Does your hair really become curly when you're in love?

If you love How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, then you'll definitely remember that iconic backless dress scene—Kate Hudson glowing in her yellow dress, twirling on top of the staircase, while a lovestruck Matthew McConaughey watches in awe.

As someone who’s only recently started dabbling into the world of 2000s romcoms, there was one more detail that stood out to me—Kate Hudson’s hair transformation when McConaughey’s character takes her to meet his family in Staten Island. Unlike the standard "messy, curly-haired nerd to seaweed straight-haired diva" pipeline that I was all too familiar with (Princess Diaries, anyone?), this was a refreshing change. In a film that is all about glamorous jobs, ambitious bets, and sky-high egos, I later learnt that Andie’s relaxed curls symbolised her character finally letting go of the manic girlfriend act and allowing herself to just be. Not to mention, it actually toyed with the line of loving the object of her experiment.

The idea that love changes the way you look is nothing new. And it's coming back with all the rage on Tiktok. People are posting before and after pictures of their hair when they were single and after they got into a relationship, and just like Andie, their pin-straight strands have transformed into more relaxed, bouncy curls.

The hair theory also comes from another TikTok trend, which claims that your body body subconsciously rejects a toxic relationship—whether emotionally or physically abusive—through telltale signs such as body aches, exhaustion and, breakouts. Even if you yourself are convinced that your partner really isn't that bad, you body might beg to differ. Conversely, when you're in a relationship where you feel loved and appreciated, your body seemingly changes for the better.

But does this transformation actually happen on its own? Not really. Unlike the body-rejecting-abusive-relationship theory, where stress-induced hormonal imbalances can lead to breakouts, your hair doesn't magically transform overnight. Your hair type—whether straight, wavy, or curly—is primarily determined by genetics, specifically the shape of your hair follicle—a round follicle produces straight hair, while a curved or oval one results in wavy or curly hair. In short, your environment (or relationship status) isn’t physically altering your strands.

But this doesn't mean the hair theory is entirely false. It simply means that you tend to feel more at ease when you’re in a healthy, loving relationship; this is evident in the way you get ready for your day. In other words, a good partner makes you feel confident in your own skin (and hair!). And this need not be limited to hair. Case in point: remember Kylie Jenner’s glow-up after she started dating Timothee Chalamet?

That being said, the reason social media noticed this more about curly hair and not vice versa also has to do with underlying biases about straight hair. Straight hair is generally seen as more attractive, and professional, even. Mainstream hair care advice usually caters to straight hair, too, leaving many with wavy or curly textures unaware of the fact that their hair isn't actually straight. Even if they do, most straighten their hair before leaving the house. So, when someone in a healthy, supportive relationship finally embraces their natural curls, it’s not a mystical transformation—it’s self-acceptance. And that’s powerful.

Ultimately, the hair theory isn’t about a magical transformation that love brings to your life, but rather a reflection of self-acceptance and ease in a loving relationship. When you feel valued and secure, you embrace your natural self—whether that means letting your curls loose, wearing less make-up, or dressing in a way that feels authentically you. Love, at its best, doesn’t change who you are; it simply gives you the confidence to show up as yourself, unapologetically.

Lead image credits: Mithila Palkar/ Instagram

Also read: What I learnt from talking to one stranger every day for a week

Also read: #LoveIRL: Meet-cutes are making a comeback and we’re here for it