This title seems weird coming from a hair enthusiast doesn’t it? Like what? What do you mean it’s just hair? This is a hair blog after all! Well, first off welcome to today’s blog. It should be a freeing one because I’m inviting you to take the load off with me.
I recently one upped in age and decided to make a big change. I have always wanted to try something REALLY different with my hair but I don’t think I ever really had the confidence to. So you know what I did? I took it step by step, until I just made a huge leap knowing there would be no turning back. I chopped my hair off!
How It Started
I had my hair styled in a tapered cut since April 2021 and was sporting finger coils for a couple of months. I enjoyed the feel of the low cut on the sides of my head, being able to caress my scalp more easily and the lesser time the lowest sections of my hair took to air dry. I wanted that feeling all over instead of only the sides, so I kept cutting the top half lower and lower. It was never too much for it to be noticeable by anyone else but, I knew it kept getting shorter and I felt a pleasant tingle in my stomach each time I would cut a little piece. I would occasionally look in the mirror and smile sort of like I knew a secret that nobody else did.
I had a few people look at me puzzled and say “your hair looks different” or “how your hair look so short, it shrunk or is it because it’s curled up?”
And I would always chuckle and respond with “it’s just the curls man, haven’t done a thing to it” or the very Jamaican equivalent “nutn nuh do aphmun to mi ‘air man”. When in fact it was getting less and less each time. LOL.
On my birthday in August, I was getting ready to go out to lunch and I just felt this urge. I had been looking at myself in the mirror thinking, I don’t want to wear any makeup, well I do but I have no time. Moreover, I just want to lay in bed, but it’s my birthday right?
So, I considered what I could have done to change up my look so it wasn’t a dead giveaway that I wasn’t feeling the celebratory mood. I did what I always wanted to, cut my hair.
Ps. I do not say ‘it’s just hair’ to belittle the importance of our crowns. I say it because we should never place so much importance in our physical appearances that we feel incomplete or insufficient without certain aspects of it. Our hair tells our story, cutting it off could be an integral chapter. Just saying. *wink
Nicola, 2021.
The Process
I’d love to say I watched a tutorial, strategically parted and precisely clipped my hair. But, I didn’t. I grabbed the top half of it which was actually in small twists, scissors in my right hand, levelled my hair off with my left hand and simply snipped. A big snip first then a lot of other smaller snips to get every inch of the longest parts of my hair. I even went around the rest to make cut off the areas on the sides that had grown too high, trimming the hedges so to speak.
The Aftermath
Since that day in August, I have only felt surprisingly light. I have found that my cheeks are more prominent and I love it. I constantly rub my head because I have come to find out it has a distinct shape with dips and knots that I couldn’t feel or see with a full head of hair. I must admit, I was weirded out at first because I couldn’t remember hitting my head to have had any resulting dips, but here they are and I actually enjoy the weird shape.
Speaking of hitting my head; the first time I suffered what I call a side effect of having a low cut, is when I bumped my head into a marble counter while picking up a candy I had dropped. It hurt so bad and I felt a knot come up instantly, I think I got dizzy too. But, all is well regardless and I’m now more careful as I no longer have a pillow on my head to cushion my falls or hits.
How It’s Going
- Upkeep has been a breeze and I am pleasantly surprised I do not miss having a lot of hair at all. I am also surprised at the amount of products I saved because there is less surface area to cover and you know, if products are being saved, money is being saved. That’s the biggest win. Let the church say? Amen!
- Additionally, I am now able to actually see my hair growth more visibly. I wake up and it’s almost like I can tell I gained an inch of growth. Maybe not so much but you know. I can tell the difference over a couple of days. Products get to my scalp much easier now and I spend way less time trying to work them into my hair.
- Do I need to mention that getting ready is no longer a task as it used to be? I do spend time styling my hair but, this is way less in comparison to how long it would take me before.
- I cut my hair very often. I have been cutting my hair repeatedly once it grows up to about an inch or two. What can I say? Keeping it on the low. Lol.
Product Change?
Although my hairstyles have changed drastically, my routines have pretty much remained the same. I have however adjusted some of the products I have been using. I have not changed my shampoos or conditioners much but I have completely changed my scalp treatment.
I’m currently using the Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil and it has made my scalp feel so healthy. I think it might just be helping with my hair growth too; I’m not quite certain but I’m kind of certain. The cool, tingly sensation on my scalp is a great feeling and a big plus. To moisturize my hair as lightly as I’ve now been doing, I use Wakati Oil-Infused Cream on my damp hair or as needed, before rubbing the oil all over.
My natural kinky and curly pattern has started pushing through so even though I still use gels, I have not been using as much as before. However, I am currently big on mousse. I enjoy molding my hair onto my scalp and seeing how much my facial features pop.
So, if you can’t tell, I love it here. The low haircut kingdom was made for me, even if it’s temporary. I will eventually grow my hair out but for now, I’m going to have fun. It’s just hair y’all, never be too attached.
See you next time!
Manes and Crowns 