I have built my business around the fact that people are judged by what they look like. Even the way we see
ourselves is affected by the way we look on the outside. I help women celebrate themselves- when they can love what they see in the mirror it's almost like they give themselves permission to love what's inside too! Recently I realised just how serious is the matter of appearance. There is a tangible fear attached to not being pretty! A
FEAR.
I recently cut my hair. Short. I didn't do it because of any reason further than that I love short hair, and I wanted a change that would by more stylish and modern.The response to my new look was surprisingly overwhelming! People that I don't even know (but who recognise me from the blog) have stopped me to comment about it! Even more, have been opinions asserted about whether it was a good choice or not, and most importantly noted, is that I must be so brave to have done it! Interesting. Cutting my hair is an act of valour, because the potential negative consequence would be that it looks ugly? Think about the term "fashion risk".
Risk? The same term that would be used to describe the actions of a tightrope walker, or a gambler or a deep sea diver-- cutting my hair short is a risk- a matter of life and death... no worse, a matter of
like and hate.
While I know and appreciate that it is human nature to be concerned with appearances, am I still shocked and a bit disappointed by how strongly we hold on to our looks, because of the trepidation of what others may think about us. Someone forcibly asserted that I grow back my hair because my boyfriend will leave me. Their actual words? "May I strongly recommend that you grow your hair back? [Everybody] prefers long hair" Another response from a couple people has been that I have such nice hair and why would I cut it; a woman's beauty is her hair. My favourite might be that brides cannot have short hair so now I can't get engaged nor married until it grows back. Listen, true beauty starts from inside.You can be a nasty bitch with flowing locks of gold and look ugly as fuck to the people around you. I think of women who have lost their hair during Chemo therapy, and no woman is more beautiful to me than they are. I think about the girls who donate their ponytails to Locks of Love, and the mothers who cut their hair to show support to their daughters who are bald due to illness or surgery. And on a more shallow note, think about Halle Berry!
Some fab Shorties:
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| This is My Cousin, Marsha; the Fiercest of them all! |
Do not be paralysed with anxiety over how others may judge you. And to the judges, unless you have something nice to say, don't say anything at all, especially if your opinion was not requested. I look forward to seeing more women be bold about their choices! Own who you are and reflect that fabulous biatch you are on the inside. The only person you need to please is yourself!
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| My controversial new hair |
"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different" Coco Chanel
