After one too many mornings where I would wake up to a 1970s Acme Fright Wig stuck to the top of my head, I chopped my hair off. As much as I would love to say “it’s just a haircut,” that would kinda be a lie. If you cut your hair to a chin length, there is a part of you making a statement. There’s something about it that seems fearless and bold. The shorter you go, the bigger the statement. You’re going against traditional stereotypes of what it means to be sexy and there’s a little hint of taboo appeal to it.
I have had shorter hair in the past – shaved the back of my head and whatnot but after years of the no hair game, I have decided to grow it past my derriere, as the French would put it. Although my fashionable friends would keep telling me to cut my hair off again, I always put it off. If I’m being honest, I was afraid. Especially because I have created my “look” for the modeling agencies. A look that is versatile enough only given by long hair. I was afraid that I would look like a man in my shoots, I was afraid my photos would look different and the brands/ photographers I work with wouldn’t be too happy with it ; that no one would find me attractive and that I wouldn’t be able to do anything with it.
And then one day I chopped it all off at work. Yep, I chopped my hair at work. Having had the asymmetrical bob a few months ago, I always was too scared to cut the front shorter but this time I went for an all time short – the shortest I’ve gone since I was 6 years old when mama Grey used to chop poor Jeanne’s hair.
Surprisingly enough I’ve never felt more revived, more refreshed and beautiful. I was inspired enough to ask my followers about why they love their short cuts. Here’s what they said:
“Low maintenance , very chic. In a way, it shows a lot of courage since it is very seldom for a female to cute her hair off. Bad ass. ” -Nikki @nicolettekezia
” I was super scared at first but now I have never loved my hair more. No risk, no fun.” -Stefanie @nhitastisch
“It is so freeing and easy to manage. It shows off my backless shirts and dresses for the new season.”
-Norma @love_norma
“I love my bob. I donated 11 inches to a child with cancer and overall it feels amazing!” – Krista @krisabeach_
“I recently found my new love for short hair. I always used to have long hair but decided to chop it off last November for a new me and I fell inlove and only ended up chopping more off last week! ” -Justine @maryjustinee
“I love my short hair because it’s effortless ! Plus it’s a throwback to my childhood! – Joy @ahiru839
“It’s hair, it’s always gonna grow back so why stay scared? It feels freeing. For those who say short hair can’t look feminine, IT CAN!” – Lyn @lynsicles
“Short hair lets people focus on my outfit!” – Jordan @jordanrisa
Short hair always gave me that “freeing” feel. I used to cut it for the hype – because it was different. I used to get short cuts that were “in” like the POB by Posh Spice. This time around I chopped it off not to please any audience, not done for any hype, or my normal reasoning : boredom. I have reached a point in my life where I can finally say I have grown to do what I like, for myself, my pleasures, and my personal taste and not for anything or anyone else. The cut isn’t for everyone, it isn’t for the typical , it isn’t for the faint of heart.
This time around, I cut it straight out – blunt and straight all the way – no layers.
Some myths on short hair :
Myth #1: You’ll look like a boy. I’m really surprised by how feminine short hair make me feel. In fact, I feel more womanly, feminine and straight up pretty than I’ve felt in years. I feel more aware of my womanliness. Short hair really draws the eye to the arch of your brow, the point of your nose, the angle of your cheek bones and the gleam in your eyes. It also calls attention by contrast to the soft curves and subtle angles that make it very clear that I am woman. You can’t hide behind your tresses anymore. You just give face all day, erryday.
Myth #2: Guys don’t like short hair. I can accurately say that is a big fat pile of donkey poo. From this weekend’s short hair road test, I’d say it is very much the opposite. Because short hair has an association with being confident and a little ballsy, it attracts a totally different kind of man. Which…let’s just be honest…I probably need. I’ve been in “serious” relationships with men who bluntly told me that they would dump me if I ever cut my hair. Not only is it really rude, an antiquated world view and a pretty suppressive way to treat your girlfriend, it really hurt the ol’ self esteem to have someone tell me our relationship could be fully broken by a bad haircut. Cut it short now and you’ll weed those guys out from the get-go.
Myth #3: You won’t have many style options. I probably have about two-three inches of hair on my head right now and I’ve been able to curl it, wear a flapper-style headband, slick it back, blow it out, wear a hat, etc. Not only is it easier to mess with, but it looks instantly chic. Bed head is almost a legit style with short hair.
Let me be frank. Cutting your hair is incredibly liberating. In one instant, you are both smolderingly sophisticated and a total rebel. Not all chick’s can pull it off. It’s not because their face wouldn’t be adequately framed or that the cut wouldn’t provide all the benefits that I listed above. Not all women can pull off a pixie cut, because not all women are confident enough. If you’re going to have this cut, you’ve got to be ready to own all the things that come with it. It takes away one more security blanket, meaning that you need to be fearlessly ready to be your badass self.
At the end of the day, it is just a haircut. No haircut is going to be the sole difference between horribly hideous beast and Victoria’s Secret supermodel. It’s the same with clothes. You can wear whatever you want as long as you wear it like you mean it. It’s not the hair. It’s the woman within you that’s boldly pushing forward and saying “I’ve got this.”
And you know what? Queen Bey herself just cut her hair into a bob. Yup.
*Thanks to the ladies who shared their “short stories” *
xo,JG