Photo: getty
They're actually incredibly sensitive.
By Christine Schoenwald — Written on Nov 13, 2019
A human who has a tough exterior is usually afraid of being hurt, so they protect themselves by having an attitude or closing themselves off with the tone of their voice. Or, they seem hard and insensitive. If someone is off-putting, they are overly negative, bitter, sarcastic, and/or angry all the time.
There are many things that can make someone this way: growing up and not feeling safe, experiencing a lot of pain, or being afraid of someone getting too close and taking advantage of them. And using astrology, it's evident why the zodiac signs with a tough exterior act this way.
Most of the time, someone with a hard shell has a soft inside, but they’re terrified of exposing it. There’s nothing more emotionally dangerous than being vulnerable with people you don’t trust. Once someone has proven they’re trustworthy, the tough person will start to open up more and show the softer side of their personality.
If you have someone like this in your life, it can be difficult knowing how to get them to open up with you. But if you show up for them and prove your loyalty, they will gradually begin to relax and not be so unpleasant or nasty.
1. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorns will develop a tough exterior when they've been hurt more than once. They can be gruff, unfriendly, and act as if they have too much work to do to socialize with anyone.
The bottom line with Capricorns is that even though it may not seem like it, they're shy. They feel awkward at social events if they don't know many people, and will put their walls up. They act above it all, but being open has burned them in the past and they aren't going to let that happen again.
2. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
Aquarians exhibit their tough exterior with aloofness, detachment, and being emotionally unavailable. If they come off as invulnerable, they'll be safe. They want to be able to enjoy being around people without having to worry about messy emotions.
If they come off as having walls up, Aquarius won't be forced into a situation where they have to listen to somebody else's problems and/or be required to help them. Their hard shell may not be visible, but it's easy to know it's there from their attitude, sarcasm, and need for personal space.
3. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgo's tough exterior is carefully constructed to keep from others from seeing how vulnerable they can be. Their hard shell is yet another piece of protection they use, like their immense knowledge or their analytical mind.
If they're overcritical, judgmental, and harsh, that's just their way of keeping people at a distance. The truth of the matter is that while Virgo may not appear to care what others think, this zodiac sign cares too much. If they have a tough exterior, smaller injustices have less of a chance of hurting them.
4. ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries individuals like to pretend they're cool with just about anything. However, when it comes to heartbreak or betrayal, they aren't okay with it at all. Their tough exterior is a facade. They want love and loyalty just like everybody else, but they're not convinced they're going to get it.
So, if they appear like they don't care or don't have time for anyone's drama, maybe they won't get hurt. The problem is that Aries are impulsive and can be confrontational, so they say things they didn't mean and then have to deal with their actions.
5. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpio's tough exterior is made of mystery. They can get hurt more easily than they let on. They're faithful and expect others to be, but it doesn't always work out that way. Their protective shell helps them appear to be in control of their emotions and prevents them from heartbreak.
As sad as it may sound, Scorpio individuals have a hard time trusting people and believing they act out of a need to help others. They are on guard a lot of the time and their hard shell is their invisible armor.
6. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces are definitely a big emotional mess on the inside, but they're terrified of it being used against them, so they work to develop a tough exterior. They have a ton of feelings and if they don't have an outlet to express them, they may try to squash them entirely and pretend to not care.
It's safer to seem indifferent so people aren't tempted to use your emotions against you. People tend to take advantage of Pisces' selfless nature. If they seem a little less willing to help, they might be in a better position to protect themselves.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly and I AM & CO. Check out her website or and her Instagram.