The importance of hair

[Gin&Tonic]

You have no idea how many ugly-faced girls I've met that guys chased after because they had long hair, lol.

On the other hand, if you have a beautiful face, I don't think hair length matters as much.

I totally agree. That dude in the OP just needed something to put in a blog. its less offensive to tell folks that hair is the answer. Its easy to change your hair.

I see so many black women thinking that fabulous hair makes up for letting themselves go. It's is true that If my hair is clean and groomed and worn down heads will turn-with no makeup and and oily face .

I get the most attention from a little makeup and lipgloss . Anytime I pile my hair totally under a hat and wear a little makeup ,I learn about the importance of the face. Even with no hair showing , the compliments come . Men approach me and women have called me a "doll face". It is hard to explain how marked the difference is. I can have a baseball cap pulled down low, folks still will look right in my face and notice my features.

The face wins over the hair every time. Now that I think of it, Rhianna was so beautiful in her rag doll hair. I felt bad when when I saw plain women wearing that style cause it was Rhi's face that made it work. The same can be said about Cassie's side shaved head style. Women ran to get Hallie Berrys cut- without a Hallie face it did nothing for them. Amber rose was bald and made it.

I hate to see black women put so much into hair over other things . It is an accessory. I see women with perfect hair that would be more attractive without the hair and adding clearer skin, less makeup and a little weight loss.

 

[pearcey]

hair is just like anything else in a non-third world country: luxury, a way to make money from the most non-essential items on earth

if we were in a place where we lived to survive, no one would care about hair, shoes, clothes, or automobiles.

hair is simply what is left when your body finishes absorbing all it needs.

but since i am not in a third world country, sure i like hair, i like hair fine. i have spent

small mortgage amounts on hair. but if it were gone tomorrow, life would go on.

it's not that deep, but then what is?

you don't always need a disaster to happen/have a depressive moment to put things in perspective when going through life.

sometimes in the middle of the most atypical threads the mood hits.

happy hair growing.

 

[India*32]

Check out SistaWithRealHair Youtube channel. She advertised 11 hairstyles with straighten hair. I've been natural for 19 months and finally got haircut styled in a Bob. Looks great worn curly or straighten, the haircut gives flavor and many compliments.

 

[ckisland]

hair is just like anything else in a non-third world country: luxury, a way to make money from the most non-essential items on earth

Hair isn't seen as a luxury in developing and underdeveloped countries. Most people in the world live in these two categories and most people value and take care of their hair. One it's a part of grooming and hygiene, secondly most women don't have to buy anything to grow it. Who do you think supplies the weave market? It's not middle class women with time on their hands . It's poor women with no access to luxury items. Hair has been valued in societies pre-industrialization because it's an outward sign of a woman's health and (depending on the culture) her social status. Maybe you're just thinking of African countries or regions where women keep their hair short because they can't be bothered. But most places in the world cherish hair and don't frivolously cut it.

What you're feeling is Western guilt . We, people in wealthy nations, spend extra money and time on our hair because we can. We spend loads of money on our hair because marketers want us to think we have to. There are hundreds of millions of women in this world with hair any of us would be proud to have and they're maintaining it with minimal effort.

 

[ckisland]

I wear my hair curly 80% of the time and usually pulled back in a bun or ponytail, but when it's straight I can see a HUGE difference in the way men respond to me. If I was single and looking for a man, I would wear my hair straight and down every chance I could outside of work.

DH prefers it straight, and I told him that if he was able to see what I deal with when I'm alone, he would prefer it curly. LOL

My advice to all single women is to grow your hair out and wear it straight as much as possible. Just being honest.

I plan to finally get serious about dating and this is how I feel. I can't even be disgruntled about it though because I do look better with straight hair . Short hair does nothing for my look, and shrinkage keeps my hair short when it's actually not. Styling my natural hair to make it look coiffed takes more time and skill than I'm willing to put into it. I also dress better and wear make up regularly when my hair's straight. When I wear a wash n'go, most of the time I feel that my hair's just there and looks undone. Going natural has made me mad frumpy and most days I can't even be bothered .

 

[syncerelyhis]

MileHighDiva

Yes I think you were reading a little into it.....

The article spoke to the importance of your hair in the way men respond to you. My buns are very coiffed and well groomed, but like i said in my original comment - men usually dont take a second look. This has nothing to do with how I personally feel about buns/straight hair or my appearance in general. I actually was making a joke in that it seems that no matter how unkept I look, if my hair is straightened, men hit on me nonstop and women stare.....

Basically, I was agreeing that your hair is important in how men respond to you. Nothing more.

The posters below the OP appear to be equating their straight hair with being well coiffed and groomed. I may being reading too much into their posts...

 

[greenandchic]

I never wear my hair straight (haven't flat ironed it since 2002 - I look washed out with straight hair) and I get looks all the time. I do get more when I wear my hair out though. I think the BAA does it all the time.

