Short hair: Charlize Theron and Jada Pinkett Smith
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Curt pilus psychology: why the simple act of having our hair cut means and so much more than than we think

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Brusque hair, don't care? Here, we take a closer await at all the complicated emotions that come with having a crop.

When I went to the salon for the get-go time after lockdown, I was desperate to have my grown-out bob cut back to its jaw-length glory. I before long noticed that anybody else around me, however, was having a very different conversation with their hairdresser.

"Non too much off the length," i woman said, adding that anything more than than an inch would be "too much."

"I like information technology long now," some other adult female with a grown-out bob insisted.

And however one more than asked, much to the visible despair of the adult female restyling her hair, if they could avoid cut whatsoever off at all and instead "just shape information technology" (presumably through means of magic and witchcraft, equally pair of scissors had been banished from the equation).

It'southward non a lockdown-specific matter, of course; I've long had friends, without whatsoever prompting whatsoever, suddenly sigh wistfully and tell me that they love my short hair but that they could never face up cut their long tresses themselves. "Hair grows back," I tend to reply ever then unhelpfully (compliments always make me decidedly awkward), just they wave my reassurances aside. They're adamant that a mini mane just wouldn't work on them.

Over on social media, nevertheless, there are endless accounts dedicated to the #shorthairdontcare motility. Many of these are filled to the brim with pictures of truly excellent pixie cuts, mullets, and bobs – but in that location is ever, besides, the odd postal service (occasionally scored by James Blunt'due south much-malignedYou're Beautiful) about the ridiculous comments that women with short hair are regularly subjected to.

For example:

Of form, information technology's not always negative feedback; the slew of misguided "you look like a boy" and "men prefer women with long hair" comments are brindled with compliments praising these women for being and then "self bodacious" and "confident." Which is, of course, lovely – but, equally a certified people-pleaser and generally anxious human being – not necessarily e'er truthful.

Why, and so, do we accept such potent opinions on women with short hair? Why do so many of us baulk at the thought of cutting our long hair off? And why, when we do, does it feel like such a huge deal?

Our ingrained psychology around hair length

From dictating the shape of our bodies to demanding that we take smooth peel gratis of express mirth lines and wrinkles, guild has long laid out a very clear and stringent rulebook when it comes to heteronormative dazzler standards – and one of the oldest in the volume pertains to the length of our pilus.

Think about information technology; every single Disney princess has a long mane of glossy hair, as practise the majority of models seen in magazines and actors on Goggle box.

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As Heather Garbutt, psychotherapist at TCPC, tells Stylist: "In that location are some very deep traditions that run within our culture with regards to the length of women's hair.

"Long hair, for whatsoever reason, seems to simultaneously represent the innocence of childhood as well as the attraction of developed femininity. Think almost it; how many times accept we seen the letting downwards of a woman's tresses as a sensual and sexy feel?

"Information technology'southward almost a symbol of opulent femininity, near an image of exposure and vulnerability that draws out feelings of sexual allure frequently allied with feelings of protection in men."

For a very long time, lodge has taught u.s. that long pilus is the platonic.

Dr Becky Spelman, psychologist at the Private Therapy Clinic, adds: "Traditionally, long hair has been associated with young women of childbearing age, while older women are considered to have shorter hair or more austere updos."

And, equally our culture insists on telling u.s. that youth and dazzler are mutually sectional, and whatsoever sign of age on a woman is somehow unacceptable, is it whatsoever wonder that short hair continually proves itself to be so divisive?

The perceived power of a short haircut

All of the above, of form, means that women who practise embrace the brusk pilus motility are considered to be more confident and empowered in some mode.

"With historic period comes experience and self-assuredness, which is probably why women with shorter hair can announced more confident," notes Spelman.

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Garbutt agrees, saying: "When women have short hair in this context, it'due south a argument of independence, a taking on of 'the hunter' function – traditionally considered to be a more 'masculine' and dynamic identity – rather than the more 'feminine' (equally in, empathic and caring) 'gatherer' curtain.

"Equally such, when women go through times of transition or crisis, they volition often cut off their pilus. It is symbolic of letting go of the past, getting out of our hair whatever has been troubling us, cutting old ties and lightening the load to go forwards into a new future."

She adds: "This doesn't mean that having long hair ties us into old tradition, even so. Women tin can plainly exist incredibly agile, adamant and capable in the world while even so allowing their pilus to grow long."

Embracing a shorter 'do is proven to imbue us with a sense of self-assuredness and control.

Elsewhere, Dr. Lauren Appio, a psychologist and career coach in Manhattan, tells Lifehacker that a short haircut can actually instil united states of america with feelings of increased self-assurance.

"I've found that people typically have an impulse to cut their pilus after they've experienced stressful situations, positive or negative, where things have felt somewhat out of their command," she says.

"Making a significant modify to your appearance tin be soothing because you lot can run across the immediate results of your actions, which reminds you of the power and agency you have in your life."

Navigating the grief of a short haircut

"When women cull to cut off their long pilus, information technology is oft in a time of transformation, and letting go of the erstwhile and embracing of the new," notes Garbutt.

"Whenever there is a letting become, there is grief for what is gone – every bit well every bit excitement for what is to come. Information technology'due south a much deeper thing than a simple change of style; it'due south a shift in identity. The cut of the hair represents that large step and that's why it sometimes brings tears; in a mode, it'south a matter of saying goodbye to an era and the person that we were before."

Garbutt adds: "The question you must ask yourself beforehand is this; are you gear up to make this step? Often it feels like there is no choice, well-nigh equally if the identity that nosotros have been living in up until this betoken has grown likewise small and besides tight.

"Cut the pilus is like shedding skin. It is nigh probable a nascence into a new cocky."

Appio, meanwhile, says that it's worth considering what has prompted your decision to become for the chop earlier doing then – just notes: "People who tend to be perfectionistic or indecisive due to overthinking tin benefit from trying out more spontaneous behaviour. It tin be illuminating to see that y'all can survive and even enjoy the outcome of making a quick or imperfect determination.

"At best, it is a way to exist artistic, take pleasure in your appearance, and try something new with minimal run a risk."

And Spelman has the post-obit practical advice for anyone who's on the fence about a short haircut: "If y'all're not sure about how a drastic cutting will affect yous on an emotional level, you could either try wearing a brusk wig for a while before taking the plunge or trying out a hairstyle app, so you can see how you'd await with a shorter way."

"But information technology's simply hair"

Essentially, it seems our hair is deeply symbolic – merely it is still only that; a symbol. It does non sum upwards who we are, and what we stand for, and where we're going; it only allows usa to get there with a 'practise we absolutely beloved from the bottom of our hearts.

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So, if you want to go short, ignore the naysayers and embrace your mini mane dreams with all your might. If you desire to keep your hair long, that'south swell as well. Because, to quote the inimitable Leslie Knope of Parks And Recreation, it really doesn't thing. Well, it doesn't matter to anyone else simply you, anyway.

Just don't ever gauge what someone else has decided to do, OK?