Women have always been viewed as being more feminine with long hair, but one point long hair was a sign of masculinity in a man. When you watch shows on for example vikings as a few have mentioned you notice that they're all long-haired. In those times slaves were the ones who had shaven heads to keep them from getting fleas, so it was a sign of low status.
Long hair was a sign of nobility or status because it showed that you were rich enough to maintain it, you were clean, and you ate a healthy diet. Peasants and slaves were poor, malnourished and dirty so they couldn't grow it and maintain.
The change came for a few reasons. The idea of men having short hair and short hair being masculine is a modern thing that came mainly from the Temperance Movement. Women and ministers basically teamed up and had the same goals. The women didn't want men to get drunk, they didn't want them chewing tobacco because they thought it was uncleanly, they didn't want them to have beards or long hair either for that reason. They basically wanted to "tame" the men. The ministers did for the same reason, if they could discourage these things they thought that men would be easier to control - just like the slaves of the past. Less wild, more civilised.
Then when you consider the modern definition of masculinity, the perfectly sculpted muscular bodybuilder guy with short hair, most of his body hair shaven and smooth - this is taken from the most feminised, homo-erotic culture of the Greco-Romans where they'd go to the gymnasium, all shaven, be naked, to do some oiled up wrestling with the boys. The vikings weren't doing that shit, they were warriors with long hair trained to go raiding. Those guys, and guys today who are into bodybuilding, are guys who are obsessed with the aesthetic of the male body and training to look pretty.
So the idea of short hair = masculine comes from women who wanted more obedient men, and mostly gay people.
I myself have short hair, only because my hair is receding and I'd look stupid with long hair. But perhaps the reason some women like long hair on men when it suits them is for the above reasons - because it's only very recently that it has been seen as a feminine thing.
It's because long hair is superior if taken care of, from a purely aesthetic viewpoint. There are also biological/evolutionary reasons for favoring it, such as the ability to grow long hair being associated with good health.
Due to these factors, long hair is able to surmount it's arbitrary categorization as "feminine", in so that a certain number of females find it attractive regardless. Whereas, there are not enough independent advantages of short hair for it to surmount its "masculine" categorization.
In other words: long hair is simply better looking in both cases, so women are more able to find it attractive despite being classed as "feminine" than men are able to find short hair attractive despite being classed as "masculine".
Long hair is just universally suitable on people.
The truth is, the shorter your hair, the better your facial features need to be in order for you to really pull it off. Most short haired guys who probably bought into the “short hair is for guys and long hair is for girls”-bs actually look absolutely horrible and would look 10x better if they just grew their hair out at least a little bit.
Why do you say its bs? As a guy, when I cut my hair short, I instantly look more muscular. I definitely think short hair gives a more masculine vibe. Which is why I don't find it attractive in girls.
Congratulations you don't know how gender works
Long hair was a sign for good health in a mating partner back in the day my dude, so our primitive instincts still tell us that it indicates good health in a person today.
It’s evolutionary-, not rocket science
@samoht89 yeah and they probably got all that before they went bald
@Kkaos lmao no, men fought battles with long hair until at least the late Middle Ages. In the renaissance and early enlightenment everyone was just wearing LONG HAIR wigs anyways.
People only really started cutting their hair because they realized it was inconvenient, as well as SHAVE their bodies, within the last century or two at best. And this applied pretty much universally, if you look at the development of beauty standards and how bob hairstyles for women were huge in the early 20th century.
Stop trying to make hair length some kind of gendered thing when it isn’t.
It obviously is a gender thing in modern society. You try being a man with long hair and join the military and wait till they grab the shavers and shave it all off because you're a man. I was in the Air Force youth program and I'd be shouted at if my hair came even close to touching my ears. I used to have to spray on tons of hairspray just to make my longer hair appear shorter than it was.
What I said about a possible explanation, I probably should have been more clear that it's not fact. So you're right about that and men obviously did have long hair for quite a substantial period of history, however obviously something did change that trend. Another theory is that it was to reduce the risk of lice. I don't know.
It's all fashion at the end of the day, long hair on men came and went throughout the 20th century as did shorter hair on women as you alluded to. Unfortunately many facets of society still hold a 'conservative' view though and judgments are made if your hair doesn't fall into their perceived standard.
@Kkaos I hate to tell you this but women join the military too. In fact conscription for women is a thing in some countries, such as Israel, and even some non-western countries have all female units they employ in combat roles.
That said, I do agree with your last paragraph but it’s good to be aware that short hair on men is merely a trend, that is actually in the process of changing right now if we look at how longer hairstyles are becoming more popular for both genders again.
