Why Women Have Long Hair

Ariadna Balderrama: I used to have hair that reached mid thigh, this past summer (June 2016) I cut 25" off and left it right below my shoulders. All throughout my childhood, I believed that women with long hair were the most beautiful and I idolized Rapunzel. My hair made me feel pretty and feminine, and young. I prided myself in having the longest hair in the room anywhere that I went, people always complimented my hair and said they were envious of it. My hair was a defining characteristic of who I was, people recognized me by my hair. My hair had become a sort of security blanket, I refused to even get it trimmed, and cried when my mom forced me to let her trim it. My hair made me feel beautiful and I felt that I had achieved something that I had always wanted. This summer I felt that I'd grown up and I no longer needed my hair as protection. I had always been ready for adventures and eager to try new things in all aspects of my life and appearance, except for my hair. But I reached a point where I felt that I had grown too accustomed to having long hair and this had made me feel too safe and accepted by both myself and society. I was not ready to let go of such a big part of myself and my identity, but I scheduled a hair donation and I asked my mom to cut it off. I almost cried, when she cut the first ponytail off, but I reminded myself that I was doing this for my own personal benefit, but I would also be helping other children. I feel that, in a sense, having short hair has helped me love myself more, because I have found other qualities in myself that can be considered beautiful which I once overlooked. Plus, everyone still likes my hair, go figure.

Kayla Ali: Female beauty standards--ethnicity--Hair Very interesting. Thank you for opening the curtain of this conversation. I am very passionate about this issue. As someone who is of African decent I can say that hair is definitely something that runs deep. In many african societies the way one did her hair was indicative of her status--Very much similar to what you said. Kind of what you said about "the new woman", Idk if you heard about it, but there's a natural hair movement in black communities, especially for black women(maybe men too) to embrace their NATURAL hair and beauty, not conforming to a standard that is completely impossible to live up to. It's a symbol of liberation from what we're not and not apologising for being ourselves. When it comes to beauty standards it's especially hard on young black girls because not only are they vulnerable to the images in the media, others are too, and they feel a type of way about it. There are feelings of inferiority that get mixed up in their identity as a result. I know from experience. I did not feel beautiful unless my mother put harsh chemicals to straighten my hair--I wish that she had taught me to embrace my natural hair the way I do now. I know that I will teach my daughters better. Curly hair does not mean it is bad, straight hair is not good. They are just different. Both are good. Anyway, back to the 'new woman" phenomenon you described... there's this thing called "the big chop" which refers to cutting off all the straight hair and leaving the natural curly hair. Now up to the person to cultivate and grow naturally, the way our hair type is meant to be taken care of...so back to our "roots"...I encourage you to do a youtube/google search on Natural hair journeys before and after "the big chop". I'm also Jamaican and I can tell you a bit about Rastafarianism. I am a rasta at heart! check the link to inform yourself about what it is! --http://listverse.com/2014/01/06/10-things-to-know-about-rastafari-beliefs/ They believe that body is the temple (like the bible says), and that we're taught to work with what was given to you and grow your hair long (most often in dreads, but not always...becasue it's the most organic way to deal with Afro hair-- or any other hair type). Liberation. Beauty. Identity. That's what hair means for me.

Sarah J: I'm currently writing a paper on beauty politics of black women and it's hard to talk about length without talking about texture as well, because my hair is long but it curls and grows upward so it doesn't seem so.

babujai1: I was wondering if you were going to address ethnicity in this video.  The standard of long hair, especially long FLOWING hair is such a loaded issue in the African American community.  It's definitely a topic that should be addressed separately with a great deal of sensitivity and accurate information.

TheLoneCabbage: I think the real question is "Why is short hair the go-to hairstyle for men"? Hair will grow long naturally. It's a lot more work to keep it short in my experience.

Twinerism: After having a discussion, I've got a tough question to throw your way, Cristen. Why is it women have begun to exhibit more versatile choices of both masculine and feminine traits? (Wearing suits, short hair, act with bravado, playing sports, engineering and so on.) And vice versa;  Why do men seem less open to associating to effeminate traits? (such as wearing dresses, hair styling, make-up, childcare, cooking, and so on.) (Keep in mind, I am aware that masculinity and femininity is subjective and can very much change over time, Hopefully with less importance on self-definition.)

Susan.Palet9: As an MTF I have long hair because it's something I've wanted for a very long time. In the past I kept it short because I felt everyone around me expected that and would disapprove if it got any longer than say a couple of inches below the ear. Now, my hair is 4 inches below my shoulder and I am just so completely in love with it. I don't care what anyone thinks any more and I find myself flouting it. I love all the different styles I can do now and I even put it up in a Victorian style now and then and It is just fabulous. I've had this desire since age 15 and now I am getting close to fulfillment. And, f course, this includes skirts. I am happier and much more expressive even in public ! Thanks Cristen for talking about all these things. It just makes so much sense !

