“Don’t you ever think of cutting your hair?” “I love your hair but it’s so long, isn’t it time for a change?” These comments were ones I heard one too many times. Growing up I always had long locks. In fact, I remember the numerous dreaded trips to our hairstylist. While others would jump at the chance of a trip to the salon, I would shudder at the thought of my hair being an inch too short. However, it wasn’t until my close friend pointed out that maybe I was hiding behind my hair to truly second guess my locks.
Witnessing my friends chopping their hair in the summer to avoid the heat, I recall admiring their courage and commenting on how great it looked. It made me realize that maybe it was time for a change after all, but not in the way you would imagine. Call it an insecurity if you will or maybe even a security blanket, but what I didn’t realize at the time was how my hair would help me gain the much-needed confidence I lacked.
Now I know it appears silly to think how my hair could make up for something I thought was missing. But that’s the thing, it did. I realized that I loved my long locks and while others could rock the short hairstyle, I didn’t want to because my hair was a part of who I was. Now I know hair grows back and maybe in time I will chop it all off, but learning to love something I always had given me confidence. It allowed me to embrace myself and my uniqueness and respect the same quality in others.
See it doesn’t matter if you have long hair, short hair, or no hair. Who cares if your lip curls a little when you smile or your face is covered with freckles? If you love it, it’s all that matters. So if wearing a face full of makeup is your security blanket or wearing none at all, then do it. It took me a long time to learn that beauty trends change every day, but something you love about yourself, that sets you apart and makes you who you are, that’s something you shouldn’t change…even if the world has a billion comments to make about it.
So what’s your distinguishing feature? Your security blanket? Let us know in the comments below!
