I've been thinking of doing this...it's kind of been in the back of my mind for a while. I got my hair cut in March, pretty short and the girl who cut my hair had very short hair, but still styleable. The other night in front of the mirror I thought, "What if I just buzzed it off." And then this woman who teaches yoga next door to the studio came into the shop and she had buzzed her hair. I just thought, "That is so awesome. I want to do that." And I said so. And I began to voice why, having to think of what I was saying. And I said I thought I might want to do it because beauty isn't in your hair. Your hair isn't who you are. Your body isn't even who you are. I think I want to challenge myself. Because I believe that, but I feel like living with no hair for a while might give me a little more perspective.

Okay...

PROS:

• challenge my idea of beauty
• deal with whatever issues of self-image come up
• question gender roles
• question the idea of femininity
• hopefully gain a better sense of self
• feel empowered
• interested in people's reactions...another opportunity for reflection
• challenge friends' & family's ideas of beauty
• no ponytail holder or bandanas
• hair grows back
• photo journalling
• shorter showers :)
• I like that it's kind of an F-you to the general idea of beauty being an outward thing

CONS:

• job interviews, though I guess I don't want to work somewhere where they wouldn't hire me because I have short hair
• negative reactions might make me think poorly of others
• negative reactions of family and friends would make me question the quality of their friendship
• that I might have a sense of self-importance for doing this
• having to deal with people starring at me, although I do quite a bit of this anyway because of my height