The Great Debate: Curly Or Straight?
Photos: © Getty Images
When it comes to our hair we're rarely ever satisfied. If we've got straight hair we want curly and vice versa. Call it hair envy or a case of "the grass is greener on the other side," but it seems we're always trying to manipulate our hair to do something different than what it is. Is one really better than the other?
We wanted to settle the curly vs. straight debate once and for all so we took to the streets of NYC to poll 50 real guys and find out what hair type they thought was sexier. Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Shakira, Lea Michele, and Sarah Jessica Parker are examples of celebs who've rocked both sleek strands and bouncy curls recently, so we asked the men to tell us which look they liked better on each. And while the results did vary, in the end we found that 58% of the fellas agreed that curlier is sexier. Here's what they had to say:
Bobby, 21: For me, Lea Michele does look good with both straight and curly hair but something about her in this curly picture makes her seem more welcoming. It's not just the smile. It's the overall look, including the hair.
Landon, 34: I think sometimes women try too hard to become something they're not. Take Beyoncé: To me, there's no competition. Yes, she looks good with straight hair but there's a level of superficiality to that style that doesn't exist in the photo of her with curly hair.
But as we quickly found out, not every guy thought curls were best:
Ronnie, 25: For some reason, I'm really drawn toward this picture of Taylor Swift with straight hair. Something about it makes her look older, and just all around sexier.
Paolo, 42: I don't think I've ever seen Shakira with straight hair before but there's something about it that I really like. It's a little less crazy, in a good way.
So now you tell us, straight or curly? What do you think about what the guys had to say?
It is interesting, if you notice the guys like the straight hair on the true blonds and curly for the true brunettes. The only one that is questionable is Sarah Jessica Parker, which most guys I know don't find her attractive. Maybe you should take this poll even further with this idea. Jennifer
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To Me A Woman Looks SEXIER & CLASSIER With STRAIGHT Hair !!!! Especially Taylor, Beyonce, Shakira, Jessica, Kim, Lea......Etc.....PS ==Also it seems Straight Hair Hides their Bad Features....Which is a Good Thing...................
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Woo Hoo! STRAIGHT Hair Rocks! My Girl Friend Looks 100 % Better When She Goes To The Hair Salon In Beverly Hills, To Have Her Curly Hair STRAIGHTENED!
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I will never understand men. Two of the pictures, Shakira and Taylor Swift, look soo much better curly. Two of the others, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lea Michelle, look better straightened. I will never get what they are thinking lol.
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I always get comments from guys when I let me curls go natural. My theory is that it looks less controlled, more free, sexier.
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does it really matter what guys think? personally, guys are attracted to a woman who is confident of herself and having the hair that you feel good about gives you that confidence.
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It's all about the shape of your face and your features; the hair should complement them...
Notice how kim kardashian looks worse with straight hair? it's because she has an oblong face, which means her face looks long and narrow, so the straight hair makes it look even longer, and she looks downright witchy.
The curls soften her face shape, and make her look younger.
Taylor Swift, on the other hand, has a round face, which looks naturally youthful and soft, so the curls accentuate that, making her look too much like an innocent little girl.
The straight hair, on the other hand, elongates her face, and brings out her features, making her look sexy and confident.
I think in Beyonce's case, they just chose the wrong straight hair photo..she looks stunning with straight hair, just not with a fringe...her face and, especially her forehead, is too narrow for a fringe.
In Shakira's case, I think her face shape could support either curly or straight hair, but the straight her makes her look more elegant, and classy, and, again, brings out her features.
That Lea Michele person..dunno. it might be that the curls soften her squarish jaw..I keep reading that the ideal female face should be wider at the cheekbones than the jaw, so it could be it..also, the fring in the curly hair picture brings out her eyes, instead of covering them up.
With SJ Parker it's the same story as with Kim Kardashian - a long, narrow face is best balacoseton knowsnced by curly hair.
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what a load of Rubbish. horses fro different courses. just an ad to get u to go to the hairdressers.
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I personally have always like both curly and straight hair but my hair is almost straight and for one day i wanted to go with really big curly hair so definetly curly! but straight does make it easier to style and looks classier so straight is any everyday style while curly can be used for one of your days that you wanna feel sexier!
