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In American society femininity is equated with long flowing hair. I do believe in our community hair is like kryptonite especially with Black men (sorry). I was one of those sistas who use to hide behind my weaves but I felt like the real me was hidden even though I had nice features(ie:hazel eyes,good bone structure) so (1)I joined LHCF (2) did the big chop (3) haven't looked back.Now when I get compliments on my appearance I really take it to heart because I know they see the "real me"......rant over.......again eye of the beholder

 

[Tiye]

Do you believe long hair makes a woman look better?

Not automatically. It depends on the woman. That is how I voted.

Do you believe that long hair makes a person that would be otherwise considered unattractive look okay or even pretty to others?

Depends on the mind set. Besides a lot of people are actually hiding behind long hair so you can't see their features and you have no idea how attractive they are unless/until they cut it.

Like it creates an illusion of beauty in a not so attractive person?

No. Hair is a very nice accessory and length can be a novelty depending on culture. If it's very long, thick, and glowing, it can be a conversation starter. But long hair on its own never made anyone attractive. Everyone's socialized differently and that influences how we feel about these things, but this is my opinion.


I'm just wondering...

May I/we ask why? According to the pic in your siggy you have a whole lot of hair. Are you pondering a change?

 

[PJaye]

I believe that it depends upon many factors – the state of the hair, how it is being worn and the age of the individual.

Given, unkempt and shabby hair of any length is unattractive; however, one particularly unpopular opinion often goes unconsidered, namely the existence of longer styled hair on visibly older women. Still, I am of the opinion that an individual’s hair length and style should correspond with the age and profession of the wearer; to me, this is the most attractive combination of them all.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

I personally think I look better with shorter hair. Boy, I used to WERK that Halle Berry cut...

 

[naheda72]

I think truly it depends on the person, but for men, I think the answer is yes. I remember back in my teenage years, that any ugly girl/woman with long hair received much attention and from cute boys/men too. Now if she was an ugly light skinned girl/woman with long hair, even more attention.

I personally know I look better with short hair if it is straight, but just as good with longish natural hair, because my hair shrinks, making it look shorter. I don't like to straighten my natural hair much because it is close to mbl and my little head looks shrunken. If it is straight I have to wear it away from my face.

 

[jupitermoon]

May I/we ask why? According to the pic in your siggy you have a whole lot of hair. Are you pondering a change?

I've heard people mention that they would feel prettier with long hair and think women with long hair are percieved as prettier, but I haven't personally experienced this. I haven't recieved any "beauty points" just because of my hair. Physically I'm plain/not pretty and I haven't had anyone think otherwise just because of my hair. So I was just curious about everyone else's experiences.

 

[keelioness]

I know one thing MEDIUM hair sux on everybody..lol. that in between stage is the worse..either a Halle cut( edgy/sexy) or at least full SL looks hot!

 

[SweetTea]

I think it depends on the person. For some women, long hair makes them look gorgeous, like a classical type of beauty. On other women it looks sexy. Then there are women who no matter what the length of their hair, you never notice their hair. They're just plain or somehow their look is unchangeable. Then you have some women who look great with short hair. It's cliche, but Halle Berry rocks that short haircut like no one else. She just has perfect bone structure and only short hair shows it off to its full potential.

 

[Mdmommy99]

I know one thing MEDIUM hair sux on everybody..lol. that in between stage is the worse..either a Halle cut( edgy/sexy) or at least full SL looks hot!

LoL, I don't know about everybody but on me medium is the absolute worst.

But as for the original question I agree that it depends on the person. I think my face looks best with either very short hair or long (shoulder length or longer) But every woman is different. Now when it comes to getting attention from men, I would say long hair gets it hands down, but I don't think that attention from men determines how attractive you truly are.

 

[Misshairdiva]

In my opnion I think so. We have been conditioned by society to like long hair better. If it wasnt so then the Korens wouldn't be making so much money off of us with the Indian hair!

