If you had to guess, how long would you say you spend on your hair to prep for a first date? 30 minutes? An hour? Two? Don't be ashamed if you even spend longer fussing with your hairstyle — we're right there with you, always fretting over what hairstyle our prospective partners-to-be would love on us. Chances are you have at least a couple of go-to styles that look stunning on you, but are they stunning to your partner?
There really isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to which hairstyles are the most attractive; after all, we all have different face shapes, hair textures, and thicknesses, all of which play a role in finding our best — and favorite — hairstyles. For example, while a messy bun might look great with thicker hair, it could fall flat on fine hair. A short, messy bob, on the other hand, might look great with thinner hair but could leave thick, textured hair looking poofy and disheveled.
If you want to really attract your (potential) partner, the key to doing it could be through your hairstyle. Try out a few that have been known to be attractive, and you may soon find yourself getting attention from the masses.
A sleek, sporty ponytail
If the vibes you're going for are slightly professional and definitely ready to get stuff done, you might want to try on a sleek, sporty ponytail for size. This look is typically casual enough to let onlookers know you're far from uptight while still looking put-together. In fact, one individual told Marie Claire that he loves "a simple ponytail and no makeup. I guess that's the sporty look." A slick ponytail keeps you ready for every activity and can signal to your partner that you're ready for whatever might arise during the day
If you want to nail a sleek ponytail without it looking too business-oriented, consider adding some texture to it, especially if your hair's on the finer side. Using a texturizing spray on your tresses can also help your ponytail appear thicker and keep it from looking limp. If you want a sleek ponytail but need to make it look a little more laid-back, consider tying it back with a scrunchie or other decorative hair tie. Then, keep your makeup casual and add a pair of chunky earrings to round out your low-key, ready-to-hit-the-town look.
Or a messy ponytail
Don't feel like putting effort into getting a perfectly sleek ponytail? If so, we have some good news: As it turns out, people also find messy ponytails to be attractive, with one man telling Harper's Bazaar that women sporting messy ponytails look "low-maintenance, like a girl who doesn't spend hours getting ready and is always down for an adventure." We don't know about you, but we love feeling low-maintenance, so this is a great casual hairstyle to go for if you've gone on a few dates already (or are in a committed relationship) and are spending a night in with your partner. Cool vibes make a cool partner if you ask us.
Luckily, messy ponytails are easy to pull off, and we're willing to bet you wear one at least semi-regularly as it is. Place the ponytail high on your head to give your hair more bounce, and don't worry about slicking back your flyaways. If you want, you can leave a few bang tendrils out or section out a couple of tendrils just in front of your ears for an even more laid-back look. As with the sleek ponytail, feel free to add some texture to the body of your hair using a texturizing spray or a curling wand for a more voluminous look. If you go the curling wand route, run your fingers through the curls so they don't look too polished once you pull them back.
Long, thick waves
If your hair isn't naturally long, thick, and wavy, don't fret — there are quite a few things you can do to mimic this look. Those with long, straight hair can use a curling wand to add texture and volume to their hair. If your hair is particularly fine or short, you may want to consider adding in some wavy hair extensions, which can add both texture and body to those sporting less hair. For a finishing touch, give your locks a once-over with a lightweight shine oil to make your hair extra soft and touchable.
Style it a little messy
No matter which hairstyle you choose, we have one rule of thumb to follow: Keep it at least a little messy. Why? Well, the Daily Mail poll on attractive women's hairstyles also found that having a picture-perfect head of hair may not work in your favor when it comes to attracting a partner. They were surprised to find that a majority of men who responded to the poll said that they prefer "the natural look" — they're not aiming for perfect, well-kempt-at-all-times tresses. We hope that's good news for you (and your busy schedule), though it might be a bit distressing if you're a perfectionist.
