Seaver

Yes, I've come to notice something about women and their hair....

If you see a woman who recently cut their hair short I can almost garantee they're recently single. Its taken me a long time to work out a reason WHY, but I think I have it.

We as men generally like longer hair on our women. Its femenine, we've liked it all the way back to the start of recorded history (a few exceptions though). When a woman cuts her hair short she's declaring her independance from men. She no longer does things for them, it is for her own self, for what she wants.

So I've started to talk more and more to girls with shorter hair, and I can tell you that only one in over a dozen was involved at the time. And almost all of them either:
A) came out of a really long relationship, or
B) got over their boyfriend who really screwed her over

Gentilmen take my knowledge and use it. These girls are GREAT to hit on, I've never had so much success. The ones who cut their hair short (from what I've seen) do not carry the emotional baggage as you'd suspect, the act of cutting the hair helped resolve issues. All you have to do is keep asking questions about them and to them you'll become all that their old boyfriend wasn't.

Girls I'd love input from you to see if my hypothosis is correct, from all the stuff I've gathered it seems so, but I'd love to hear your reasons for cutting it. I imagine their act of independance is an unconcious one, but you never know..

anti fishstick

intereresting theory here i do notice a correlation between myself and others cutting their hair after a shaking event such as a breakup. but it doesn't have to stop there. it could be about a death of a friend/loved one, any life changing event really that the person cares about.

for me personally, it symbolizes change. as simple as that. "i am changing my hairstyle because my life around me is changing". its a way of expressing myself outwardly when inside i'm still trying to deal with everything. it's not necessarily that i have become more independent, but it definately is like "cutting" myself off from something. in that case, a relationship.

edit: so based by your theory would it work vice versa for girls w/ longer hair or are wanting to grow their hair out? as this is what i'm trying to do now and consider myself in a 'comfortable' relationship.

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blade02

hmmm my girlfriend just told me she was growing hers out longer....i wonder if thats a good thing.

I know when she moved she cut it shorter, which I think is a change thing. But I've also noticed that a drastically shorter haircut usually means theres atleast a big change that just went on or that they're going through.


good observation.

Seaver

Thank you, I'm a psych major so lately I'm looking more and more about seemingly random decisions and looking for a reason behind it. Of course because of my age (20) I'm looking mainly at the opposite sex.

Test it, ask around, from what I've done like I said only 1 out of over a dozen were like that.

And yes I'd figure you two were right about growing it out longer again. Being that they want to feel feminine while in a stable relationship.

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rainheart

Didn't Lurkette cut her hair short recently?

lurkette

Interesting theory, but just from my own anecdotal evidence I think it's er...shaky, to say the least. I just cut my hair way short, and am thinking of cutting it even shorter. Yet I'm in a stable relationship, and have recently experienced a surge of intimacy and lust for Ratbastid that is unparallelled in our 12 years together. I'd tend to go more with what antifishstick says - it's less about relationships and men than simply about change. And for me it was at least to some extent about practicality - I was just getting damn sick of taking care of even chin-length hair. All the blowdrying and fussing and brushing. Much easier to wake up and get my hair wet and call it good. Funny. You men always think it's all about you

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Kim_type_thing

The first time I cut my hair short I had been single for two years. I got it cut short again a few months after celebrating my one year anniversary with my boyfriend.

World's King

Wow.


A friend of mine always had short hair. Then recently she met the guy that could be "the one" and she's now growing her hair long. It's odd. It makes perfect sense. If only that was the way to tell if a girl was single or not...

"Hit on her... she has short hair so you know she's single."

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thed00t

So what does it mean if a girl cuts her hair short in the middle of your relationship? confused:

amonkie

This is all very interesting. I'm the complete opposite- out of pure laziness more than anything, I've been growing out my hair. While dating however, I would cut it short because the guy liked it that way. Reverse theory in my case.

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motdakasha

I cut my hair when it starts poking me in the neck. That happens once a year like clockwork, breakup or no.

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Addiction

A friend of mine just cut her hair really short, and she hasn't broken up with anyone recently. In fact, she's just going in to a relationship.

It looks really, really good, too.

oblar

hmm i wonder if this is the reason every girl that has been in a relationship with me has cut their hair once it was over...

i thought it was just to irritate me, since I generally love the short hair (and have been trying to convince my current girlfriend to cut hers, but she says she will wait till we breakup to continue the trend ;p)..

heck, one girlfriend actually shaved her head afterwards (granted, she went to dreads, then did it, I never saw the dreads*grin* and apparently, she didnt like it).

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j03th3j3w

the theory is very interesting... i will have to give it a try as well... for two reasons:
1. jus to see if this theory is somewhat correct
2. i need to meet some girls up here(no friends.. just moved here)

i will give updates on my progress... this is gonna be fun!

