These 6 Zodiac Signs Have A 'Hard On The Outside, Soft On The Inside' Personality

I know how hard it can be to want to be as authentically you as possible but still fall back into hiding your true self underneath a hard outer shell.

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Of course, I am the kind of person who wears all of her emotions on her face, instead of being a master at hiding what I'm really feeling, so I can't relate to these zodiac signs, unfortunately.

What makes us so different — me and these six zodiac signs — is that when they want to hide what they're feeling, they can be really good at putting up a wall so that people just think they're scary and mysterious instead of what they really are — big ol' softies.

Me, on the other hand — I try to be the mysterious person who only lets you know what she's feeling when I want you to know, but my face just gives everything away.

But let's address the question that makes these zodiac signs want to hide their true feelings in the first place behind a hard outer shell. Why is it such a bad thing to be someone who feels a lot?

Sure, there's a possibility that people could make you feel like you're unstable or always overreacting whenever you express your feelings, but those are usually the same people who are either embarrassed to show their emotions or don't know how to do it in a healthy way.

Now, I should clarify, astrology can help us split the zodiac signs into one of three categories; those who are emotionally stable, those who will hide everything they ever feel away until they're dead.

Those who seem hard on the outside, but are soft on the inside (in other words, a little bit of the other two categories).

When this group of zodiac signs is around people they care about and trust, they are their most authentic selves.

They know that they can express themselves without anyone judging them and they tend to be more open to their feelings. This is how we know that they have soft gooey centers.

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But whenever they feel like they need to be on guard and it's hard for them to open up to you until they know you're not going to hurt them or betray them, that's when we tend to see them as hard on the outside.

But it's not just these signs that do whatever they can to protect their true feelings. We all want to protect ourselves from getting hurt or having our heart broken.

And even if we're big fans of love and new friendships, there's still a possibility that we can get hurt over and over again.

So, really, these horoscopes aren't building up a hard outer shell because they want to, but because it makes them feel safer and more protected.

And when they start to get more comfortable around you, you'll realize that these six zodiac signs in astrology might seem hard on the outside, but they really feel a lot on the inside.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19)

Let's get the stereotype out of the way first: Just because Aries can be intimidating doesn't mean she's callous or uncaring. In fact, the energy that radiates from Aries is something not only of confidence but also of something that proves that there is way more to Aries than meets the eye.

Sure, she can be proud at times and even a little stubborn, but tough as nails? Only on the outside. If you're one of Aries' closest friends, you most definitely have seen this soft side of hers. She can sometimes act like a mom at a soccer game; always cheering you on and making sure you know that she's there for you and only you.

In other words, Aries has a LOT of feelings, but instead of letting that make her emotional, she translates that into becoming a huge supporter of her friends. Cherish this one, she's one in a million.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

On the outside, Leo could best be described as Anna Wintour's clone — a bad boss in heels who wears sunglasses so you don't turn to stone with one chilly look from her — how kind is that?

On the inside, Leo ain't nothin' but a giant teddy bear with a heart of gold... Kind of like those huge teddy bears you see at Costco that you've always wanted, but never had the confidence to buy for yourself.

Sure, she can be a little unfeeling and full of herself at times, but don't we all have our downfalls? When Leo cares for you, you'll never see this side of her anyway. Leo wraps her feelings up in bubble wrap so that, until she can totally trust you, she has a little bit of insurance if you hurt her.

If she feels like you can't be trusted, that's when her colder, harder side comes out and her soft side gets locked away again.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)

Virgo is all business and no play because she feels like that's how the world sees her – and while she might not admit it, she does care about appearances. But if any sign is the epitome of being hard on the outside, but soft on the inside, it's ya girl, Virgo. When you get right down to her soft center, you realize that she just cares so much that it can be overwhelming at times.

When you get right down to it, Virgo has sky-high standards for herself – that applies to her personal life, her professional life, and her role in her relationships. When she doesn't meet these standards, it can put another hard layer on her very soft center.

But that doesn't mean she doesn't care anymore, it just means that she feels bad for not trying as hard as she thinks she should have. Either way you cut it, Virgo feels a lot — almost too much sometimes — and it can take a toll on her.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)

Scorpio is one of those signs that isn't "either-or" when it comes to her personality. People who don't know her very well might think she's either hard on the outside and inside, or she's just one big softie. It all depends on the Scorpio they meet that day, but in reality, she's very much both.

Scorpio really just wants people to know that she can be whoever she wants to be, so don't put it past her to correct you if she thinks you're getting the facts wrong. Scorpio is very good at hiding her true emotions away, but that doesn't mean they don't exist at all.

She's a very caring person to her friends and family, but she does tend to keep her true self under lock and key until she knows she can trust you. When Scorpio seems hard on the outside, it's because she wants to make sure that people know that she does feel a lot, but all of that can change if you betray her.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)

Sagittarius is definitely one of the most carefree signs of the zodiac, but she does feel a lot — wayyyy deep down inside of herself where no one else can see it. This carefree nature of hers makes it easy to see how she could be kind of flaky and non-committal at times, which can translate into the hard exterior of someone who just doesn't care that much.

But just because Sagittarius might seem a little hard and careless at times doesn't mean that's true. She's actually one of the best friends you'll have; and if you're close with her, you'll realize that not only does she feel a LOT, but she's also dedicated to the people she loves.

It might not always be easy to get her to slow down a bit and feel each emotion one by one, but Sagittarius is always honest about what she's feeling and when – even if that means admitting she doesn't always care.

PISCES (February 19 - March 20)

Pisces is another one of those zodiac signs that tends to have very high standards for themselves that when she doesn't feel like she's being the best friend or staying true to herself, it can make her seem a little hard and callous.

Anyone who knows Pisces knows that she has so many emotions and feelings coursing through her at any given time. The only thing is, she doesn't always express them in a healthy way, which is where this hard outer shell comes in.

When Pisces is having an off day, she can turn into someone who simultaneously blames herself for everything going wrong and wants others to pity her.

These conflicting emotions make her want to close off and never feel again, even though we both know that's not going to happen. Sometimes, though, Pisces just needs to take some time to herself and heal before she can share her soft, feeling side again.

Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.