Would it be really crazy to shave off my hair ?

[SmallCatMama]

I've been thinking about this for a few days and it's turning into an urge. I have previously shaved off hair at the nape of my neck. I just hate my hair so much. It's long right now, and it's just always in the way. I usually keep it up hit it's just uncomfortable.

I know it isn't socially acceptable to shave your head but I would either wear some kind of head covering or maybe wigs outside. I have had it cut really short like a mens style before and I loved it. Only I felt stupid in front of people and wore a hat a lot.

I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm going to end up just doing it out of sheer frustration and then regretting it

how old are your kids?
and is this going to stop you returning to work and getting out and about? given you said last time you felt uncomfortable with a very short style?

If you do, give it to the little princess trust so they can make chemo wigs for children

ah you the op?

they don’t accept anymore as synthetic wigs are now superior to those using human hair
it’s practically impossible to donate now to anywhere

Given the MH context, OP, I would say try and sit with the urge for a while before you do anything. Book in with a hairdresser to discuss a really short cut if you want to do something today rather than picking up the scissors.

this

especially as you say you hardly see anyone and not working

this may make you stay in rather than help recovery

Yes, I tried making a new account because the app isn't working right for me. Still the same though I think it is just my phone. My youngest is 17. That's a good point actually, because I do want to work again quite soon. I'm just thinking really impulsively at the moment. I did feel self conscious last time I cut it really short, and I was mistaken for a man a couple of times

pause
have a good cut
it will help anyway to get you out
good luck

I don't think it's socially unacceptable, do what you like with your hair, it doesn't matter what other people think.

If you don't specifically want to shave then I'd just go really short and see how you feel then.

Easy enough to shave it if you still want to.

I've always had long hair but surely there are some super short cuts that are still feminine if you are concerned about being mistaken for a man.
Or just up the makeup a bit, if you wear it.

I’ve got really, really short hair and love it. Yes it needs cutting every four weeks but other than that I wash it, let it dry naturally then use a bit of texturiser to give volume. Over the years I’ve had everything from waist length extensions to a mohican. It’s only hair and grows back.

As others have said, go for a short pixie and see how you feel.

https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/donate-hair

No they are still taking donations.

Thank you for the good luck :) and advice

It might be worth checking in with your support team as well. You can talk the compulsion over with them - not so they stop you, but so they are aware and that if this turns into a big mood change, they can support you better xxx

Shave it

It'll grow back anyway, when it gets to a length you like, have it styled at a salaon

I had to shave my head once due to over bleaching. There was literally a hole in the top where the hair was broken to a number two!
As they say, it will grow back. But unless your hair is in irreparable condition you'd be better off just getting a professional short haircut. In fact a barber would be better and cheaper than a women's hairdresser and they're more experienced with doing short hair.

You know what I think I will. I could call them on Monday. Apart from this, my new medication is making me feel really unwell and nauseous, and I'm avoiding taking it because I can hardly bear it. I don't think it's going to work out Thanks again x

It's good to just talk about the subject sometimes as I wasn't really connecting the two things properly

I shaved my head a few years ago (number 2 I think?). I loved it tbh. Might go super short again in the future actually.

I know how you feel OP. I hacked all my hair off when I was having a bad day. It felt good to punish myself but then it was a PITA having to wear a hat to cover it up and having to explain what I had done to my therapist and psychiatrist

I do this. The first time was about 5 years ago and it was absolutely liberating. I try to grow my hair again but end up getting the shaver out again. I used to have long hair. It's not totally bald but very very short. I feel so much better when I do it.

Sorry OP just read about your mh struggles. I am struggling too and find sharing my head therapy for me but maybe talk to someone first or have a short pixie cut to see how you feel having shorter hair. Short hair makes me happy so it's sort of a dopamine rush for me. Even my dd when she was 15 shaved her head and it gave her so much confidence. She has terrible anxiety and autism but for some reason this made her feel in her words 'beautiful' which obviously made me cry as she's always so negative about herself. Xx

It will be a great opportunity to talk about the effects l the medication and if you can switch. I wonder if by avoiding taking it your symptoms are seeping out a little.

Believe me, synthetic wigs really aren'y superior to human hair!

(Also LPT still accepting human hair)

@MidnightPatrol Three years to regrow? Seriously? God, I've still got another two years of shit hair to go them 😬

ok if you’re actually living and breathing hair loss due to treatment and have wigs, then ill accept what you’re saying - because I don’t have experience of the wearing the wigs themselves