I’ve shaved my head twice now.
The first time, I was tempted to do it, was after finding out about Mum having cancer. In a knee-jerk reaction, I almost shaved my head two months prior to getting married. The urge was so strong. My friends and husband-to-be talked me out of it. I watched Mum lose her hair after chemotherapy treatment. I felt so powerless. I had hair for my wedding day.
In 2016, at age 29, I finally did it. I was glad that I had held off and not done it in a way that was reactive to my emotions. I managed to raise money for a good cause in the process and I loved the experience. I did it for a second time, 5 years later. I’ll definitely do it again in a few years from now.
Here is why I recommend every woman to shave their head at least once in their lifetime.
It is super liberating
Shaving your head is like giving a great big middle finger to society’s expectations of women. A big ‘fuck you’ to beauty standards and rules that say a woman’s appearance determines her worth. The act of shaving your head is liberating as fuck! All of a sudden you realise that you have spent so much of your time, money and energy worrying about how you look. Or how other people look at you. What other people think about how you look. When you no longer fit the mould of what is considered ‘beautiful’ by society, you realise how much conforming to these expectations has sucked your life right out of you. Once you no longer conform, you feel free to just be yourself. There is an aura of confidence that you emit. A radiance that shines from the inside out. You are beautiful, inside and out. You smile. Your eyes shine. You are you, without all of the other bullshit. You feel free to wear things you haven’t worn before, because, why the hell not!? You have nothing to lose. People are already looking at you, but they’re looking at you thinking, “That woman is a bad ass!”
It is sooooo easy
There is no greater feeling than to be able to dry your hair with only your hand. Let me explain. When you have shaved your head, you have this little bit of fuzz that starts bursting through. It’s not like the rough regrowth of leg hairs that feels spiky like a cactus. It is luxuriously soft and fluffy. Like a ducklings’ feathers, or a silkie chicken. It’s lovely. But the best part is, there is no need for a towel. You simply run your hand along your head from front to back, a couple of times and the water beads just fly off into the air in a little spray of fine mist. There’s no need for hair dryers, straighteners, curlers, styling tools, hair products, hair ties or bobby pins. In a matter of seconds, your hair is done. You have literally run your hand over your head three or four times and your hair is done! It is that easy. Gosh, even writing this makes me want to go back there.
It makes you more creative
With all of the extra time that you have available and less of your ‘go to’ looks, now that you have no hair to play around with, you’ll find you need to be more creative. Your beautiful face is now the star of the show! (It always was, to be fair, but now there is no hiding it from the world). You might find with all this spare time, you start playing around with different make up looks. A bit more colour than ususal. A little red lippy. A brighter shade of eyeshadow. Also earrings. Big dangly earrings. And scarves. There are so many possibilities! It’s fun. You can be bold. People are looking at you anyway, might as well give them a show.
It feels amazing!
There are all of these sensations that you’ve never experienced. The breeze on your bare head feels incredible and invigorating. As in, one little breeze can send goosebumps all the way down your spine. It’s next level. All of these sensations that you have never been able to feel, due to the dense weight of your hair being there, are now available to you. You are mindful of it all. You are present in your body. It feels amazing!
Your hair grows back healthy and luscious
If you’re anything like me, your hair has been through all sorts of hair colours and heat styling, and the ends are dry and brittle. Remember what I said about the fuzz earlier? Yep, your new hair growth feels so luscious and soft. It is healthy. It might even be the first time that you’ve seen your true hair colour and texture for many years. It has a new lease on life. As do you! You vow to be kinder to your hair, and to yourself.
It puts things into perspective
When you shave your head, whether or not you do it to raise money for a cause like the Luekemia Foundation, or not, you will come to realise that you are incredibly fortunate. You are fortunate because you had the choice of whether or not to shave your head. When a person experiences cancer and undergoes chemotherapy, of which a common side effect is hair loss, they do not have this choice, or any control over this and other outcomes. I felt grateful that I’d had the choice about shaving my head. I also felt grateful for waking up each day pain free, for knowing that I had my good health and a future to look forward to, and for my friends and family surrounding me. It put so many things into perspective. It’s not going to kill you to have a bad hair day. Hair grows back.
You are very fortunate to be alive.
A few words of warning though if you do decide to try it. People may think that you are unwell. If they ask you this, or look at you puzzled? Have a conversation. Each time this happens, it is a reminder to be grateful for all the little blessings in your life. On a practical note though, wear a hat and sunscreen! Even if it’s just while you’re hanging out the washing. Trust me, it only takes a few minutes to burn that freshly shaved noggin, and it’s not much fun!
I hope you’ll give it a go, and if you have, or do decide to ‘be brave and shave’, please let me know what you loved most about your experience.
Much love,
MumOf3WR
P.S. Don’t miss the opportunity while out at your local pub, sporting your freshly shaved head, to belt out (badly) on Karaoke, “Nothing Compares to You” in honour of the incredibly beautiful and talented Sinead O’Connor.
P.P.S. This is one of my best moments ever lived. I have zero regrets. It was sensational!