Karen is a symbol of entitled white women. Other "Karen" hairstyle traits include having your back hair shorter than your front hair and having harsh blonde highlights. Kate Gosselin (from Jon & Kate Plus 8) is a popular portrayal of "Karen." Her look is based on this style. Kate was known for her long, blond hair. When she went to court to fight for joint custody of her eight children with Jon Gosselin, she asked that he not be allowed to cut their children's hair. The judge agreed, and Kate started cutting the children's hair herself. The style became very popular with other parents who had also seen the show, so it is no surprise that many girls have copied Kate's look. The term "Karen" originated in the 1950s when American women began rejecting their traditional long hair styles in favor of short cuts. The short hair style was named after Karen Huffman, an actress who played Karen on the television series Our Town. The character of Karen wore her hair in a similar fashion to the one adopted by most American women at the time. Our research shows that "Karen" hair styles are usually simple, smooth, and slightly wavy or curly. They are generally cut around 1 inch below the ear but can be as short as half an inch if you're feeling daring!