They say that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory - and most women want to keep it that way.
A favoured hairstyle is such a key part of a woman’s look that many don’t change it for years. And, if change is on the horizon, often the ones who might be sought for advice are a trusted stylist or female best friend.
But now experts say there’s another very surprising person who may know better than anyone what will really suit you: your husband.
Elle Bandoc, top celebrity hairdresser from London’s Neville Hair and Beauty salon, says: “A person who looks at you every day will always be the best judge of what works best for your hair. While you might make decisions based on emotion, or fear of change, your husband can be more objective.
“And, of course, he knows what he personally finds attractive in you, so he’s well placed to know what might enhance that.
“Often, we stick to the same old style year after year, but it can suit us less as we get older. Trying something new can work wonders!”
Some men here at home seem to agree, as is the case for a Mabopane, Tshwane, couple, Lorraine Mafoyane, 39, and her husband Themba, 40.
Mafoyane, who works as a picker and packer at Transnet, has been married to her husband Themba, 40, an HR manager also at Transnet, for 13 years and they have two children.
Themba says she and Mafonyane have been together for 15 years and, when they first met, she had relaxed hair that was simply pushed back.
“I liked it and thought it suited her. My favourite hairstyle of hers now is a razor cut. I love it because it highlights her best features and suits her quite well.
“She doesn’t do it that often but it’s a treat when she does,” Themba says fondly.
Lorraine agrees with his choice, saying he’s told her the razor cut was his favourite hairstyle.
“He says it suits me and I agree, that’s why it’s also my favourite hairstyle to do in the summer,” she said.
Katlego Mabote, 29, a radio host at a community radio station, has been with her partner, Thabiso Matlhaga, 30, for almost five years. The two live in Ga-Rankuwa and have a 3-year-old son.
Thabiso says: “We’ve been together for almost five years and, when I met Katlego, she had short hair, which I liked because it suited her well.
“My favourite hairstyle on her is whenever she has a weave on, particularly a razor cut, because it enhances her beauty and shapes her face.”
Katlego has since changed this hairstyle and now sports dreadlocks, a style Thabiso also says he’s okay with.
Katlego, meanwhile, admits she doesn’t know which hairstyle her partner likes best but guesses it might be those she did before starting her dreadlocks.
“I don’t think he has a problem with my dreads per se, he just thinks I’m doing the same thing over and over again.”
Sokha Vutha is a nursery manager in Upington, Northern Cape, and has been with Zethu Radebe, a citrus farmer in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, for six years. The 26-year-old says when he met Zethu, 25, she had a big Afro. Although he did not dislike it, he was not particularly keen on it.
“I loved it but it was too much work to maintain. It restricted her with a lot of hairstyles and was just a mess when she had to blow dry it.
“She ended up relaxing her hair, then also decided to cut it short (a bob cut) and I was head-over-heels with this new hair.
“I don’t like weaves although I don’t complain when she does it.
“Her natural hair makes her look gorgeous and a true African woman; it complements her beauty.”
Additional reporting by the Daily Mail