Hair Story from Anne: a vague feeling of breaking a taboo

Long time memories from when I was 7 or 8 years old, living in the countryside. Summer and tall grass. I always dreamt of having long hair, something which my mother wouldn't consider for me (I guess because short hair are easier to maintain). Secretly I made myself a ponytail out of weeds and clothespins !!! I felt beautiful, at the same time having the vague feeling of breaking a taboo. Maybe the taboo was not as strong as my imagination wanted me to believe, because later I let my hair grow for real! 

Anne, 65, Female, Belgium 

#Gender
#Short #Long #GirlDreamLong #ShortEasy

Hair Story from Suzanne

When I was very young, my hair was thick, long and chestnut colored with waves that cascaded down my back. One day, when I was about ten years old, I sat at my mother's dressing mirror and cut it all off. I was/am always impatient and I wanted to be grown up...so thinking back, I cut my hair off so I could be older...and of course my mother would never cut my hair so....so there was a huge defiance in my act too. She wept when she found me. 

From then on I looked at my hair as a work in progress. Color, permanents, cutting, growing.
After my father died, I shaved my head and moved to Jamaica. It grew in silver, except for a patch of chestnut color along the very back of my head. A reminder perhaps of my
youth. Now, I am letting it grow long....but then maybe one day, I will take up a scissor and cut it all off.
Suzanne, 67, Female, US-Jamaica.
#Short #Long #GreyHair #SymbolEmotion 

Hair Story from C.

I once had green hair ... But for much of my young to mid-life it was thick long blonde.
It then skipped gray and went directly to white.
A few years ago, a young man asked me if I dyed my hair that wonderful color?? (Is there anyone in the world that would think to dye their hair WHITE??!)
Short now, and trimmed by me. I love it ease ...
C., 60’s, Female, Jamaica#WhiteHair #Short

Hair Story by C.

One day when I was an adolescent - and during a period where I was a little "lost in space" - I had the spontaneous idea to shave my hair completely, which until then I had always worn more or less long … When looking in the mirror afterwards, I saw myself as a sick person, looking lean and not very happy. For almost a year, I wore a black bowler hat to hide my mistake, my teachers at school even allowing me to keep it on in class (I really must have looked a little frightening without this headgear! ) 

C., female, 40 years, Belgium

#Gender

#Shave #Bald #Try #HowToAssume

Hair Story from Isabelle

When I was 13 a friend and colleague of my father came home to cut our hair, since that was cheaper than going to the hairdresser. I wanted to please my father, and I asked to have my hair cut short. He thought that was a good idea. Once my hair was cut, I found myself horrible. I cried. It was a real torture to have to go to school, wearing my hair like that, and to have to let it grow again. Since then, I have never cut my hair shorter than shoulder length. I believe this will stay the only attempt in my whole life !! 

Isabelle, 44, Female, Belgium

#Short #Try #HowToAssume #Gender

Hair Story by Pew: a convo

So I had a convo at the gas station when the pump attendant admired my companion’s hair. I told her to do hers like it - she said she’s waiting for her hair to grow. That was weird cos her hair was long so I asked “how long is your hair?” she reached almost to the base of her hair and said “this long”. I immediately wondered what she looks like without her “hair”.

Pew, 50-60, Male, Jamaica

#Extension #Weaves #Long #Short

Hair Story by Florence: My femininity doesn’t define by the length

For almost 16 years I cut my hair very short. I shaved them, in a close shave. They are natural. I like the character that this hairstyle gives me, certainly in opposition to the very common desire to have "long hair". My femininity doesn’t define by the length of my hair. Definitively not!

Florence, 43, Female, Martinique

#Gender #Femininity 

#ShortHairForWoman

#FemininityNotDefinedByTheLenghtOfTheHair

Hair Story: I was given a brief window into what it means to be other

I have, throughout most of my life, had my hair long or (more recently) shoulder length. I remember being so proud, at age ten, being able to braid it down back, by myself. It was always so thick and healthy, brown with natural auburn and lighter highlights. Once (in my 30’s), I had it cut very short (almost shaved in the back). I went to see my sister in Calgary, and when I got off the plane - she didn’t even recognise me. In fact, she thought I was a famous Canadian singer: K.D. Lang. The other thing I remember from that time of my hair cut so short was when I went out to a club, dancing with some casual women friends. The crowd pulled away, and I realised they thought I was gay - and for them that sparked revulsion. I was not used to that reaction, that identification - Why aid it bother me? Why did I want to protest it?  I learned, that evening, about myself, about how my hair informs, and about others. I was given a brief window into what it means to be other. Because of the context, because of my hair.

X., 54, Female, Canada

#Gender #Stereotype

#ShortHairForWoman 

#Difference

Hair Story by Annette: All hair is good hair

I am pure african in my style and loves it more as I get older. My hair is natural short “Flannel Ball” style but with a little more than usual. I’ve inherited a perfectly round head from my late dad and so the hair style complements my features a lot. I’m proud of my heritage, I wear my style with great confidence and will always have it. All hair is good hair: we are created by God and beautiful.

Annette, 58, Female, Trinidad & tobago

#Short #Natural Hair #AfricaConnection

#AllHairIsGoodHair

Hair Story from Kate

Having short hair when younger. People made assumptions of my sexual orientation.

Diko, Tomboy, etc…

Kate, 31, Female, UK

#Gender #Stereotype

#ShortHairForWoman