Why You Should…Shave Your Head
July 27, 2009 Posted in Reality
Every girl has a love/hate relationship with her hair. If her hair is straight, she wishes it were curly. If her hair is curly, she wishes it were straight. Frizz is constantly on the attack and there are never enough bobby pins. Yet, our hair can either make or break a look, so we spend hours planning, executing, and perfecting our style. In my case, that usually ends in sweat, blood, tears and an even frizzier mess than I started with.
After yet another such ordeal this past weekend, I came up with a brilliant idea – shaving my head. It’s perfect. There are literally hundreds of reasons why I should (and a couple why I shouldn’t, but I say my boyfriend can take a chill pill and worry about his own hair). Here are just a few of the wonderful benefits of shaving your head:
Fabulous Hat Opportunities - I have come to adore hats. Never before I have I seen so many fabulous hats just wandering the streets. We have fedoras, cloches, berets, slouchy knits, and even pork-pie hats. They are the perfect accessory and also do a wonderful job of keeping your head warm…which is only useful if you have no hair. Plus, if you shave your head, you don’t have to worry about an awkward hat hair situation when you remove said fabulousness.
Wig Potential – Kind of like a hat made out of hair, the wig is an awesome way to accessorize yourself. Just grab and go! Make sure to go the natural hair route, unless you’re specifically going for that cheap-anonymous-bachelor-party-stripper look. Which, since Samantha Jones rocked it in Sex and the City, I fully condone.
Temperature Control - At this very moment, I am sitting indoors near an air conditioner and I’m still sweating balls. Would that be the case if I had a neatly shaved head? No. No it would not, my friends. Also, when I am working out (hypothetical situation, of course), I won’t have that sweaty, frizzy thing going on. I will be cool as a cucumber. I think I could even rock a sweat band if needed on my shaved head and look halfway decent. Win.
You’ll Look Fierce – I hate to pull a Christian Siriano (okay, actually, I love it) on you, but you seriously will look fierce with a shaved head. Example? Natalie Portman. When she had her beautiful hair cut off in V for Vendetta, I about cried…before I realized that she looked possibly even better without hair. It’s a powerful, intense look that I’m thinking everyone should try at least once (mostly so I don’t look like such a loner when I end up trying it).
Less Stress – I may have hinted at this above, but hair can cause a lot of stress (at least, my hair causes a lot of stress). If you have no hair, then you have no use for shampoo, conditioner, gel, mousse, styling weapons (damn you, curling iron!) and other devices designed to eventually destroy your hair and mental health. Your morning ritual has now been cut down to 5 minutes or less. You’re welcome.
You’ll Save Money – As stated above, since you won’t have any hair, you’ll be giving up a lot of products that will be pretty useless to you. Aside from extra free time (soo much extra free time), you’ll have extra moolah, too. I can’t even think of how many pairs of shoes and accessories I could own right now if only I didn’t have to shell out for the massive amounts of hair cream necessary to tame the frizz ball on my head.
It’ll Accentuate Your Features – No hair? No problem. Without hair, your cheekbones, lips, and eyes suddenly pop and look incredible (not that they didn’t before, but you get my point). The make-up opportunities are endless! Suddenly, instead of taking a backseat to my curly mess, I imagine my eyes will be the center of attention. Yay for imagined body pride! (j/k, I love my body, but you get my point, no?)
It’ll Grow Back – If you try shaving your head for any of the above reasons and end up hating it, just remember that it’ll grow back. Maybe it’ll grow back even healthier, since it will be free of all dye and hair product and whatnot. Consider it a fresh start!
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Sarah says:
Mon, 27th Jul 200910:40 am
These are all great reasons to shave your head. My question is, if you do it will you document it? I would love to see the before and after, plus your initial impressions..maybe if you back this up a little, more of us college ladies will follow suit..
Much love to this website. <3
Carla says:
Mon, 27th Jul 200911:03 am
I second Sarah, i think one of you should try it first and see if it really is worthwhile.
Liam says:
Mon, 27th Jul 200911:19 am
Natalie Portman was pretty hot..
Molly says:
Mon, 27th Jul 200912:50 pm
A girl in my summer course shaved her head, and she actually loved it. The only down sides were when people would try to give her encouragement, thinking she had shaved her head for medical reasons, and when she had her friend trim it for her – the friend did a terrible job and it was all uneven stubble.
I seriously wish I had the cajones to shave my head. Please do it first and tell us how it goes!
Marcy says:
Mon, 27th Jul 20092:36 pm
hahahaha, I still think there are more cons than pros, but good job, I wouldnt have been able to come up with at least two good reasons to shave your head.
Kayla says:
Mon, 27th Jul 20094:39 pm
i've had this idea for 4yrs. my boyfriend along with my very conservative family would kill me. i just think that having the balls to shave it is amazing an i admire any girl who does. and the convience of sleeping an extra 30-50mins would be nice.maybe one day i'll be brave enough.