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i think it depends on the person and the type of curls... i think that Beyonce, Lea Michelle, and Kim all look better w/ at least a lil curl... whereas i think Taylor, SJP look better w/ straight.... however, Shakira's a toss-up.... i think she looks amazing either way... i might lean a lil toward the curly look though..... you know, it might just be that the curly hair looks better on the more exotic looking girls because it softens and already gorgeously fierce face.... and the straight looks better on the lil, blonde, white girls because they need a lil edge... esp Taylor... it does make her look more grown up and sophisticated. i, personally, don't find SJP to be a very attractive lady, but i do think she looks MUCH better w/ the straight locks.
this is not to say this is always the case.... because if you changed up the type of curls they have.... like the Kim waves on Taylor.... etc..... so, as i said, it depends on the face shape and features, the hair color, and the type of curls your doing.
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If your is healthy, styled well (whether or curly or straight or wavy) and you wear it like you like it, guys will too. I have an ovalish face and my fiancee thinks that both curly and straight look good on me. I usually wear my hair curly because that is my natural texture and I embrace my Mediterranean heritage.
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I think it depends, I mean there are women who look better with curly hair and vice versa.. so the key is finding which one is better for us, and of course men will also like it better.
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Guys give me compliments when I straighten my hair,I think it depends on the way the person looks instead of the overall style.I personally like the straight hair actually on these celebs.
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Only polling 50 guys, let alone 50 guys solely in NYC doesn't really answer the question. It's not really enough of a sample to be highly statistically valid (though it is better than just asking 10 or 20 so kudos for that). :D
But I do agree that it depends on the person - both who's looking and who the hair is on...
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I think it depends on the person and how it looks on them. I think alot of people look good with it straight. But Kim looks a little better with some wave in it. I like Taylor Swifts hair better straight. Sarah Jessica Parker looks good with it straight. Shakira with straight hair looks totally different and I like either look on her. I think curls can make a full face look even fuller and I agree that long straight hair can make a round face look longer and less round.
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That's great! I just spent $250 having the Brazilian straightening treatment done on my naturally curly hair. Fortunately for me, my husband thinks my new look is much sexier than before!
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I think it just depends on your face shape. Girls with more oval faces look better with curly hair. Girls with round faces look better with straight hair.
I've got naturally straight hair, and I have a round face, so I rock it :D
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I think it just varies with different women. It can depend on face shape, hair type/length, etc. I love straight hair, though I've seen tons of women that look sexy with curls. As for the guy's opinions, I agreed with pretty much everything they said.
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I suspect the guys' reaction has more to do with the poses and facial expressions, than the hair. Notice that in most of the photos the men prefer, the woman's face is tilted down more than in the other.
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I Agree ABBY,, These Stars ALL Look Better With STRAIGHT Hair !!! I Have Been STRAIGHTENING My Hair Now Religiously For 10 Years--{Started Whan I Was 18 & Went Away To College} And Im Glad I Do---Everyone I Know Likes My Long Bob Straight !!! The One Time I Didnt Straighten My Hair, Everyone Said I Looked Terrible And They Were Right !!!! Love the Brazilian STRAIGHTENER That I Have Done !!! So Pal I Again Say I Agree With You----STRAIGHT Hair Rocks !!!!
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As long as the hair style, straight or curly, looks natural and not like they spent hours in the bathroom with some scorching hot tool to achieve the look AND I can run my fingers through it without getting stuck then it looks good.
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Let me tell you this is the issue that has been the downfall of my hair. I used to have hair that looked like Shakira's but due to my flat iron and excessive dye jobs my hair is now shoulder length straight and brown. Barely a hint of personality, especially mine. Girls leave that curly hair alone. It is so pretty, believe me I would rather have my long curly hair back. Don't worry about the man's point of view, he will like what you feel confident with. TRUST ME.
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I think the curly hair thing is true
Whenever I curl my hair (I wish I had naturally curly hair, but kind of controlled curls like some people) I get more complements, even when my face is round
(like someone said round face looks better with straight hair)
And I feel that I look better with curly hair too
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I think I will go for curly .There's something about curly hair that I just love it makes you look different in a good way.Makes me wonder why women who have natural curly hair want straight hair,trust me I have nothing against straight hair .....
Posted 8:56 AM on 08/17/2010