Do Men Prefer Women with Long Hair or Short Hair?

December 18, 2024 Mikey Moran

I’m the kind of woman who loves switching up her look — bold cuts, long waves, whatever feels right. So let’s ask the real question: Do men prefer long hair or short hair on women, or does it even matter when you’re owning it either way?

I feel like I can easily express my personality through my clothes and hair, but my hair is more fun to play around with most of the time.

I’ve had everything from different colored twists, braids, wigs, sew-ins, faux locs, and more. With all of these looks, I have noticed something pretty interesting. 💡

I attract specific types of men depending on the look I currently have. Whenever my look consisted of longer hair, I attracted more men than when I had a shorter look. Let’s look deeper into this.

Private Label Model Wearing Coffee Lace Front Bob Wig Playing with Her Hair

Do Men Like Long Hair?

Sure, people ask this all the time — but here’s the thing: your hair isn’t a billboard for anyone else’s preferences. Whether it’s long, short, curly, or bold and buzzed, what matters most is how you feel wearing it. Confidence is always going to look better than any hair length.

With that said, let’s take a look at why some men might lean toward long hair.

Long, Thick Hair Can Signal Good Health

There have to be reasons why some men prefer women with longer hair, right?

So, why is that? Well, from an evolutionary perspective, long, glossy, straight, and richly pigmented hair may announce suitability as a partner.

The health, quality, and luster of your hair tell potential partners that you’re in good health and have reproductive potential. It makes sense.

I mean, there were times I (as a woman) looked at a woman’s hair and assumed she was in good health. I have done the same thing with men as well. Usually, I consider hair to be the tell-all of all health statuses.

But in this day and age, switching between long and short hair is easier than ever. With high-quality wigs, clip-in extensions, and tape-in extensions, you can transform your look in minutes, no matter your natural texture or length.

Long Hair Is a Symbol of Femininity and Beauty for Some

Simply put, most men who prefer long locks on their ladies probably have an old-school view of what’s considered beauty.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing! After all, preference is just a reference, and we all have them.

For centuries, long hair was the standard of beauty for women. But we must keep in mind that times are changing, and there is more than one form of beauty.

For years, this took a hard toll on the African American women community since we didn’t have the proper tools to help our hair grow properly. Now, we have options. You can get high-quality braided wigs that look just like the real thing, letting you protect your natural hair while still rocking any style you want.

In a blog post for Huffington Post Women, Lucinda Ellery, a hair specialist, says, “History shows that hair is a symbol of femininity.”

She explains that during the Civil War era, when women weren’t allowed to battle, they’d cut off their locks to disguise their identities before enlisting; and since Biblical times, women have viewed their hair as a “crowning glory.”

Hair and Sex

You knew this part was coming — because yes, hair and sex definitely have a connection. But let’s talk about it in a way that makes sense beyond just tired clichés.

Some see long hair as something to pull or play with during sex, which can feel sensual for both partners. It’s not just about what men want — it’s about mutual enjoyment and personal preference.

A study published in 2023 in Frontiers in Psychology revealed that hair can act as a social and sexual signal, influencing how others perceive femininity, health, and even sexual availability. But none of that means you need long hair to be desirable.

Whether you’re wearing an enticing shade like 27 color hair, keeping it cropped short, or switching things up with wigs and extensions, what matters most is how you feel in your hair — and what makes you feel confident in intimate moments.

Private Label Model with Straight Hair Waist Long Hair

Do Men Like Women With Short Hair?

This question gets asked just as much — and again, the real question is how you feel about your hair. But since we’re breaking it down, let’s explore why some men are drawn to short styles and what that might say.

They Want Something New and Different

Contrary to what you may believe about a man’s preference when it comes to hair, I feel a lot of men today are changing.

There is a population of men who prefer women with short hair for many refreshing reasons. One woman even conducted her own hair experiment and found that men preferred her with short hair versus long hair.

From my experiences of trying out new and different looks, I realized that men desire women who know how to express what they want and go after it.

They like seeing the occasional unicorn who appears unexpectedly.

They find it attractive when women can confidently go against the cultural gender norms society places on them. It brings about a little mystery that they have to explore, and that piques their desire to get to know you.

They like women who don’t succumb to the average look.

The average look doesn’t necessarily mean dull or ordinary, but it says that the look they come across is something the men believe most women appear to look like every day.

There is no differentiation. So, when they come across something new, they get curious.

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Men Love Confidence

You may not believe it, and men may try to tell me I’m wrong, but I have seen it enough times to know what I am talking about right now!

Have you ever been attracted to someone even more once you notice how confident and secure they are in themselves?

I know I have. Most of the time, when I confirm a crush I have on someone, the broader population doesn’t usually consider them cute.

But it is just something about a man (or woman) who is secure in who they are that makes them seem so much more attractive.

That is what men see when they see women rocking shorter cuts! They like a woman who knows who she is and isn’t afraid to tell the world.

She may not be too attractive to him at first glance, but that will end very quickly. When you walk into a room with your head held high, no matter how you look, you will get attention.

People will start questioning who you are and will be more inclined to want to get to know you.

The Mystery Is Thrilling

There’s something powerful about standing out, and that’s where short hair can change the game. When you don’t look like everyone else, you create curiosity.

People naturally get intrigued by what they don’t see every day. A bold cut or an unexpected style can draw attention not because you're trying to, but because it’s different — and different is interesting.

Short hair challenges expectations, and that mystery? It’s magnetic.

Seeing a woman with a cute short haircut or even a bob wig may pique a guy’s interest merely because he doesn’t see that every day.

The Hair-Cutting Movement

There’s this trend on Twitter where women are cutting their hair extensions or real hair off.

I’m talking buzz cuts, pixie cuts, fades, and more! The reasons behind why they cut it differ, but I mostly think it’s just because they can and because they feel like it.

It could be a part of some movement women have for liberation purposes. They probably don’t want to feel attached to their hair.

I can dig that! Many of the women who cut their hair appear to be on the thicker side, so now there’s this idea that if you chop your hair, your booty will get bigger.

Women on Twitter are showing off what their mama gave them by displaying their new cut in a full-body picture, wearing a sundress, and facing the camera at an angle that shows their best assets.

After all, it is sundress season! What better time to cut your hair? Every picture I’ve seen so far has gone completely viral on the internet, and the guys are the main reason for it.

There have been comments on photos saying things that encourage more women to cut their hair.

I even had a few friends of mine consider cutting their hair when, before, it was never a second thought.

Are women more comfortable cutting their hair now, and do men prefer shorter hair on them?

Black Afro Kinky Curly Hair Female Model Lifting Her Hair

What Do Women Have to Say About Long or Short Hair?

This conversation often centers on what men prefer when it comes to a woman’s hair — but what about what we prefer? It’s our hair, our identity, and our power.

Historically, women haven’t always had the space to make choices for themselves, especially when it came to how we looked, lived, or led our lives. That has now changed. And while old beliefs still linger, we don’t need permission to decide what makes us feel confident and beautiful.

Whether we love long curls, a close crop, or even sew ins and wigs, the only opinion that truly matters is our own.

How Can We Shift the Focus on Hair?

If we want the world to respect our choices, we have to keep owning them loudly and unapologetically.

It’s not about waiting for men to see our value; it’s about knowing our worth and moving like we already do. Education helps, yes. So does dialogue. But real change starts when we stop asking for approval and start making choices for ourselves.

We’re already rewriting the story in big ways, and it can start with something as personal and powerful as how we wear our hair. Confidence is the message, and your hair is just one way to express it.