For many of us, if we look back to our childhood photographs there are most likely a few where we rocked the shortest of haircuts. We have all had our short hair phases, whether we were five and it was forced upon us, or we fell victim to the bob trend over and over again. To cut our hair or to leave those scissors locked away is a battle many of us continue to fight.
Sometimes, the scissors win and the short hair propaganda on TikTok and Instagram takes over us. Especially in the last few years, more and more women are deciding to ditch growing out their hair and rock the bob. Variations of short hair are becoming popular as well, with some choosing chin length, shoulder length, the ‘lob’ (long bob), pixie cuts–the possibilities are endless. But, what draws us to chopping off years of length and resorting back to what our younger selves hated?
Short hair is often easier to manage and take care of. Wash and dry times significantly decrease, styling can be much simpler, and less product is needed than when our hair goes down to our waist. For individuals who prefer a low maintenance lifestyle when it comes to hair, the chop is the perfect solution. Especially when the weather is warm, having less length prevents us from accumulating more sweat in our hair or overheating from the extra layer attached to our heads. Not only can short hair be easy to manage, it provides us with the chic and clean look we all love!
Not only are we saving ourselves hours of haircare, cutting our hair off can also be a way of emotional release and offers us a fresh start. Hair is believed to hold onto memories and emotions, and chopping off the hair cleanses us from what we may be holding onto. Along with a fresh hairstyle, we have a fresh start to change up our look and introduce a new beginning into our life. Oftentimes, our hair appointment is booked when we feel stagnant and need something to bring us a little bit of joy and shake up what we are used to. Expressions of ourselves are connected greatly by our hair and outward appearance, and sometimes a change can heal us.
Femininity is typically equated with long hair, and some women who love the bob and similar hairstyles are criticized for not keeping up with “beauty norms.” Whether we reach for the scissors any chance we get, or refuse to touch them for years, our feminism is never defined by the hairstyle we choose. The uproar of short hair helps uplift women by reclaiming the way we display our appearance, and appreciating the chop much deeper. Not only does the short hair wave help reduce our maintenance levels and bring us a fresh start, we are redefining feminine beauty norms of the future.
The short hair train leaves the station every year, and many of us will find ourselves racing to hop on. Cutting our hair off draws us all in and that hair appointment excites us more than we know. And, the wonderful thing about hair? It will always grow back!
