Perceptions of female age, health and attractiveness vary with systematic hair manipulations

Research on female facial attractiveness has focused on the effects of face shape and skin condition. Few studies have investigated the impact of hair on assessments of female attractiveness. Research using images of computer-generated (rendered) hair has demonstrated that subtle variations in hair thickness, density and style affect perceptions of female age, health and attractiveness.

The current study consisted of two experiments in which non-expert female panellists viewed distinct expressions of specific hair features and judged them for age, health and attractiveness. In Experiment 1, women from three countries (Germany, Spain and USA; n = 500 each) judged high-shine and low-shine versions of natural Caucasian hair wigs on a female target-photographed from right back (3/4 view)-for age, health and attractiveness. In Experiment 2, professional stylists manipulated shine, alignment and volume of natural Caucasian hair wigs, creating two versions-one high and one low in each feature-for blonde hair and brown hair. A woman with light skin pigmentation wore the wigs and was photographed in three head orientations under controlled lighting conditions. Omnibus pairwise combinations of hair conditions were created and judged by n = 2000 US women for age, health and attractiveness.

Experiment 1 showed that, across countries, high-shine hair was rated more youthful, healthier and attractive than low-shine hair. Experiment 2 indicated that straight-aligned hair was perceived as most youthful, healthy and attractive, regardless of hair colour and head orientation. High shine also was preferred, although its impact was weaker than that of hair alignment.

Straight-aligned hair, together with shine, affects female appearance and this influence is noticeable even with small (mobile phone-sized) images.