tigressA Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 I was just reading an article about "The Millionaire Matchmaker", Patti Stanger, who bashes curly hair. She has been quoted several times saying things that reveal a clear anti-curl bias (even saying, "If you want to keep it curly, go to Israel"), and is convinced that men as a whole do not like curly hair, and prefer long, sleek, straight hair. So I thought I would put it to the men and women of LS: Men, what do you think of curly hair? Ladies, if you have curly hair, have you had any trouble getting a guy wearing it naturally, or otherwise experienced anti-curl bias? As a personal note: I have naturally very curly hair; while I wear it straight/wavy most of the time, all the guys I've dated have seen it in its natural texture and have had no complaints. Several have preferred it.
Don Ho Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 I prefer straight hair. Maybe some curls or waves if we're going out. Guess it depends. Denise Richards is wearing the "curl" coif right now. Hmmm.
Woggle Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 There is nothing whatsoever wrong with curly hair. Before getting mad at her though consider the source.
Star Gazer Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 I've noticed Patti saying this on her show, even to girls who's curls are more like big wavy curls than tight ringlets. It's given me a moment of pause each time, particularly because I tend to curl my straight/wavy hair for special occasions. Hmm.
Mme. Chaucer Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 I have super curly hair and have worn it curly my whole long life. Now that I'm all elderly, I decided to venture into the world of the flat iron. My SO (who had never seen me without curly) LOVED it. He said it was more "girly," which surprised me. I thought of curly hair as very feminine. Other women have always admired my hair. Guys, maybe not so much ... who knew?
Author tigressA Posted October 28, 2010 Author Posted October 28, 2010 I find it really interesting that she considers herself such an authority on what men like, yet she hasn't had much luck with men herself--I saw once that she was engaged but then that broke up. How many matches she's made on her show have been successful? Anyone have any idea?
In The Green Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 I have wavy/curly hair and it annoys me to no end the flak that curly haired people get. I was just talking to 2 other women who have even more cork screwed curls than me and they feel the same. Mainstream trends for the last few decades demand that to be professional hair should be sleek & straight. Natural curls are deemed " messy and unkempt". Either one must apparently straighten them or form them into unnatural curls with curlers or a curling iron. So ridiculous. They would have me damage my hair repeatedly and I'm at the age where I won't do it anymore. I straighten it maybe once every 2 weeks for a change but thats it. I've had mixed reactions from men, some either love it and others seem to prefer it straight. I suppose its personal preference. I'd be bald in a few years if I straightened my hair everyday, it can't take that abuse.
Author tigressA Posted October 28, 2010 Author Posted October 28, 2010 I have super curly hair and have worn it curly my whole long life. Now that I'm all elderly, I decided to venture into the world of the flat iron. My SO (who had never seen me without curly) LOVED it. He said it was more "girly," which surprised me. I thought of curly hair as very feminine. Other women have always admired my hair. Guys, maybe not so much ... who knew? That surprises me too. I've been told I look more "youthful" with my curly hair and more "sophisticated/sexy" with my straight/wavy hair. This is why I tend to wear my hair straight/wavy most of the time. I guess once I get wrinkles I should ditch the flat-iron.
Star Gazer Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 That surprises me too. I've been told I look more "youthful" with my curly hair and more "sophisticated/sexy" with my straight/wavy hair. This is why I tend to wear my hair straight/wavy most of the time. I guess once I get wrinkles I should ditch the flat-iron. I do tend to straighten my hair for court or depositions or other important work-related things. I should start asking my male friends about this...
Fouts Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 As a personal note: I have naturally very curly hair; while I wear it straight/wavy most of the time, all the guys I've dated have seen it in its natural texture and have had no complaints. Several have preferred it. If a girl has naturally curly hair, I prefer the way it looks naturally on her 9x out of 10.
xpaperxcutx Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 My hair is naturally straight, so even if I curled my hair, I would have to use alot of products on it to get it to stay curled. It's a bit of a daunting task and I normally don't wear my hair that way unless I'm going out. In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with curls. For me, I consider a very sophisticated style.
PratyekaYana Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 I guess I'm squarely in the minority of Patti Stranger's assessment of what men gravitate towards in women's hairstyles. Curls are infinitely more preferable to me than the long, sleek alternative. They have a certain character about them that just doesn't appear in the flat, lifeless alternative (IMHO mind you).
Author tigressA Posted October 28, 2010 Author Posted October 28, 2010 I do tend to straighten my hair for court or depositions or other important work-related things. I should start asking my male friends about this... That's a widespread practice--straightening one's hair to fit into a professional setting. I guess it's seen as most professional because it's unassuming. It doesn't really stand out. It's mainstream.
