(in which I ramble about my hair, occasionally bordering on vanity but mostly just being trivial and silly)
Last summer, after months of contemplation, I finally took a leap and cut my hair short. This decision came to me one afternoon with great urgency. It sounds a little crazy, but I was overcome by such an intense need to change my appearance and remove the long strands of hair around my face and shoulders that I went into my bathroom, closed my eyes, and snipped a jagged line all around my face. Impulsiveness at its best. It looked absolutely awful, which I’d expected, but I managed to find an appointment at a salon the very next day and got it fixed. I wanted to look like Bob Dylan off the cover of Blonde on Blonde, but I ended up looking like myself, only slightly improved.
It was a good choice. Obviously I feel strongly enough about my hair to write a blog post about it. But I should clarify, my obsession with short hair is not just a cosmetic one, though I do find it extremely attractive on almost all humans. I have had hair below my shoulders for the majority of my life, so cutting it off seemed like a good change. No more would I be held back by my lackluster hair! I was a brand new woman! I was free and confident and prepared to face all my fears and achieve my dreams! Me and my haircut were kicking ass and taking names!
Just kidding.
At least, I am mostly kidding. I think changing my hair has afforded me a certain degree of confidence. I can’t imagine growing it out again—the very thought fills me with horror. For at least a year now I have been having these daydreams and sleeping dreams about chopping off all my hair. I’m sure Freud would have something to say about that, especially since this desire has only intensified since I actually cut it. I guess I’ve just come to associate short hair with personal progress, which is not really something I can explain so I’ll just have to write it off as a ridiculous impulse.
I’m thinking of cutting it again soon, actually, for practical reasons. I need to keep it off my neck and out of my face during soccer and I also need to get some more practice doing my own hair. The first time I cut my own hair was a disaster, but I’ve kept trying since I don’t have the funds to get it cut at a salon as often as I’d like and I keep getting these urges to cut it. Sometimes when I’m bored and restless, I make myself feel better by having adventures in hair cutting. There is nothing like the satisfaction of hearing that snip, and feeling a lock of hair fall away.
I could go on and on about this, but I think I’ve already run out of compelling things to say. In short (oh, a pun), short hair is awesome and feels really good on your head. I haven’t brushed my hair in months and it looks more or less normal. I urge everyone who is considering cutting their hair to give it a chance and see how lovely they feel. I think more girls out there should consider androgyny and stop wasting time combing and curling their long locks. Short hair is liberation!
From the perspective of a person with long hair (I've been growing it out for the past year or so) I think you make some valid points but having long hair isn't all bad. I absolutely love it. There are so many different ways to wear long hair! You can wear it up, down, sideways, backwards (wait what?). The possibilities are endless, and although I may go though more bottles of conditioner to get the tangles out, it's really not too much of a hassle.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! It is interesting to hear about hair from someone with hair so different from my own.
This made me sad - I love long hair, and ever since I cut my hair I have kinda wished it was long again. Yes, I suppose it is a little vain of me - but I actually really enjoy all of the brushing and braiding and combing that long hair entails (but it is true that it is so much easier to take bucket showers with short hair!) But I don't have much of an opinion regarding how other people cut their hair - I've noticed that many people are starting to cut their hair really short, and it often looks very nice on them. I just wouldn't want it for myself.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me want to cut all my hair off again (while simultaneously kicking ass and taking names). I used to have short hair, and it was great. It was fun to shampoo and you could go to sleep, wake up, and it would look fine! So simple. I'm really glad I had my short hair period -- I think it is a necessary step in every woman's -- or everyone's -- life.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am also quite fond of this "medium hair" I have going on, and I will probably never grow it longer than this...
Anyway, lovely post, it has allowed me to indulge myself in thinking about my hair, which was probably not your intention but that's okay.
I loved this. And no, this isn't vain at all. Although you wrote about yourself, you gave so much more than just thoughts about your tresses.
ReplyDeleteAbout a year ago, I cut my hair short and it was wildly liberating. Short hair holds a declaration of independence in beauty that long hair doesn't really get at. I'm so glad you can find so much satisfaction with your current hairstyle because it really does suit you beautifully :)
Long hair seems like it would be annoying, though I wouldn't know. Unless one plans on going into the long-hair-modeling or long-hair-care-testing (a dangerous job, to be sure) lines of business, I see no reason as to why persons of the feminine persuasion should not take your advice. Humorous post!
ReplyDeleteI used to keep my hair longer...not in a good way though I don't know what went through my mind. Regardless, the worst part about it was trying to sleep. It would always get hot and itch the back of my neck...I don't know how women can do it. luckily for me I am a guy and short hair is the norm. :)
ReplyDeleteI am always in despair about my hair! I love short hair and how it looks, but I just can't get rid of my long hair! It seems like it takes for ever to grow out, and chopping it off with out cut seems so horrid and dreadful! But I respect your courage to do so, and who knows, maybe I will be able to do the same sometime soon. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful post!
I love short hair. It's the best. After having longish or very long hair most of my life, I got my hair chopped short in my mid-twenties, and it was awesome. Lately I've grown my hair long again (mostly due to boredom) and I've pretty much been itching to just chop it short ever since it finally got long enough not to be "growing it out" length. But I'm holding out because I went through so much pain getting it long that I want to try to enjoy what's enjoyable about long hair for a bit longer. Which, for me, is mostly buns and braids. (I find buns really fun. When I had super long hair, I used to be able to twist and tie a bun that stayed bunned-up with no pins or anything. But I'll never have hair that long again.)
ReplyDeleteI've gone through this debacle about once a year (in the springtime, usually) for 3 years. In the spring, I'm always itching for a change, and chopping off my hair seems like a good idea. I love the way it feels on my neck, and how I can run my fingers through it and feel how short it is. It's so light and fluffy and amazing, and sometimes it looks good too! But I usually regret cutting it, and wish that it was long again, so I've come up with a plan. I'm going to grow out my hair and enjoy it while it's long until it's long enough to donate somewhere. At that point, I will get it really really short, and it will be awesome. You didn't really need to know that, but your (very well written) post got me thinking about it. :)
ReplyDeleteNice work!