How Do You “Do”?

Most of us know that when we look good, we feel better. Most of us have probably also spent hours before an important interview or first date making sure our hair looks perfect. From curling irons to flat irons, hair dye to hair extensions, gels to toupées, Americans spend a lot of time and money on their hair. But according to a study at Yale University, this may be due to more than vanity.

According to a study performed by Dr. Marianne LaFrance, Professor of Psychology and Woman’s and Gender Studies, a person’s hairstyle does significantly contribute to first impressions concerning his or her intelligence, confidence, beauty, affluence, and openness to new ideas. The study showed a surprising amount of consensus among both men and women regarding the correlation between hairstyle and perceived attribute.

According to LaFrance, if you want to be seen as…

Intelligent: Women should wear a casual, medium-length hairstyle, while men should stick with the tried-and-true side part and medium-length hair. The downside to these hairstyles, however, is that women who wear their hair this way can also be seen as careless, and the men as narrow-minded.

Confident: Short, highlighted hairstyles were seen as a mark of confidence in both men and women. However, men with this hairstyle were also seen as self-centered and the women as less sexy than their counterparts with longer hair.

Sexy: It may seem stereotypical, but it appears as if blondes really do have more fun. Long, straight, blonde hair was seen as the most appealing hairstyle on women, while short, highlighted styles were the most attractive on men. Interestingly enough, this male style is also the one perceived as being most confident, if a bit self-centered.

Wealthy: Long, straight, blonde hair, in addition to being attractive to the opposite sex, was also seen as a sign of wealth in women. The same medium-length side-parted style that indicates intelligence in men also corresponded to an increased perception of wealth. However, these hairstyles were seen as representing the most narrow-minded people as well – for both genders.

Open-minded:

Women with a casual, medium-length hairstyle and men with long hair were often seen as being the most good-natured, as opposed to their “narrow-minded” counterparts with long (for women) and  medium (for men) hair. However, it’s clear that this hairstyle can also be overdone, as both genders were targeted for being the most likely to be “careless.”

The most important factor for any hairstyle, however, as made clear by another LaFrance study, as well as other independent research and common intuition, is whether it looks good on you. People who feel like they are having a “bad hair day” tend to be more socially insecure, more critical of themselves, and less confident about their performance, which can quickly counteract any first impressions people get from your hair.

The bottom line is: flatter your face and boost your confidence by choosing a hairstyle that not only projects the right image, but flatters your physical features, such as your facial shape and the color of your skin. When you look good, you feel good, which helps you to perform well and enjoy life more.

At Rosalind Stella’s Wig Boutique, we understand the value of a great hairstyle! We’re committed to helping you find the perfect style, whether you want to look smart for a new interview or confident for a first date. Come visit us at our Philadelphia location or contact us today.

Call us at (215) 725-3930!

Rosalind Stella’s Wig Boutique is happy to serve our friends and neighbors in Philadelphia, North Philly, South Philly, Center City, Jenkintown, Abington, Cheltenham, and the surrounding areas.

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