I Cut My Hair Short

PERSONAL STORY

I Cut My Hair Short

And people acted like it was a tragedy

Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash

My hair has always been a source of both love and frustration for me. I’ve wanted it all – long, short, or even bald ( if it’s 40°C outside).

I began to get sick a few months ago. Eat this medicine for a month. Take these pills. Get this test done. Get that test done.

I stopped caring for my hair at all. I didn’t have the energy to comb it. They started breaking off in large chunks. Every day I would wake up to a cup full of dandruff on my pillow, wondering to myself what’s that white stuff? Because I never had dandruff, I didn’t even know what it was.

I wouldn’t dry my hair properly. I would tie it up because it was hot as hell.

Not once did it occur to me that a solution could be so simple. While taking a stroll on our rooftop, my sister recommended something.

I don’t feel energetic even after the vitamins.

Maybe the vitamins don’t work because it all goes to your hair?

I have shit hair. Doesn’t look like it is taking up any nutrition.

Cut it short. If it bothers you that much.

I … that’s a great idea. Let’s go tomorrow. I want it chopped off. I am sick of them.

I went to the parlor. The lady barber … Barbara… (is that what they are called?) gave me a terrible, terrible, most uneven bob anyone could ever possibly see. And. I. Love. It.

But people around me… they had concerns.

There was a sort of mourning tone in their voice.

When I went to the parlor for the haircut:

Are you sure you want short hair?

Yes.

They might not suit you.

I have had them short before. I look fine. I want short now.

Why? You have such good hair.

I can’t care for them. I want them short.

Okay. I will cut them mid-length first. Then you can see if you want them shorter.

Cut them to my shoulders. Then I will tell you how much shorter I want.

All this talk, and still the worst haircut.

After the haircut:

Are you fine with such short hair?

Yes. (Me beaming from ear to ear, after that load went off of my shoulders.)

You have such great courage. Not everyone can do this.

I have had them short before. I am fine with it. (Now getting annoyed.)

After I came to my home, I announced to my mom that I had cut my hair short:

Look at my hair.

They don’t look good.

Okay. I like them. I am at peace.

A month later, my cousin said to me:

Love your hair. They look cool with your glasses.

Thanks.

I don’t like short hair. (My mom jumps in)

My brother:

You look like Edna. (from The Incredibles)

That’s cool. She was rich and successful. I aspire to be like her.

Now that I have short hair, my life has been a lot easier. I can wash them in two minutes! I do comb now. I dry them with a blow dryer. My dandruff is gone. Turns out it was built up because I never let them dry.

I don’t understand the horror people feel towards short hair. Well, I do. Made up misogynistic bullshit in their heads and societal expectations of my gender.

I wanted my hair short. I am paying you to cut my hair. Just cut it. What’s with the mourning, like I have lost my soul, virtue, worth, and everything else with the length of my hair?

This was a simple incident that took place in my life. But I feel things as simple as a haircut are blown out of proportion. The reaction I got was uncalled for.

At 26, I am confident in the decisions I make. But when I used to hear such comments in my teenage and early 20s, they made me doubtful and insecure. This happens to so many people daily over the decisions they choose to make.

Every person has the right to their own body. I am fricking 26 and know what I want. Stop treating people like they are making a decision foolishly. Even a mistake is mine to make and learn from.

Have you ever been questioned like that over a mundane decision about your life and your body?