Chelzz says:
Mon, 27th Jul 20096:55 pm
Hey thats similar to what Im doing. I really hate/regret all the chemicals and crap I put in my hair so I cut it all off. I want it to grow anew naturally and beautifully, so I wont have to live with something that will eventually ruin my hair, it became pretty visible my hair was killing over in january. My hair is shorter than a thumb right now, and I look fabulously edgy, and I love it.
Def do it, I just feel this new sense of individuality, and a different type of beauty because my hair isnt long and flowing anymore, and it really makes me stand out.
Im not gonna lie though, I cried my eyes out at first.
Great article, Katie.
A Different Sarah says:
Tue, 28th Jul 20097:46 am
Although I agree that shaved hair will eventually grow back, you failed to mention the excruciating waiting period in which your hair is neither short nor long…it's just moppy and resembles a Beatles member's bowl-cut. This time period can be loads more difficult than the moment your hair is all gone, imo.
Also, I hate to sound like an ass, but if you're going to use a bald Natalie Portman as an example of a successful shaved head, you should probably include the fact that a person's face shape can really contribute to how well a shaved head is pulled off. Portman has a square face, so her angular jaw line is striking when not surrounded by hair…however, a rounder (re: chubby) face probably won't look as good.
I think to get an idea of how you'd look without hair, you should get all your hair wet and slick it back like Trinity from the Matrix. Then imagine that your hair is the same color as your face (unless of course you tan/fake tan…that bald head is going to stick out!).
If a girl has the guts to do this, I say go for it! I've been near shaving my head (my hair was about 1/2 inch long), but I've never been brave enough to go all the way. Kudos to anyone who does this!
Darwin says:
Tue, 28th Jul 20099:40 am
Go ahead with the reasons to shave your head, but yea, it's a bad idea.
Kat says:
Tue, 28th Jul 20091:38 pm
This is the ONE TIME that anyone with Alopecia Universalis will be in-the-know with recent looks.
If I had ANY HAIR at all, I'd try and pull the Sinead O'Connor look. But alas, my immune system won't hear of it.
Could bald be in? Pretty please?
Kayla - California S says:
Fri, 31st Jul 20093:58 pm
Girl, I love your writing stuff. Great comedic timing!
Srinivas says:
Fri, 7th Aug 20094:00 am
Very good description about headshave.
Also Visit : http://hairfetish.synthasite.com
Paul Bowen says:
Wed, 14th Oct 20092:31 pm
Nothing is prettier than a lady clipper cut, 1/2" or less,
nothing more exciting than watching it done.
Jenn says:
Fri, 16th Oct 20092:21 am
I actually went through this… I had my hair just below the collarbone and was growing it for the past 3 years ( i had cut it edgy short but it grew out in a few months into a bob.. so not that ballsy)… and I had hennaed it and then put a darker black-brown over it. I had long beautiful chocolate hair.. and then i got this 'bright' idea that I wanted to go blond. SOoooo out to shoppers to grab some blondissma…
long story short, i dyed it blond so many times to get the previously dyed henna out (NEVER DO THIS) and it turned cotton candy GREEN. DEAD as a doornail, dry as hay horrible.. i guess i could have gone to a stylist to get them to chemically relax it or something.. but I got so emotional I grabbed for the scissors (my boyfriend in the background going NO NO NO JENN NO) and I cut it all off. First, i cut 5 inches off, and i resembled fryer tuck. and then i thought, the hell with it and I cut it off short enough to be a buzz cut (did a pretty damn good job). And voila. Cried for 3 days, bought a wig just 'incase' (which i haven't used once), and dealt with it. The compliments were ridiculous, people LOVED IT (as much as I didnt). Your features do come out, and really, its been about 3 weeks and I already have about a cm of roots coming in (i ended up dying it a blond so i could see the progression, and have that cool edgy roots with blond short haired look). I know in like 3 months it will be a shag, but I am actually embracing the steps to growing it back and the different lengths. Right now it stands up like a chia pet.. Im wondering if I will ever get my 'part' back (it has disappeared…) but totally worth it.. to do it at least once.. and i was sick of bangs anyway, i want au natural all one length and this is the perfect way to do it. definetly cool and devastating at the same time
lol
Larissa says:
Mon, 19th Oct 20099:28 pm
I would just like to say, I am currently sitting in front of my computer screen with a contently shaved head. I also want to say that I agree with everything that was said in this article.
There was, however, a few things that I didn't think about, and I thought should be mentioned;
For one, you mentioned being cooler without hair. This is entirely true. However, if you are like me, you will FREEZE. The first two weeks hair-free I had to keep my head covered because my body took some time to adjust to the difference. It was something that had completely caught me off guard (and led to the obsessive buying of hats and scarfs for variety).
Another thing, don't be me and shave your head mid fall. This is ok if you're alright with the idea of winter catching you hairless. I guess the better way to say this is, shave your head mid summer so that your body can adjust. By winter, you'll be fine.
