This week I have been thinking about hair. Triggered by the article on my Weekend Fashion Bibliography I have been reflecting on my own hair(story) as well as the transformative power of a change in how you style your hair or a new cut. The article tells us that transformations to hair represent moments when the identity position of the model shifts, or is reimagined or reinvented in some way. The case of the models getting a radical new haircut entailed a great risk but also reaped a great reward. It also struck me that the transformations were always repudiating the long, flowing locks idea of beauty in favor of something unexpected, a little shocking, a little edgy, but always resulting in something that made them stand outside of the pack, it was the change in hair that got them noticed.
My hair has always been a big part of my story. For years I wore it long, not to be more feminine necessarily but because it was cool. Parted in the middle and bone straight it was like a long veil that I could hide behind if I wished or pull back and show my full face. For most of my adult life I kept it long and liked my hair except for the times I wanted it to be curly and wild which resulted in some body wave and perm experimentation. Just like the color pink, there were/are social stories and scripts about hair and culture that I have used to my rebellious advantage or challenged in some way. My hair has always been my personal statement of self and society. Every time I have done something to my hair there are emotional implications related to stretching, excitement, desire, wanting, urgency, anxiety, pressure, rebellion, force and yearning. I have often made a radical change in my hairstyle in order to mark an event, to signify a new passage, to cut off expectations, to subvert the old and make room for the new.
My hair has been a big part of my reinvention as a fashion “icon”. It is a co-construction between my Japanese hair stylist and myself. It has visible and hidden undercuts which feels like having a secret and allows for a surprise when my hair is styled upwards or slicked back. It is shaved to my skull in some places and long in others, allowing me to play with my ambivalence. It is my nod to my style icon, Tilda Swinton yet it is absolutely mine. As I become more visible, I see that I have grown it a little longer which allows me a small curtain to hide behind if I wish. As I look back at photos of my life I see now it is the changes in my hair that are telling the real story. It is a signifier always of who I am and who I wish to be. The best part of it all is that it is alive and grows back so it is always self-correcting. It allows for endless risks and reinventions. It always forgives. It never remains the same. It is a personal and creative language to use in constructing your personal style story and it is always in motion.
What story do you want your hair to tell?
Let’s read and talk about color for Wednesday.
I have extremely short hair–I cut it off in high school and never looked back (except for that one time i grew it out just to see). my hair IS my personality. It very much defines me, my lifestyle, my feministic self. once, someone asked how i would define my haircut. my hair is a big FU to the world. it means i don’t care about societal norms or expectations–i keep my hair short because it has spunk and gumption–just like me.
I have extremely short hair–I cut it off in high school and never looked back (except for that one time i grew it out just to see). my hair IS my personality. It very much defines me, my lifestyle, my feministic self. once, someone asked how i would define my haircut. my hair is a big FU to the world. it means i don’t care about societal norms or expectations–i keep my hair short because it has spunk and gumption–just like me.
I cut my hair off last year – gone with the long, dyed hair. Based on my roots, I thought I would end up with a head of short silver hair, but that’s not what emerged. As I grow my hair out, I see more and more that I’ve got all the colors (except black) naturally streaking through my hair and its color depends on the light, my surroundings, and what I’m wearing. I love that chameleon like aspect of my hair (Why did I ever color it?), particularly as it is starting to change and become more grey. Less thrilling is the constant state of in-between length as I wait patiently for it to grow longer. I don’t like the constant feeling of my hair being unfinished, and it’s lent itself to a feeling of other parts of my life being unfinished. To put a more positive spin on it, I would have to say that my hair says Work in Progress.
I cut my hair off last year – gone with the long, dyed hair. Based on my roots, I thought I would end up with a head of short silver hair, but that’s not what emerged. As I grow my hair out, I see more and more that I’ve got all the colors (except black) naturally streaking through my hair and its color depends on the light, my surroundings, and what I’m wearing. I love that chameleon like aspect of my hair (Why did I ever color it?), particularly as it is starting to change and become more grey. Less thrilling is the constant state of in-between length as I wait patiently for it to grow longer. I don’t like the constant feeling of my hair being unfinished, and it’s lent itself to a feeling of other parts of my life being unfinished. To put a more positive spin on it, I would have to say that my hair says Work in Progress.
