A dramatic change of a hairstyle, new hair colour or just some highlights reflect our subconscious wish for changes. When we want to turn the page to a new chapter in our life, we start at the head. Sometimes an unpleasant experience is the reason, like an end of a relationship, death of a loved one or something else significant. We get rid of the pain in our past symbolically by cutting our hair and changing our hairstyle that somehow ties us to it.
Professor Roberto Pani, a lecturer of clinical psychology at the University of Bologna, came to a conclusion that changing hairstyles is related to emotions, ranging from depression to euphoria; he says hair is like a basin of a woman’s emotions. A desire for change is a sign of a need for independence, of forgetting about an event that caused suffering, or concluding a chapter in our life thus far. We start fulfilling these wishes by changing our hairstyle, length or hair colour. Hair has a specific language and meaning in different cultures, religions and epochs. A woman with long hair is considered beautiful and attractive. Long, silky and shiny hair touch the deepest parts of human psyche: healthy hair is attractive, because it represents health, youth and fertility. Although it’s true that this perception varies depending on the culture. The Maasai people consider a woman with a shaved head or extremely short hair to be beautiful. The Native American tribe of Navajo believed that hair is the part of the body that is closest to thoughts. So to them, long hair was a representation of memory.
Hair says a lot about a person. There is a strong and often quite apparent link between character, mood and hair. Even Coco Chanel said: “A woman who cuts her hair is planning changes in her life.” Hair actually symbolises our identity, it’s linked to Eros, to a growing desire that needs some direction. That is why it’s so pleasant when somebody strokes our hair.
The most fashionable hairstyles are the lazily elegant ones, slightly messy curls, a somewhat carelessly tied updo or completely sleek hair. The emphasis is on simplicity. Every second woman regards hair as a weapon of seduction, cares for it manically and by playing with it shows an obvious interest in the opposite sex. And which are the most alluring hairstyles? The Swedish Scandinavian Journal of Psychology published results of a research that show that men like long hair, because it’s sexy, a sign of health, well-being and youth. Researchers from the University in South Bretagne point to studies which supports the view that hair which covers the neck shows a larger capacity for empathy and encourages the alpha male to a longer-lasting relationship. In general, men dislike complicated hairstyles. They prefer simplicity, messy curls, sleek hair, which is a classic, and hairstyles that reveal facial features.
18 thoughts on “A woman who cuts her hair is planning changes in her life”
Most men, and many women, prefer longer hair on women, even if they don’t buy into the motives that are tacked on to the act of cutting the hair.
Long hair is a measure of time. Cut the hair means farewell with the old time and start a new life.
Yes I agree!
For me, when I am depressed I feel like I need to make a huge change to try to break out of the self-hatred I have. There are a variety of reasons, but the big one is that I feel like I need to do something to change who I am.
The experts all seemed to agree on both the historical links between women’s long tresses and the image of fertility and sexual desirability, and most seemed to feel that a woman who made a drastic change from long hair to a gamine-short cut was expressing some intent to be “off the market” in some measure. Nice post!
Adding to the other answers – when you are depressed, you can begin hating everything about yourself, this includes what you see in the mirror. Thank you for writing!
Cutting the hair gives me the feeling of being free, feels like freedom.
Long hair is always going to be favored by some, regardless of the circumstances, but the popularity of stars like Halle Berry and Charlize Theron are excellent examples of how attitudes about styles change with time. Nice reading!
Chopping off the hair is one such way. A personal thought process…
I think when you cut your hair short means that you are actually breaking the old variables in your present lifetime and starting a new beginning in your second lifetime to come.
I have cut off my hair.I feel free .On my new journey,Change of life .Follow my dreams and create the society I want to live in.
Well done Christine! xoxo
This was great to come across and read as a new image came to me tonight saying CHOP IT OFF. I was about to bathe, my long mop piled on my head – a 55 years old, survived several concussions, divorce and caretaking my elderly parents, plus an organic farmer growing food for the hungry, singer-songwriter, about to release about book on Multiple concussions and a CD called Spirit Playing Human (with photos already taken with long hair) hmmm…In the mirror, I see a tired woman with lots of gray and dark under the red ball I made out of the length. I message my daughter “I think I am ready to bobb it off.” She says COOL. I say maybe a pixy with attitude to go with my rubber boots, bib overalls and white tee shirts to farm this Spring. Only, I already have photos for my upcoming CD.” She says, “RESHOOT!”
So, this Sat… it is bye bye old head. Hello new chapter. Hello Healthy life. Hello HEALTHY BRAIN. Hello Laurie. 🙂
Amazing Laurie! How nice to read this! Yes chop it off! I have to do it too, but I am still not enough brave 🙂 I just wish you all the best, stay super cool and do a terrific job! And please, send photos if you decide to reshoot! Love xoxo
Yes I agree! When you are tired of the same old lies and excuses in a relationship…what better way do something that’s tells him and the world you mean business and you don’t give a *****what no one thinks!
I feel the same way!! Cutting off your hair is that you’re tired ready to start a new and fruitful life. No worries, sadness or depression. Just a new fresh clean slate! A new beginning. A fresh start on life seeing and feeling things in a new light. Getting rid of no good old baggage that caused you nothing but pain. Moving forward!!!!
Takina Ross
on November 17, 2019 at 10:33 am
four years since this article was published and everyone is shaving their heads or making a big chop. i agree with the cutting of hair symbolizing a time of change, but i also think that we like the rebellious feeling that comes with it. we rebel society’s expectations for how a woman looks. we say “screw it” and don’t care what men think when they see us. by cutting hair, we are reminding ourselves that we are strong and don’t need anyone.
I totally agree with you my friend. The article has four years, but is still so true. Have an amazing day and thank you for commenting!