Why do people twirl their hair?

Most common among women, hair twirling gives off multiple signals such as nervousness, boredom or interest. The age of the female and the situation all play a part into why hair twirling occurs.

A young girl that is twirling her hair may also be prone to nail-biting. These nervous habits are external signs of anxiety. If a woman is idle at work or sitting around and twirling her hair, she could be bored and performing the action without thinking. If a woman does this on a date, she's likely trying to indicate interest to her date and may even be flirting.