Blanca Cobb, body language expert and author of "Method of the Masters," told Good Housekeeping, "Context is key when distinguishing a habit from a nonverbal tell." She added that some people touch their hair when they are (probably) nervous like Meghan Markle, but some people feel their hair during non-stressful situations like reading a book, and in that case, it is just a habit. However, if someone is touching their hair in the middle of an argument, it shows discomfort.
One of the most common reasons someone plays with their hair is to self-soothe as it can be very calming. Still, others might misunderstand it as having a hidden meaning and being more mysterious than it actually is (via The Trust Ambassador). According to Changing Minds, most people perceive someone touching their hair as mainly flirtatious. If the person is feeling their hair while smiling at you or solving a math problem in the library, it can mean two completely different things. Still, it might be best to proceed with caution when it comes to decoding someone else's hair without being 100% certain. Kérastase teamed up with a former FBI agent to decode how people use their hair to communicate. They shared that when people tuck their hair behind their ears, it means interest because they are trying to give you their undivided attention (via InStyle).
