In many cultures around the world, people have long associated women with long hair.
Think about some images from history and literature and how the women are pictured. With the exception of Snow White, it is hard to find a fictional princess without long hair. Few female action heroes (exception being GI Jane) have short hair.
During Greek and Roman times women had long, flowing locks which were associated with beauty and fertility. During the Victorian era, women who were wealthy had long hair sometimes to the floor. Long hair was a luxury requiring lots of free time to devote to combing and cleaning it.
As women’s roles in modern society evolved so did the perception that women had to have the longest hair possible. Leaving the home to work, in particular, made it more difficult for women to spend the time and money required to keep hair as long as possible. Wearing hair in shorter and more manageable styles became more popular in the US after World War I.
But society still attaches a lot of meaning to long hair on women.
Kurt Stenn, the author of Hair: A Human History believes that imparting the image of good health is the root of society’s perceived value on long hair. Even today, he says “In order to have long hair you have to be healthy. You have to eat well, have no diseases, no infectious organisms, you have to have good rest and exercise.”
This is one of the reasons so many women seek hair replacement when they find out they have cancer. Losing their hair or cutting it short in advance of treatment tells the world they are unhealthy. Many women want to avoid this and choose a wig that allows them to keep up their image of having long healthy locks.
Even today – some women choose long hair for these reasons:
- Enhance beauty – just like throughout history feminine, luxury, sexuality, health
- Versatility – so many style options
- To attract men – research shows the majority of men prefer long hairstyles to short
- To communicate luxury and wealth – think Kim Kardashian and other stars with super long hair extensions
- To detract from your insecurities – long hair can be a real attention grabber and take (what you perceive to be) the focus off areas that make you self-conscious
- To feel or look “feminine”
- Sex appeal
Yet, once women reach a certain age, many opt for shorter hairstyles. Why?
So many reasons- as we get older some of those things above become less important to many women. We become more secure in our careers, perhaps our relationships. We might care less about attracting men or feeling sexy because we are more outwardly focused on jobs, families.
Why else might women opt for shorter looks as they age?
- Heat – we get hot
- Ease – styling and caring for long hair takes work and after doing it for years it can get tiresome especially if you are juggling multiple other tasks
- Conformity – just like may women keep long hair because it is the perceived “norm” cutting it as you age is also the “norm.” Some women cut it to avoid standing out from the crowd and appearing “rebellious.”
The good news is that you get to choose. As society has evolved these “norms” are not necessarily as normal as we think. It is perfectly acceptable and even chic for women to wear a pixie cut, super sporty bob, or any other style of your choosing. For men, short hair is still more common but it no longer seems weird to see a man with his long hair in a bun or flowing past his shoulders.
Experiment With Wigs For Maximum Versatility
Wigs can be very useful when you are trying to experiment with hair length and style. Even now with evolving norms, everyone makes a big deal when a woman cuts her long locks. It’s an event! A symbol! Traumatic! Freeing! That is a lot of pressure and meaning to put on a haircut.
Wigs can allow you to sport short hair, long hair, or something in between any day you like. You can feel what it is like to have a pixie cut without the commitment of shearing off the locks you might love. You can explore all aspects your personality, self-image, and look with wigs.
Call Riviera Hair Replacement For a Free Consultation
Options abound! Whether you are experiencing pattern hair loss, about to embark on chemo treatment or thinking about experimenting with a dramatic hairstyle change, call Riviera Hair Replacement. Our Hair replacement specialists can design and create the hair you want; hair that can make you feel confident and comfortable.
Call us today at 516-364-0110 to schedule a free hair replacement consultation at Riviera.