And my main point that long hair is universally more attractive remains, for the reasons I’ve mentioned.
We’d all love someone who could make a buzz cut work because that person would clearly be a 10/10 otherwise but it just isn’t very likely we’ll find one so let’s not go there at all maybe..
Come on. I never said women don't join the military - that literally has nothing to do with my point. Female appearance standards in the military are different to males. Female military members with long hair have to tie their hair back in a bun. Males have to have it shaved off regardless when they join.
It's a trend that will not change in government or conservative roles any time soon. My employer still has a dress code and they're civilian.
As for attraction, it's subjective. I've had long hair, I've had short hair and now it's somewhere in between and I wouldn't want to change it. You can talk about primitive instincts if you like, but I prefer to follow current trends and what's considered to be attractive right now.
If long hair came back into widespread fashion for men and my employer allowed it (doubt they would), I would definitely consider embracing it. I do like to change my hairstyle regularly anyway.
You're assuming everyone can grow proper long, silky hair., that goes down to your shoulders. Some people people end up with huge bushes on their head that goes every where, in which case you're much better off buzzing it. Regardless of facial features.
Are seriously telling me its better to look like a hobo than Michael Jordan?
But will it though? The majority of men who women perceive to be attractive in society don't have long hair.. Just going by popular celebrities, male models etc. ... I don't see how you're deducing that long hair is the safest choice for men? Especially when it's not even accepted or judged poorly upon in many parts of the corporate, travel, government world etc.
@Kkaos “The majority of men who women perceive to be attractive in society don't have long hair..” that’s because hardly any men who are famous actually keep long hair, like you so sharp mindedly pointed out. These men are obviously attractive because of good facial features and bodies, but the same men would probably look way better with longer hair than they do now.
That’s exactly the point though: long hair = healthy person = good mating potential
Oh and michael Jordan would definitely look better if he could hide some of his face behind hair lmao.
Forget your own opinion, do you honestly believe society as a whole views men with short, shaved hair in exactly the same way as a a woman with a shaved head?
No but I’m pretty sure both would be seen as more attractive had they long hair
It ultimately depends on the images we attach to the hair length mentally. Through stigmata, when you think of a woman with a shaved head you obviously think of a butch woman who would be like a 3/10 and never more than 5/10 even if she had long hair, I see someone with more of a high fashion face where it works amazingly. When you think of a guy with a shaved head you think of some 8/10 good looking, muscular dude with a sharp jawline when in reality most guys simply don’t look like that.
The thing is that social images don’t ultimately determine reality, especially not in regards to fashion.
In YOUR opinion. I've never met a single girl who prefers long hair. Like I said before, shorter hair is more malleable and you can shape it to compliment your facial shape, you can't do that as easily with long hair.
If your idea that long hair is 'universally' more attractive and it's some common fact, it would become more normal because men would be hearing..'You know, you'd look better with long hair' all the time... But they don't!
In my opinion long hair makes the face appear softer, which is fine if you want a more feminine look... However does not look good on men unless that man already has a very masculine face shape to begin with (defined jawline, high cheeckbones etc).. Otherwise the guy's face will just look soft.
@Kkaos Thank you for essentially proving my point by posting the picture of some objectively handsome dude. To be honest he looks equally handsome in both. My main point remains that the average joe wouldn't. Your argument works for both genders by the way, which again proves that hair length can't be gendered. Or in visuals: 
And actually, long hair doesn't make the face more round ("soft"), in fact long hair has been proven to optically elongate the face.
I would legit break up with a girl on the spot if she went from the left hair style to the right. My gosh, it looks bad
You must have impaired vision.
If you did a survery with a photo and asked guys if they prefer the one on the right or the left, do you honestly believe you'd get a 50-50 result? Come on now
Well the basic fact that the men who most women are attracted to have shorter cuts should be enough evidence for you. Like I said, if longer hair was more appealing, these men would be drawn to change it. No one does.
See how many girls who used to like Justin Bieber still do now after he grew his hair out long. He looks like an unkept, oily truck driver lol.
Not balding at all. Prefer my hair the way is it. Thanks for your concern.
I'm talking about the way things are at the current time.
Also just another thing on trends, you see certain hairstyle trends (e. g man bun, beards etc), but shorter hair never goes out of style. There will always be many men with shorter hairstyles. Even in the 70s and 80s this was the case.
Do you have any latino or black friends. Ask them if they would take ANY long haired guy over Michael B Jordan?
