The first time I shaved my head, I was 14 years old. I was raising money and awareness for childhood cancer research, and my head (along with about 100 others) was shaved in front of my whole school. The experience made me realize that hair isn’t everything; you can be beautiful and feminine without having long hair. I’m now 19 and shave my head every month or so because I love how I look and feel with it. I have had so many interactions where girls come up to me and say, “Wow, I love your hair! I wish I could do that,” or “I’ve always wanted to shave my head, but I’m too scared.” So if you’re one of those people that’s thinking about rocking the bald look, here are 10 reasons why you should just freakin do it!!!
- Screw beauty standards!
Long hair is typically associated with women’s sexuality, beauty, and femininity. Challenge this notion; make people realize that people of any gender can have whatever length hair they want. Shaving your head is basically a way to say “f*ck you” to gender norms. Girls don’t have to have long hair (or hair at all) to be feminine or beautiful. People with short hair are not automatically masculine. Girls with short hair are not automatically lesbians. Hair does not determine your sexuality, your femininity, or your beauty. Shaving your head lets people know that you don’t give a damn about their sexist beauty standards.
2. Name one bald girl who isn’t totally badass.
Bald women are badass–it’s just a fact. There’s Amber Rose, the queen of owning her sexuality. Model Flaviana Matata, Tanzanian beauty queen who was the first woman to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant with a shaved head. Halsey, who shaved her head because she wanted to stop being known for just her hair. And we all remember Britney Spears’ iconic head shaving as a liberating act against people constantly touching her hair and telling her how to look. Even fictional bald characters are cool as hell–Negasonic Teenage Warhead in Deadpool, Eleven from Stranger Things, and tons more. Shaving your head automatically makes you badass because you’re showing that you’re in control of yourself and you don’t care about anyone’s standards or opinions.
3. You’ll either look super intimidating or like a fairy
Both are great. Enough said.
4. Hair gets in the way of everything
Having your head shaved is so convenient. There are no hairs all over the shower walls, you don’t get whipped in the face by your hair every time there’s a breeze, you’re not constantly feeling hot on the back of your neck, and you never have to put your hair up to wash your face or play sports.
5. Your hair is probably dead anyway
Heat damage, bleach damage, color damage, whatever kind of damage you have caused to your hair– it can be repaired with one simple step: shave it off! Your hair will grow back healthy and happy and you’ll be able to get a fresh start in a way.
6. It’s super liberating and empowering
Shaving my head is such an empowering experience. I am physically, purposefully removing my hair from my head. So many women in the past have had their hair taken from them against their will, and so many others have been judged by their hair. And I am here, taking control of my own look, shaving my head, and feeling powerful. To me, it feels like I’m basically shaving off the sexist beauty standards and gender roles right off of my head.
7. Dyeing your hair is way easier
As someone who likes changing my hair color pretty much every other month, having a shaved head makes it so much easier to do. I pick a color, dye my hair, wait 2 months, shave it, and all the color is gone. I can either dye it the same color again or change it completely. It’s really convenient and allows me to change my look as often as I’d like without any hassle.
8. Save money on hair products.
You have to buy way less shampoo and conditioner, you don’t have to buy hairspray or hair ties or gel or anything.
9. You don’t have to do your hair in the morning
Having no hair makes it really easy to get ready every morning. You save a lot of time because you just have to roll out of bed and go. Super convenient!
10. It’s just hair.
Hair grows back. Your hair doesn’t have to be your identity or your security blanket (although I totally understand if it is). But hair is just hair. Life is too short to keep thinking “wow I wish I could do that.” You can do it! If you hate it, wear hats and wigs and head scarves until it grows back. It’s just hair.
Hair can be a wonderful way to express your style and personality. However, if you feel like your hair is becoming your whole identity or that you are hiding behind it, you might need a confidence boost and a way to feel empowered. Shaving your head is a badass way to do just that.
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