Why do men like long hair on women and daughters?

[FayeW]

Long hair a pain in the butt? I always found short hair to be that, always having to get it cut never being able to do much with it. I decided many years ago to grow it long and found it so much easier to keep it like that, though I have had people suggesting I donate it its not going to happen.

I think that is probably a polite way for them to tell you that your hairstyle is not as attractive on you as you think it is.

 

[TinklednPants]

Have to strongly disagree...I don't think super long hair looks good on anyone.

I didn't say anything about super long. Past the shoulders yes. PAst your waist no.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[MichelleVW]

I think that is probably a polite way for them to tell you that your hairstyle is not as attractive on you as you think it is.

Agree...

 

[hornedfrog]

I remember learning in a psychology class that men are biologically programmed to prefer long hair on women because it is a signal of their health, youth and vitality (and thus their ability to reproduce). Same reason they prefer plump pink lips, white teeth, a nice figure, etc. They don't think of it on that level (thus carrying over the sentiment to daughters)...its just a programmed subconscious preference for the majority.

 

[Hercules10]

It's leftover from the caveman days, you know, when they used to drag their women into their cave by the hair.

Ahhhh yeah the good old days. When strong hair roots meant marriage material!

Seriously, it's akin to why women like muscular arms and broad shoulders on a man. Because it helps differenciate the sexes.

Me, I prefer long hair on a woman but have never insisted on it.

 

[Ember]

Wow, any husband who felt he had a say in my hair style would soon find himself without a wife. Does he get to dictate what I wear and eat, too?

My father is like this. He's a MAN, gosh darn it, and no woman-folk is going to disobey him. Needless to say, we don't get along very well. Seeing as he's working on wife #4, I don't think anyone else appreciates his attitude either.

 

[Camicar]

IME, some men like long hair on women because they think it's sexier and more feminine. But I actually know a lot of men who like short hair on women.

My dh actually likes shorter hair on me. I did try it once or twice largely because I wanted a change or because it was hot out and impulsively I told my stylist to cut if off and never again! Unfortunately for him, I look like a doofus with short hair, so not gonna happen ever again.

 

[luvsJack]

I sincerely hope that some of the reasons being listed are NOT why men tend to prefer long hair on their daughters!

My dh likes long hair. He has gotten used to the fact that mine is not going to be really long (shoulder length is as long as it get anymore and doesn't stay there long) but I know he would prefer it to be long like it was when we met. He has always wanted dd's to be long and it is now, but she has had it cut fairly short. He is certainly not going to force anyone to wear their hair by his preference. But, I will say that I do keep his preference in mind when I get my hair cut and don't go super short. (just like he keeps my preference in mind when he shaves and doesn't shave off his moustashe.)

He says its because to him long hair is more feminine looking. Its not sexual by any means. He just equats it with beauty and femininity.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I will give you the behavioral ecologist's answer.

Hair is a good indicator of health. It never looks right when you're not getting the correct diet. It becomes brittle and dry. It loses its shine. Also, the older you are, the more likely it is to be thinning. As such, hair is a good indicator of youth and vitality, in other words, sexual readiness. Men like it in women for the same reason they like clear skin and perky assets. It triggers something inside of their animal brains that says "This is a good partner". Now, you also asked why men often like to see their daughters with long hair, and that can be getting a bit sick if we think of it in a sexual manner. But you have to remember that just because something is pleasing to the eyes doesn't necessarily mean that a male is automatically attracted to that someone physically. It just means they look "right", in the same way that people with symmetrical features look right.

So to make a long story short: long hair is the female human equivalent of a peacocks tail.

 

[pearlieq]

I don't think there's anything wrong with a man preferring long hair, but I always feel creeped out by those men that insist on it for their wives and daughters. And the women that go along with it. Yuck.

As for why they prefer it, along with the whole youth/vitality/health/fertility thing, it's also just very traditionally feminine, and therefore I think it's fascinating to men. It's something they don't usually have. And when done right, with good hair, it looks very good.

 

[Kies99]

I was going to use the "multi-quote" function and respond to a bunch of different posts, but then my response got way out to long.

Okay, here's the perspective of a married guy with two daughter's:

I personally don't care about a woman's hair...hair length, style, etc... What my wife and kids do with their hair is their business, not mine.

If they do something drastic with it will I say something? Sure I will.

If I don't like it, will I tell them? Of course I WON'T (I'm not stupid).

In all seriousness, it's hair. It'll grow back no matter what happens so why bother getting all upset about something. The only thing I don't like about the hair in any of my family is that my one daughter's hair is so incredibly thick and she doesn't brush it well (of course she's only 7 so that explains that). I keep telling her we're going to chop it all off for the convienence as I'm tired of pulling the knots out of her hair!

And actually, I kind of prefer short hair on a woman. What's that say about me?!?!!?!?

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

My bf & I both have long hair. His might be longer than mine. It's a physical look we both like. We love each other and it wouldn't matter if we cut our hair at this point, but there'd be a shock factor, for sure.

 

[Golf4food]

Long(er) hair is pretty and feminine. Short hair looks good - sometimes great - on some women, but I think you have to have the right face/head/build to pull it off without losing something in the translation.

 

[corndog]

Maybe just because it looks better?

No maybes about it. Longer is always better than shorter. No bangs is always better than bangs. Yes, always. (you have to take as a given that effort is made--no fair showing pictures of that awful Dugger woman).

DW would be on the curb if she ever came home with bangs.

 

[luvmy3]

My dh is the opposite. He like when I cut my hair short. He also thinks our dd looks better with a short hair style.

 

[AustinTink]

I've had my hair all lengths, and prefer it long. It just works better on my frame and I love pulling it back into a ponytail. Hubby likes it too, but since he's "not the boss of me" it really matters not.

 

[Aisling]

I don't think there's anything wrong with a man preferring long hair, but I always feel creeped out by those men that insist on it for their wives and daughters. And the women that go along with it. Yuck.

As for why they prefer it, along with the whole youth/vitality/health/fertility thing, it's also just very traditionally feminine, and therefore I think it's fascinating to men. It's something they don't usually have. And when done right, with good hair, it looks very good.

Thanks for saying exactly what I was going to say. Now I don't have to type it all out!

 

[EMom]

No maybes about it. Longer is always better than shorter. No bangs is always better than bangs. Yes, always. (you have to take as a given that effort is made--no fair showing pictures of that awful Dugger woman).

DW would be on the curb if she ever came home with bangs.

I beg to differ. I come from a family of women with high foreheads and we often have bangs of some sort. They may not be a straight line across the brow, but there is some amount of hair on the forehead to soften the effect. I've gone with bangs and without and for me, WITH is much, much better. Same for DD.

I'd never say, "Bangs are always better" because it's just not true for all women, but neither is the opposite.

 

[SAHDad]

I don't care (much*) what DW does to her hair, and when DD is old enough to make her own decisions, the same will apply to her.

I do know a few guys who get very odd about the length of their wifes or daughters hair, but I know many women who are very particular on the beard/no beard issue with their husband/boyfriend.

* I'd ask some questions if she died her hair blue, or shaved her head, or something like that, but really - it's hair. It will grow back.