Deanna: Hmm. Thanks, Cristen for mentioning the intersection between hair and ethnicity...not going to lie, halfway through this video, I was rolling my eyes, because this was all done from a Western white female historical perspective (sorry! D: ). The Masai women keep their hair closely cropped, almost shaved, just like the men--and that's just one example. So, I appreciate you wanting to do a video on hair within other non-European/Western ethnicities--I say go for it.

fatalrob0t: My mom views long hair as an inconvenience, so she's always preferred keeping her hair short. she never quite understood that I like having my hair long. When I had short hair as a kid I'd get told I looked like a boy. Maybe that had some effect on me later, but I just really like having long hair. I keep some fringe around my face that's cut to about bob length so that it frames my face. It can also be braided back with the rest of my hair if I so choose.

Caden Rolland: Here is another white weastern womans thing: As they get older, their hair gets shorter.

Yung Leah: Firstly, I would like to thank you for uploading your videos, they're amazing ! I'm not sure if you still had questions about hair lengths and how that is different for other cultures, but as an African-American girl, I can most definitely say that hair affects our culture a lot. To have long and straight hair as an African-American woman shows the public that you are less African (wild and ignorant) and more European( dainty and refined). This dates back to slave times. If you were lighter or had "Sillier" hair than the rest of the slaves, that meant that you were less black which in the end meant that you were considered less of a savage. The darker, and for sake of understanding, nappy haired slaves were sent outside to do the hard work, while the ones who had more Caucasian features, were allowed to stay in the house, and in hindsight, excepted "more". Long and straight hair within the AA community, is an unconscious bias of wither an individual should, or should not be accepted in society. White supremacy, through history, has taught other races that they are lesser, and in order to make up for these failures, should imitate European culture. I think it is really neat that you take the time to understand all aspects of a topic, instead of jumping in completely oblivious. I'm not saying I'm a Spokes Person for African-Americans, but this what I have learned/lived and think this to be the reason for the huge impact hair has on African Americans.

Connor D: I just want to say that while like most guys I unfortunately find long hair 10x more beautiful and feminine than a pixie cut or some other short style (for countless reasons including being fun to play with), I recognize the amount of work that goes into maintaining the hairstyle every day! I know you could cut it all off if you wanted to, saving you lots of time and money, making a statement, feeling the breeze, etcetera... but knowing that you instead choose to put in that effort (which guys like me won't) makes it all the more attractive! It doesn't go unnoticed and you are appreciated!

A Thompson: *A question for next time-* Firstly its very cool that you read these. I was wondering what you thought about the 'semi acceptance' of gay culture. Things are booming right now in the LGBT community and that's great, but I have encountered a certain trait in a lot of my straight friends. I'd like to say my friends are not homophobic and are amazingly lovely people, however, I often find in conversation with them that I feel a little awkward talking about anything 'not straight.' They are totally ok with my sexuality, yet I feel like the subject of 'gay' is something that should only be brought up now an then in their eyes. I get the feeling that I shouldn't talk about it too much around them, which is odd since I find that almost every conversation (especially with my guy friends) has traits of heterosexuality.  I have also been occasionally by people that they are totally fine with people being gay, but they shouldn't let it 'define them'. This is odd, since you wouldn't say to a straight person, 'that's ok, just don't let your straightness define you.' Because of course your sexuality defines you. In a world where heteronormatisom seems to dominate every aspect of human life, I find this almost hypocritical, as if even the most accepting straight people can sometimes see being gay as a small part of someone's life style choice as opposed to the core part of someone's being (such as being straight is considered.)

Emessar Games: I know I'm in the minority, but I've always kind of preferred short hair on women. Heck, my biggest crush in the 90's was Sinead O'Connor.

Shawn Ravenfire: Here's something weird that I noticed.  Back in the 80s, it was fashionable for men to have long hair (maybe not guys in offices, but regular guys), and for women to have short hair (across the board), and yet, one of the favorite gags of movie-writers was the woman being mistaken for a man until she takes her hat off to reveal long hair.  It was one of those things that made me wonder as a kid if Hollywood writers even lived in the same universe as the rest of us.

