Scientists Have Discovered How A Person's Hairstyle Affects The First Impression Others Have Of Them

• 7.10.2026, 17:47

Hair can provide a clue, but it's only a very small amount of information.

A hairstyle can significantly change how others perceive a person even before a conversation begins. Studies show that people use hair to judge age, attractiveness, strength, competence, and even personality, according to Psychology Today.

A 2026 study showed that hairstyle alone can influence perceptions of influence. Participants in the experiment evaluated people separately based on their faces and hairstyles. It turned out that it was the hair that helped predict how influential a person would appear to be.
Earlier experiments yielded similar results for shaved heads. Men without hair were perceived as more dominant, taller, and physically stronger.

At the same time, hairstyles can also influence professional reputation. Black women with natural hair were rated by study participants as less competent and professional compared to women with straightened hair. The effect was particularly noticeable in conservative fields.
Gray hair also alters first impressions. People with gray hair were more often perceived as older and less attractive, though this had virtually no effect on their social status.

Hair color can alter perceptions of personality. “Blondes are more often perceived as young and attractive,” the study states.
At the same time, researchers caution that the link between hairstyle and actual personality is quite weak. “Hair can provide a clue, but it’s only a very small amount of information,” the study’s authors believe.
Ultimately, hairstyle does influence first impressions, but it doesn’t always tell the whole truth about a person.