Passionate author specializing in the vibrant world of hairstyling. With a knack for unraveling trends and sharing expert insights, Marissa crafts engaging content on the latest hairstyles, techniques, and industry innovations. Committed to empowering readers with knowledge, inspiration, and the confidence to embrace their unique style.
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The chop that divided the Internet.
When we posted a video showcasing a spring haircut transformation on Instagram, we knew it would make waves. But we never anticipated the whirlwind of reactions it would generate.
The video featured Elloise, who traded her collarbone-grazing lob for a stylish bixie cut, executed by her talented stylist, Kerra, from Franklin, Tennessee. The result was a stunning new look that swept over social media, amassing nearly 1.5 million likes and over 36,000 comments.
This transformation and the oncoming reactions reveal much about the societal perceptions of women’s hairstyles and the gendered nature of such opinions.
Elloise’s transformation began when she said goodbye to her hefty, outgrown lob. Kerra explained, “Elloise wanted a bit shorter this time with more layering through the back.” The decision was made to go for a bixie, a hybrid of a bob and a pixie, characterized by lots of layers and a lightweight, feathery texture. The result was indeed ethereal and trendy, perfectly complementing Elloise’s features and style.
Kerra added, “I see too many people holding onto long hair for no reason. I completely understand the security it can bring but if your face shape, lifestyle, and other factors can support it then why not go for a change?” Her words resonated with many women who feel liberated by the freedom to experiment with their hair.
@therighthairstyles
The video’s virality was fueled by an outpouring of comments, predominantly positive from women, with many expressing awe at the transformation. Comments like, “THE MOMENT I SAW THE NEW CUT I GASPED OUT LOUD😍 like this is IT!” and “Wow this is an insane glow up! Gorgeous before but incredibly gorgeous after!” highlighted the overwhelming female support for the new cut.
However, many men voiced their disapproval of the chop, flooding the comment section with remarks such as “Better before,” “I’ll take all the hate, but here’s how to make a man upset in a simple step,” “Ladies keep your hair long,” and the rather blunt “Before… after looks lesbian,” highlighting a stark contrast in preferences.
This sparked a heated debate, with many women defending the right to style their hair as they please. One comment read, “When women don’t base their choices on male validation – womp womp,” while another sarcastically noted, “Omg, I had no idea cutting your hair short could make you a lesbian! I can’t wait to cut mine.”
Even some men weighed in against their own gender’s negativity: “This comment section is one huge embarrassment for men” and “Real men: we support whatever makes you happy.” This explosive mix of reactions exposed a deeper societal issue around gender and appearance expectations.
@therighthairstyles
Curious about the broader implications, we conducted our own social media experiment. We posted a compilation of videos featuring women cutting their hair short, overlaying it with the most common negative male comments from the original post. We asked our followers a simple question: “Girls, did you get any negative men’s reaction to cutting short hair?”
The responses were as varied as they were revealing. While we expected a significant number of women to report negative reactions from their male partners, the reality was more nuanced.
As expected, many women reported negative reactions from their boyfriends, fiancés, husbands, or partners. Stories ranged from aggressive behavior to hurtful comments. One user shared, “My husband got AGGRESSIVE when I cut my hair during a heatwave; he’s now my ex, and I’m rocking a Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music look.” Another noted, “My boyfriend told me he never wanted me to do it again and didn’t find me attractive.”
Interestingly, some of the harshest critics were women themselves. Comments like, “When I got short hair a lot of girls insulted me and guys complimented me so idk,” “Honestly only girls told me it looked bad,” and “Unfortunately I’ve had all the hate come from women” revealed a different facet of the backlash.
The trend of receiving criticism from older female relatives was common. “Mostly just my husband’s older female relatives. No one else cared. My husband thought it looked great,” one woman shared.
Family members were frequently mentioned as sources of disapproval. Shockingly, many women reported receiving hurtful comments from their own fathers rather than their partners. Imagine the heartbreak – the very first male figure a girl admires, tearing her down! It’s enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes. In fact, the “dad” comments were overwhelmingly the most numerous and heartbreaking of all.
One poignant comment read, “Every time I cut my hair, my father calls me dumb right after I come home. I’ve recently decided to try not to give a damn anymore so we’ll see how that works out.” Another added, “I’ve literally gotten “who’s the dude” when showing a picture of myself… to my dad.”
You can’t choose your family, but you’d expect your friends to support your choices. Sadly, many girls have also experienced the sting of nasty remarks from their friends. One user recounted, “One of my closest friends told me I could no longer be considered beautiful but it’s ok I could still be ‘cute.’” Some “friends,” right?
Even strangers weighed in uninvited. One user shared, “I got a dm from a total stranger and he told me to grow my hair out because he thought I’d be cute with long hair.” Another person said, “A group of men came up and said they were talking about how pretty I’d be with long hair.”
Despite the flood of negativity, many women also shared stories of support and encouragement. One heartwarming comment read, “I’m a guy and when my ex wanted to try short hair I supported her and thought she looked great.” Another noted, “I cut my hair short recently, and literally all the men in my life reacted super positively. My husband LOVES it.”
The overarching message from these positive experiences was clear: real love and respect go beyond superficial appearances. “My bf loves my hair when it’s super short, when it’s long, when I have a fringe, and when I don’t have a fringe. He doesn’t have a hairstyle that’s his favourite bc he finds me beautiful in all of them,” one respondent wrote, demonstrating that true appreciation for a partner comes from valuing their happiness and self-expression.
The comments and stories shared by our readers underline an essential message: women should feel empowered to make their own choices about their appearance without fear of negative judgment.
For those contemplating a big chop, the advice from our community is resounding: do it for yourself. Hair is a powerful form of self-expression, and its length should be determined by personal preference, not societal expectations. As one commenter aptly put it, “Honestly my attitude towards myself changed so much after I got my hair cut. Before I always tried to get away from the mirror as fast as possible, but now I actually enjoy looking at myself because the new haircut makes me feel so much more ‘me.’ Why would I care what anybody else thinks then?”
So, if you’re thinking about a short style, remember: your hair, your rules. After all, it’s just hair – it will grow back. And as you make the chop, know that you have a community of supporters cheering you on, ready to celebrate your newfound confidence and style.
You might also enjoy reading Short Hair, Long Controversy: Miss France’s Pixie Cut Erupts Into Cultural Debate.
Featured image via @therighthairstyles.
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