If beauty is tightly associated with facial symmetry, then why doesn’t everyone have their hair part down the middle?

Edit: to clarify, I know that many short hair styles don’t have a part at all. Mostly talking about people with hair long enough to have one. I find it interesting that many studies conclude that beauty is tightly correlated with how symmetrical someone’s face is. However, many haircuts and hair styles are asymmetrical, including any style with the part off-center (very common for both male and female hair styles). Not just that, but we really like the way these haircuts and styles look too. It makes me wonder why one’s perception of beauty might not take into account the symmetry of one’s hair. I don’t have an opinion on what looks better, symmetrical vs not symmetrical as I think it depends on the person and what suits them. I am wondering if anyone else has thought about this.

rubythulhu,
@rubythulhu@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Not everyone puts being beautiful and attractive to others above their own desires and needs.

writeblankspace,
@writeblankspace@geddit.social avatar

I have a cowlick near my natural centre part, so I end up having a huge forehead. Parting my hair slightly off-centre fixes that problem.

s_s,
@s_s@lemmy.one avatar

Mirror symmetry is just one kind of symmertry.

DrNeurohax,
@DrNeurohax@kbin.social avatar

Because...
If you part it to the Left, it's Not Right.
If you part it to the Right, it's Wrong.
Not Right = Wrong
So, Left must = Right.

Pregnenolone,

I don’t think “tightly” is the right word here. Some studies seem to show that symmetry is not linked with attractiveness so much as asymmetry is linked with unattractiveness. For example:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7644543/

“In this experiment, the authors performed a manipulation that altered asymmetry within a face without altering the mean size of facial features. These faces were then rated on attractiveness. Contrary to what was predicted, faces that were made more symmetrical were perceived as being less attractive”

As for hair, it seems that humans don’t really link hair to the face in terms of attractiveness in the sense we would expect. For example:

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/…/full

The study found that the attractiveness of a person’s hair can influence how attractive their face is perceived to be, but only if the person evaluating the attractiveness of the face has not previously evaluated the attractiveness of the hair.

Joeythe1st,

Your hair is not your face

qisope,
@qisope@lemmy.world avatar

This is the kind of insight we need

faltuuser,

Short and to the point.

May, (edited )
@May@kbin.social avatar

I didnt know that was true. Some famous people ive seen called really attractive dont have perfectly symmetrical faces. In fact for some of them its not too hard to notice the asymmetry but theyre still really attractive.. i think the amount that symmetry comes into play might not be as high as other stuff like the shape/size of features, if at all. but ya.

Also for the hair thing i think is just bc some hairstyles look cuter than others depending on the person. Not necessarily middle part for everyone tho is not bad.

catharso,

i like this question

Potatomache,
@Potatomache@kbin.social avatar

Because only a few people have a truly symmetrical face. Your hair acts as a sort of frame and so a middle part can end up emphasizing the imbalances that exist and thus make you look more lopsided. There are also additional considerations to a beautiful face. Symmetry is one, proportion is the other. You can have a very symmetrical face but if your features are smaller or larger in relation to it as a whole, then that can ding off a few points on the "beauty" meter.

That's why asymmetrical hairstyles can work so much better. It can shape your face in accordance to its symmetry and proportion and thus make it appear more balanced.

lividhen,
@lividhen@kbin.social avatar

It's because it doesn't! That is a myth.

Cap,
@Cap@kbin.social avatar

I guess hair is never really symmetrical (think of curls and "flowing" hair) so you don't associate it with health and beauty like someone's face. Hair that is full and thick like the TV tells me hair should be is probably the sign of beauty we look for.

But what do I know, I'm as symmetric as a Salvador Dali painting.

sadreality,

Pretty sire people look for symmetry in face body BC it is indication of "health" "fitness for reproduction"

Hair is judged by different standard, style is not relevant to its health

ivanafterall,
@ivanafterall@kbin.social avatar

It sounds like you've figured out how to get a leg-up on all of us in the dating pool. I say rock that middle part and enjoy the fruits of this brilliant discovery.

_finger_,
@_finger_@lemmy.world avatar

It has less to do with hair and more to do with facial features

ofespii,

It’s possible that having certain asymmetrical elements ENHANCE the symmetry of your face.

If everything is symmetrical, then any little imperfection or flaw will stand out like a sore thumb.

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