 

[SouthernScienceNerd]

I never wear make up and always dress in sweats, leggings, t-shirts, etc. I very rarely straighten my hair and mostly wear my hair in big, fluffy braid outs and twist outs. Everywhere I go, men stare. Their favorite question to ask is where I am from I think when it comes to hair, the confidence of the woman matters the most. If you feel more beautiful with straight hair, you will be more confident when your hair is straight. Therefore, men will respond better to you this way. If I had to wear my hair straight to get a man's attention, he is not the kind of man I am interested in marrying.

 

[Mahsiah]

I always get compliments on my hair. I think I get the most attention when it's curly.

 

[crimsonpeach]

I do not agree .....I don't think hair matters more than what your face looks like

From the first line I think he mentions hair as the most "controllable" characteristic a woman can have. Unless you have surgery, your face (eye shape, size of nose, lip size, cheekboones, symmetry of features etc.) are set. Hair on the other hand can easily be changed.

Few things beat a pretty face.

 

[caribeandiva]

Hair isn't seen as a luxury in developing and underdeveloped countries. Most people in the world live in these two categories and most people value and take care of their hair. One it's a part of grooming and hygiene, secondly most women don't have to buy anything to grow it. Who do you think supplies the weave market? It's not middle class women with time on their hands . It's poor women with no access to luxury items. Hair has been valued in societies pre-industrialization because it's an outward sign of a woman's health and (depending on the culture) her social status. Maybe you're just thinking of African countries or regions where women keep their hair short because they can't be bothered. But most places in the world cherish hair and don't frivolously cut it.

What you're feeling is Western guilt . We, people in wealthy nations, spend extra money and time on our hair because we can. We spend loads of money on our hair because marketers want us to think we have to. There are hundreds of millions of women in this world with hair any of us would be proud to have and they're maintaining it with minimal effort.

I totally agree with you. I'm from a 3rd world country (Haiti) and this was my experience as well. Poor or not hair length was very important over there.

 

[RegaLady]

I never wear make up and always dress in sweats, leggings, t-shirts, etc. I very rarely straighten my hair and mostly wear my hair in big, fluffy braid outs and twist outs. Everywhere I go, men stare. Their favorite question to ask is where I am from I think when it comes to hair, the confidence of the woman matters the most. If you feel more beautiful with straight hair, you will be more confident when your hair is straight. Therefore, men will respond better to you this way. If I had to wear my hair straight to get a man's attention, he is not the kind of man I am interested in marrying.

This!

I think confidence is key!

 

[virtuenow]

@virtuenow

I normally wear a braid out or occasionally a flat twist out when I wear my hair "out".

Thanks, do you have pics somewhere (fotki?). I think I asked before, but I don't remember a response.

 

[MzSwift]

ITA. I definitely get more attention with a braidout/twistout style. I think my hair stands out. I don't really straighten my hair when I use heat so I don't have a comparison.
I also got a lot of male attention with my shaved head or low cut hair though - likely because I feel very sexy with short hair.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I think long hair wins regardless of whether it's straight or textured.

 

[DoDo]

virtuenow

I didn't want to hijack the thread so I pm'ed you a photo of my braid out.

 

[HanaKuroi]

I think this may be a regional thing. I also think it depends on the type of men.

I think body type, face, and personality have something to do with it too.

I found men only interested in me for my hair only, to be unintelligent. I don't find men like that attractive. I am offended. I am more than my hair or my looks.

Sorry but, long, straight hair doesn't cancel out ugly. At least not where I am from.

I can't see any mentions on my IPhone. PM me if it is a must see. Allons y

 

[greenandchic]

I think this may be a regional thing. I also think it depends on the type of men.

I think body type, face, and personality have something to do with it too.

I found men only interested in me for my hair only, to be unintelligent. I don't find men like that attractive. I am offended. I am more than my hair or my looks.

Sorry but, long, straight hair doesn't cancel out ugly. At least not where I am from.

I can't see any mentions on my IPhone. PM me if it is a must see. Allons y

Kind of reminds me of how boys in middle school used to go crazy over girls with long hair, big legs and light skin - no matter how their faces looked.

 

[HanaKuroi]

Kind of reminds me of how boys in middle school used to go crazy over girls with long hair, big legs and light skin - no matter how their faces looked.

And when you see those girls the boys loved in middle school what do they look like now?

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Kind of reminds me of how boys in middle school used to go crazy over girls with long hair, big legs and light skin - no matter how their faces looked.

This, only the color didn't matter. Long hair, big butt and siddity attitude lol. Boys where Im from loved them back in high school lol

 

[tuffCOOKiE]

I think long hair wins regardless of whether it's straight or textured.

THIS.

I believe the prettier you are, the less hair you "need". Hair might be a distraction to the overall aesthetic.

I'm not a beauty but when my natural hair is out (as opposed to twisted, a bun, etc) I've definitely had a better response from men.

Better response meaning "getting them in the door". This had not bearing on the quality of men that hit on me.

 

[greenandchic]

And when you see those girls the boys loved in middle school what do they look like now?

