"Some people touch their hair, play with their fingernails, or rub their arms, as a way to psychologically and physiologically calm themselves when they're feeling anxious, uncomfortable,or stressed," Blanca Cobb, body language expert and author of Method of the Masters, told GoodHousekeeping.com.
Excessive hair touching is a repetitive and addictive habit that can be extremely hard to stop and can lead to Trichotillomania - a hair pulling disorder. Many women who's hands are always buried in their hair, typically suffer from very dry ends, oily roots, hair loss and poor overall hair condition.
According to the experts, playing with your hair is usually just a nervous tic, self-soothing tactic, or a mindless habit. That said, sometimes this nervous tic might verge on a larger issue, depending on the extent to which you do it.
"We often play with our hair unconsciously. It can be when we are bored, deep in thought, nervous or stressed — hence the term 'tearing out your hair,'" says trichologist Anabel Kingsley of Philip Kingsley. “Hair pulling may be used as a coping mechanism, and as a way to initially alleviate feelings of anxiety.”
Trichotillomania, also known as trich, is when someone cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair. They may pull out the hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes. Trich is more common in teenagers and young adults.
"Some people touch their hair, play with their fingernails, or rub their arms, as a way to psychologically and physiologically calm themselves when they're feeling anxious, uncomfortable,or stressed," Blanca Cobb, body language expert and author of Method of the Masters, told GoodHousekeeping.com.
Trichotillomania (often abbreviated as TTM) is a mental health disorder where a person compulsively pulls out or breaks their own hair. This condition falls under the classification of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
One of the signs a woman finds a man attractive is that she plays with her hair. It's a subconscious gesture that says, “I'm trying to get your attention.” One study found that after a woman's face, hair is the most attractive female body part.
When a woman tosses her hair, it's typically a sign she's trying to lure you in. “Women tend to preen or groom themselves subconsciously when they're attracted to someone, by flipping back their hair to fluff it, smoothing down their hair or clothes, or checking their lipstick in a compact,” Wood explains.
Say, “Only if I can touch your hair first.” It will become evident how strange it is to do such a thing. Otherwise, you can just say, “No” and turn away. It's simple and effective. You don't need to feel like you're being rude, because you don't owe this stranger anything.
Playing with hair may be a sign of affection but it could be a way to show how close you guys are and how they think of you as a close sibling or friend than a lover.
Playing with hair.
When a woman plays with or twirls her hair around her finger, that can be a sign of flirtation, especially when showing the inside of her wrist. According to Cobb, women will generally pull a strand from the back or side of their head when flirting.
Flirtatious Body Language in Women
There is a slight smile on the lips and eyes gazing forward to make eye contact. This sends a message of “I am vulnerable but open to you.” Head Tossing. An upward or sideways jerk of the head as if one is throwing aside long hair.
Touching of the hair, head and scalp are especially intoxicating as there are “Specialized sensory neurons located at the base the hair follicles,” says Williams.
It's a way of showing their affection
But, it depends on the guy and his way of trying to express his feelings. If a guy plays with your hair, it may just be the best way to express himself. He may not play with it in an obvious way, but act like he's arranging it, or dusting something off it.
What does that mean? He likes you and wants to look his best, maybe hoping to draw your attention. He might be trying to lure you closer.
As you might expect, kids with ADHD pull their hair out because, by definition, they have a self-control deficit. Though in some cases, 'Trich' can also be an indicator of an additional underlying disorder, like OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) or BMD (body dysmorphic disorder.)
A knee bounce or a hair twirl pops up for different reasons: studies show stimming helps give an extra spark to assist ADHD brain wiring and more accurate responses. While more prevalent in ADHD and autism, engaging in stimming isn't exclusive to either.
According to Cobb, "In this situation, Meghan's hair touch is a soothing gesture. Her head is also tilted down slightly. Sometimes when you feel too much attention you might tuck your chin down as a way to shield yourself."
Stroking his hair shows that he's nervous around you.
This is a sign that he really cares what you think about him, and he's subconsciously grooming himself to look good for you. Sometimes, men also play with their hair as a subconscious way to make themselves look taller.
Summary: Hair samples from teens could help detect their risk of mental health problems. Researchers found teens with higher cortisol levels in hair samples were more likely to experience depression. Low cortisol levels were also linked to an increased risk of mental health issues.
Sometimes sensitivity to touching hair, touching the face, or putting inanimate objects that might put pressure on the hair or face can be a sign of late-onset autism. In our case, this was particularly confusing until we figured out what was going on. It can also be quite stressful.
Here are the typical signs someone is attracted to you:
They tilt their head as you speak (a sign of engagement). They smile at you. They make eye contact with you. They reach out and touch your arm, hand, back, or leg.