holycrappitsjo: I had short hair as a kid because I was in an accident when I was 5, and had to cut a bunch of hair off to properly apply bandages around my ears and the rest of my head. I would get pitying or confused looks from people NOT because of the horrible scarring on one side of my head, but because I had a "boy's cut". I often was called "sir" or "mister" by substitute teachers in school, and was torturously made fun of my classmates for it. I have since bounced between long hair and super short a few times, but now that I have a straight up pixie and it's the shortest it's ever been, I'm also the most confident I've ever been. I have zero shame in correcting someone when they address me as a man, and have no problem negating every point they make about me looking "dikey". I tell them they only thing my haircut does is make me look fuckin' ADORABLE. POWER TO THE PIXIE! :)

alexilass: I am a woman with short hair and it never ceases to surprise me how so many people have an opinion on my hair when it was never a topic in conversation and they just feel free to comment weather positive or negative. most of my female friends say they love it but they wouldn't have the courage to cut their own hair that short, "But it looks great on you!" already alluding to the fact that my short hair is somehow weird. and unfortunately most of the guys that comment straight up tell me that I was much prettier with long hair and they wish I wouldn't cut it. I've developed a tougher skin about my appearance now since cutting my hair because of all the comments, but at the end of the day I know I like my hair. I think it suits me and all these comments shouldn't change how I feel about myself. 

Aleksandra Grąbkowska: Thank you for the video. I agree with you. However, I’d like to add two other factors. 1. Long hair is versatile - women usually pay attention to details (well, more than most men ) - that’s why most of them prefer to experiment with many different hairstyles. The truth is that every haircut that ends at the shoulders and above (or even one inch below the shoulders) has only one styling option... 2. Short hair is high maintenance as hell (well, maybe except super short pixie cuts). It’s terribly time consuming and quite expensive to deal with almost every short haircut. When I had a bob haircut I had to wash it every single day and I had to style it every single day. I also had to spend lots of money on expensive hair products- not to have a frizz-ball on my head and not to have damaged hair by heat tools. That’s why I decided to grow my bob out- and that’s why most women usually grow their hair out after one or two „adventures” with short hair.

Aleksandra Grąbkowska: Thank you for the video. I agree with you. However, I’d like to add two other factors. 1. Long hair is versatile - women usually pay attention to details (well, more than most men ) - that’s why most of them prefer to experiment with many different hairstyles. The truth is that every haircut that ends at the shoulders and above (or even one inch below the shoulders) has only one styling option... 2. Short hair is high maintenance as hell (well, maybe except super short pixie cuts). It’s terribly time consuming and quite expensive to deal with almost every short haircut. When I had a bob haircut I had to wash it every single day and I had to style it every single day. I also had to spend lots of money on expensive hair products- not to have a frizz-ball on my head and not to have damaged hair by heat tools. That’s why I decided to grow my bob out- and that’s why most women usually grow their hair out after one or two „adventures” with short hair.

MestizoFilipino: and conversely, from my experience from growing my hair.. there are still a fair amount of people that dont like long hair on a male... especially if you are a performer of some sort.. and yes I kept it nice looking but it still happened. Girls generally loved my hair. ultimately, I cut it because i kept having to trim it for my job.. and so I couldnt get it long enough so that I usually would've had hair stabbing me in the eye. it's just less annoying to have short hair... but damn having short hair is way more boring.

NightingaleSpica: I love you didn't get to crazy with the explanation. ethnicity and culture will play a huge role in hair length and cutting. one I think you could have lightly touched based on is how hair cutting can mean multiple things. It can be used as a punishment, Mourning, dehumanizing, or a physical tool to separate ones old past/tribe/life for the new.

N The One: I love the way you explained this, and how you mentionned the "broad" way you said things at the end. Shows inclusivity and sincerity. Thank you for that.

Calypso Sarnowski: I have a pixie cut now. I had extremely long hair just a month ago. I have gone from very long hair to all kinds of short cuts like clock work through out my life. The majority of the time, I was donating my hair. I've bleached, I've dyed, I fell in love with blow-drying, I've been addicted to straightening, I've journeyed the never ending quest of mastering fancy braids. I've never covered my hair and have hardly ever worn an accessory in my hair. It's just hair and I prefer to have fun with it. Being part of an interracial family, I've styled multiple hair textures of different lengths. Some natural, some permed. It's all very different, but I love all hair. I know that might seem unfair, coming from me because I don't have to worry about the same things with my hair and it isn't always easy. I'm going to go out on a limb and just say what I think: I don't like media forced beauty assimilation. It's cliché but true; Everyone is beautiful just the way they are. I would love to see your follow up on this. Maybe you could reach out and get a fellow youtuber to feature and back up the research with some personal thoughts.

ArtistProtagonist: I'm Indian and hair is a big ass deal in our culture. Dark, long, thick hair. Traditionally anyway. Now with globalisation, anything goes but we still champion hair growth. What is considered long hair in the west is just medium here :P

Neirin Luthe: My mom, the hairdresser and everybody else in the salon were shocked when I asked for my hair to be cut short. Even to this day she tries to convince me to let my hair grow out because it looks better. A few years later there's a family reunion and I meet my cousin. We were sitting next to each other I had my hair cut short while he had his hair long. Finally someone who understands!