I think that there is nothing more beautiful to see a Black woman with her own long hair (weaveless).

Years ago I big chopped because of a bad color job not because I wanted to and I think I look better with longer hair. Right now I am at mbl if I straighten out my hair.

 

[Candy828]

I think long hair gives some women - who would otherwise be just okay or unattractive - a bit of an edge. It makes an already beautiful woman into a gorgeous one. However, long hair isn't flattering on all women. Some women I truly believe look better/sexier/more feminine with shorter hair.

I have seen this in action on many occassions with my own eyes.... Even one time a woman commented that when her hair was short, men didn't even glance at her because she isn't "so-call" attractive... The hair did the trick for her. I know each woman has to define herself and do what she feels is comfortable for her...

Personally for me... I never liked short hair. I had my hair cut short once...and I looked older... now I definitely did not need help in that department..*smiles* So my hair remained at BSL or MBL most of the time. When I really started to take care of my hair it took off to longer lengths... and now the longer it gets the more attention I get. I did not grow my hair longer to get attention, it just happened to be one of the perks that came along with it!

 

[hopkinstudent]

As far as men are concerned, their responses to long hair is primal, biological. Long, lush hair symbolizes fertility to them (that's why our hair grows so well during pregnancy...it's all those baby-making hormones at work). For them, it's all about "procreation."

 

[caribeandiva]

It depends on the person and how they wear their hair either way. I believe I will look better with long hair though.

 

[Myjourney2009]

It depends, I have seen some women with relaxed hair on YT and on this site. Their hair is considered long but it is so thin, I wish they would chop it off to shoulder length. When my hair was almost APL years ago, it was so thin I hated it and chopped it off back to shoulder length. The men were loving it but, it had to go, It was over-processed bone straight.

IMO I think thick healthy hair is better than long hair. Together and you have a match made in heaven.

 

[SND411]

As far as men are concerned, their responses to long hair is primal, biological. Long, lush hair symbolizes fertility to them (that's why our hair grows so well during pregnancy...it's all those baby-making hormones at work). For them, it's all about "procreation."

I don't believe this at all. Several societies prefer their women to have short hair while the men grow their hair out long (Masai for example). We always like to paint our society's sexual attraction based on "biology" only. For instance, breasts in America is seen as sexual, while other places around the world think bare breasts are nothing special yet the belly button is.

It's more about socialization that biological.

 

[chasturner84]

I think long hair gives some women - who would otherwise be just okay or unattractive - a bit of an edge. It makes an already beautiful woman into a gorgeous one. However, long hair isn't flattering on all women. Some women I truly believe look better/sexier/more feminine with shorter hair.

ITA with the bolded statement. I've known women with BSL/MBL hair who my friends thought were simply "gorgeous" and/or "beautiful"...until they cut all of their hair off. Those once "beautiful" women were then "just ok" afterwards. I like long hair and for my face, I think longer hair flatters me. I've had pixie cuts, NL/SL bobs, and APL/BSL weaves. It seems that I got the most compliments on my hair when I wore the longer weaves.

 

[Hairsnob]

In my opinion it definitely depends on the person. I've seen women with long hair and it actually looks "witchy". I think that is because of the color and shape against their skin.

I think some women look MUCH better with short hair (Halle Berry, Malinda Williams, Nia Long, etc).

But as far as most of society (Men in particular of course) most will think any woman looks better that has long hair.

I rocked a short spiky cut for years at times (like Halle Berry in Swordfish)and I got soooo many compliments from men all the time. I think I felt more confident because my hair was ALWAYS freshly done. Now my hair is medium length (SL) and I NEVER get compliments from men on my hair. NEVER!!

So different strokes for different folks. But I still think MOST men will think a woman with longer hair is more attractive.

 

[swirl]

i would love to know the opinion of those that wear long weaves consistently...do you wear them because they make you feel prettier?

