How did the tradition start that men have short hair, and women have long hair?

This is very old, but the tradition comes and goes.





In Jesus' time, men had short hair, despite all the pictures you see of him. A proper Roman man would have short hair.





Later, during the Civil War, (the English one, not the US one!), the Parliamentarian Army had short hair. This was partly to help keep the men clean, and therefore healthy, in the field. Modern armies still do this. OTOH, the Royalist forces had long hair. Made it kind of easy to tell them apart!





As to why? I do not know, but I have some ideas. Men are more visually oriented. Thus, we look to women with long hair as better - it adds to their features, but framing the face, etc. For a man in battle, long hair is a big disadvantage. I learned this wrestling in high school! So, the fighting men would have short hair, but admire the women with long. Something we still do, to this day.