Mariah O.: I keep my hair pretty short, around chin to shoulder length most of the time. It's always been a practicality thing. I have really thick hair so if it's longer and not layered, it kills me during the summer. Plus, I dye my hair a lot. Less hair, less dye needed, less money out of my pocket. Even with it being chin-ish lengths, I needed a ten dollar thing of bleach to lighten it and two things of ten dollar containers of the color I want. If I let it get shoulder length, I need a third thing of color dye. So, I keep it above my shoulders.

Moni We: When I had a pixie cut I spent a lot of time in the bathroom straightening, styling etc... I was so glad when it was long enough to get it into a ponytail again!! That felt really liberating: just being able to wear an easy updo on a bad hair day :D No shorter hair than a bob for me anymore!

Alexandria White: I remember when I was in elementary or early middle school I wanted to cut my hair short so when I went to the salon with my mom and her friend I picked out a short style (nothing flashy or over the top just something simple ) and when I showed them they all just laughed at me , my moms friend at the time was laughing as she walked out the door , I couldn't get my hair cut short so I had to pic something else . When I was in 8th grade and high school I finally cut it short and people either thought I was a lesbian or trying to be a guy , but in truth I just wanted to experience having short hair , it was so easy to maintain and it just felt really nice .

FunkYeah: I've always thought women look better with short cute hair, and men look better with long wild hair. Women have the pretty features to make short hair look great, and men look cooler with a lion's mane. By the way, I got me a pixie cut. Been rockin' it for years.

lucy f m: I once convinced half of the males in my form that women have longer hair generally because they have nerves in their hair so it hurts to get cut.

Jojo: Just stumbled across your channel, subscribed immediately, I love the style of your videos and the types of topics you cover. Yay.

azigz: As a girl with short hair I can say ever since I cut it when I was 13 people have been telling me to grow it out. I don't like my hair long I think it looks boring. I wish people would stop making such a big deal out of girls having short hair

nowisgood4me: after 7 year of short hair I still get confused for a boy, even when I'm in heels (no joke)...I don't mind, I used to be offended but now I like starting a conversation.

Manja Siber: Funnily enough, my mom always wanted - and still wants - my hair nice, short and in that weird white-suburban-mom-ish attempt at a bob she and my sister wear and I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! When I was little, I'd always be forced to the hairdresser and lose whatever hair I'd grown out and... by now, for this and some stuff in my medical history, I came to associate my long hair with control over my life and my health. We still argue about it, since my mom associates short hair with practical thinking and "It's much easier, you don't have to brush it, more time for other stuff"... basically, she associates short her with being a grown woman who has no time for frivolities, because there's shit to get done (and she gets A LOT of shit done). I associate long her with being in control and we constantly clash about it. It's super annoying. (and I think if she stopped bugging me about trimming my hair I'd ACTUALLY CONSIDER DOING IT. ... yeah, I'm such a grown up, I know) Bottom line is, I get shit done while having long, glossy locks, that incidentally offer a ton of ways for me to express myself and also look better on me than short hair. So, yeah, the associations to female hair can also be highly individualized and these days might also be informed by your social background (my family is comfortably nestled in the former GDR. Republic of the Workers and Farmers, YAAAAAY... ... so that might have to do something with the notion of long hair being an unnecessary frivolity only those evil, evil rich people have.

Mirandalove: Ethnic POV: Many African American women CANNOT grow our hair long and flowing because it is not the nature of my hair. I have 4C type curls (the tightest curl possible) and have no certainty on how long my hair is because I do not straighten it. Curly my hair is up above my ears, wet in the shower the weight of the water pushes it down passed my shoulder blades. When I made the decision to go natural (cutting off all of my chemically straightened hair in order to let my hair just grow out the way it is) it was EXTREMELY defeminizing(?) because I had to give up what is so interwoven with young female attractiveness esp. in the African American community. Although even mainstream society is beginning to create more visibility for natural haired women of color I am still questioned on a daily basis as to why I allow my hair to grow out of my head the way it naturally grows out of my head, how much more beautiful I would be if I straightened it and foolish I am for not doing so in professional settings and am compared to men because of its apparent short length.

Dallas Orion: I love how this is so scientific and also fun to watch.