More hair on the head is more attractive than when there's less of it. I don't like super short hairstyles, let alone buzzcuts (though there are some exceptions).
Mid-length hair can be quite sexy on guys. I don't understand you guys cut it so often and so short. It's a pity.
Because some of us, especially those that lift, prefer the masculine, though look over the model, boy band look
Oh lol, I've been lifting for 1 year and I'm still with quite long hair, boy band look is my go to
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The long hair in guys trend is fairly new. I think girls prefer short hair because it is a sign of wealth, education or someone working. Women never had to have short hair to work, and men never cared about women's success back in the day.
Long hair is a sign of good Gene's, which is why guys often prefer it, and know since women don't necessarily need a wealthy guy that works, because they can, women are starting to begin to get back into long hair.
It may also have something to do with the time of a woman's life. When they are young and not looking to settle down long hair may be preferred and when they want to settle down they may prefer the shorter hair.
"But I've noticed that there are very few guys who like it when girls have short hair."
Have you also noticed that very few guys are intelligent and most are not?
Well I'll give you an underlying biological reason. Many of the things we find attractive are just indications of health, genetics, and fitness for producing children. Long hair is an indicator of good health and nutrition, so your lizard brain says good
Lol. Long hair doesn’t make you more or less attractive. It’s just a style.
Yeah it depends if it suits them or not. Long hair doesn't automatically mean on attractive.
*unattractive
Long hair on guys is iffy, sometimes a man looks like a Viking warrior sexy god but other men look like strings of limp noodles are glued to their balding, thin heads. So it's hit or miss
Lol. The baldies with ponytails are the worse.
It is more like guys are the ones who dislike long hair on guys more than girls. I just think about them going bald and getting salty.
I think it just depends on the girl’s taste & the guy’s body type. To me, some guys with long hair look like a girl. I do not want to date a “girl.” I want a man! Then there are other guys that along with their body type, their long hair makes them look hot and sexy.
I wouldn't care what sort or hairstyle they had as long as they aren't bald and have no hair. I personally dislike the bald look on men more so than on a woman.
Also, most guys who have long hair are just attractive enough to pull it off, or have it styled in a way where it makes them appear more attractive. Hairstyles really have the power to transform how you look.
It's not neccessarily sexy or that great. People don't work that way. For some reason ancient chinese guys understood this.
"Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws."–Confucious
Yet today we seemed to have fallen behind the ancient times.
If you want hair of any style to look good you gotta attach the symbols to it.
People don't care for bacon and eggs for breakfast if it isn't American.
I'm not sure that they actually do.
Short hair is a little masculine.
Long hair is a little feminine.
Plenty of guys like tiny sexy girls with short cute hair. Plenty of girls like barbarian looking guys with long hair.
Not many guys like overweight short haired women. Not many girls like skinny fat guys with long hair.
I would say that girls have a better idea of when they can 'pull off' short hair then some guys seem to know when they can 'pull off' long hair.
Because guys have a lot more specific tastes, whereas girls tend to be attracted to all types of guys. We're a lot more varied in what we want in a man.
I disagree. Women ignore most guys in favor of the most popular ones. That's why Justin Bieber could date a new girl every day if he wanted, but lots of guys die virgins.
Long hair on women - yesssss
Long hair on men - only if you're JC or a rockstar, otherwise it's effeminate and anti-establishment. You don't find many professionals with long hair - and there's good reason for that - some of which is considered good grooming habits.
So, are you Jesus, or Mick Jagger? Or a flunky?
I personally don’t like long hair on guys at all. I like the quiff hairstyle where it’s short on the sides and long on the top.
However, there are some rare guys who can pull off shoulder length hair for some reason.
It's just their taste but you know there are many kinds of long hair style. While many girls like on guys than short hair, there are many girls who don't like them too. Also it depends if it suits them or not. Also long hair is unique and it's not what do you usually see on guys.
Because short hair on females makes most women look like feminist lesbians, and long hair makes guys (at least a good many) look like bad boys or the main hero of a fantasy story.
That's at least my take.
Yassssss.
When i kiss them i get to run my fingers through their hair.
It just is attractive to me. I blame Billy Wirth when he was young.
if i am attracted to the guy and he has long hair, it just turns me on
Being able to grow your hair out is a sign of good health.
I find it sexy it's a turn on to me to be able to grip and run my fingers through their hair when making out.
