“Did you just go through a bad break-up?” Some guy pumped full of steroids asked me as I cranked out my last set of shoulder presses.
Wanting to make sure I heard him correctly, I yanked out my ear buds. “Excuse me?”
“Well, I see you cut your hair.”
He was right. I had cut my hair, about six inches of it actually. And I was completely surprised he noticed; I thought steroids effected memory and learning.
I responded to the beefcake with a curt “no” and placed my ear buds back in my ears. How presumptuous of him. But, as I continued with my workout, I thought more about his question. His assumption wasn’t all that implausible—many women do chop off their hair in order to cope with a break-up.
Getting a new hairstyle when going through a life changing experience makes sense. Hair is both emotional and sensual to women. They have ties to their hair and it is one of the easiest, most tangible things to alter on someone’s appearance. How many times have you seen a women leaving a hair salon—crying? As a teen and twenty-something, I always had long locks because I thought they were feminine and romantic. It wasn’t until I turned thirty that I decided I needed a drastic change. I wanted a professional and sophisticated look; hence the six-inch hacking. Although this haircut was emotional, it wasn’t the break-up kind. So, what denotes the break-up haircut?
An extreme haircut following a break-up is typically not done to attract a new partner; it’s most likely a sign of autonomy. It’s like shedding that old part of a woman’s life, including the ex, and starting anew. And when a woman expresses herself externally, it’s a statement to the world. Break-up haircuts are similar to tattoos, piercings, moving out of state or homes, changing jobs or careers, getting a different car, altering style, going back to school, etc. They scream to the world: I am independent and don’t need you!
Really, when you think about it, a break-up haircut is the cheapest form of therapy.