LeoraMaybe: I really hope you discuss the topic of hair standards for different ethnic groups. I know that personally as an African American female I have felt a lot of pressure to keep my hair a certain way. I have been in relationships where my significant others would show distaste if my hair appeared shorter or it wasn't straightened. It took a very long time for me to be okay with having short curly hair, and I'd really like to know why society puts that kind of pressure on people.

xHaniffax: I just think whether a person has short or long hair depends on whether is suits their face or not. Some girls look good with short hair, some don't. Some guys look good with long hair, some don't. And vice versa.

littleblondemop: I have very long hair because I like it and it's wavy. I've had short hair before. I do think women with a much darker ethnicity look beautiful with long hair too just takes way longer to grow. I saw a little girl with very dark ethnicity today--beautiful curly hair a bit past her shoulders. I couldn't see her mom's hair since it was covered. I think we have a lot more freedom with this but with lots of opinionated people. I myself grew my hair longer for myself and no one else. Interesting video. I enjoy your perspective.

devinne bradford: I shaved half my head as a dare. Turns out, it looked really good on me. Since I'm African American having shorter hair meant easier to manage. I know a lot of my friends keep their hair short due to easy management

sydney nicole: I shaved my head for my friend going though chemo, and was constantly bullied! It was awful, why would someone be so mean to another just because they didnt have hair? I had short hair my entire childhood, and most people thought i was a boy. You would think i would been used to it.

Rachel Moody: I've occasionally thought about cutting my hair really short, but it's been long my entire life and I don't think I would look right without it. My hair also grows very slowly and is pretty thin, so most short haircuts would both not work well and take years to grow back from. That just makes it too much potential trouble for a haircut that I might not even like.

LBellatrix: Thank you for acknowledging that this standard doesn't apply to everybody and for asking viewers to provide information. Here's a little bit for you: Traditionally, hairstyles and lengths varied widely across sub-Saharan Africa, and carried lots of different meanings for both men and women. Africans who were sold/kidnapped and forced to work in the "New" World were largely cut off from styling traditions and over time their descendants were programmed to accept Western beauty standards regarding hair grooming and styling despite the difficulty involved in trying to make tightly-coiled Afro-textured hair fit those standards. The last 10-15 years has seen a rediscovery and embrace of grooming and styling methods that work with Afro-textured hair rather than against it. For more information I suggest reading the book Hair Story (Byrd and Tharps).

Paul D.: My wife and I have been enjoying your videos. They're entertaining and contain interesting information. Thank you for sharing.

Miss Placed: I recently cut my hair so it's just long enough to tie back. I wore it very long for several years. Lots of things made me feel like I needed to change the way I think, act, and interact with people. Without any real understanding why it made me want to cut off 8". After I felt both a literal and metephorical weight off my shoulders. Although I wouldn't undo what I did, I totally feel ya with the poofiness. I have curly thick hair, a couple more inches off and I'd have a fro happening.

Willow Johnson: For years, I wanted to cut my hair short but was afraid of all of the negative feedback I would get. I mean, seriously, I was getting tons of slack just for even having the idea. One thing I heard more than anything else was, "You just don't have the face for a pixie/short hair." I think people just have an idea of what face should have short hair and that idea of someone with a rounder face and a short haircut freaked them out. It wasn't until I was at my lowest emotionally when I finally just decided to do what I wanted for a change. Since then, its been a roller coaster of contentment and shaming. Some days I love what I've done and some days I want to hide until I grow my hair out. The pixie cut has forced me to accept myself for what I look like on the outside by looking deeper than my physical appearance. There are plenty of people who gawk at me and make me feel like my hair bothers them but what am I supposed to do about it? Let it grow out? Psh! Please, unless I want to have a mullet for three months, it stays a pixie. <---That's my growing attitude towards the gawkers :P

sam: l o l in native american culture it's custom for everyone, disregarding gender, to have long hair

Kess Jones: I cut my hair into a very short pixie three and a half or so years ago. It happened before the trend hit full force and I was in high school, I instantly became a lesbian in the eyes of all of my school mates and even some of my friends. I was mocked and teased and even hit on BY actual lesbians. All because of my short hair cut.I still dressed very femininely, I wore dresses and high heels and wore makeup. However at the same time a short haircut immediately led to being lesbian. I am a straight woman, but even today despite short hair cuts being a more normal trend, I am pegged as being homosexual. Why is this such a strong opinion? Why is short hair immediately tied with being lesbian or being a less feminine woman? I am very comfortable with myself and my sexuality and having short hair makes me feel sexier and more womanly than long hair ever did. But for so many other people it immediately marks short haired women off as no longer feminine. Why? Why, why, why?

Jeffrey Plum: In the old days "girls", female children, wore their hair long and down. A young woman, of marriageable age, would put her hair up. It would still be long, by modern standards, but displayed differently. Hair care was also labor intensive, poorer working women might have wear shorter hair because they could not keep up the lush hairdos of the rich. Thanks for untangling some interesting details on this "simple" topic. Great work as usual. Best wishes.

Benjamin Rome Clarke: I like that you admitted you didn't know a whole lot about an issue. It's a sign of true intelligence when one can admit they don't know everything.

