We’ve jokingly talked before about why women cut their hair, but here’s a historical example we didn’t really consider: war and its economic impact. The U.K.‘s Telegraph recently reprinted a 1939 article dealing with trends in women’s hairstyles.

Back then, we learn, ladies were switching to short styles out of practicality and thrift: “Women who had cultivated romantic coiffures for which they had grown their hair 12 inches, are having seven of those inches cut off. Hairdressing is returning instead of hair-building.”

So, how have our thoughts about going short in times of economic crisis changed since the ‘40s?

Kelly Osbourne looked like a Debbie Downer at the “Terminator Salvation” premiere last night. Could her new hairdo be teaching her that blonds don’t really have more fun? If there’s anyone who could turn that frown upside down, it’s gotta be the flick’s butt-kicking stud of a star, Christian Bale. [Hollywood, 5/14/09]

The alt band Pavement once sang, “Darlin’ don’t you go and cut your hair, do you think it’s gonna make him change?” True, when a woman lops off her long locks, it’s often assumed that her action was a result of man troubles. Fair enough. I’ve seen this happen to several friends after breakups as a way to cleanse their lives. But of course, as multi-faceted human beings, there are a number of explanations as to why ladies may suddenly cut off their hair. Here, some reasons you may not have considered…

I just read the world’s most obnoxious article in The New York Daily News. According to the reporter and his panel of experts/douchebags, short hair on a woman is a total turn-off for men. Unfortunately, this is hardly the first time I’ve heard this and I can’t help but wonder if this “rumor” is the reason why you don’t see many 20- and 30-something women with cropped ‘dos—after all, Halle Berry and Natalie Portman can pull off the look, but they could pull off just about anything and men would drown in a puddle of drool. So, I decided to go to the experts on such matters—the guys on our IM. Of course, I hardly think women should allow THE MAN to dictate what she does with her hair (or body, or, you know anything), but my curiosity compelled me to ask. Check out their responses, after the jump…

Much less cheerleader. We approve. [Los Angeles, 7/10/08]

I blame Gwyneth Paltrow circa 1997 for why I do not have the balls to cut my hair. Back during my senior year of high school, when I was zitty and spectacled and decidedly not cute, I decided it would do much for my self-esteem to chop my hair off like the then-girlfriend of Brad Pitt. You remember the cut right? I think it was bigger than The Rachel.