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

Actually this was about 22 years ago now and it didn't take long before they were done. By the end of high school a few years later, many of them had gone to seed.

 

[genesislocks]

I think hair is definitely important!

I also think...and don't jump down my throat for this ladies lol.....I think hair matters in this order:

1) Overall health (sheen, bounce, thickness etc.)
2) Texture
3) Length

I love all kinds of hair textures but I feel like type 3B/3C hair has that extra special something at any length (like youtube's glamtwinz), while type 4 hair has people drooling/staring/taking pictures after it reaches a certain length! (like youtube's longhairdontcare2011).

Above all else though, I think REAL hair that is HEALTHY and LONG always trumps any sort of extensions.

just my 2 cents, keep the change.

 

[levette]

A woman's hair is her crowning glory it sets us apart from men

 

[PureSilver]

I wear my hair curly 80% of the time and usually pulled back in a bun or ponytail, but when it's straight I can see a HUGE difference in the way men respond to me. If I was single and looking for a man, I would wear my hair straight and down every chance I could outside of work.

DH prefers it straight, and I told him that if he was able to see what I deal with when I'm alone, he would prefer it curly. LOL

My advice to all single women is to grow your hair out and wear it straight as much as possible. Just being honest.

It's a matter of preference and he is entitled to his own preferences, so does my SO!

I never wear make up and always dress in sweats, leggings, t-shirts, etc. I very rarely straighten my hair and mostly wear my hair in big, fluffy braid outs and twist outs. Everywhere I go, men stare. Their favorite question to ask is where I am from I think when it comes to hair, the confidence of the woman matters the most. If you feel more beautiful with straight hair, you will be more confident when your hair is straight. Therefore, men will respond better to you this way. If I had to wear my hair straight to get a man's attention, he is not the kind of man I am interested in marrying.

TRUTH, i never felt like my natural hair did much for me no matter how many styles i tried. I never felt confident to wear it out and i'm just being honest. So to each their own. Even before my SO i never (maybe 2x) wore it out for the years i was natural before he came along.

 

[reeko43]

Natural hair has done wonders for me. I. Get compliments on my hair from men and women. DH would have a fit if I went straight
again.

I actually think I am having more success with my natural hair because I feel proud and beautiful. My hair finally has the chance to do what it do! My view of myself really improved when I snipped that perm away. When I walk out the door with my hair as wild and puffy as I can get it, I draw attention. I feel that I stand out. I feel really good.

I really don't thinks it is about clothes, hair, etc. It is that confidence one exudes and really believing that you are beautiful.Walk around like you are a queen with great smile and loving life and guys will be drawn whether you have hair to your butt or
you are rocking a fade.


Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 2

 

[rawsilk]

After writing a response on "what's under your weave" and catching hell (I don't care) for advocating that we (Black Women) need to wean ourselves off of other people's hair, I have to say that now that I have gotten comfortable with wearing my own hair (texlaxed rollerset, slick bun, whatever), men respond to me in a totally different way. More respect, more deference, etc. I think that it's so rare that when they see a Black Woman with her own naturally beautiful hair, it instantly places you in a different category. Sad, but true. Also, I have noticed that when my hair is sleeker/shinier as opposed to frizzier, that makes a HUGE difference too. If my curls are frizzy, I might as well be invisible; if it's shinny, I'm a man-magnet (age/race irrelevant).

Now the question was: how important is hair? (Not "how much attention does your hair get and when.") However, I have to admit that when I look good and get positive feedback and admiring glances, I feel great and, isn't that the most important thing in life -- to feel great and ... be great?

 

[rawsilk]

Amen to that.

A woman's hair is her crowning glory it sets us apart from men

 

[rawsilk]

I think that hair is the reason why Black Men date outside their race more than any other group of men. There, I said it. I also think that ALL Black men, regardless of background, place long hair above everything else: education, profession, face, background, personality, style, everything ... except maybe weight. (?) I don't think that a woman with long hair is going to pull a quality guy if she is obese but if a woman's face is jacked and she has a normal BMI, and, e.g. waist-length hair, it doesn't matter where/what she's from or what she does, she is at least getting in the door. (Also, have to take texture into account -- the straighter the texture, the shorter it can be - ala Halle Berry. But even if it is bone/Caucasian straight, if it is thin, sparse and dull looking, forget about it.)

I used to be kind of mad at it but the more you think about it the more you realize that a woman's hair signals "health, fertility, ability to handle stress, keep your life in order" etc.

I think this may be a regional thing. I also think it depends on the type of men.

I think body type, face, and personality have something to do with it too.

I found men only interested in me for my hair only, to be unintelligent. I don't find men like that attractive. I am offended. I am more than my hair or my looks.

Sorry but, long, straight hair doesn't cancel out ugly. At least not where I am from.

I can't see any mentions on my IPhone. PM me if it is a must see. Allons y

 

[CodeRed]

What I am gathering from this thread is that the importance of hair = the importance of other people's opinion/attention spent on you, particularly men.