Perceptions of Female Age, Health, and Attractiveness Vary with Systematic Hair Manipulations

October 2025 in “ International Journal of Cosmetic Science ”

Susanne Will, Mandy Beckmann, Kristina Kunstmann, Julia Kerschbaumer, Yu Lum Loh, Samuel Stofel, Paul J. Matts, Todd K. Shackelford, Bernhard Fink

hair shine hair alignment hair volume Procter & Gamble P&G

Studysummary In this study, researchers found that high-shine and straight-aligned hair are perceived as more youthful, healthy, and attractive by women across various countries, with alignment having a stronger impact than shine. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study explored how hair characteristics like shine, alignment, and volume influence perceptions of female age, health, and attractiveness. Conducted with 3,500 women from Germany, Spain, and the USA, it found that high-shine and straight-aligned hair were consistently rated as more youthful, healthy, and attractive, regardless of hair color or orientation. High volume negatively impacted these perceptions. The research highlights the significant role of hair shine and alignment over color in shaping social perceptions and suggests further studies on diverse hair types and ethnic groups. The study was funded by The Procter & Gamble Company.

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