Radien: Interesting!! Being a guy in his 30s who has decided to say “screw it” to traditional norms and grow my hair out (nice and neat-like, rather than grunge metal style), I am glad to know a little more about things like this. I'm sure there's even more to say about it, like how it became a sign of fertility in the first place. After all, while a nice head of hair might be a sign of a healthy woman, men have head hair too. I'll watch your video on why men have short hair next and see what you have to say about that!

like TT: How to talk about the intersectionality between sex and race: its pretty simple? I love how stuff works and I listen to your podcasts while I run but yall really need more people of color on your team.

monalisaaa: Love this video! You should watch chris rock's 'good hair' documentary. It's informative and funny as he tried to decode the beauty politics of black hair

Jaclyn Lizzi: I wouldn't describe myself as an excessively feminine person, but I must say I like my hair better when it's long. I find it easier to manage, and MUCH less expensive because I can get my hair cut about once a year versus every few months.

Sunshine M.: I cut and donated my hair because I'm lazy XD You know long hair is just too much work to brush, sit down for 5 minutes, and somehow have another knot to get out.

Bryna: I had long hair most of my life.  I didn't start to cut it short till I got out of the military.  I finally got a pixie cut and loved it, but I do miss my long hair.  I could do more with it and it's actually easier to maintain since I'm horrible about getting my hair cut when I'm supposed to.

Yasmeen M: I've had medium length to short hair for a while now just out of preference. My dad's side of the family is islamic (but catholic, so no hijabs in my family) yet they are always giving me so much crap for my short hair, even asking me if I am a lesbian because of it. It's not even that short! I just think it's kind of sad that my family considers me less of a woman because my hair is shorter than boob length, and that they automatically give in to the stereotype that women with short hair must be gay.

Sakile Grannum: That conversation about ethnicity and long hair is something you really should do. It would make for an interesting and very eye-opening conversation especially regarding African American women and the aim to achieve Westernised, Eurocentric ideals of femininity and beauty. Also maybe how hair and sexuality are linked in different ways in non-Western cultures. P.S. Your hair looks really nice pulled to one side like that :) 

Theodore Stagnum: huh that might be why, on a subconscious level, me and all my ace friends have chosen to cut our hair short lmao the reason for women to have long hair is so obvious but i still never thought of it

Guiselle Collado: You know you're good when you make something as simple and (deceivingly meaningless) as HAIR interesting!

OLStorytellers: I would love to see your video on ethnic hair. By the way I'm a man who has curly hair, and I grew it out so my nieces would have at least one example of a person with hair like theirs that was proud of it. To do the video properly you should do some research on genetic diversity, the human migration pattern, and the creation of "Race" (the version we use today) back in the colonial era. That will help you figure out why the social constructs for hair that we follow today exist.

WillMaur_6505: Everybody looks good in long hair. Even us guys. This is not an exaggeration.

hspolomo18: Great video. (How am I now just seeing it..??) I've never felt comfortable with long hair. So much to the point that I started cutting it shorter myself. Then I actually got a good hairstylist and got my first pixie cut about 4 years ago. It's ever changing, always trying new things. Right now it's a pixie undercut. But, never went back to long hair... :)

Mya Ghazale: One of the few reasons I have my hair long is I'm like the best head banger ever. The other one is so when they finally make jetpacks, I feel awesome with my long hair in the wind. 

BelizeHunni: I prefer short hair on me. I don't know why but everyone says I look really good with it and I agree.

Audrey St-Arneauld: Hello! Do you think you'll make a video on girls with short hair? And how they deal with it? We often hear women say that they would never be able to pull of short hair. But what about the contrary? I've had short hair for many years, and I love it, but i sometimes get jealous of my friends who have long flowy hair and can braid them and everything. People tell me, then why don't you just let your hair grow and have long hair? It just doesn't look good on me! I look blend and boring in long hair. And many people don't believe me simply because, since i'm a girl, i was born to have long hair and so should look good in it. Well NO. And i think this is a different and interesting subject that is not talk about enough. Plus, many girls with short hair can get a lot of bad comments from people around them, even from friends and family! Why are people so concerned when a women chooses to keep her hair short? And why are some men(and women) so disgusted by it? Anyway, awesome podcasts! :)

dynodon100: You forgot the most important thing , . . . it keeps your back warm !

The Riff Writer: Her hair looks really pretty in this video. Coincidence?

rac717: I for one am very happy to see that your hair is long, and complements your attractiveness. Did you ever notice that when women celebs chop off their hair nowadays, few of their fans follow suit? At worst, they spawn mini-trends. Women's long hair simply IS beautiful. No one has to condition men to understand that. When a woman lops off her locks, rarely does she look better. But, it is her choice, just as it is mine to notice other women with long hair when this happens.

