You might think your flowing tresses say “casual”, but are others actually hearing “unconfident”. What does your hair really say about you?

Women:

Secret Signals Your Hair Sends:

Short

Cropped hair is often interpreted as signifying intelligence, openness and honesty -what you see is what you get. As a rule, shorter styles also tend to make younger women appear older and more sophisticated.

Shoulder length

A woman with medium-length hair is usually perceived as classy and strong. People often view her as powerful, and someone who exemplifies both brains and beauty.

Long

If long hair is well kept, it suggests confidence and sensuality. But watch out for unkempt styles, which send a very different message: that the person is trying to cover up the parts of her body or face she considers flawed.

Curly vs. Straight

Waves give the impression of playfulness, warmth and carefree nature; wearing your hair straight tells people that you are together, polished and stylish.

Ponytail

A neat, traditional ponytail is the picture of poise – it’s a good style for meeting your boyfriend’s parents or giving a presentation in front of your boss. A pony tail higher on the head conveys a more casual, energetic look.

Men:

Reading Body Language Through a Man’s Hairstyle

“Hair is often an excellent predictor of someone’s self-image and lifestyle,” says Jo-Ellan Dimitrius in Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior – Anyplace, Anytime. “Your hairstyle can reveal how you feel about aging, how extravagant or practical you are, how much importance you attach to impressing others, your socioeconomic background, your overall emotional maturity, and sometimes even the part of the country where you were raised or now live.”.

Hairstyle is part of the whole package that offers tips on personality, behavior, and lifestyle.

What Coiffed or Styled Hair on a Man Reveals

When a man’s hair is carefully cut, blow-dried, and hair sprayed, it could indicate that he’s into the power image. A man who pays close attention to his hair may also have expensive or trendy clothes, shoes, accessories, and toys. Reading body language in this case isn’t difficult: this man is probably vain and wants to impress others.

“All other things – the suit, the shoes – being equal, the man with the coiffed hair is almost guaranteed to be more concerned with status, power, and image than the man whose hair is neatly cut but not styled or sprayed,” says Dimitrius in Reading People.

What Short Hair on a Man Reveals

Short hair on a man can reveal many things about his personality. Very short hair on a man could indicate that he’s practical, plays sports, and is conservative. Short hair on a man doesn’t reveal political views the way it once did.

What Hair Loss on a Man Reveals

How a man deals with hair loss shows his personality. If he uses extreme comb overs or obvious hairpieces, he may have poor judgment. He simply doesn’t realize how he looks to others, and he thinks people won’t notice.

Hair replacement surgery and hair plugs to replace hair loss may indicate a lack of self-acceptance and vanity. Men who go to the extent of surgery to look younger and more attractive may struggle with self-esteem and insecurity (which we all do sometimes).

“Baseball caps, hats, and ponytails on a balding man can also indicate resistance to growing older (or growing up),” says Dimitrius in Reading People. “But bear in mind that many balding men have to wear a hat outdoors to avoid sunburn on their scalp or for warmth in cold weather. If the hat stays on indoors, that’s another story. The wearer may be self-conscious and insecure because of his hair loss.”

Fearon