Hair Length - Short or Close-cropped

September 22, 2004 9:19 PM

If a man is described as having a close-cropped haircut, I picture a nearly-shaved head. But if it's a woman, I see something like a bob. It is just due to the shortness being relative to what is normal for that sex, or does it mean only one of these to you?
posted by Utilitaritron to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Ironically enough, pageboy haircuts, or "bobs", were originally masculine/unisex hairstyles.

Close-cropped hair usually refers to anything fairly low-maintenance that's kept above the neckline. Some women may shy away from hair that's very close to the scalp, as it may be too "butch". Most females, however, are very conscious about their appearences, and are worried about their cheekbones/nose/neck/forehead/ears/etc. being drawn out. Some, however, will tell you they feel exposed without long-ish hair; the air around their neck may seem too breezy or cold.
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:31 PM on September 22, 2004

Oh, yeah - punk's demise may have been an additional factor, as a lot of women I knew from that time have gone back to longer, poofier locks.
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:36 PM on September 22, 2004

I still see a fair amount of women in New York and the West Coast who seem to be going for the Jean Seberg in Breathless look ... I'd call that 'close-cropped.' It can be fairly feminine with the right stylist (and if you've got a classically pretty face like ol' Jean, plus a gob of eyeliner).
posted by lisa g at 10:36 PM on September 22, 2004

bleh. I loves me a beautiful bob haircut, but that's a little boy's haircut. And I do not not not NOT like women who look like little boys.

But that's just me.
posted by Irontom at 4:40 AM on September 23, 2004

A bob still has quite a bit of hair -- the hair can still "swing" when the head is tossed. The Jean Seberg thing above, that's close-cropped. Think also Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby.
posted by JanetLand at 5:24 AM on September 23, 2004

Jean and Mia are definitely close-cropped in those pictures. The bob is "short" but not cropped.

I love the cut on Jean Seberg and have worn similar for years. Personally, I think it looks better on me than even the bob pictured above. I have fine, wavy hair that tends to get frizzy with the hint of humidity in the air. Living where I do, that's pretty much year round.

Currently, my hair is long enough to cover my ears and it's starting to push the "too long" length for me. When the time comes that I get sick of it and go back to close-cropped, I expect a certain amount of butch jokes will be thrown my way. If history is any indicator, then my male friends will moan, wail and gnash their teeth over the cut. However, it's my head and none of them are trying to tend my hair every morning. At least my husband no longer says anything about it. He gave up long ago trying to convince me to keep my hair longer. I know he prefers it long, but I have to be happy in how I feel about myself and this is something that makes me happy.
posted by onhazier at 6:25 AM on September 23, 2004

I see that my previous post was ambiguous. So, to be clear:

I love a bob haircut on a woman, but the Jean Seaberg look in Breathless is a little boy's haircut. And I do not not not NOT like women who look like little boys.

So, bob/pageboy = good, little boy haircut on pretty woman = bad.
posted by Irontom at 6:31 AM on September 23, 2004

Ironically enough, pageboy haircuts, or "bobs", were originally masculine/unisex hairstyles.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Bernice Bobs Her Hair, Bernice's getting a bob is a shocking violation of social norms:

With her chin in the air she crossed the sidewalk, pushed open the swinging screen-door, and giving not a glance to the uproarious, riotous row that occupied the waiting bench, went up to the first barber.

"I want you to bob my hair."

The first barber's mouth slid somewhat open. His cigarette dropped to the floor.

"Huh?"

"My hair--bob it!"

bob/pageboy = good, little boy haircut on pretty woman = bad.

It's all subjective. For me, close-cropped hair on Jean Seberg = very good, close-cropped hair on Mia Farrow = bad.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:49 AM on September 23, 2004

"close cropped" to me is a crew cut, pixie cut, or other short cut where the hair fits the face, does not hang or swing. I love having these cuts because they're easy to manage and strange men don't talk to you at the bus stop if you look like a little boy, usually. Actually, dreadlocks serve the same purpose and are more in line with my aesthetic.
posted by jessamyn at 7:15 AM on September 23, 2004

Ah, my most dere Louise, ever-bobbed and ever-lasting.
posted by tenseone at 9:05 AM on September 23, 2004