Cawdor

I htought of almost the exact same thing not too longa ago. I also noticed that recently married women and new mothers cut their hair as to out out a signal to men that they are not looking for male attention. I cant speak for everyone but I would guess that most guys are more attracted to a chick with longer hair. Of course maybe thats just me.

vveronica

well thats it... I was seeing 2 guys and broke up with one so I'll cut half my hair short and leave the other long....geeshhhhh
come on...

If i did that every break up, i'd never have long hair..

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SiNai

Interesting theory for sure. I'm in a stable relationship right now, and my girlfriend has been growing out her hair long, and I don't let her chop it off, either. I like it so much when it's long!

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numist

That damn lucky bastard....

my g/f had very long hair when we met (buttlength) and has now cut it shoulderblade length.

Either way though, as a theory I think it works pretty well in the general sense. Good catch.

analog

i dunno about that... i can see where you'd make the observation, but i think you're placing blame on the wrong thing here, and that is this- i think it's simply about change in general, and not necessarily about a breakup... could mean anything in their life.

interesting, to say the least- good thread.

...and i find girls with short hair just as sexy as long hair, and definitely not lacking in feminine qualities at all.

hobo

This hair thing is interesting. From now on I'll be watching out for it. If anyone notices any other seemingly minor things that could carry a significant meaning, start new threads about them.

Litespeed

YES!
Oh that is SO the reason why i cut my hair for the first time. My hair was clear to my waist and i came to my roomate one night about midnight with a pair of scisors. She cut off 16 inches that night. Went around the dorm showing off the change.

It was declaring independence from a man. I also was declaring my independence from my family. Just a healthy thing to do.

Second time i cut my hair short was just because it got in the way running a spotlight one night at work. I had an hour for dinner and during that time I went to a salon and had them cut it all off. All sorts of attention for that one. It helped that they styled it excellently.

So yes, independence. That's what short hair is all about. I was a new person when i cut my hair. Free from the strife and confusion of the days before.

taliendo

I agree whole-heartedly. I'm a guy, and I feel the need to cut my hair every now again. Its a great way to relieve some stress -- think: the easiest was to fabricate real change is to change your appearance. Sometimes I'll just shave off my beard, or decide to grow a moustache (this is a little harder as it takes a week to notice a difference.)

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Vaultboy

hmmm. Nice hypothesis for a psyh short thesis.

Why don't you go test it out a 1000 randomly sampled 18 - 26 year old women on a campus, seaver? Should be easy enough.

I like your observation, but have to agree with fishstick's take on it. Women also have a habit of cutting their hair on their birthday, which feeds into the "symbolising change" theme. But either way, I think its improtant to note that women (or people in general) who consciously do something to change something about themselves have obviously done some introspection and want to change/improve/refresh some aspect about themselves or as a reflection of change that has taken place.

Hitting on girls who recently cut her hair versus girls who haven't probably will deliver better results for exactly this reason: you might just represent another (welcome) change. Or not. But taking the risk to find out is what dating's all about.

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Eclipse26

Ending of a long term relationship is exactly why I cut mine. He preferred my hair a certain way and once the marriage was over, the hair was gone. It took me a bit to get the nerve to cut it, but it was a huge step towards starting over.

When I went in to cut it, the lady that does my hair looked at me curiously and said, "So, are you getting divorced or having an affair. I always know when my ladies want such a big change that something's going on." She was so right.

Your theory surely doesn't apply to everyone, but it has merit.

Anyhow...just my 2 cents.

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em1014

I had a friend that was exactly like this. Everytime her and her bf had a really big fight her hair would be short within the next week. They recently broke up and the first thing she did over the weekend after the break up was get her hair cut off. It's now in a short flippy bob kinda thing. If I haven't seen her in a while I know what her situation is just by the length of her hair!!

Bloodslick

I cut my hair drastically after being in a stable relationship with my girlfriend for a while. Does this mean anything?

powder

I've noticed many a young yummie mummy with short hair. They cut it short so thier kids don't grab it as much.

minyn

that made the wheels in my head turn. nifty

it may be a good rule of thumb to follow in a large crowd when you have choices but (and maybe its just me) but i'd never chop my hair after a relationship... specially a bad one.... cuz it seems like the guy who screwed me over won and i felt that I NEEDED TO CHANGE. and this may be arrogant of me, but i dotn want to change becuase of a reason like that.

now with all of that said, i have managed to make the connection between insecure people or perhaps those who find the necessity to change, but thats not my intention. Cuz ill admit, i LOVE having my hair cut. it just feels cleaner and newer (mind you my hair is mid-back length). I get it cut when i want to move on from a problem or feel like a new person and it helps me to reappreciate myself which may be what these girls are doing and if thats the case, GO THEM.

but if theyre doing it to start anew and seperate themselves from their past, it always grows back. and yes that is an intentional metaphor.

