Last week, while I was waiting in line for complimentary frozen yogurt, my son was energetically playing with a new friend he made during our wait. The friend’s mother complimented my curls, and I instinctively replied with an enthusiastic, “Thank you!” Almost immediately, I blurted out, “I’m thinking about cutting it.” The look of horror on her face caught me off guard as she exclaimed, “No! But why?”
I found myself pondering this reaction. Was I seeking validation for my desire to embrace the #cutlife by mentioning it? Or was it simply casual conversation? Regardless, why did she feel compelled to dissuade me? What drives people to think their opinions about others’ appearances hold weight?
Typically, when my friends express a desire to change their hair, my response is something like, “Oh, what are you planning to do?” I rarely try to convince anyone against cutting their hair—unless it’s bangs. No one emerges from the bangs experience unscathed after the first week of forehead sweat. But I digress.
I’ve been an advocate for the ‘short hair, don’t care’ philosophy for quite some time. Ever since my daughter was born, I’ve been growing it out a bit, though I find it fascinating how invested some people are in the hair choices of women. The sheer number of opinions I receive about my hair decisions is astonishing.
For many women, especially women of color, hair is deeply intertwined with identity. It’s often considered our crowning glory, something to be cherished and scrutinized in all its forms. The journey of embracing natural textures has been fraught with struggles and societal pressures. Women of color have long fought against imposed beauty standards, seeking acceptance while navigating a billion-dollar hair industry. It’s a complex and ongoing battle.
Fortunately, I’ve found plenty of inspiration for a new look. The universe seems to be sending me signals that it’s time to make a change, as my social media feed is flooded with women sporting fresh haircuts.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a bit anxious about chopping it all off. It’s been a significant stretch since I made any drastic changes (two years since I experimented with a vibrant blue), and I’m definitely nervous about how others will react. Yet, as Coco Chanel famously said, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” I’m ready to embrace that transformation and shed my old self to rise to a new chapter.
So, I’m starting with the woman looking back at me in the mirror.
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Summary
In this article, Jamie Carter shares her journey towards cutting her hair short, reflecting on societal expectations and personal identity. She discusses the complex relationship many women, particularly women of color, have with their hair and the pressures to conform. Despite the anxiety surrounding drastic change, she embraces the idea of transformation and encourages readers to consider their own hair journeys.