“I get treated differently based on whether my hair is in its natural curly state vs when I straighten it.”

Hair concept movies are throughout TikTok once more. People are serious about altering their seems in response. 

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Periodically, explainers and demonstrations of one thing known as “hair theory” pop up on TikTok and begin a dialog about how hair type impacts how individuals are perceived.

Lately TikTok creators are tweaking their seems—utilizing only a comb and perhaps a product or hair tie to carry out hair’s refined, but profound energy to rework. Others studying about hair concept are realizing they could have an issue:

“I fell down the ‘hair theory’ rabbit hole. This is a problem because 99% of the time I’m wandering around public with pure bedhead tamed by random braids.”

@sav.lilduffy shared, “I feel like a different person each time loll,” in a March 14 hair concept demo with 52 thousand views

@sav.lilduffy

I really feel like a distinct particular person every time loll

♬ authentic sound – ℬ

Comb + product = new man

TikToker @joefarelll reworked his look, utilizing only a comb and a few product. The June 30 submit has over 100 thousand views.

@joefarrelll Hair concept is actual 🙄 #joefarrell #coiffure #haircut #hair #concept #is #actual ♬ authentic sound  – naddy🩹

What is hair concept?

Hair concept is the concept hair type impacts how individuals are perceived. Styling selection, texture, and colour are all components that play into refined and not-so-subtle shifts in how one is seen by others. 

In a submit with almost 2.5 million views, @wearetogetherbeauty defined, “Hair theory suggests that your hairstyle can influence how others perceive your personality and even your mood.”

The TikTok creator claimed, “They’ve actually done studies on this that have shown that people do make snap judgments based on your hairstyle.”

For instance, a neatly styled updo could make an individual seem extra competent or dependable in a piece setting. But an off-the-cuff, flowy hair type can talk that somebody is pleasant or artistic.

@wearetogetherbeauty hair concept demystified 👩🏼👱🏼‍♀️👩🏼‍🦱 #hairtheory #hairtheorytrend #hairtheoryisreal #hairtheoryexplained #hairtok #creatorsearchinsights ♬ authentic sound – Together Beauty Hair Care

Reactions to hair concept

TikTok creators modeling a number of hair kinds in a single video confirmed how drastically their look—and the viewer’s notion of who they’re—modified from a decent prime bun to a protracted shag to a cropped pixie. 

“You were just eight different people.”

People replied that they entice a totally completely different set of males relying on their coiffure. One millennial mentioned that when she switched from a facet half to a center half, youthful guys began asking her out. People with pure curls mentioned they’re handled otherwise after they put on their hair straight. 

“The hair theory is most definitely true. Someone told me that my side part made me look like a millennial. So I started doing a center part. Next thing I know, I’m getting hit on by super young guys.”

“Yes, I get treated differently based on whether my hair is in its natural curly state vs when I straighten it.”

But making assumptions about somebody primarily based on how they appear can go approach too far. Or even—approach, approach too far—as judging somebody primarily based on looks-based variations is a baseline for dehumanization. Some identified that bigotry towards folks with naturally coarse hair is proof of the hair concept’s existence.

“Could it be real? I heard there was a time when you couldn’t go into the public pool if your tan was too tan. So maybe 🤔.”

@candy.ambrosia prompt a check that might yield some high quality empirical knowledge on hair concept’s impact:

“Ask waitresses about hair theory.”

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