Hair: Keeping You in the Past
- Friday, March 12 2010 @ 08:37 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 2,684
Have you ever seen a photo of someone and later been surprised at their age? Maybe they're ten or twenty years older than they look, or maybe you see a photo of a man you think looks around 40, but is really only twenty. What we don't realize is that we're not really judging their age based on their faces; we take far more cues from their hair, clothes, even makeup than the presence of a few fine lines. In fact, you might be surprised at the messages your haircut sends.
Here's how it basically works: a man or woman tend to cling, even subconsciously, to how they looked in what they feel were their most attractive years. Many people feel they were most attractive in their late teens or twenties. As a result, they might feel they look best with that 70s beard or teased hair that they had at the time. And then they keep that look, in some variation or another, for decades after. But when we see a man with a particular hairstyle, or a woman with a certain style of makeup, our brains remember when that was popular, does the math, and estimates an age for that person quicker than we consciously think about it.
Conversely, when we spot a man or woman with up-to-date hair and clothes, we automatically assume they're younger, even if they're balding or have put on a few pounds over the years. Our brain is slightly tricked. Even when we learn the age of the subject, we tend to say things like “he's aging well.” Does this mean dressing like a 20-year-old? Absolutely not; it might help to check out what famous people of your generation are doing. Sure, they have plastic surgery and personal trainers, but they also have personal shoppers who mostly keep their clients from being embarrassed. And haircuts are a good way of staying modern that just about anyone can try.
Why bother trying to look up-to-date? Well, aside from looking younger, if you look like you just walked out of a time capsule, it says that you're rigid in your routine. And someone very set in their ways doesn't really seem open-minded or open to disruptions, even for a relationship. So consider: have you been following the same beauty routine since 1987? It might be worth trying out an update.
Here's how it basically works: a man or woman tend to cling, even subconsciously, to how they looked in what they feel were their most attractive years. Many people feel they were most attractive in their late teens or twenties. As a result, they might feel they look best with that 70s beard or teased hair that they had at the time. And then they keep that look, in some variation or another, for decades after. But when we see a man with a particular hairstyle, or a woman with a certain style of makeup, our brains remember when that was popular, does the math, and estimates an age for that person quicker than we consciously think about it.
Conversely, when we spot a man or woman with up-to-date hair and clothes, we automatically assume they're younger, even if they're balding or have put on a few pounds over the years. Our brain is slightly tricked. Even when we learn the age of the subject, we tend to say things like “he's aging well.” Does this mean dressing like a 20-year-old? Absolutely not; it might help to check out what famous people of your generation are doing. Sure, they have plastic surgery and personal trainers, but they also have personal shoppers who mostly keep their clients from being embarrassed. And haircuts are a good way of staying modern that just about anyone can try.
Why bother trying to look up-to-date? Well, aside from looking younger, if you look like you just walked out of a time capsule, it says that you're rigid in your routine. And someone very set in their ways doesn't really seem open-minded or open to disruptions, even for a relationship. So consider: have you been following the same beauty routine since 1987? It might be worth trying out an update.
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