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Original poster

Should I shave my head?

50 replies

HalebiHabibti · 24/10/2023 17:14

I am mentally in a bit of an odd place. I don't know it's burnout, or a reasonable response to work and life stresses, or oncoming perimenopause, but I veer between utterly flat and actually pretty chipper at least 3 times a day

Anyway. I have thick, awkward hair and dealing with it feels like just another thing to have to cope with. The impulse to shave it all off is very strong.

Will I regret this? Have you done it? How did people respond? How would you respond to a colleague who turned up with a shaved head all of a sudden and no medical reason for it, esp if she had been up and down recently?

Answers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks vipers

OP posts:

NotToYou · 27/10/2023 08:25

I would recommend an undercut, takes a lot of the weight out and makes drying much quicker.

ABeautifulThing · 27/10/2023 08:26

@icebearforpresident wow! That's stunning!

Singleandproud · 27/10/2023 08:32

If I'd noticed you were struggling with your MH and came in with a shaved head I'd assume you were exerting a need to Control things. We don't have full control over many things but our hair and food intake are two of them.

If I were you Is avoid making any major decisions until feeling a bit more mentally robust.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Menopause Women's health

Ifyoulikealotofchocolateonyourbiscuit · 27/10/2023 08:48

I have thick wavy hair and so understand your annoyance at dealing with your hair! I wouldn’t shave it all off though, it sounds like quite a drastic move when you’re not in the best headspace. Can you scrape it back into a messy bun for ease?

EnjoyingTheSilence · 27/10/2023 08:53

I’ve been thinking for a while now that there’s a good reason why older women have short hair, we’re sick to death of having to do our hair!!!

it takes too much time and the night sweats. I’ve been tempted to get my long hair cut for a while now. Not brave enough to shave it all off though

Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 27/10/2023 08:56

I did and I loved it.
I would do it again but I did the whole "I want long hair so I can do pretty things with it"
Now it's long it just gets shoved up.
If your not 100% on shaving try a pixie crop. Gives it a little more shape than straight clippers would

NotObligedToArgueWithStrangers · 27/10/2023 09:07

I had such a strong urge to do this when I was feeling similarly out of sorts. I didn't, I just had it cut much shorter instead. Looking back I think a total shave would have been very drastic and I would have regretted. It was definitely a symptom of my state of mind at the time. Look after yourself, it's a funny old stage in a woman's life

Catsmere · 27/10/2023 09:07

I wouldn’t - same reasons as others have given, plus your hair may thin a lot when you’re in menopause. Make the most of it now! There are plenty of short cuts suitable for thick, curly hair.

Penguin34 · 27/10/2023 09:10

I'd say do to a really great hairdresser and get a really well done short cut that's easy to style, find a great place with great style where you get amazing service, great coffee, head massage, really treat yourself. It lifts your mood no end.
Then if you still feel like it after that then go for it

Original poster

HalebiHabibti · 27/10/2023 12:54

Not trying to be negative but I don't think my hair has ever looked good without applying significant effort. Scraped back in a bun = pulling the curls straight so they are just some sort of unholy frizzy mess. Short = having to actually do something with it every day and (IMO) wasting hair product on a head which doesn't actually leave the house. Headscarf = just looks odd on me.

GAH.

Also I will take it on faith that a trip to the hairdressers can be relaxing. I once told one honestly that my main objective in life was to have hair which didn't make me look too stupid and she just looked sorry for me.

Honestly, head shaving is looking better by the minute 😂 I do appreciate the honest opinions though.

OP posts:

funbags3 · 27/10/2023 12:58

@HalebiHabibti Have you considered a weave or a good wig?

cornflower21 · 27/10/2023 13:00

I wouldn't op.
It may actually tip you off the edge iynwim, people will be staring at you, asking questions, if you're not in good mental health you'll find it hard to cope, plus it'll take months to grow back if you gonna regret it?

HouseofHolbein · 27/10/2023 13:12

Not a brilliant photo but this is how my grade 2 makes me feel 😊

BringMeTheTickets · 27/10/2023 13:18

That's very cool @HouseofHolbein

Mischance · 27/10/2023 13:22

If you are having a bit of a mental wobble at the moment it is not the time for drastic image-changing - seriously, if you did not like it, it could make you feel much worse. Bide your time!

Mabelface · 27/10/2023 13:23

I've had the same urges! I've gone from bum length curly, thick hair, to shoulder length to as it is now, shaved back and sides with a curly bit at the front. I now go the the barber every 6 weeks, £14, no appointment needed, no small talk and done in 20 minutes. I love it.

HouseofHolbein · 27/10/2023 13:25

Mabelface · 27/10/2023 13:23

Husband runs the clippers over mine every few weeks. Those clippers have paid for themselves many times over 🤣🤣

NoraLuka · 27/10/2023 13:25

I had a colleague who used to do this when life was getting a bit too much. Other people used to be a bit funny about it, and this was a bloke who wore a hard hat most of the time and didn’t really have long hair in the first place!

Maybe go for a haircut if you fancy a change, but it’s prob best to avoid shaving it all off yourself, you’re likely to regret it.

StillWantingADog · 27/10/2023 13:26

people Might think you had a Britney Breakdown.

if you’re confident in your features go for it. But I for one like to “hide” behind my hair. I think I’d hate not being able to do that.

Not unreasonable at all to have it cut off short if it’s a lot of hassle. But consult a hairdresser because some short cuts are harder work than they look.

Janieforever · 27/10/2023 13:31

Op if you don’t like yourself in a head scarf it’s likely you will like yourself even less bald. It’s a very drastic change that could significantly impact you negatively, and unlike a head scarf you can’t just take it off.

id not do it. Not now, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

saraclara · 27/10/2023 13:35

I had hair like yours, and my happiest years were when I had a pixie cut. It was wash and leave and barely needed a comb through it.

Now that I'm old, my hair is much thinner and less wavy, so looks way better than it ever used to outside of the pixie years..

SierraSapphire · 27/10/2023 13:37

@andyourpointiswhat

As someone else who is still managing the hair fallout from chemo a year on I would also say don't do something in a poor frame of mind that's going to carry on reminding you about it for a long time to come.

Spirro · 27/10/2023 13:48

I think Britney has made “shaved head when you don’t have cancer” synonymous with “mental breakdown”. So for that reason I wouldn’t.

What about a pixie cut? I have a curly pixie cut, like 90s Meg Ryan. I love it!

SurpriseSparDay · 27/10/2023 13:56

I think Britney has made “shaved head when you don’t have cancer” synonymous with “mental breakdown”.

I suspect all the millions of women outside the UK and US who happily choose this hairstyle don’t give a toss about a blonde pop star, or what white people on other continents think …

Girlwithapple · 27/10/2023 15:58

How about something like this OP? Not quite all off but still a lot less maintenance.

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