Liv’ED It is an ED original style where we write about our personal experiences on experiencing and reviewing any app/place/website which gives us a feeling of coming back for more.
Legend has it that every time a woman says she wants to shave her hair off, every woman in her vicinity will say that they wish to do the same.
If you recall the conversations you had about hair, the trajectory remains the same.
Someone says that they want to shave their hair at some point, all agree, everyone laughs and moves forward.
It was similar for me too except this time, I really did it.
After four months, a little courage, and a lot of crazy, I was finally able to shave my hair and it was amazing.
How Was My Experience
It was an otherworldly, cathartic, and empowering experience.
While shaving, I remember, the more my locks fell on the ground, the more liberated I felt, it was, as if, years of dead weight was finally falling off my head.
I still remember the shower I took right after shaving my head. The water droplets falling right onto my scalp like never before.
In the initial days, when I was still getting used to having no hair, I would often worry in the shower about water droplets falling on my hair as they wouldn’t dry off easily but the worry was a momentarily one because soon enough I would remember and laugh at the fact that I have no hair and therefore no worry anymore.
The amount of stress that was reduced from my everyday life has been exhilarating. Women worry tremendously over their hair and spend so much time on it. We don’t realise it but taking care of our hair takes away so much time from our everyday routines.
The amount of time I have saved because I no longer have to worry about my hair is something I cherish every day.
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The Reaction
I consider myself extremely grateful that most of the people have only said positive things about my new look and those who disapprove of it haven’t said a word to me directly.
Still, I can understand that people will take some time to get used to the new look especially, as someone who has had long hair for the majority of her life, it must be difficult for people around me to get used to seeing me like that.
Therefore, it is only natural that they take their time to get used to it. Even, I took some time in updating my mental image, but it was worth the wait because now I totally own the look.
What Did I Learn?
Several things that came upon the surface once my hair was gone.
While scrolling my old pictures, I saw a pattern wherein I am trying to hide my face and expressions behind my hair.
After a little research, I found, this isn’t just about me, women, in general, tend to hide behind their hair and that they do a lot. Hair becomes like a protective shield, through which we try to conceal our identities.
I simply did not have the slightest idea that hair was such a big part of my personality and my life. The days when I had a ‘good hair day’ were the days that I felt confident and good about myself. A single ‘bad hair day’ was enough to ruin my mood for an entire week.
I was able to notice the importance of hair in my everyday life only once it was gone.
Shaving my hair has also changed my idea of beauty.
It was in their absence that I noticed that I had in fact imbibed that very patriarchal notion of beauty that I used to resent. Perhaps, one does after years of conditioning.
I am learning and unlearning each day.
There are days when I look at an old picture and miss my hair
There are days when I look at an old picture and miss my hair but then there is also the fact that now I don’t have to sync my hair washes with my other plans because I don’t have to worry about drying and styling them which comes as a big relief and I can’t be more thankful for it after every shower.
It is a one-of-a-kind experience and I encourage every woman to take this step if they wish to, if you’re reading this and always wanted to shave your hair, consider this as a sign.
Image Sources: Author’s Personal Images
Sources: Blogger’s Own Experience
Find The Blogger: @darshanaaac
This post is tagged under: Hair, Feminine, Femininity, Beauty, Hair Symbolises Beauty, Shaving Off My Hair, Women Shaving Their Head, Buzzcut, Commando Cut, Bald, Being Bald, Shaved My Hair, Cathartic, Empowering, Feeling Liberated, Liberating Experience, Hair Care, Taking Care Of My Hair, Standards Of Beauty, Idea Of Beauty, Patriarchy, Patriarchal View, Patriarchal View Of Beauty, Good Hair Day, Bad Hair Day, Using Hair As A Shield To Hide Identity, Unapologetic, Living Life On My Terms, No Worry About Hair, Short Hair No Care, Bald Scalp No Care, The Future Is Female, Life Your Life On Your Terms, Smash The Patriarchy
You look beautiful Darshana❤️ Wish I had read this article a few months back when I chopped my hair real short!
Thank you for putting this out beautifully.
You are a total beautAnd the thing that you said about us using hair to conceal our identities is so so relevant.
You’re beautiful and it’s definitely not only bcuz of hairs.