And Lastly, please, do not be a dumb ass like me and shave your head with razors! It's painful and causes bodily harm (the back of my head was bleeding. Not fun at all). I suggest purchasing inexpensive hair clippers (got mine later at Walgreens for $13). Believe me, it'll save you tons of time, pain (and not to mention blood!). Save the razors for your legs.
So, now that I've mentioned these things, I would just like to reiterate that I love this. Just know, if you're gonna be the girl to do this, expect stares and strange questions. I've encountered everything from sheer, rude ignorance to someone who thought I was Hara Kirshna (probably misspelled that terribly). But don't let this deter you! It's the most liberating thing I have ever done for myself and I'm so glad I didn't miss this oppurtunity! Just expect misunderstandings from the populace.
One amusing story is, some guy at a bus stop laughed and told me I look like G.I. Jane. Now, I don't know about you, but anyone telling me I look like the BEAUTIFUL Demi Moore is a good thing! It made my day! So, don't worry. Some people get it.
Larissa says:
Mon, 19th Oct 20098:36 pm
Oh, and the last thing that I forgot to mention. Like many women, I have body-image and hair-image and… image issues. I could be dressed in the most beautiful, expensive dress, but I never feel truly beautiful. Since shaving my head, I have felt all of the following: Feminine, beautiful, sexy, amazing, sensual, gorgeous, noticed, and stunning. Seriously, I have never felt more beautiful or sexy as I have in these past few weeks with a shaved head. When I say it's liberating, I'm not kidding! I feel like I shed my insecurities with my hair! (And to all of you who said you weren't 'brave enough' neither was I for 4 years! Then I grew some balls and bought some razors. My family thinks I'm nuts too, but I wouldn't change a thing, and they love me so they're adjusting just fine!). Again, I would encourage everyone to go for it. It completely changes your perspective of what it means to be feminine, sexy, and gorgeous. It's amazing.
frank says:
Wed, 13th Jan 20109:14 am
Actually girls,there a select few of us guys that find buzzed and bald ladies extra super sexy.Unfortunatly since it is considered peculiar to find baldysour buzzcuts appealling,many of us just stare,too afraid to come out of that closet.Took me years to ever admit it to anyone.I had a semi blind date with a young lady i had not seen in years.She always sported a mane of gorgeouse hair.i was informed on the sly by my buddy who set up the double date with her roommate,that Cindy had somehow gotten a crewcut and would likley be wearing a wig.I passed it along that a wig was unnecesary.Shw had an absolute flattop like that inflicted on me as a kid.She was drop dead gorgeouse.Her beautiful face just jumped out at me,it was loove at first sight. Things eventually did'nt work out after cohabitating for a while.14 years later,she has a crwcut,though more stylized now.Married with kids,and is still jaw dropping gorgeouse.If your not happy with your face,a clippercut may not be a wise choice.But trying it once is a rush i'm told,and very temporary.Do what you want,try new things,screw anyone with an unsolicited negative remark.You have only yourself to please in this life.If your boyfriend does not like you bald,does he truelly like you?Love transcends a haircut,in my opinion.
Kim says:
Thu, 14th Jan 20102:54 pm
I am 12 years old and i want to donate my hair by shaving it all im just afraid it will take 5 years or so to grow back! How long will it take for your hair to grow back? I dont want to go to a dance in high school whith barley any hair. When im that old i would probably regret shaving my head.
Aria says:
Wed, 25th Aug 201012:09 am
Hair, on average grows about 6 inches a year, a little less than half an inch a month. I'm 14 years old, shaved my head about 2 months ago and my hair is about an inch long. I absoloutely love it.
I had come from the "scene" look, just because I liked the hair, and straightening every day plainly DROVE ME INSANE. I shaved it off after coloring it orange, and ever since I've been getting compliments about how gorgeous my average medium brown eyes are.
Kat, I'd wait a bit longer to shave it, because kids in school will take any chance they get to find stuff about others to talk badly about, and I tend to feel bad when people ask me if I had cancer, but if you have the courage and self confidence to do it, i totally approve! If youre wondering about how it'd look, below is a link to a picture of me with about 2 months of growth.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg178/Kittyari…
Anonymous says:
Tue, 20th Sep 20112:07 am
I've been searching for an answer. When I was 12, I donated my hair, but the man who cut it just cut it while I had it in a ponytail. My hair that was below my butt was now right below my chin. Now, my hair has been naturally straight since I was little. I could never curl it without using two cans of hairspray. I had cut it before then, but it was always straight. The man who cut my hair just cut it and left it like that. Now my hair is wavy and I want to know if anyone knows if I shave my head if my hair will grow back straight.
Gillian says:
Thu, 26th Apr 20129:30 pm
Thank you for this article! I am seriously considering going bald after graduation (high school) and I really needed this confidence that your writing provided. I want to do it while I'm young, I need the self acceptance that I feel it would help provide.
Question, I'm worried about when it grows back. How does the stubble look/feel? I have curly hair, is there ever an in-between point that drives you nuts?