Why I cut off my hair.

Yesterday, I woke up and made a decision to book in a haircut. I've been in a very dry and dark season recently, and have felt incredibly weighed down and disconnected from myself and from my ambitions and goals. For the last few years, I have been known as the ‘photographer with really long hair’ and when people compliment me, it would be “your hair is so beautiful” or “never cut your hair, it’s amazing”. Well here’s the reality; my beauty is not measured by the length of my hair. I wanted, needed, to prove to myself that I am the same person, with or without long hair. That I can be just as pretty, just as photogenic, just as unique, regardless of how my hair looks.

In a lot of ways, I hate my short cut. I mean, it's not all short, but at least 10 inches came off. I hate not having anything to do with my hands, that my hair doesn't anymore tickle my back or that I can’t just braid it. I hate that I think I have to compensate for my loss of long hair, by doing myself up somehow. But that’s why it’s so good. I faced a fear, I decided to suck it up and cut it off. This is the first step of building up my true confidence, my self esteem, without relying on a ‘good hair day’ to do that.

When people identify me, it’s usually ‘the long haired photographer girl’, which I mean, is okay, sure. But now what do people have to label me with? Nothing, and that is great. I don’t want to be known as someone who has ‘long hair’ or someone who is whatever I look, because in a second, that could all be gone. I need to work on who I am as a person, where I’m going and the path in which I’m going to take in order to be the person I want to be. I’m 17 in exactly two months, I don’t want this year to be like my 16^th year. I want to be confident in knowing that people will begin to look past my outside and start to see me for who I truly hope I can be.

Ultimately, hair is hair. It grows back, and this isn't permanent. But I dare you. You rely too much on your long hair to make you feel pretty? Cut it! It’ll challenge you to find the actual reason why you are pretty. Sick of feeling weighed down? Make a change. Your hair will grow back healthier too, and hey, who knows, you may even like it better than how it was before.

The length of your hair does not define who you are. It doesn't make you more beautiful. Sure, it may suite you better. But nothing is more beautiful than confidence. And confidence isn't hiding behind your hair.