baldies: Meredith Isom
“It’s okay to see your hair as your crown but I think it’s important to not put your worth into something that is so physical and something that doesn’t even come close to embodying who you are as corny as that sounds. It’s just hair.”
name: Meredith Isom
social media: @mere_isom97
How long have you been a self-proclaimed baldie?
A year and some change
What made you decide to cut your hair?
I mainly decided to cut my hair after I graduated because I had worn my hair in a fro for nearly 4 years and wanted to switch it up. My hair was long but was also really dry and unhealthy because I didn't take care of it at all in high school. I didn't know much about hair care so I just went natural and did whatever to it. I thought short hair would just be a new start and low maintenance so I went with it.
What reservations/fears did you have about cutting your hair?
I was soooooo afraid I would look like a boy. My style is already somewhat boyish so I thought cutting my hair would be too much. I was also afraid that I would miss my hair but ended up not missing it half as much as I thought I would.
How did you prepare yourself for your hair cut?
I didn't really prepare at all. I got it cut at my grandmother's house on a whim. I walked into the bathroom and just asked my mom to cut it all off and she did.
What was your initial reaction to seeing yourself with short hair?
When it was first cut I was not rocking with it at all. It was cut a little awkward cause my hair was still wet. After it dried, my mom took the clippers and shaved the sides down more and then I loved it. I feel like short hair frames my face well and I just felt really comfortable.
Did cutting your hair symbolize anything to you?
Cutting my hair really symbolized me doing what I want with how I look. When I first went natural I was in the 7th grade at a predominantly white all-girls school. I kind of hid my natural hair by keeping it in puffs and eventually wanted to experiment more. When I first talked about wearing it in a fro, I got some backlash but did it anyway and everyone ended up loving my fro. When I talked about cutting it off, I got backlash again but I did it anyway. People ended up loving my short cut. From now on I don't really listen to anyone when it comes to what I do with my hair. I know what's gonna make me happy. I know what's going to look good on me so I just do what I want. Before I cut it, I was a little nervous and I remember my mom telling me "It's just hair. It will grow back." Hair is so important to women, especially black women. It's okay to see your hair as your crown but I think it's important to not put your worth into something that is so physical and something that doesn't even come close to embodying who you are as corny as that sounds. It's just hair.
Do you plan on ever growing your hair back out?
I'm actually in the process of growing it back out now. I'm mainly growing it out because I'm tired of short hair and want a bit more versatility. At the same time, I feel like I might miss the simplicity of short hair and might end up cutting it again. We'll see.
Did cutting your hair hurt or help your self confidence?
Cutting my hair helped my self confidence a lot. Every now and then I get a rude comment about my cut or told I look like a boy and I've learned to just brush those comments off. I just feel really at peace with what I look like and my hair texture. I feel like I wouldn't feel this comfortable with myself had I not cut my hair.
Do you regret your decision at all?
Absolutely not.