If you're used to having perfectly groomed locks, just a couple of tricks can get it looking slightly mussed up (and probably super cute to your partner). First, if you typically pull your hair back in some sort of updo, let a few tendrils hang loose this time. Don't worry about perfectly taming flyaways, as they can make for a great windswept look. You can also try skipping any finishing touches you'd usually do, like pinning in loose sections that hang from a bun.
Surprisingly, pigtails
When it comes to the more shocking side of attractive hairstyles, we were a little surprised to find that people tend to find pigtails attractive. After all, the youthful, schoolgirl-esque hairstyle feels like it would be better left to those who still run around a playground at recess. But it could be precisely their youthful appeal that makes them attractive — after all, nostalgia reigns supreme nowadays, and it can be comforting to have a reminder of days gone by.
One sports bar waitress decided to test the theory that men like pigtails by wearing them during her shift, and she told Business Insider that she did, indeed, make more tips when she wore her hair in pigtails, especially if she curled her hair first. If the idea of wearing curly pigtails sounds too innocent and youthful for your liking, though, you can make it a bit more mature by taking a note from Priyanka Chopra and wearing a couple of high pigtails with lightly textured hair.
Try on some bangs on for size
That's right, we said it: Time to finally get those bangs you've been dreaming about having since your last breakup. It turns out that people love the look of bangs, and bangs that bring back memories may pack an extra punch. One individual told Marie Claire that he likes "that sort of late '60s long bangs with longer hair look. Think Mary Jane, Spider-Man's girlfriend." These eye-brushing bangs may not be for everyone, but if you've been considering trying some bangs on for size, they may just make you more attractive to potential partners.
There's a whole slew of bang styles you can try if you don't want to sport the straight-across '60s style mentioned above. Curtain bangs are a great choice for those just dipping their toes into the world of bangs, as well as for anyone who wants to be able to still pull all of their hair back. If you want to capture some nostalgia with a subtle look, you could also try the classic '90s skinny fringe bangs. Or, if you're feeling a bit offbeat, throw it back to the '00s by sporting some side-swept bangs. Even if the rest of your hairstyle is on the messier side, feel free to make your bangs sleek and polished to add a touch of glam to whatever style look you're sporting.
A loose braid has casual appeal
Are you constantly trying out new chic braided hairstyles? If you love braiding your hair every which way, we have both some good news and some bad news. The good news is that people find braids pretty attractive. The bad news, though, is that you might do your best to stick to a casual, loose braid. Why? Well, one individual told Harper's Bazaar that a loose braid is "sexy because it makes me think of laid-back surfer girls, the kind you would quit your job and run away to a beach town for." A loose braid gives off casual and carefree vibes and can make you look like the whole world is your oyster.
It's not hard to get a loose braid, either. Simply braid your hair and don't pull too tight as you're weaving the braid together. If you want, you can pull on your braid after it's been secured to give it some more volume. Bonus points if you have some shorter front tendrils of hair that you can leave out of the braid, and if you want to make your look a bit nostalgic, try securing the bottom of your loose braid with a scrunchie.
Keep your bob messy
Do you have a bob 'cut? It may seem like there aren't a ton of styles you can pull off with short hair, but fortunately, you don't have to worry about styling your bob any particular way to make it more attractive. The only thing you don't want is a perfectly polished bob. Stay away from severe lines and instead opt for a slightly layered bob cut. One man told Marie Claire that he cuts his wife's hair in a bob because he likes getting to see the back of her neck. A sweet sentiment, no?
If your hair already boasts some texture and it's cut to bob length, you probably don't have to do much to it to achieve the messy bob look; simply refrain from styling it, and we bet you're good to go. If your hair is fine and straight, on the other hand, you may want to give it a bit of styling before heading out on the town. Add some visual interest and volume with texturizing spray, or curl a few sections with a curling wand and rake your fingers through them to mess it up a little.
