Feature

Hair and Now

Tuesday Apr 1, 2008 – By Rashana Hooks

The first time I cut my hair short was a few days before my twenty-fifth birthday. Not only did I want a new look on the day I turned a quarter of a century, I wanted a “clean cut” start into the life of a grown woman. For me, cutting my hair into a new glamorous look symbolized the removal of the old me. My bad habits, mistakes and all the other under twenty-five things I did. My new hairstyle allowed me to feel free, re-freshed and rejuvenated in one simple visit to the salon.

Fast forward a few years later, I ironically found myself having that same feeling again sitting in my beauticians chair last month. Besides the fact that I needed to cut some hair due to breakage and split ends, I felt the sudden urge to once again clip off the “old me” and relive that “new me–new look” feeling I experienced when I was turning twenty-five. Although it was not my birthday or any other special holiday or occasion I wanted to celebrate and reveal the new person I have become since that sentimental birthday four years ago. It was at that moment I realized that having the feeling of starting over doesn’t just happen on January 1st or significant birthdays like 25, 30 and 40. Feelings of renewal, second chances and lessons learned happen everyday.

Who would have thought that hairstyles and the feelings that accompany them are metaphors of life? When you make changes to your hair as you would in your life you automatically begin to feel and look differently. The natural process to care for your hair is in direct correlation to the natural process to grow and succeed in life. For example, any hairdresser or beauty expert will tell you that you must have your ends clipped every six to eight weeks to promote healthy hair growth. If not, you can cause split ends, breakage and eventually hair loss. The same holds true for your life. It’s important to trim and get rid of the old habits, negative people and thoughts to promote growth. Failure not to can cause unhappiness, depression and frustration. Similarly, just like hair, in life you must go through various stages to ultimately get to where you want to be.

Consider these four hair stages as it relates to the growing pains of life:
1) The fresh new hair style–you look and feel great and it shows and everything you say and do.
2) The bad hair days–nothing is worst than these days. Your confidence level is down and you feel horrible. To mask the pain you cover up with a “hat” or “ponytail” but yet these are only temporary fixes.
3) The in-between-stage–the most annoying and frustrating part of life is the struggle to get the next level while dealing with the urge to give up. Even though this stage is the most uncomfortable one, it’s the only that teaches you the gift of patience.
4) The fourth and final stage is the birth of your signature style–this is the point in your life where you realize what works for you and what doesn’t, while being comfortable with it. It can be a “natural fro”, “twists”, “braids”, a “perm” or a “weave.” Whatever it is, it’s who you are. That is the part of life that is the most precious, the realization of self and loving every part of it.

Embrace the changes and stages of your life and hair; their purposes are more stylish than you think.

kirah says:

April 1, 2008 at 8:02 am

Very nice

↑ Reply

Kesha Denise says:

April 1, 2008 at 10:26 am

OMG! Since I am both a fashion and hairstylist, I totally loved this piece! It’s so crazy, I am turning the big 3-0 on tomorrow and for the past several weeks, i wanted a new and fresh look – so hence the fact i did a dramatic haircut and its so fly! With my new cut, definitely came new attitude. When you see the hair hit the salon floor it does symbolize something. Hey Hey Hey!
http://www.yourfunkyflair.com

Angel says:

April 1, 2008 at 11:02 am

This is an interesting piece because I’m the opposite with my hair. My hair has been short since high school and when i say short I mean, I had a barber not a beautician. But when I reached 29, I felt that i wanted to not only change my life but also my look. I decided that after 30 I would grow my hair for the next 10 years. It is no joke and I have to add that braids are my best friend. It is a struggle especially since I had only had my hair professionally done maybe twice (not including the jeri curls) It is a challenge but so far I’ve been doing ok. I’ve had braids for the past year and recently took them out and saw the length to my shoulders. I had my beautician cracking up cause it was the first time in a long time I saw how beautiful my hair is. My hair has always been nappy(really really really curly imo) and that was a reason that I never let it grow out because I didn’t feel I could do anything with it other than pressing it everyday. Hell, I’ve been rocking the naturals and all. I say all that to say growing my hair out has made me embrace who I am in all aspects because I found that I create my own beauty. I learned how to work it out even through the in between stage and the final product is amazing and so worth it.

Alisha says:

April 1, 2008 at 11:16 am

Excellent article! I struggle with wanting to try new looks and styles, but it just doesn’t happen for me. I need a change

Shanti says:

April 1, 2008 at 12:32 pm

This is right on point! I’ve always had natural hair but, I transitioned from pressed hair to a huge fro to braids and for last 6 years dreads. I realized I have never been more blessed in my life them at any other time. I battled depression with the straight hair. had 3 children with the fro and braids. I started my dreads when I was learning how to appreciate me for being me. It just go to show you how your hair speaks volumes about who you are.

