Women With Shorter Hair Usually Have These 11 Very Specific Personality Traits
Eugenio Marongiu / Shutterstock While many women have been pressured to believe that long hair is a “prerequisite” for acceptable femininity, the truth is that authenticity and a strong sense of self-esteem come from detaching from trends and social norms rather than trying to fit in with what tradition deems acceptable. Femininity comes from individuality, not conformity. How women wear and change their hair feeds into that sense of authenticity in an incredibly deep way.
Not only is our hair often a reflection of experience and age, but it’s also symbolic and emotional. That’s why it’s not surprising that women with shorter hair usually have very specific personality traits and experiences that influence how they express themselves to the world. It’s not always as simple as convenience or attractiveness, but rooted in deep emotional shifts and individual character traits.
Women with shorter hair usually have these 11 very specific personality traits
1. They’re comfortable with change
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Especially for women, cutting off our hair and changing our hairstyles often corresponds with changes in our lives in general. Whether we get bangs or chop our hair into a bob, when we decide to change or get rid of it, it’s not just a physical shift but also often an emotional one.
If someone is comfortable with changing and cutting their hair, they may also have certain emotional regulation skills and intelligence that influence how they embrace change in their lives. From moving to ending relationships, women with shorter hair may have personality traits that make them more comfortable with change.
2. They’re low-maintenance
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While low-maintenance relationships often have their consequences, if a low-maintenance woman chooses self-expression, clothing, and hairstyles to better support her lifestyle, that’s not a bad thing. Maybe she wants to have more time to herself in the morning, and a short hairstyle is easier to manage and style. She may simply appreciate having less hair to hassle with on busy days and amid the chaos of life.
Women with shorter hair usually have these very specific personality traits. Especially considering our relationships with our hairstyles and hair in general play a strong role in our mental health and self-esteem, it’s not surprising that low-maintenance women choose to protect their sanity by opting for low-maintenance hairstyles.
3. They’re comfortable with themselves
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According to a study from Stanford University, our perception of our own physical attractiveness can often deeply influence our lifestyles, choices, and self-esteem more than researchers realized in past investigations. So, if someone’s struggling with their sense of authenticity or their self-worth, chances are they’re going to lean on misguided coping mechanisms to seek some sort of respite from feelings of inadequacy.
One way women cope with that insecurity and shield themselves from being perceived by the world is by hiding behind their hair. They use long hair and certain hairstyles to protect themselves from being truly perceived by others, even if it’s entirely subconscious.
However, women with shorter hair usually have a sense of self-assuredness and are comfortable with themselves. They don’t mind showing their face off to the world or being fully, entirely perceived without the shield of long hair to hide behind.
4. They don’t seek approval from others
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While research shows that many women with short hair are perceived as more intelligent, mature, and professional in the workplace, in popular culture, long hair is often glamorized, which can lead women to adopt an aura of self-consciousness. Especially for people who struggle with insecurity and derive their self-worth from external approval and validation, long hair may be tied to their sense of self-concept and place in the world.
However, women who are internally gratified make choices about their appearance on their own accord. They’re not trying to be more attractive to anyone but themselves, and they choose how to express themselves based on how they’ll feel, rather than how they’ll be perceived.
These women don’t seek approval from others. Their short hair is simply a personal choice and avenue of self-expression that makes them feel more secure or comfortable.
5. They’re not afraid to stand out
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While social belonging often plays an important role in personal well-being, trying to feel like you fit in by taking on an inauthentic persona is likely to lead to a sense of disconnection. If you’re trying to find a community without being your truest self, you may always struggle to connect with people and feel seen.
Women with shorter hair, who don’t mind standing out and expressing their identity in non-traditional ways by societal standards, often find their people quickly. They’re authentic, even if that means not fitting in with the collective culture, but rather with other people who truly see them and value them for who they are.
6. They’re practical
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Inherently practical women often make functional decisions that feed into their convenience and ease. Whether it’s cutting their hair into a shorter, more easily managed haircut or wearing less makeup to avoid taking time for touch-ups, women with a practical view of life aren’t interested in performing for other people at the expense of their own well-being and energy.
Of course, a certain level of romanticism and optimism is important, but being practical truly supports these women's well-being, ensuring they’re not wasting time or energy on things that don’t bring them joy.
7. They’re open-minded
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Women with shorter hair usually have very specific personality traits, like open-mindedness. Even if they’ve been socialized into adopting a certain perspective of femininity or have kept the same kind of self-expression their entire lives, they’re not afraid to change things up.
Luckily for these women, research, including a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, argues that openness is actually a stronger predictor of success and well-being than sheer intelligence. The more open-minded you are to trying new things, adopting a new hairstyle, or learning something new, the happier and healthier you’ll be.
8. They’re not afraid to be misunderstood
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Our brains are naturally wired to judge people upon first glance, taking into account how they’ve presented themselves, reading into their nonverbal cues, and judging their facial expressions. While that can be frightening for some people and may urge them to change their behavior and express themselves to conform to social expectations, women with shorter hair are usually less afraid of being misunderstood.
Even if they’re perceived differently from how they see themselves, it’s not going to ruin their day, because they know who they are and likely have relationships with people who can see them for who they are beneath their appearance.
9. They’re comfortable with taking up space
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While taking up space is generally considered a masculine experience for men who dominate social spaces and act in controlling, powerful ways, women with shorter hair are often self-assured enough to do the same. They’re not only adventurous and uniquely expressive with their hair, but they’re also not afraid to challenge social norms in every aspect of their lives by speaking up and making their voice heard.
To change the social norms that have kept women feeling quiet and inferior for decades, more women need to be like these — unwilling to dim their light with agreeableness to make sure society unwinds their rigid, limiting perception of feminine traits.
10. They’re adventurous
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While women with long hair are often perceived as more attractive by traditional societal standards, women who intentionally choose shorter hairstyles are living by their own. They’re adventurous and not afraid to stray from the norm, even if they’re not always perceived in the ways that society expects.
From their hair to their general appearance and other forms of self-expression, women with shorter hair aren't afraid to be perceived as different.
11. They’re adaptable
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Clearly evident in their ability to stray from the norm in our current culture, women with shorter hair usually have the specific personality trait of adaptability.
These women can make the best of any situation and work their way out of any issue that comes their way. They don’t need a constant feeling of acceptance, reassurance, or validation from others to create meaning in their lives. They are complete in themselves and satisfied with who they are and how they look.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
