Ten years ago if you had told me that I would be rocking such a brave hairstyle at 27, the buzz cut, I would’ve laughed at you! Like many young girls, teenagers becoming women and grown adults (most particularly women of colour), our hair is our attachment. But, for me, this was my shell.

My hair had protected me from the  excruciatingly cold Canadian weather, from anyone judgemental, my father because he loves any girl with long hair (like many guys in general, or so I think), from anyone who felt as though having an opinion on any women’s hair was the end all that we needed to abide by for whatever reason, as if it was any of their business as to what we do with our hair in this world because a women’s beauty solely is in our hair (someone told me that), and lastly, my growth in life.

One of the reasons as to why I had never thought of cutting my hair off is because I loved changing my hair on a regular basis. Like I have said before in my previous blog posts, I can be rocking red hair one day, then rock a purple boxed braid hairstyle the next. Plus I was hiding in my hair. That was all about to change.

Grace Jones

Sinead O’Connor

I am going to point out that I was always terrified of both Grace Jones and Sinead O’Connor without reasoning as a child. With this being said when you look at Grace Jones she evokes power and fierceness while Sinead O’Conner just does not give a shit period. These two people, as far as I can remember growing up terrified me because they were going against the “norm”  of what being female meant. Today I thank them for their bravery along with putting this style into the limelight because rocking no hair means no hiding.

Before them, down in history, a women wearing a buzz-cut had negative connotations. When slaves were taken to North America, both black men and women had to shave their hair in order not only symbolize that they were slaves, but denied any African traditions that were carried in the past. In different parts of Europe, men would shave a women’s hair in order to embarrass her which today’s terms was slut shaming her, and for skinheads this is also a popular choice of style.

Still to this day many feel as though one of the only reasons why women in particular has shaved their hair is due to an illness, they have lost their minds (I’m remembering Britney Spears in 2007), or a male bashing feminist. Another generalization that women get for doing this cut is being a lesbian, which there is nothing wrong with this at all, do you… love is love. However the fact that people tie in a women’s length of hair with her sexuality is straight up stupid, there are no and’s of if’s about that, stop the stereotyping.

I have been natural since 2010 deciding to never have any chemicals altar the texture of my hair, I was 20 years old at the time, at 21 I cut my hair into a pixie- like afro and man did I feel brave! It was of course uneven because I had used scissors which is a big no no when you are a beginner with them. It was when I turned 23 that I decided to rock a buzz cut. The decision was a numb one because at first I did not think that I would go through with this, but it happened.  When the barber had first placed the clippers at the top of my hear (that was the first place he decided to cut my hair), I was thought oh shit, there was literally no turning back. My first thought was if I was looking like a man which is what any women’s thought is when it’s first time shaving your head! But over a week I was feeling myself (in Beyonce’s voice). The feedback was overall good while some were haters as I call them or just plain stupid with the cancer remarks, but I let it slide and mind my own business. The one thing you will know about me is I give no shits what other people think about me. When dealing with confidence I live by these two quotes: it’s none of my business what others think about me, and, I feel good… I look good (I made that one up and say every time I leave the house), because at the end of the day you have to wake up and live with how you look. Why not love yourself in the process?

After almost two years of growing my hair out due to pure laziness and experimentations with other hairstyles, I decided that it was time to shave it all off again. There was no second thoughts or even being scared because I’ve done this before and this time it was different. I was writing about the female rappers of the ’90s titled How Female Rappers of The 90’s Influenced Fashion, and when it came to writing Eve’s part of the article, I thought damn I would look good with this style, Eve killed the blonde buzz cut that was her signature,  and my mom said the same thing, so the next week I went to the barber cut my hair, and the rest was history. I felt as light as a butterfly and a new chapter was opened in my life. There was a newfound confidence that money could not by plus now I cut my own hair with my own clippers.

This year has also been the year of the buzz cuts.  You see actresses like Lupita N’yongo, Sanaa Lathan, Amandla Stenburg along with another celebrities rocking the style. In the modelling world a buzz cut is unique style that many up and coming acts like Slick Woods (born Simone Thompson) and Ruth Bell who have both been propelled in the limelight partially due to their  cropped haircut. Of course I have to mention Miss Amber Rose, honestly if you are a women that has a buzz cut, you will be compared to her since she has made this a staple from the beginning of her time in the spotlight.

Many feel as though this is a trend but I disagree. Wearing a buzz cut takes a lot of guts. It’s not just about posting on social media the style while asking others if they should style their hair this way ( a big ass pet peeve of mine, I see this shit all the time, just cut it). Or wearing a wig all-the-time after you cut your hair. I am not saying this is wrong but everyday? That means that you wasted your money plus you did not think twice before committing. That is just my stance on this. When you cut your hair at such a short length, that means you have no where hide from, plus you have to commit to this for at least six months then you can grow it out, which is no big deal. A buzz cut also brings out features that you may have never thought that you had with hair. For some reason my eyes look bigger but that’s just my perception. For people in general when they see a woman rock no hair, it is a perceived sense of confidence, you have nothing to hide and there is no need to either. The buzz cut is one of the only timeless styles. Look at the photos above with Grace Jones, Sinead O’Connor and Eve, those pictures were taken at least 20 to 30 years ago, this is proof that this is not a dated look and there is elegance behind it.  Femininity comes from within and as a wise person by the name of Joan Juliet Buck wrote in 1988 for American Vogue essay that short hair removes obvious femininity and replaces it with style. I have never felt this sort of confidence as I do with this cut. This is definitely a signature style for me. I don’t have to comb my hair, I can dye it without worrying about any damage, and I can be myself, live freely without hiding. I am too old to impress other people, sorry if that is selfish but this is my body my terms. For many women a buzz cut breaks away from the normal standards of beauty shown on a daily basis… we are saying pretty much fuck you and your standards without saying anything.  Now that is badass!