Dinuial: For a fair sized chunk of history it was also a sign of health. When someone was running a fever the hair was cut or shaved off (men and women both), and depilliation was used to combat lice.

Crusades Nuclear Bombs: Cristen, can you please make a video on why men have short hair? It seems that men used to have longer hair in previous centuries, but due to wars the military has had an increased impact in mens' length of hair.

LERB423: Having the hair long or short changes so much the way society sees you. I'm a girl and I have my hair short since almost a year now, and for that, people assume very often that I am gay, when the truth is I was a lesbian even when I had my hair long. I guess perception is stronger than reality.

Sapphire September: On the other hand, having very long hair is seen as a bit weird, (my hair is thigh length, but I don't think it's going to get any longer.) There's also this idea that older women shouldn't have long hair, especially if they want to be taken seriously, which I don't understand.

katier: I cut 13 inches off on my birthday this year as my mom sat and watched with a horrified look on her face. 2 weeks later, she loved it. Same thing happened a few months after, with me dyeing my hair purple. If you don't open yourself to new ways of expressing yourself and are scared of what other people will think, you'll never know what you truly want to look like. Hell, I still look in a mirror and think "I'd be much more desirable if I had long brown hair like I did before." and then I mentally slap myself and remind me that I look badass with my new hair.

orlendatube: Very cool! I have long hair now because it is easy to pull up and off my face and neck...literally takes like 10 seconds....Had a bob in HS that I loved and looked great on me, but took up alot of time to syle and left me with no options to pull it up. with chronic illness, i dont have the time/energy to have anything but long hair...which both me and hubby are ok with!

fishyswary: Good on you for noting the limitations of your content - i.e. that you're talking about white women and Western women. It might have been cool to move this disclaimer up, because even as a white, Australia woman, it irks me when educational content (particularly on YouTube) assumes an American audience as the default. I hope that this video has a part 2! :)

Thither Shook: I love having long hair tbh i dont wanna give it away to charity because it's mine and my family members beg me to but if i do then I'd have short hair.. Not saying anything is wrong with short hair but having long hair is my style and no one can take it from me..

Browntau: In 1945, Frenchwomen who were accused of having German soldiers as lovers often had their hair cut off by angry crowds. Head shaving is a traditional form of showing contrition in Japan, shown in 2013 by Minami Minegishi apologised to her fans for breaking her band's rules. Two extreme examples of the sociological norms of long hair on women, and the shock value of cutting it short.

Lindsey Corliss: Having long hair is a NIGHTMARE for me. My hair is so thick that it's impossible to manage when it's long, not to mention that when it's hot outside my head feels like it's on fire. I love having short hair and I'm never going back!

HP Peterstem: I think its really interesting because guys, in general, dont like short haired women. When Emma Watson cut her hair, a lot of my guy friends hated it so much. I would love to understand why short hair on women repels the majority of men. 

mcsmaria28: I've had my hair in a chin length bob since I was about 14. I had it long for about two years and I cut it back to chin length after my wedding because my hair was so damaged. I just don't have the patience for long hair. If it takes me more than 10 minutes to dry my hair, it's time for a haircut!

Sakshi Shinde: Whenever my brother and I are in a fight and are hitting each other he just pulls my hair and I lose everytime. it's very frustrating

Tori R. A. W.: I'm Chinese and when I was really little, I had short hair. I was forced to have short hair (boys cut) when I was little from around since I was born to 4 years old. After that I grew out my hair. My hair used to be a tiny bit beyond my waist two years ago and then I donated about 10" of my black hair. I am afraid of cutting my hair really short (shoulder or shorter). I don't think I'll ever have my hair cut so short like when I was a kid. Right now my hair is past my butt. I am 4'7" tall and I am 16. My hair looks super long but it actually isn't that long. I am somewhat a midget with long black hair. o_o I plan to grow my hair to knees and then donate it again. :)

chickengod: I'd say that whether hair is long is or short can depend on ethnicity sometimes . For example : I come from 2 parents from two different cultures , but they tend to preach to me that I should not remove my frizzy hair because its what makes a women beautiful and for my type of hair it is harder to handle short. I am also Muslim and also females don't have to cover their hair to a certain age , many Muslims frown upon short female hair.

Jess S.: I two years ago cut off 18 inches of my hair and donated it because I wanted a change. I hated people grabbing my hair and it getting caught on so many things and being so hot. I've loved having short hair and how it was always stylish with minimal effort. Right now I'm growing it out into a bob to try something different ^_^

Hedgy Verona: I wanted to cut my hair for years because it's really curly and took houres to dry when it used to be long (by long I mean not even chest length), but my mom qas strictly against me cutting it off, she said a girl should never do that and my hair looked so pretty and I would destroy it by cutting it off, even tho I got bullied bc of my hair in middle and high school bc it was just so thick and curly and broken. So one day I just ran off to the hairdresser to get it cut into a lovely pixie cut with bangs, that perfectly fit my face shape and I was so happy bc I looked beautiful and it only takes me 15 minutes in the shower now to wash abd dry my hair completly and most of the time I just let it airdry and it looks amazing.