 

[spoogeywoogey]

I also voted for depends on the individual. Some people look better with hair than without. Also certain styles can make or break you. For instance, braids or loc extensions etc may fit one person but then look horrid on another.

For me, when I did my Amber Rose hairdo as a teenager, I didn't really get a lot of compliments per se. I was told quite a few times that I needed long hair because we are conditioned to think that way. I figured this out because people actually liked my look at the TWA stage. I got lots of compliments. So yeah, people just hated the bald look. But my Dad actually liked it. Said it brought out my features more.

On the other hand, now that my hair is much longer, I've realised that I look better with my hair out and big rather than controlled. Also, strangely enough, when I cover my hair in a tam/snood or head wrap I get a lot of attention and compliments from the opposite sex (even people of other races). You'd think that the hair needed to be on display or something.

 

[TLC1020]

It depends on the individual...

I can only speak for myself but I look better with long hair...

 

[CoilyFields]

For black women your hair can make or break your look. I think so many of us have broken off undone hair that it distracts from our beauty. But I also think long hair can cover a "multitude of sins" lol.

I know Im not the only one who has seen a woman with micros and thought she was pretty or beautiful but see that same women when she got them out and she looks totally different. Dont know if shes actually pretty but her own jacked-up hair distracts from that or if shes actually plain and the weave camouflaged that.

This is why I never wear weave that is similar to my hair...I got a fear of that...I never want my hair to be compared to my weave and fall short. So I wear bobs and shoulder length weaves cuz my natural (BSL) hair is so different you couldnt compare the two styles for real. And I never wanted to meet a guy (when I was single) with a weave and then he be disappointed when he next sees me without it.

Now on white women it really doesnt matter...lol but I guess Im not conditioned to really notice them like that.

Discalimer: at ALL lengths, thick and healthy hair is an attention getter!

 

[LittleLuxe]

i would love to know the opinion of those that wear long weaves consistently...do you wear them because they make you feel prettier?

I wore long weaves all through highschool and part of college but to be honest I really appreciated my beauty, and got more compliments, when my hair was short. I think it really highlighted all my better qualities such as a slim neck and cheekbones and required more personal effort to be pretty.

I didn't just have the option of taking off my satin cap, letting it drop and combing it - I had to style and do it up which I guess made me pay more attention to my good and bad features.

 

[Qtee]

for me..my fat face needs hair covering my cheeks @ least to my shoulders..anything shorter isnt as attractive..I've had long and short hair..I've bcd a few times and I know my preference is hair longer than SL.....for me SL hair is short

 

[nikolite]

I was one of those sistas who use to hide behind my weaves but I felt like the real me was hidden even though I had nice features(ie:hazel eyes,good bone structure) so (1)I joined LHCF (2) did the big chop (3) haven't looked back.Now when I get compliments on my appearance I really take it to heart because I know they see the "real me"......rant over.......again eye of the beholder

That's one of the most beautiful feelings: when someone thinks that YOU are beautiful by just being you. Not your nails, or your make-up or your weave enhancing or distracting from anything. I've never worn a weave but I felt that way when I went natural. And strangely enough I got more compliments/attention then than before the BC. Its just extra flattering.

And like spoogey, I also get tons of compliments when I wear a headwrap. I think it definitely brings out my facial features, long neck, and bone structure, but it also makes me look more "exotic" to men of all races (which always seems to be a turn on).

 

[Nonie]

I think it depends. Many women do look better with long hair but there are some for whom it just sorta shadows their looks.

For instance, I never noticed how beautiful Halle Berry was until I saw her sport that short do in Boomerang. :notworthy And then there's our very own Arosieworld. If I had power over that girl, she'd stay bald for life. She was FIYAH w/o any hair on her head, I almost proposed.

 

[RegaLady]

It really just depends. People have flat out told me that they think I look better with shorter hair. It may have something to do with my features. And some think I look good with both.

