While the story is written in 3rd person, the perspective is limited mostly to Della's experiences and thoughts. We are not given direct insight to Jim's thinking. As we look at his reactions from the outside, though, we can at least accurately guess that he still finds his wife beautiful.
Jim's initial response is one of confusion, as he seems to look around the house for Della's missing hair. He explains that this reaction has nothing to do with his wife's new look, though. "'I want you to understand me, Dell,' he said. 'Nothing like a haircut could make me love you any less. But if you'll open that, you may know what I felt when I came in.'" Jim has sold his prize possession to help Della adorn hers. Della quickly comforts him, "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"
After Della reveals her gift to Jim, "Jim sat down and smiled." At this point, we can judge that Jim is not displeased, irritated, or dismayed by Della's actions. Jim realizes that they both had the same thought - to sell their possessions to give a better gift to the other. The narrator never comments on Della's physical beauty because the love she has for Jim makes her more attractive than any hair cut could.
Jim frightens Della because she can't understand his expression as he sees her short hair. We are told,
His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for.
Jim at first is stunned and dismayed because—he has just sold his watch to buy her a Christmas gift of beautiful tortoiseshell combs for her to wear in her long hair. He can't, initially, absorb what she has done, so he simply stares and tries to process the new reality. Jim obviously never expected her to do this.
Once Jim realizes, however, that Della sold her beloved hair to buy him a watch chain, he feels deeply moved by her sacrifice and enfolds her in his arms. Jim realizes she has sold her hair because she loves him so deeply that she was willing to give up what was most precious to her for his sake. This makes his love for her grow more than any physical gift she could give him.
Jim's initial reaction is one that Della simply doesn't understand. He's so incredibly quiet; his eyes are full of something, but she doesn't quite know what. It isn't anger, it isn't surprise, but whatever it is, it fills Della with fear. That's a perfectly understandable reaction. Della is scared stiff that Jim will no longer find her beautiful when he sees that her lovely locks have been cut off. At this point, Jim seems really perplexed, even more so when he discovers that Della has sold her hair to buy him a Christmas gift. But confusion quickly dissolves into a warm, loving embrace. Jim understands that Della's selfless act was an expression of love. He can empathize with her because he's done exactly the same thing: selling something precious to buy a Christmas gift for someone he loves.
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