baldies: Imani Shanté
“...bald girls ooze so much confidence and strength”
name: Imani Shanté
social media: @IMANISHANTE (Twitter)
How long have you been a self-proclaimed baldie?
7 months!
What made you decide to cut your hair?
Not only was I tired of keeping up with perms every 6-8 weeks and applying heat to my hair, I wanted a new look. I was always sickening, but I was craving that extra "oomph" and cutting my hair provided me that.
What reservations/fears did you have about cutting your hair?
Around this time last year I had the urge to cut my hair but I couldn't muster up the courage to do so because I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull it off. I thought it was too drastic of a change, so I put it off until now.
How did you prepare yourself for your hair cut?
I researched natural hair blogs to find out what my curl pattern would be after cutting my hair, and the right products/techniques I need to maintain its health.
What was your initial reaction to seeing yourself with short hair?
As cocky as this sounds, what shocked me is how beautifully prominent my facial features were after I shaved my head. Not that there is anything wrong with long hair because if I could, I would gladly rock a 22-inch wave right now. But looking in the mirror while sitting in the barber's chair it made me realize why bald girls ooze so much confidence and strength. There were no bangs to hide behind, no tresses framing my face, nothing. I shaved my head, and all of a sudden my skin glowed brighter.
Did cutting your hair symbolize anything to you?
Cutting my hair symbolized me finally unlocking the ultimate level of 'black hottie' in a way. To me, if you can rock a buzzcut, you can pull off any look effortlessly.
Do you plan on ever growing your hair back out?
Yes! I do plan on growing out my hair but I will definitely not be touching a perm ever again. I want an afro badly so I will continue my natural hair journey, I'll just be enjoying my baldness in the meantime.
Did cutting your hair hurt or help your self confidence?
I've always had self love and a solid foundation of confidence, but after seeing myself with barely half an inch of hair that skyrocketed.
Do you regret your decision at all?
Not one bit.