I wore my hair long, all one length, down to my backside for years (mostly a nod to my mother’s Polynesian culture) and for a bit … that was me. Then it wasn’t.
After high school, I “crept” my way up to relatively short (just about collar bone length) and had to keep it long to pull back because of martial arts practice and the fact that I worked at a very large insurance brokerage – so clearly I needed to observe the “proper path”. Another bit that was me, then it wasn’t.
Fast forward to 15 years post-undergrad with a grad degree started but not finished (began at University of Michigan but moved back to Seattle), a relationship that took a dive and just said expletive it. I don’t need another thing to worry about. So off it went – with Tilda Swinton’s photo in my phone for my hairdresser to take pointers from. Never looked back – and never stood taller and more free.
I wore my hair long, all one length, down to my backside for years (mostly a nod to my mother’s Polynesian culture) and for a bit … that was me. Then it wasn’t.
After high school, I “crept” my way up to relatively short (just about collar bone length) and had to keep it long to pull back because of martial arts practice and the fact that I worked at a very large insurance brokerage – so clearly I needed to observe the “proper path”. Another bit that was me, then it wasn’t.
Fast forward to 15 years post-undergrad with a grad degree started but not finished (began at University of Michigan but moved back to Seattle), a relationship that took a dive and just said expletive it. I don’t need another thing to worry about. So off it went – with Tilda Swinton’s photo in my phone for my hairdresser to take pointers from. Never looked back – and never stood taller and more free.
Siempre tuve canas desde muy joven.Primero mechas para disimular, mas tarde todo de un color y despues por tenerlo muy blanco rubia, y por ultimo por fin lo tengo blanco ,poco a poco me voy acostumbrando a ello LYN, me gusta tu corte de pelo, ¿como se puede definir?. Un saludo desde España.
Siempre tuve canas desde muy joven.Primero mechas para disimular, mas tarde todo de un color y despues por tenerlo muy blanco rubia, y por ultimo por fin lo tengo blanco ,poco a poco me voy acostumbrando a ello LYN, me gusta tu corte de pelo, ¿como se puede definir?. Un saludo desde España.
I was growing my hair out – 2 years! – and it was just getting to the point that it began to look like "long hair." Then the dermatologist hacked a chunk off of my scalp, and admonished me not to use anything except baby shampoo on my hair FOR A MONTH! No styling products, no conditioner…
2 days later, I had it cut back to about 2 inches long. Everybody loves it. I think I’m staying short, as much as I love the idea of the "swish" of a head full of long curly hair. Sigh…
Ah there are days I miss the ability to "flick" back my long hair. There is something so powerful and alluring in that gesture. I can feel a memory of it a little from the longer length I have now. I think the shape of your head factors into this decision as well.
I was growing my hair out – 2 years! – and it was just getting to the point that it began to look like "long hair." Then the dermatologist hacked a chunk off of my scalp, and admonished me not to use anything except baby shampoo on my hair FOR A MONTH! No styling products, no conditioner…
2 days later, I had it cut back to about 2 inches long. Everybody loves it. I think I’m staying short, as much as I love the idea of the "swish" of a head full of long curly hair. Sigh…
Ah there are days I miss the ability to "flick" back my long hair. There is something so powerful and alluring in that gesture. I can feel a memory of it a little from the longer length I have now. I think the shape of your head factors into this decision as well.
The hardest decision for a model! To cut and how long! I do agree that having a major transformation in haircut depends on major decisions in life!
I thought Mia Farrow with her short hair was the most beautiful and vulnerable woman I ever saw.
The hardest decision for a model! To cut and how long! I do agree that having a major transformation in haircut depends on major decisions in life!
I always wanted long hair and used to make false pony tails from my mother’s old nylon stockings. Eventually grew it very long in my teens. After years of home blonding (Poly Blonde) and ironing it to get the ’60s straight look I ended up having it cut and professionally highlighted when I was a university student. Went through the gamut of styles asymmetrical, page boy, Farrah Fawcett flicks, spiral perm, punkish crop. And then grew out the colour to find it had become the ash blonde (well ash grey!) I’d always yearned for. Now it’s cropped short (Mia Farrow in Peyton Place style). I no longer hanker after long tresses. Thinking about hair colour I recall Zandra Rhodes being asked about colouring her hair pink and she replied that she couldn’t understand anyone wanting to dye their hair a natural colour. If you dye it, she said, go for something outrageous.
