University Baldies - Jordyn st. Holder
Series by Rachelle J.
IG- jordy.shortyy
Has your confidence/self love grown? Do you feel as though image is a big thing for women at your University?
My confidence and self love have definitely grown-- gradually. I found more beauty and appreciation in my facial features (particularly my eyes). I think there’s this misconception that confidence is supposed to skyrocket the very moment a person decides to cut their hair off, and while that may be the case for some women, for others, there’s definitely an adjustment period.
I go to school at a large PWI, so I don’t feel image is that important for the women of color on campus. We don’t really interact with the white students enough to care about their opinions, and there aren’t that many (relatively) black students, so there isn’t a pressure to overly focus on beauty to stand out. Now, when people go off campus, to Howard or to any other school with new faces, then there’s definitely a pressure to focus on image.
You’re viewed differently by men and women on campus since shaving your hair off?
Outside of the initial shock, I’d say I get more positive attention now that I’m a baldie. The difference between when I cut all my hair off the first and second time (at different universities), was that I learned how to style being bald a lot better. The second time, I experimented with haircut designs and color. Finding a barber who knows how to flatter a woman’s appearance with the haircuts is key. This is a funny way to put it, but I feel like going bald made me look like somebody’s fine auntie with the short n sassy haircut.
Why did you decide to cut your hair, and would you do it again? How long ago did you cut your hair? What did you think of bald women prior to cutting your hair?
The first time I cut my hair, I did it for the purposes of starting over and going natural. I rocked the afro for two years, and then decided to cut it again because I missed the low maintenance of being bald, and I felt I looked better bald anyways. I most definitely will continue to cut my hair, and I’ll probably be a baldie for the rest of my life.
The first time I cut my hair was around October of 2015, and the second time Was around October 2017.
Prior to cutting my hair, I wasn’t really familiar with too many bald women (I definitely feel like being bald became popular in the last two years). The women I knew who were baldies were either sick, or they were older women and just didn’t feel like handling the maintenance of having hair. I didn’t know anyone who chose the bald life for style purposes, other than Amber rose (which, did nothing for me because I didn’t view her as a ‘real’ woman with relatable circumstances at the time).
What did you think of yourself after you cut your hair? Do you ever regret it? How did your perception of yourself/hair change throughout your life?
The first time I cut my hair, my feelings about my haircut changed everyday. I loved it and hated it at the same time. For the first time, I was able to see my head shape, and I noticed I actually have a dent/ dip in the middle of the top of my head. I liked being bald minus my dent. But, I felt like it was still better than dealing with extremely heat damaged relaxed hair. Of course, I grew out of that and just grew into a love for my short hair. I have no regrets now.
Growing up, I was used to the idea that growing long hair was what would make me beautiful. My grandma has always had hair that was butt length, my mom’s hair was at a relatively long as well, and as a child, I was always complimented for my hair. When I cut it, other people were more sad/ felt more regret than I ever did, which was funny because I was wondering when their opinion mattered. It’s like they were living vicariously through my hair, which isn’t healthy. After cutting, and getting used to my hair, I felt there were way more important things to deal with in life, and hair was on the very bottom of that totem pole.
