Baldies: Jess Lauren
“.... I always wanted my hair to be long and found it to be superficial because I realized I wanted approval from others instead of actually loving myself.”
name: Jess Lauren
social media: IG : jess_.lauren | Twitter : the_jesslauren
How long have you been a self-proclaimed baldie?
I’ve been a self-proclaimed baldie for a year now and I have enjoyed everyday of the experience.
Did anyone inspire you to cut your hair? (include @ name if possible)
The decision to cut my hair was overwhelming inspired by @niahope. When I ran across her video on Youtube, I could feel her happiness through the screen. I know the word “happy” may be cliche’ at this time in society, but, I could literally feel and see she had no worries about any one else’s opinion about how she looked. I aspired to be like her.
What made you decide to cut your hair?
Before I cut my hair, I was procrastinating for a year to make my decision because I was proud of the length that I achieved. However, I knew trying to balance college work and taking care of my hair would be hard to balance. So, my first wash day at a dorm came along and I just couldn’t do it. The shower was small, my deep conditioner kept on falling out of my hands... it was just a mess y’all. At that moment I decided that I wanted to cut my hair.
What reservations/fears did you have about cutting your hair?
I honestly feared that I wouldn’t find myself as attractive as I found myself with hair. I felt like I would look like little bill lol , but once I got cut and looked in that mirror, I felt like a totally new person...I felt...confident.
How did you prepare yourself for your hair cut?
The day before my haircut, I starred in the mirror and thought about all of the experiences I had with my hair. I was reminded of the reason of always wanting my hair to be long and found it to be superficial because I realized I wanted approval from others instead of actually loving myself. I felt that in order for me to stop seeking approval from others, I needed to stop taking the societal “standards “ to heart because at the end of the day, societal beauty is always evolving and it’s unhealthy to try to evolve along. I wanted to love myself...I wanted to be my own person.
Do you regret your decision at all?
I do not regret cutting my hair at all. I feel like I’ve been happier with my short hair and all of its benefits. I have gained a great deal of confidence with this new look.