A pixie cut shows confidence
So far, it seems that messier hairstyles are generally more attractive to the masses; however, this idea can be tossed to the side in the case of a simple pixie cut. This trendy hairstyle is a daunting prospect if you've never tried it before, so don't feel pressured to, but if you're already boasting a beautiful pixie, you'll be happy to know that many people find this cut particularly attractive because it exudes confidence. In fact, one man told Marie Claire that he likes pixie cuts because "I love when a woman feels confident about her face to wear short hair. It's strong and powerful." A pixie cut can communicate that you have nothing to hide; you've grown confident in who you are, and you won't let anything stand in the way of achieving your dreams.
Those of you with super-short pixie cuts probably don't have to (or simply can't) do much styling to it at all. However, if you have a longer pixie or are growing it out, you might want to refrain from trying to style it to adopt that messy, carefree look that seems to be ultra-popular. No matter how you choose to style your pixie, you're certain to show enough confidence that anyone passing by will be intrigued by you.
A messy bun
To all the babes who like to roll out of bed, quickly pull their hair up into a messy bun, and go about their day, you're probably more attractive to others than you think. The messy bun is an easy, go-to hairstyle on lazy days, and it can leave many of us feeling like we look lazy. Fortunately, however, that's not the case. This cute style screams that you're carefree and have more important things to do than worry about your looks, and who doesn't love someone who eschews vanity?
"I am a fan of the messy bun," one man told Stylecaster when asked about women's hair buns. "I think there is nothing hotter than seeing my girlfriend at the gym with her hair tied up, or lounging around on the couch waiting for me to come give her a kiss."
No matter what your hair texture, thickness, or length is, you can definitely sport a messy bun — and yes, that means you can even make a messy bun on short hair. The key to getting a good messy bun is simply to not let it look too polished. Don't worry about securing all your loose ends into the messy bun, and don't try to pull your hair super tight to your head. Let your flyaways fly. Let some tendrils fall. Above all, let your messy bun boast about your I-don't-give-a-care nature, and see how many compliments you get when you wear it.
An unstructured updo
So, it turns out that even when it comes to fancier hairstyles, people generally tend to prefer they look a little messy — even at weddings! Wondering why? Well, as you may have guessed, it has to do with the carefree vibes that messier styles can give an individual. When it comes to updos, one man told Harper's Bazaar that he likes an unstructured, piecemeal updo because "it has a sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed-or-finished-a-jog kind of look while still looking clean and stylish." Toeing the line between put-together and relaxed? We love to see it.
You can get an unstructured look on any updo with one simple trick: Leave some hair freely hanging down. Pick a front section or two to wear down and natural. You'll especially want to refrain from slicking back all your flyaways — your hair already looks fancy as anything, and some flyaways can give it that slight mussed-up touch. In terms of your actual updo, feel free to make it as simple or fancy as you like, but if you can keep from pulling it too tight, a looser look will only add to the laid-back vibes you're trying to emit.
A half-updo
If you want to pull off a great combination or a few hairstyles, pulling half of your hair up can let you look both sleek and playful (especially if you pull half of it back into a messy bun or loose braid). Need proof? One woman told AllWomensTalk, "My husband said he LOVES this look! It's simple but, pretty!" This hairstyle is a great one to go for if you need to keep some of your hair out of your face but want to avoid looking too severe, as can be the case with some sleeker updos.
There are plenty of playful and professional ways to pull half of your hair back that will leave you looking approachable but still extremely put-together. Personally, we love to see half your hair pulled up into a high bun (messy or otherwise). If you want to look a bit more casual, pulling half of your hair into two high space buns can give some quirky appeal, while pulling half into a loose braid can give some carefree elegance. If all else fails, you can't go wrong by pulling half of it into a simple high ponytail.
So, ready to attract people with new styles? Get yourself a new look today with The Shampoo Lounge. The Shampoo Lounge has been attending to an international and Indonesian clientele since 2012 so check out our instagram, our website and our TripAdvisor reviews! We can’t wait to have you in.
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Article written by Emily Hunt for Glam.com