I know some who look wayyyyy better with shorter hair and some look better with longer hair.

 

[toinette]

I personally think that I look better with shorter hair (i.e. a bit above shoulder-length bob) but I still want long hair. I kind of want long hair so that I can see how long I can actually grow my hair but honestly the preconceived notion that black women are all bald-headed, weaved up and cant grow hair is another reason that makes me want long hair sometimes. I just feel like I can prove to people (black folk included) that we can grow hair.

 

[RegaLady]

In my opinion it definitely depends on the person. I've seen women with long hair and it actually looks "witchy". I think that is because of the color and shape against their skin.

I think some women look MUCH better with short hair (Halle Berry, Malinda Williams, Nia Long, etc).

But as far as most of society (Men in particular of course) most will think any woman looks better that has long hair.

I rocked a short spiky cut for years at times (like Halle Berry in Swordfish)and I got soooo many compliments from men all the time. I think I felt more confident because my hair was ALWAYS freshly done. Now my hair is medium length (SL) and I NEVER get compliments from men on my hair. NEVER!!

So different strokes for different folks. But I still think MOST men will think a woman with longer hair is more attractive.

Same here. I have yet to have men oogle over me with long hair. I have worn long weave and I usually get erplexed. I even had hair a little longer than SL and recieved nada. When I rocked my short cut you could not tell me anything and men picked up on that. I was always amazed how much attention I recieved from my short cut(for vanity reasons this really makes me miss it).erplexed

I have always said I am giving this long hair thing a try and if I ain't feeling it, goodbye!

 

[Renewed1]

I totally agree it depends on the woman.

For example, Straight hair on me does absolutely nothing. Even if I have the hair cut in a layered style.....NOTHING.

But curly hair does more for me. It brings out my features and gives me "attention."

 

[MrsHdrLe]

I think I'm a 6/10 on the beauty scale and when I had a short (I call it Anita Baker style 'cause that's my era), I was HAWT judging by the attention I got from men. But then again I was in my late teens to early twenties and at the peak of my health and physical beauty (no stretch marks, cellulite...) So I can't really say if it was the hair, the bod, or my confidence that made me a "catcher".

Then sometime around 27, I gained weight, started wearing more braids and met my husband, and I wonder how my attitude affected my marketability. But things definitely slowed down.

Now at 38, I am an empty nester, with grays coming in, slightly texlaxed with near bsl hair. The only time I get play is A) when I think some youngster's tryin to come up on a suga mama, B) when I wear my hair loose in a twist-out or braid-out (then it's only from people who know me, I guess b/c it's different for me), or C) when my hair is straightened to show my length (from strangers). I'm usually in buns or ponies.

So judging from my experience, I think it has to do more with where you are in your life (relationship-wise and confidence wise) than just hair. Though I wonder what changes would've occured if I'd had my own long hair at 20 or if I wasn't 25-30lbs over wieght now. But it really doesn't matter to me that much b/c DH likes it, so I'm good[/B

In general though, I think that American men generally prefer long hair in the conceptual sense of beauty or sex appeal, but when choosing a mate, they are more deeper than that.

As for women, a lot of women are haters and they PRETEND to not like or want what they don't have, so I always take their general statements with a grain of salt. I am often robbed of admiring beautiful heads irl b/c I sense the stankattitude from some long hairs out there and I wonder if it's b/c they are tired of haters and jealous stares or if they want me to keep my distance b/c it's really a really good weave.It's not so hard for me to believe that someone's long hair isn't theirs and unless I see tracks, I assume the hair on their head is theirs and if it's pretty, I like it regardless, but beauty is really so subjective, I can't say.

I've seen some questionable (6 like me) girls who have MAJOR play possibly b/c of unusual features like lighter eye color (for blacks), full (sexy) lips (for whites), small waist-big bottoms ratio, fashionista style, etc or that little BIG thing called CONFIDENCE.