Lorelai Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 My hair is naturally very straight, and I've always envied people with curly hair. If I want waves/curls I'll wash my hair and do the foam rollers thing, or when it was longer sleep in a french braid -- but it doesn't last long and it's more work than I would put in on a daily basis. I've permed it a few times but it was a complete waste, since it lost all semblance of curl and turned into damaged frizz within 3 weeks. Moral of the story -- it's rare to be happy with what you're born with. (Heck, I only started appreciating my naturally red hair when it started to darken to auburn about the time I started working nights five years ago -- even as a teenager I hated it, and don't get me started on being a ginger in elementary school.) But no guy I've dated has commented on which they preferred on me, curly or straight.
Star Gazer Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 The more I think about it... when I wear my hair curly (somewhat assisted with a curling iron, mind you), I get TONS and TONS of compliments...from women. But when I wear my hair straight, I get tons of attention...from men. Hmmmm.
xpaperxcutx Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 The more I think about it... when I wear my hair curly (somewhat assisted with a curling iron, mind you), I get TONS and TONS of compliments...from women. But when I wear my hair straight, I get tons of attention...from men. Hmmmm. That's really ironic. I wonder why that is.
Author tigressA Posted October 28, 2010 Author Posted October 28, 2010 The more I think about it... when I wear my hair curly (somewhat assisted with a curling iron, mind you), I get TONS and TONS of compliments...from women. But when I wear my hair straight, I get tons of attention...from men. Hmmmm. I get the same exact thing! I'll get stopped in the street by women when I wear my hair naturally, saying things like "I wish my hair would curl like that!" but I'm all but invisible to guys--except if I'm already dating one. The guys I've dated who expressed a preference for it seemed to like me looking more "exotic" and I guess the curls brought that out, since they can get really big and wild.
OceanGirl Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 It really depends on your face shape IMO. If you have a round face, straight and sleek is better because it elongates it. I have a long face so curly/wavy looks better on me. Straight looks OK if it has some volume in it and is not dead straight. As for Patti, I watched her show occasionally and she is super annoying. I don't put much weight on her advice.
loverofloveandstuff Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 (edited) Men and women have different ideas about beauty. Lots of women strive to look like a runway model, whereas in reality, most guys would pick a glamour/sports/bikini model over a a stick thin runway model anyday. Straight hair is elegant, sexy and hard to go wrong with imo. Curly hair can be very beautiful and feminine, but it can also easily fall into the total mess category. I also think curly hair can be distracting from an otherwise beautiful face. In my experience, like yours also, guys like straight hair better. I've been straightening my hair everyday for the last couple of years and on the odd day that I don't... I have noticed I don't get as many looks or men approaching me. I don't know exactly why, nor do I really care. I like my hair straightened because to me it looks more professional and less of a mess at the end of a long day. Receiving more attention is just a bonus. EDIT: I'm going to add that despite actually damaging it, when my hair is straightened it is shiny and looks far healthier than when it is not straightened. Heart my GHD. Edited October 28, 2010 by loverofloveandstuff
Knittress Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 Glad you brought this up. I have long dark curls, which I get complimented on, but at the same time pressured to straighten! I understand not looking like a frazzled mess, but what's with the cookie-cutter beauty standards? I've never straightened my hair, but I still get checked out plenty. I'm not sure if I could 'improve' my ratings by changing things, but I guess I just don't care that much. I like me.
Feelin Frisky Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 Curls. Patti Stanger is just being politically correct to the haute couture crowd where straightened hair is a symbol of sophistication. Apparently, curly hair is unsophisticated and too raw for haute couture. She can shove it up her ass. The world isn't haute couture and the best beauty is that which nature makes. Curly hair is a head turner to the natural beast inside me. Straight hair is more of an acquired taste. That said, I wouldn't kick straight haired chicks out of my bed on hair style. It does tend to flop in the way more than curly hair though.
loverofloveandstuff Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 Straight hair is more of an acquired taste. I would've thought curly hair is more of an acquired taste...hmmm
Feelin Frisky Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 (edited) I would've thought curly hair is more of an acquired taste...hmmm Take that to imply "straightened" hair as opposed to straight. If a woman has naturally curly hair it is usually more appealing to me as a symbol of natural energy than the same woman who has her hair straightened to look like a personae in naturally isn't. Of course women with naturally straight hair a plenty beautiful and appealing too. Straight hair often means thinner hair however and therefore many heads of straight hair don't hold perms all that well. As a generality, it's easier for curly haired woman to straighten hair than straight haired to become and stay curly (unless they have thick straight hair). No? Here's two pictures of gorgeous actress Alexa Davalos. One is with "straightened" hair and one is her being her bouncy young self at home. She knocks me out either way but the straight hair is an "acquired look" whereas the other one isn't. I guess I should have said aquired look instead of acquired taste. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/RareBird0/alexa99992.jpg http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/RareBird0/alexa990.jpg Edited October 28, 2010 by Feelin Frisky
sweetjasmine Posted October 28, 2010 Posted October 28, 2010 "If you want to keep it curly, go to Israel" Wow, that's just downright offensive. She can shove it up her ass. Yeah, what he said.
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