| Hair as a gender code |
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Hair is one of the strongest gender codes there is. Clothes are superficial by comparison. If you see a young boy with long hair, and long means shoulder length or more, then most people would mistake him for a girl - even if he doesn't have feminine features or is wearing feminine clothes. Its the hair alone that transforms their perceived gender. Most people can remember how, back in their early school days, they used to determine a person's gender first by the length of their hair.
Three main reasons: 1) Throughout most of our childhood it is often the only way to tell the difference between boys and girls. Since the personality is mostly developed in that time, what we learn then sticks with us for life. Of course there are clothes but they can be changed at will which brings us to the next point:2) Hair can't be grown over night. So if someone has very long hair, then its a result of years of caring and attention (and hassle). So nobody would do that just for a laugh or spontaneously. Its a long term decision which you have to make again every time you have another knot to untangle or (for boys) another teasing by friends or classmates to suffer. For the same reason, cutting it short, although quickly done, is also a long term decision because you're stuck with it. That means, if you see someone with long healthy hair, you can be sure that its important to him/her and that it says a lot more about their personality than any costume would. 3) Hair is a part of your body (unlike clothes or makeup). But unlike any other part of your body, it can be changed dramatically or even completely shaven. It can have very different colors and textures. This means, that you can express yourself with it because we have so many options for hairstyles. That has lead to hair styling being an art form of its own.
What makes a hairstyle feminine or masculine?One simple answer and many complicated answers: Simple one first: Length! Its hard to pin a number to it, but typically, someone is considered to have girlish long hair when its about chin length or beyond. Another mark is when its long enough to tie in a ponytail. The longer it gets after that, the more feminine it will look but there are a number of exceptions. Anyone who's seen some before and after pictures of long haired boys getting their hair cut short. The transformation is always remarkable - even schocking. Just as it was when Rene Charles was given a dramatic haircut. Curls often look feminine because its nearly only women, who curl or perm their hair and because it requires a certain length to curl (back to the length pointer). Meanwhile, men with long natural curls are even rarer than those with long straight hair. Bob haircuts, although relatively short, are among the most feminine of them all. Especially if they're very short in the back which can make someone look vulnerable and exposed. Also, a man wearing a feminine type bob is extremely rare. Very complicated or elaborate hairstyles are nearly always women's hairstyles. Conversely, the more simple and practical, the more masculine with few exceptions. Especially updo's are an absolute no go area for men. Ha!....not on this site!!!
Why long hair is so beautiful and eroticI think everybody should try to have long hair at least once in their lifetimes. Typical men's short hair does little more than serve as a covering purpose. Its just practical and simple to handle. In some cases it even stems from a form of physical self rejection. Feminine long hair is an entirely different story. It has a movement of its own, flowing around and following the movement of your head. The feel of long hair caressing your skin can be very sensual and erotic. Notice how someone with long hair has quite a different silhouette.
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