I've never heard of women liking guys with long hair only the opposite I've heard of guys both liking and disliking short hair on women
I'm fine with pretty much every length of hair on women though I must admit while long hair looks good on any woman on some women short hair just doesn't look right
Some guys might not like it because it may be a bit to "butch" for them as I've heard it called
I personally don't like long hair on guys, there are exceptions though. It makes them look feminine somehow. I also don't like short hair like buzzcuts on guys. I prefer middle length hair. Not long, not short.
Gives us more to play with and kinda makes me think of him as a sexy viking lol 😅
In reality though most guy's I know with long hair really don't suit it and look like comic book guy from The Simpsons unfortunately 😅https://tse2. mm. bing. net/th? id=OGC.3fa393594d141486a3b348ac8ade5ba2&pid=Api&rurl=https%3a%2f%2fmedia. giphy. com%2fmedia%2fFKTtjNHBpF08E%2fgiphy. gif&ehk=lL5Qz31l18R9%2fKTvrIEjrg
I prefer short hair on guys but it could be due to long hair being associated to feminine qualities and short hair to masculine qualities.
Using that thought, males with long hair would be seen as being more in touch with their emotions. Also, the media shows women with short hair as being more adventurous, self-sufficient, etc and men with long hair as being more creative and emotional.
I’m always getting nice comments about my hair from women.
Yeah NO i dont like long hair on guys. I mean some men with long hair look good but I personally wouldn’t be attracted to a guy with long hair. Even though i would find him handsome, i would still prefer a handsome guy with short hair.. always will
I don’t know, but I do know that I like long hair on women. It looks feminine and sexy to me. My personal preference for female hair is really long, down to the waist or butt. I think long hair on men looks kind of weird.
Yes, it's trendy now, like Jason Momoa, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hiddleston. LOL I remember it used to be like a geeky haircut.
I’d look so bad with long hair. I think it just depends on the guy himself and his facial features, not really the hair
I don’t. It’s the reason I don’t find Jason Mamoa attractive when most girls do. I want my man to have short hair, and clean shaven. Not look rugged homeless man like Jason Mamoa
Only certain guys can have long hair. For me, it's only the guys who can still look masculine with long hair. If he looks like a girl I would feel awkward around him...
Because hair in general is simply more attractive.
The majority of women say they don't like bald/balding men at all.
This^
ohhh I likeyyy <3
It's attractive. especially if he maintains upkeep.
I think it's the same reason why girls have a higher chance of experimenting with girls. Meaning being bi or gay.
I'm fine with long hair on guys. I think they looked great.
Very few girls can pull off shorty pixie cuts. But I have seen many many guys that look good with long hair.
Because you can still look masculine with long hair, provided that you have the right style and build. Looking feminine with short hair is more difficult.
Once upon a time everyone had long hair. It was even common for guys to have pony tails or white poofy wigs. Guys with long hair have been around longer that girls with short hair
Is doing heroin not a put off tho?
@JaegerBomber -- shut up about Kurt butthead
I think long hair is just nice in general for both genders
with very very long hair no, it depends on the guys shoes.
I don't like long hair on guys but too short either. A lot of guys find girls with long hair more feminine I guess.
Some guys look good with long hair and it is rare I guess. many girls with short hair look like guys.
I dont like long hair on guys personally but there are women who do it just depends on their preference
Culture and fashion. Viking women definitely preferred long hair, while short hair on women was preferred in some African and south American cultures.
I grew long hair years ago and a lot of girls gave me compliments and more. I didn’t feel comfortable though because I actually prefer short hair most of the time.
i like guys with short normal hair. guys w long hair remind me of jesus
Holly molly. Shit yeah especially if they are blonde
I don't know about other girls, but long hair on men is a part of my culture and they look handsome with the long hair. Short hair nice too tho ig
It's sexy. And softer. And cool. And i have noticed that as well, even when u grow bob length hair as effort.
Short hair on girls tend to remind guys of feminist lesbians and any guy in their right mind should avoid those girls like the plague.
personally i only like it if it’s like river phoenix lol but sometimes it can look good as long as it’s not too long
Not really into long hair on lasses but guys why it looks so ridicules ….
Long hair on a man is attractive to me more so than short hair lol
Only when he looks like this is long hair good.
Long hair is important for girls looks, but it's not so big deal for a guy, if he has a long hair or short hair or even not hair at all.
I don't know. I think guys with long hair are a little feminine.
Women with short hair are just not as hot as long hair, but are still hot!!
They probably just fancy the man regardless of his hair style
I love short hair on girls, it’s kind of a major turn on.
I just like women with long hair more?
I can't really say why it's just my personal attraction.
I like short (shoulder lenght) hair on girls in my defence
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