Here's What Your Hairstyle May Say About Your Personality

You can infer quite a bit about a person by how they dress and groom themselves. So naturally, your personal choices in hair care say a lot about how you want others to perceive you, according to author and philosophy enthusiast Alain de Botton.

Hairstyling is a way to express key elements of who we are, de Botton argues in the recent video above from The School of Life. His “dictionary of hair” breaks down what he’s pegged as the implicit meanings behind various styles, from slicked-back ponytails to messy waves. For example, he says choosing an “emphatic” side part means you’re trying to show the world you’re careful, patient, sensible, modest, realistic and dependable.

Of course, this is just one man’s take on what you may be trying to communicate with your hair. It’s probably best digested as a light-hearted look at your coif. But de Botton does focus on the empowering aspects of choosing your own hairstyle. Watch above for his full rundown.