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Poyzun_Ivy

I got mine cut when I started seeing my boyfriend... neat theory, tho... I never really noticed any sort of trends.

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Minx

I'm single and I have long hair. And I wouldn't ever get it cut short just for a change because of my situation.
Heck...I almost think that it would be the opposite - that once a women is in a relationship she is secure in she would lop off the locks.
Just my opinion....I know that no matter what my "heart" is going through - I shall have long hair!

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legolas

Wow from the looks of just the replies here, your theory seems to be pretty freaking accurate. This is insane. That is one of the craziest and greatest things I've ever heard.

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Plan9Senior

Classic post. I will totally buy into your theory

sillygirl

Usually when I get my hair cut it's when I've been fed up with something and needed a change, or when I've just had a big change in my life anyway. I noticed the trend the last couple times I got it cut. But there have also been times that it gets so long I start having headaches, and it's really hot in the summer (Arizona). But those times are the times when I get mad afterwards because I miss my long hair.

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SabrinaFair

I do tend to cut my hair after major changes in my life. When I left for college, and broke up with my boyfriend of almost three years, I snipped my shoulder legnth mane to somewhere around my chin. I've been letting it grow out, mainly because its cheaper. I just had a "break"/breakup(?) (I'm not really sure what our status is actually...) about a week ago, but I really like how my hair looks right now, so I'm not going to run out and get sheared. But yeah...pretty sound theory.

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Rubyee

I want to cut my hair, and I am in a perfectly loving and lasting relationship. I just get so sick of it because it is flat. No volume whatsover.

Your theory makes a lot of sense, but, and I will be including myself in this generalization, women make no sense sometimes. Some women do cut their hair for that reason, and some because it is the latest trend. I know I get sick of it hugging my face and making me look tired.

It is a good theory, though.

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Eowyn_Vala

Normally, I cut my hair when big changes are happening. I did right before I went to college my freshman year. A while later I regretted it because I love my long hair. so I grew it out. Right before I went home for the summer I cut about 5 inches off, and I had just gotten back together with my boyfriend. I think then it was more because the relationship was different than before. A few days later of course I regretted it, I always do. I love my hair long. I don't know why I cut it when I do, cause I always hate it later. Now my hair is back to where it was before summer and I am trying to grow it out longer. Plus my boyfriend loves my hair long! It is just something we both agree on.

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Seaver

Woah, I post this, after a few days I only got 2 replies. I come back 4 days later it explodes.

1) I didnt mean it to sound like 90% of the time it was caused by a guy. That wasn't my intention, but lets face it, for the 16-26 age range the biggest stresses are school and the opposite sex. The first doesn't change much, the second is there ones day then gone the next. Very tempestuous and therefore is the root of much of sudden physical and mental changes.

2) Well... give me time. Seriously this wasn't a theory I started with. It was an observation, I just tend to pay attention to the little things and see how they correlate. To make it a thesis... eh, we'll see.

3) Yeah... this was my point for everyone else.


Thanks everyone for their personal imput... some disagree but from what we've seen the majority speaks true. If I notice anything else I'll be sure to submit to the jury lol.

raeanna74

I had long hair when I got engaged but cut a good portion off shortly before we got married. Then again I get it even shorter when I got pregnant and lastly when hubby and I seemed to have a renewal in our relationship (went through some bumps and worked them out) then I got it cut real short - boyish short almost. I have noticed that my reason for cutting it shorter is that I'm tired of the way things are in general and WANT things to change or I'm already going through a change that I view as positive or exciting. I think the coorelation you've seen with women cutting it when they end a relationship may simply (JMHO) be showing an outward CHANGE of an inward CHANGE of mind or emotion. BTW I have recently decided to let my hair grow long again. I've had enough of the short hair.

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Dixie

I believe a girl cutting her hair short is an act of independence but not necessarily from men. I know when I cut my hair short 3 years ago, I did it because I was rebelling against the constraints of society and the doctrine that women are more beautiful and more feminine with long hair. Plus, washing my hair (which was at my ass at the time) and keeping it maintained was really annoying. Not to mention, some women want to feel like they are strong, maybe as strong as men, the whole G.I. Jane thing, you know.

The other point I would make is that often times women who do cut their hair in response to a dick boyfriend or a bad split or whatever literally hate (temporarally or permanently) men, and may be somewhat unapproachable.

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SecretMethod70

heh, same here

I agree with this. Obviously, looking at a younger age group such as 18-24 most of the time a major change occurs it probably will be a relationship. But as people get more settled in life I think it could be many other things as well - changing jobs, moving, etc.

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