The new year is a time to start fresh, set goals for what’s ahead, and let go of the past. That could be career-, health-, or finance-related, but it’s always fun to dream and find ways to improve. I also like to use this time of year to jot down what I’m most appreciative of: family, loved ones, good health, career success. But would you ever expect a hairstyle to make that list? It may sound ridiculous, but I can honestly say thatshaving my head 11 years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Recently,Doja Cat,Blac Chyna,Dixie D’Amelio, andMaisie Williams all shaved their heads and are loving the bold, new look. That’s not to say you should follow a trend because celebrities are doing it. But maybe seeing their oozing confidence on display after shaving their heads has you wondering if this confidence is a side effect, and whether you should just buzz off all of your hair too.
You should! What better way to give yourself the gift of renewal and a fresh beginning than by making an especially cool alteration to your appearance (remember, it’s just hair) that will impact your life in ways you never thought possible.
Still not convinced? Below are five reasons you’ll be happy you shaved your head.
You save so much time
After you shave your head, you instantly get hours of time back in every day. I get so much more accomplished by not having to worry about doing my hair anymore. We can sometimes forget how much time is spent styling and maintaining our hair. I admit, I’m a little obsessed with efficiency and being a minimalist, and my hair was a main culprit for why I was constantly running late to pretty much everything. Shaving my head has allowed me to focus on and do more of the things I love to do, things I didn’t have time or the chance to do before. My hobbies and interests have expanded, I've developed new talents, and my productivity has increased tremendously.
You save a ton of money
As a result of shaving my head, I have saved thousands of dollars a year. It might sound too good to be true, but it's not. I have the luxury of shaving my own head and not paying for expensive salon appointments, wigs, weaves, or other hairstyling gadgets. The cost of such items really adds up, taking a toll on your wallet in ways you don’t actually realize. It’s also worth noting that the averageBlack woman spends a fortune on hair-care products. Having a shaved head has helped me hold onto my coins and enjoy them. When you don’t have hair, you will start to notice your money lasts longer, those bank accounts grow, and you can spend your money on other things that are important to you, such as travel, investments, andentrepreneurship.
You instantly have BDE
We can all use an extraboost of confidence in our day-to-day lives — and that’s what you can expect when you buzz off all your hair. Women have admitted to me that they don’t feel they can shave their head because of its shape, which is a common misconception, or they suffer from hair loss and would rather cover up with a wig. But after you shave your head, what ends up happening is an instant and empowering wave of BDE takes over. I catch myself standing in front of the mirror more often and admiring my facial features. We tend to hide behind our hair a lot, fidget with it when we're nervous or uncomfortable, and use it to mask what might be going on at a deeper level. So, when you don’t have any hair, you have no choice but to start loving, and ultimately embracing, yourself. Sounds like a good side effect, right? So much new appreciation for your lips, eyes, cheekbones, jawline — you have your shaved head to thank for that!
Your fashion and accessory game is elevated
Who knew that a shaved head was just what you needed to take your fashion and accessory game to the next level? Shaving your head may be considered a big risk, but after you do it, you end up being more adventurous with how to express yourself. After shaving my head, I immediately dyed it platinum blonde; red, blue; I even had a rat tail at one point. Just look at Doja Cat: She wasn't doing her nowinfamous eyebrow artor tribal makeup before, when she had hair. You develop new looks and beauty hacks you can’t live without. For example, I won’t leave my house without my hoops, big sunnies, and Lauren Bagliore designs that make me feel like I’m a star in the Matrix movies.
You feel liberated and a sense of relief
As women, we have been taught to believe that long hair is equal to true beauty and how feminine we are. It’s this disturbing obsession that has given a shaved head and baldness such a bad reputation. So when you shave your hair, you’re essentially rejecting those BS, misogynist standards and rewriting the terms for what beauty means to you.
I have always felt sexiest and my most confident as a woman with a shaved head, which explains why I haven’t had hair for more than a decade. It is literally a weight lifted off your shoulders, and you feel liberated because you’re no longer in the box you were put into by society and fragile, insecure men.
I could go on and on about the benefits of shaving your head. But if saving money, time, building confidence, looking badass 24/7, and letting go of creepy beauty standards all sound good to you, then grab the clippers! Don’t let your hair hold you back this new year. When you shave your head, not only is there no such thing as a bad-hair day, it’s actually a New Year’s resolution you can keep with a ton of ease.
Want more like this from Teen Vogue? Check these stories out:
- Halsey Looks Like a New Person With Long Orange Hair and Bangs
