What I looked like before:
What I looked like after:
That's a little indian ink drawing temp tattoo!
This is my hair throughout my teenage years:
Long black hair is my generic look.
When I was around 16/17, I went bleach blonde and did all the things possible with that
At some point I did the red thing...
Then went back to being dark haired and brunette.
My hair grows pretty rapidly...
Did the ombre look but with red tips...
Eventually it washed out and become relatively dirty blonde... and got the fringe cut.
Then one morning decided to chop it all off...
Then 2 weeks later got the shaver out...
...and gave myself a undercut do.
I did go to get it properly cut at a mens' barbers a couple of days later, only because that's where my brothers get it done.
Like anything I do, I'm going to Google it, absorbing what information I get from the notion of shaving part of my head.
Celebrities of all kinds have justified it with the idea that their making some feminist statement or protest against the hairstyling industry or for charity. But there's more to it...
I have no reason other than boredom of my long hair, constantly thinking about how it should look that day, whether or not I should curl it, dye it, wash it (every other day), leave it, tie it up or get it done in pig tails. Having hair are wasted thoughts - including the thoughts to this blog! But it must be done!
Of course initial reactions to this drastic change were comments like "You're insane" or "You look like Miley Cyrus" etc. Grow up.
I do not look like Miley Cyrus. She's a white caucasian with a blonde undercut and a very shocking music video.
I am not trying to empathise with a Disney actress gone wild stripper druggie singer.
We forget the other people who in the media industry have had short hair simply because they rock and are giving themselves a slightly masculine image that carries more than just fighting against the stereotype.
I did it because I am simply bored with my look and change to me is stripping (or shaving) what part of you to let go of to start again. I've done this a couple of times concerning break ups or something bad happening which is most the reason as to why I don't have 10ft long hair.
Since then I've been reading up on women who have short hair and why it seems like such a big deal.
It is a mark of shame or punishment frequently to those who committed adultery or is a sign of rejection - like the female French Nazi collaborators during WWII. Not to mention the SS cut (which is now called the undercut) that was namely a Nazi style of fro.
On the other hand, shearing your mane is about enlightenment, purity and being closer to divinity detachment from materialism, like the Buddist monks and nuns, Hare Krishna and Muslims before Umrah (pilgrimage in Mecca).
I'm neither a religious person, neither am I consorting with nazis, ha.
But something did go wrong.
Earlier this year, I lost my father to cancer.
Mother cried and laughed and was hysterical. Of course, we cried a we bit together about it. She, like myself before, has long black asian hair. In Philippino contexts, I am considered to be someone who is a 'bakla', gay person. Which I'm not bothered about, however will be castrated in a couple of social situations. At least my bf doesn't need to worry about me getting male attention!
Here are my points of view on my new look and my experience:
- No hair playing, tossing or fiddling with especially with throwing my bag over my shoulder. Blooming nightmare eh?
- Nothing gets in my face during a windy day
- I take 15 minutes to get ready now that I don't have to blow dry and plan and style my hair
- Sure I'm "insane". So are many other 'creative' types thank you for making that observation.
- I feel lighter.
- Before the cut, I used to get stares and racist 'chinky' comments. Now I'm shaven (ha) it's not even about race anymore. People say nothing. Let's hope they assume I do not care!
- I get called pet names by older folk. It's kind of nice.
- I believe my head is a good shape enough for me to have shaven it.
- I don't get unwanted attention - this means alot.
- So you should know that I am an aspiring artist, who pays the bar tab with the money I make for working as a chef. So it's practical and I don't have to wear a hair net. Yay.
- I like rubbing the back of my head. It feels good.
- I do have a bit of a penis envy - just for the record though, I'm not lesbian. I have a boyfriend who sports beautiful dreaded locks.
- I feel like my peripheral view has opened up combined with the sensation of feeling the wind more - not a great time to have done it since it's approaching winter on the northern hemisphere, but oh well!
- It'll grow.
- People say I look sharp, and my features show.
- I now look at girls and women who preen for hours on their hair as those bound to the social conformity and stereotypes - I only say that because looking back, having long hair was about mating dominance and maintenance. I care not for breeding any time soon, and as for maintenance, well, I've never been a girly girl really, so salon trips and all that jazz doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather spend my well earned dosh on art supplies or give away a loose change to the homeless.
Again, to all my beautiful friends with long hair - you know it's only cause I'm weird ♥
So was this post about styling hair? Or is this about the psychological factors of physicality and how we really see ourselves?
Be what you want to see reflecting back in the mirror in the morning.
Do what you have to be feel better whether it be 100 sit ups every morning, or making sure you make someone smile or laugh in your day.
Change. It's starts with a 'c' but it's all about you.
So there you have it.
Now go, continue to be strong and beautiful with whatever hair you have.
Love, A.
Love, A.
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