Listen Up, Ladies: Long, Lush Locks Lure Lovers

Reuters ^ | June 27, 2003 | E. J. Mundell

[demlosers]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Halle Berry aside, most American men show an "overwhelming" preference for women sporting long, luscious hair compared to shorter cuts, researchers report.

Oh, and sorry, Madonna: men also seem to prefer brunettes over blondes, by a wide margin.

The findings are based on interviews with 50 men conducted by psychology researcher Dr. Kelley Kline, of Florida State University in Panama City, Florida. She and co-authors Dr. Colin Peeler and undergraduate student Kim Fazzone presented their findings earlier this month at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, in Atlanta.

Numerous studies have examined the sexual appeal of various female facial characteristics or body types, but Kline said no one had looked at "perceptions of attractiveness based on hair length" until now.

In their study, the Florida team had 76 women and 50 men averaging 27 years of age rate the attractiveness of women depicted in 6 different photos.

Three of the photos were actually of the same young Caucasian woman, her hair altered by computer to short, medium and long lengths.

"We had a short-hair condition where the hair was above the ears, cropped close to the head," Kline explained in an interview with Reuters Health. "We (also) had the hair in a medium style ... just a little bit below the ears, and then we had the long-hair condition where it was at least 8 inches or more past the shoulders."

Otherwise, the woman's face and expression were exactly the same in each of the three pictures.

According to Kline, both men and women "overwhelmingly find the long hair length significantly more attractive than the short and the medium hair length."

She said the biological imperative to find a healthy, fertile mate may explain the finding, at least in men. One popular psychological theory holds that while women are driven to find moneyed, 'resource-rich' men, men are primarily looking for reproductive fitness in their mates.

"Hair is going to be a signal of that, because a younger woman will usually have longer, thicker hair," Kline explained.

On the other hand, when Kline's group asked women about hair-length preferences for men, the vast majority chose short or very short cuts. Since long hair is so closely linked to femininity, Fabio-like locks might signal to women that a man is somehow less virile or capable than his buzz-cut brethren, Kline theorized.

And there was one more finding of interest.

"At least in our study, gentlemen do not prefer blondes. They prefer brunettes," Kline said. "Its kind of an interesting finding, considering that in our society we concentrate on the blonde -- it's so pervasive."

The Florida researchers hope to reproduce their findings in larger studies using photos of various women, including older women and women of different ethnicities.

[rabidralph]

And those aren't real.

Are you talking about the earrings?

[JoeSixPack1]

With a little* effort, that woman could have her way with me.

The only "way" she'd have with you is "FAR AWAY" from you!!!!!!

Pig!

<|:-)~~

[rabidralph]

Theirs are pretty small.

[A_perfect_lady]

Yes, of course, the earrings. I have been assured that everything else about her is real. Although that still doesn't explain where some of those things are now...

[JoeSixPack1]

Have you read the rules???

<|:-)~~

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/924683/posts

[Age of Reason]

Think back to all the shows on television made popular in the 50's and 60's...all those traditional "moms" had short hair styles. It's a style, and the grannie generation still wears it.

To me that's long hair (albeit on the shorter side--but not short).

When I say short hair, I mean SHORT--like Mia Farrow after she cut-off her long hair while starring in Peyton Place.

And when I say traditional, I mean like 1900 not 1950--those chemical hairdo's of the 1950's and, worse, early 1960's are grotesque.

I'd argue that the 60's and 70's brought back long hair. In fact, many claimed long hair was revolutionary and freeing. Heck, I know plenty of older babyboomer/ex-hippie generation women who still wear long hair. It may be grey but it's long. I'd say they are the antithesis of your traditional woman/long hair thesis.

They wore their long hair wildly. See my post number 118. Long/short in context. Everything in context.

[Age of Reason]

When I say short hair, this is what I'm talking about:

http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/celebrity/images/Artwork/286-634.jpg

[Theresa]

"Since long hair is so closely linked to femininity, Fabio-like locks might signal to women that a man is somehow less virile or capable than his buzz-cut brethren, Kline theorized. "

No. Very long hair on man usually signals that he does not have a job that amounts to anything.

[potlatch]

I can read her lips, she's saying "POO - EE"!! LOL

[JoeSixPack1]

She might be sayin' POO-EE!!, but from this side of the screen it's YEEEHAAAAA!!!

<|:-)~~

PS. Don't tell m_f, he thinks she's saying PEE-UUU!!! (Cause he's a pig!) :-)~~

[potlatch]

Oh, be nice!! Laurie is just too much for you guys, and she is BLOND!! LOL!

[chance33_98]

You should add one to your profile page :)

[JoeSixPack1]

Here we go!! Blonde!! oy vey!

Why do woman always worry about that get-in-the-way stuff?? After the third or fourth date who cares???? :-)

ARRGGHH ARRGGGHH ARRGGGHHH

(,am. a, I in trouble now!!!!!!!)

<|:-)~~

[potlatch]

(,am. a, I in trouble now!!!!!!!)

LOL! Not with me. I'm a blond, but a pretty woman is pretty regardless of hair color. Lauri Dhue is very pretty - I heard she was getting married!!?

[Xenalyte]

Since long hair is so closely linked to femininity, Fabio-like locks might signal to women that a man is somehow less virile or capable than his buzz-cut brethren, Kline theorized.

Fabio looks like a horse. Blech.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Auburn red, long haired Italian chick checking in:-)

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Very long hair on man usually signals that he does not have a job that amounts to anything.

ROFL!

[SevenDaysInMay]

In all likelihood, breeding age maidens, of 12 to 14 or so, wore long as possible hair as a sign of health for marriage. Lice and mange were a turn off. A fuzz hair cut lebian anthropolgist told me so.

Long hair works for me when there is a working brain underneath, except I am a sucker for the nape of an otherwise bright lady of taste.

Sensible brownettes/redish highlights always warrant deep research as to their potential, butt blonds, the fine late summer white, cascading over shoulders from wind gusts...including Heidi Klum's dirty blond...

Never mind.

[wardaddy]

Debra Jo Fondren from around Beaumont...I think...I loved her in college.

[wardaddy]

Sorry...geez...bet you're fun at parties.