A drastic hair change is the beauty world’s answer to heartbreak. But why? Here, we investigate
Hair holds memories—at least that’s what social media says. But the premise of it all is more significant than a short-term trend. In theory, hair is perceived as an extension of us. It carries so much emotional weight that chopping it off becomes a significant form of letting go and starting anew. Somehow or another that explains how drastic hair changes became a universal experience for anyone who is in a breakup limbo. To say the least, it’s a canon event.
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Need proof? Take a cue from Miley Cyrus. The artist veered towards a modern mullet cut after the announcement of her separation from Liam Hemsworth. Another iconic entrant is Kris Aquino who traded her medium-length hair to a pixie cut after her split-up. “I cut off more than a foot,” the star captioned in a post. “I’m super ready for my life to change.” The statement proves only one thing many of us have known so far: Drastic hair changes after breakups may not be mandatory. But it’s preferred.
The truth about breakups
Breakups are never easy, but dealing with the grief that comes with it? That’s another story. Hear us out. There are several stages one goes through after a breakup: denial, anger, rage, and acceptance. Yet somewhere before the final step is the phase where one finally has enough of the betrayal, confusion, and insecurities that occurred in the relationship. The result? The last ugly cry before fully breaking free from it.
So what goes after acceptance? The inclination to reclaim power and individuality. Healing looks and means different to everyone. But most cases reveal that people are leaning towards drastic hair transformations as a good place to start. Hairstyles can surprisingly trigger one back into the memories and feelings of the past—the exact reason why a refreshing switch-up can be used as an opportunity to start fresh.
Why the drastic change?
Post-breakup hair transformations hold so much more meaning than what it seems. It is a beauty metaphor for letting go and starting anew. Think more of it as a power move of leaving the past behind and paving the way forward. It also takes courage to part ways from something that one has been accustomed to. It can be daunting. But taking the courage to go for a new hair choice returns that sense of individuality one has lost in a relationship.
Our point of view
Letting go is one of the most difficult decisions that anyone has to make in their lives. May it be a previous lover, an old friend, or even a signature hairstyle. Giving up things that became a big part of one’s life is always a painful process. But as cliche as it sounds, these are situations that simply prompt personal growth — it creates a space for something new to come along.
It’s one sentiment that resonates with my recent conversation with hair artist Fendi Dudi. “There is so much beauty in starting anew,” he said as he chopped a big chunk of my hair. “It can be scary, yes. But can you imagine all the rooms that you are making for worthy things in your life? You just have to give yourself a chance and a new haircut.” Healing is anything but linear, but just like hair, love will eventually grow back. After all, it’s a canon event no one can interfere with.
Photos: MEGA ARCHIVES