Natalie says:

April 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm

LOVE THE ARTICLE… I can totally relate

Lillian says:

April 1, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Excellent article!!!!! I just recently cut all my hair off. After having long hair all of my life, I recently struggled with
cutting my hair due to excessive hair loss(Thyroid disease). I think this was more tramatic to my husband than me. I felt a feeling of relief to get rid of that dead weight. It’s growing now that I have my disease under control and I am enjoying my new hair style.

Jenice says:

April 2, 2008 at 9:33 am

Great article!

Fairweather Friend says:

April 2, 2008 at 11:20 am

Excellent article Shana!

You’re absolutely right about hair being a metaphor for life. A few years ago I cut my hair after the loss of a dear friend because I felt like I needed to shed something. Since the void was impossible to fill at the time, I decided to cut my hair. It gave me something else to focus on and made me feel like I was entering a new chapter of life.

In addition to cutting my hair, I see how my mood changes with my hairstyle. Tight bun-serious focused mode; Ponytail- girly or I need a serious wash & set; Curly Fro- channeling my inner Carrie & Joan; Fresh blow out- Watch Out Now!..LOL

Thanks for the thought provoking article and I’m ready for the next one so get CRACKING!

Adrienne says:

April 3, 2008 at 8:35 am

Shana this article was written in the words of a real woman in today’s society. For a woman who has gone as short as Eve and had Kelis’s famous “bossy” hairstyle I can totally relate! Whenever I got a new haircut I felt rejuvenated and was ready to take on the world. Now that I am teetering back and forth in that oh so familiar stage of the “in between look”, I look at the scissors for change everytime I sit in my beauticians chair. I think hairstyles definitely define the person within because I am contemplating with different issues in my life as well. Do you think I should cut my hair?

A.Banks says:

April 4, 2008 at 4:48 pm

Wow that was such a great article…… I never knew that women through so much trials and tribulations….. Good Job on the article…..

Tavasia(Luscuiousdivasent) says:

April 8, 2008 at 4:54 pm

So eloquently put! I turned 30 and wanted to change my look, after reading this article I think I am.
Thanks for the inspiration.

Angie says:

April 8, 2008 at 10:18 pm

Loved this article!!!! Every women has experienced the aforementioned metaphors of life. Because of how good it makes us feel, each new cut should reflect a new leaf and provide empowerment to create a positive change in each of our lives.

Omotoke Olagbaju says:

April 11, 2008 at 9:54 pm

I feel like you just wrote my life in the past year and a half. I stopped straightening my hair after my 25th birthday because like you I was sick of the old me. Long, silky black permed hair just wasn’t who I wanted to be any longer. So I went off to the salon and got a fab japanese bob and it was great but it still didn’t show me off the way I felt I was so alot of growth and a year later I went into the salon and against the pleas of the salon I chopped off all my old permed hair and revealed a new curly afro chic me. I felt like a new person and you’re right your hair does define you and the stages in life you’re going through. I now look forward to a full, halfway down my back head of hair and I can’t wait to get there but I’m loving every step and stage along the way too!

tremaine says:

April 13, 2008 at 1:12 pm

I am in total agreement with you. Speaking as someone who cut off seven & 1/2 inches of her own hair last June, I whole-heartedly concur. Having my hair fall right before my eyes and made to crop my head nicely in a short, spunky cut has brought about this feeling of relief. Oddly enough, there’s a weight lifted off of my shoulders, and I keep telling myself, “I can never go back to thick, long hair.” This article speaks volumes, and I am certain you’ll find many who can relate and are probably feeling the exact same way about their current hairstyle and life.

asha says:

April 17, 2008 at 12:20 pm

it’s funny. yesterday, i sent out a S.O.S. email to my core group of sistas to ask their advice about my hair. i turned 35 in january and have been going through a mini life crisis. it didn’t happen when i turned 30 but 35, go figure. anyway, over the years, i’ve rocked everything from my childhood pocahantas braids for school and a press and curl for church and picture day to a salt-n-pepa self-cut asymmetrical in high school (i was brave and stupid) to the halle berry/toni braxton short cut (minus the thick ass sideburns) in undergrad. i wore microbraids and wet-n-wavy braids, just no jade braids. for a brief minute in highschool, gel was my best friend and I sculpted something that looked like a nefertiti (a gumby that came to the front). fast forward some to one of my all-time favorites – the foxy brown afro and my freddie textured ‘fro. somewhere along the line, i got into weaves but they were pretty much all the same, long but not totally un-be-weaveable. all of this to say, at 35, the day before a big event, i was in the midst of a hair crisis that mirrored the confusion that I was experiencing in the other parts of my life. suffices to say, after email and phone tag, i settled on something similar to chrisette michelle’s new do..and then chickened out at the last minute. anyway, i love my new do…for the time being. thanks for letting me know that i’m not out there on my own.

Tiffany says:

April 20, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Great article

Rashana Hooks says:

May 27, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Thank you!!!