i shaved my head

Let's just get it out there. I shaved my head. Again. Yes, ten years ago in a fit of boredom/hair loathing, my friend Donna and I buzzed our hair off to 1/4". My mom cried. My friends thought I was crazy (even though most of them had a hand in the event). Strangers often stared. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Donna and I, a few weeks after our joint head shave

Not only did it feel good to be without my huge mop of flyaway, frizzy hair, but I felt truly free. It's hard to explain, but it's as if I had been hiding behind my hair all my life, and now, without it, I was just...me.

But why make such an outrageous decision at this point in my life? After all, I am a mom now. I am responsible! I am not a lesbian, not a punk rocker, not a freedom fighter or a GI. Thankfully, I am not a cancer patient. And I am relatively sane. So why on Earth did I do it?

Ryan and I had been toying with the idea ever since I met him and he heard of my past head shaving experience. He never pressured me, but he did support me every time I had the urge to buzz. Last night, after yet another really bad hair day, I finally snapped. After a bit of deliberating, Ryan, as always, was there for me, clippers in hand.

Before

After (obviously)

Perhaps my feelings on the matter can be best summed up in a nice little Top Five list.

Top Five Reasons I'm Glad I Shaved My Head

1. No more bad hair days! Sure, one could argue that with a buzz cut, every day is a bad hair day. But think of all the annoyances you no longer have to deal with trying to get your 'do under control - the damaging hair products, the blow dryer, the flat iron, various clips and head-bands. Then the tinkering that takes place all day to keep it from totally fro-ing in the awful humidity. So not worth the struggle!
2. My hair is now permanently off of my face. Ever since having Elliott, the skin on my face has become extremely sensitive. Everything that touches it makes it itch. In the last few months, I started breaking out very badly. If I didn't pull my hair back in a clip or a head-band, the hair that touched my face would cause more zits to pop up. No more hair in face = less breakouts (at least, that's what I'm hoping!)
3. It looks kinda cute growing out and grows back much healthier. Yes, there will be a period where my hair sticks straight up in all directions. It's a storm I will have to weather. But after that initial awkward period, I know from experience that I will have fun growing it out a bit (though this time, I have no intention of achieving long or even medium-length hair. From now on, it's the pixie cut for me!) My hair also grows extremely fast, so this Buddha boy look will be somewhat short-lived. And just think, each hair that sprouts is completely innocent, new, and and unsullied by evil hair styling!
   
4. I finally have a compelling reason to groom my eyebrows. My Frida Kahlo-like brows had really gotten out of control. I was keeping them as two separate brows, but other than that, they were full and wild. After the head shaving last night, I plucked away at them to achieve a more aesthetic balance between face and hair. I have to say, they look rather lovely!
   
5. I feel strong and free. I am often not a very confident person, and I have many social anxieties. Going out in the world without hair is a challenge for a woman, but like all challenges, it makes you stronger. You have to hold your bald little head up high and face the world as someone perceived as (gasp!) "different." And with that strength comes freedom, freedom from the binds of social expectations and from the pressure you put on yourself to look a certain way. Maybe I am a freedom fighter! Too bad I don't look more like Natalie Portman in her butt-kicking role in V for Vendetta:

Natalie Portman as a (rather gorgeous) bald bad-ass