Steven Jerkins: Up until the 20th century; a woman's hair signified social status. Only the elite could afford the hassle it took to care for long hair. The lower classes didn't go for the long long hair of the upper crust.

Ana C. Garcia: I cut my hair last January and when I went back to school after winter break many people asked my best friend if I was lesbian. ಠ_ಠ I just wanted to donate my hair and see what I looked like, nothing more or less.

bordercollienerd: I cut my hair short for the first time in 5th or 6th grade to about chin length. From then on I've tried growing it out but after it gets to a certain length it gets in the way and I cut it again (I flip flop a lot between short and long). I'm a bit of a clutz and love the arts so I can't say how times I got paint in my hair when it was long. As well I have a tendency to play with it and mess with it when I'm focused so when it's long it gets knotted. I cut my hair for no reason other than its easier.

christymiller0912: I had medium length hair and then I shaved it off for a family member of mine that went through cancer and chemo. It was something to get used to but I loved from the very minute I shaved off my hair! I have kept it shaved for awhile since then and I keep on loving it. It is so much easier getting ready and I feel so much more feminine without hair than when I did have hair. I have had people question me and stare but it does not bother me. I have a lot more confidence in myself.  I have been given a new outlook on beauty and what it means to me. Hair does not define a person or say how beautiful a person is. With or without hair every woman is beautiful and feminine! 

sicilynotseasalt: I keep my hair short because it's my preference. Hair has nothing to do with my fertility nor my sexuality.

M. von Funnyname: Coincidentally, you have great hair in this video. Very interesting -- I would've thought it was Stockholm syndrome. "I can't cut it now, we've been together so long. And it has my CDs, so we have to stay together awhile longer."

kaleido scope: I've had short hair for a couple years now and every time I get it cut again, i get it cut shorter and shorter. Next time I cut my hair I plan on pretty much buzzing it off. No one really says anything about it except for my boyfriend's family who have different ethnic backgrounds. Other than that, everyone I meet usually loves my short hair! Having short hair is just so liberating and easy to take care of. Every time I see another girl with short hair I feel like we make some kind of connection even if we only make eye contact. I can't imagine growing it out again!

Wm. G. Thilgen Jr.: Long hair needs to be groomed, or it looks like shit. A woman with long hair was a stays symbol, because it showed she had both the time and resources to manage it. Poor women didn't have the time nor resources to be seen in public with groomed hair.

Figgy Winks: It's been my goal to go through every type of haircut.  I've went from a pixie to long hair to an undercut and now i've got an asymmetrical bob going on.  Everyone tells me my hair looks better when it's long, which really only serves to make me want to cut it short again.

Electra Cat: I'm a girl and short hair suits me much better and looks better on me. I always hated having long hair and I've now had short hair for 3 years and love it!

Estella: I remember being four years old and my mum had hair down to her hips. She asked my dad to shave it off and I was absolutely distraught. My brother refused to be seen with her. Even as children we felt like something wrong with our mother having no hair despite the fact that our father had a shaved head at the time. Now at fifteen I have a short pixie cut myself and couldn't care less about hair length. Though, my 20 year old brother is still immature enough to have a problem with my choice of hair cut.

Jacob Bainbridge: I think this is very easy to answer. Historically men have taken the role of the hunter and provider, meaning their lives have involved a lot more manual labour. Keeping your hair short is obviously much more convenient for any physical activity and thus why men have shorter hair. Women didn't need to cut their hair as often because it wasn't as obstructive to their lifestyle, so it started this trend of women having long hair.

mich blue: This video rocks. Its to the point, researched and informative. Lost in most the talk about womens hair is the fact that there are cultures and places in the world where women do not have long hair as a standard. And some hair types are harder to grow long. And some women can not grow long hair or any hair or have balding issues or lose their hair. However you want to wear your hair or if you want it at all should be an individual choise. What most humans never do in adulthood is ask themselves why they think like they do about lots of things. They never take time to examine their background and upbringing. Religion and accepted cultural norms still dominate western thinking. Part of growing up is asking yourself why do i believe this and should i? Open minded mature people appreciate videos like this because it addresses something that is basically an antiquated, outdated trait that needs growing out of

Esther Spurrill-Jones: I cut my hair because I broke my collarbone and couldn't do anything with it. I keep it short because I love it: it's so much easier to care for and I think it looks better.