I thought Mia Farrow with her short hair was the most beautiful and vulnerable woman I ever saw.
Your hair cut is fantastic. i would love to know who your Japanese hair stylist is. Would you let us know? Thanks!
Inspiring. It is a Joan of Arc story and I am so happy you are disease free. Thanks so much for sharing with us,
His name is Jun Fujiyoshi at Tokuyama Salon.
Your hair cut is fantastic. i would love to know who your Japanese hair stylist is. Would you let us know? Thanks!
His name is Jun Fujiyoshi at Tokuyama Salon.
I cut my long hair very short two years ago right before my 50 birthday. I loved seeing my face and felt renewed. Fast forward to last year when I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. I had been starting to grow my hair out just for a change and was told that my chemo routine would not cause me to lose my hair. Well, it turns out I am special in more ways than i thought since it was found through sending my blood work to the Mayo clinic (because I got super sick immediately and had to be hospitalized) that i have a rare genetic mutation that renders the chemo drugs highly toxic. One of the side effects? Loss of hair. It was again liberating to take back control of my narrative by cutting my hair as short as I could. Fast forward again and I was able to successfully complete chemo and have been disease free for a year. My hair is short-for now-and is an even more empowering symbol of who I am and where I have been.
Inspiring. It is a Joan of Arc story and I am so happy you are disease free. Thanks so much for sharing with us,
Diane, I hear you.
Diane, I hear you.
A woman’s hair is her crown of glory and every woman needs a close relationship with a hairdresser who fully understands her and how her hair falls on her head. I think we all go thru that must grow long hair routine until we realize that it may not be the best way to work the hair to flatter ourself. I have hair that grows fast and is still at my age thick and full and heavy, so I will grow and cut my hair whenever I feel bored with hairstyle, especially when it becomes a fashion trend by everyone. I like my hair to be unique to me, not a carbon copy of everyone around me.
Sometimes though the reserved part of me wants to hide!
Love the sentiment here. Personal style is personal.
A woman’s hair is her crown of glory and every woman needs a close relationship with a hairdresser who fully understands her and how her hair falls on her head. I think we all go thru that must grow long hair routine until we realize that it may not be the best way to work the hair to flatter ourself. I have hair that grows fast and is still at my age thick and full and heavy, so I will grow and cut my hair whenever I feel bored with hairstyle, especially when it becomes a fashion trend by everyone. I like my hair to be unique to me, not a carbon copy of everyone around me.
Love the sentiment here. Personal style is personal.
Thanks for your post.
I’d say that my hair is very "statement" hair, so telegraphing strong hair/strong woman. Also, at this length you are really out there, there is not anything to hide behind!
cheers
Michelle
Sometimes though the reserved part of me wants to hide!
Am so glad I found your blog, and read this post. Your words describe my own feelings on my hair. I have a very similar shaved cut which I got last fall and have let my silver be natural for years now. I could not agree more with hair being an outward statement of who a woman is, or is becoming.
Am so glad I found your blog, and read this post. Your words describe my own feelings on my hair. I have a very similar shaved cut which I got last fall and have let my silver be natural for years now. I could not agree more with hair being an outward statement of who a woman is, or is becoming.
I have just discovered your blog…I love your hair and your fashion style. I am turning 70 in a few weeks. Most of my life I have had long hair and as I have aged my hair has been cut shorter, well shoulder length. Last year I have had it cut, very similar to yours with Carmel streaks and I loved it. But recently due to feeling invisible…have made a huge mistake in colouring my hair, and it’s too dark. I have a colour stripper sitting on my bathroom bench just waiting. I would love to go natural, that means bring out the greys, but unsure how.
I have just discovered your blog…I love your hair and your fashion style. I am turning 70 in a few weeks. Most of my life I have had long hair and as I have aged my hair has been cut shorter, well shoulder length. Last year I have had it cut, very similar to yours with Carmel streaks and I loved it. But recently due to feeling invisible…have made a huge mistake in colouring my hair, and it’s too dark. I have a colour stripper sitting on my bathroom bench just waiting. I would love to go natural, that means bring out the greys, but unsure how.