Should I shave my head?
TLDR; I have wanted to shave my head for years but am worried because I am plus size and don’t know how it will affect me in a social setting. However, I want to do it because I think it’s an important step in my journey to become more myself.
I, 23F, have wanted to shave my head for a very long time. I want to do it less for appearance and more-so because of more emotional reasons, as well as having the “itch” to do it. Here are my reasonings and concerns (pros and cons):
Pros/reasonings
- I have wanted to for years
- I am constantly overstimulated with my hair; the washing, drying, styling, etc. all for it to never look right. It is emotionally exhausting trying to keep up with hair.
- Haircare is too expensive now
- I grew up in a religious household that led me to tie my hair to femininity, and I want to be free of that
- My hair grows super fast. If I don’t like it, I can always grow it back easily.
- I can wear wigs and have long hair only when I want to
- It would deter me from using my hair as a crutch or hiding behind it
- It would help me on my journey of decentering men. I am not even interested in dating anyone for the foreseeable future.
- There is so much going on in the world that what does me shaving my head in the long run matter?
Cons/concerns
- I am plus size, and while I am on a weight loss journey, I do worry about how I will look big and bald, or if I will fulfill some stereotype. I won’t be able to hide my neck and back with my hair anymore.
- It will affect me socially; my dating pool will get smaller (not that I want to date rn), people may make judgments of my views/personality/character, because that’s just how it works.
- I will always have to answer questions about why I have a shaved head (people asking if I’m sick, etc).
- I have straight hair, so the growing out process will be not fun. But I have also grown out a pixie before.
Let me know what I should do!