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{ May 26th, 2011 }
Bold Femininity or Bald Faded?
Choosing one side or the other with this subject is like placing a feather on a scale and expecting it to move. However, here’s my attempt to weigh in on the matter…
It takes extreme courage (or craziness in some cases) for a woman to scalp her head. Such a ‘drastic’ move with the hair is not the accepted norm in many cultures. Say what you will, but we have been socialized (even spiritualized) into believing that our hair is our glory. Take that away from a woman and what does she have? The answers may vary. For some, it means she has nothing, for others, it means she has freedom and the world is at her fingertips.
In some indigenous cultures and even religions, it is customary for a woman to have her head shaved completely. In Hasidic Jewish practices, the bride is made to have her hair shaved the night before the wedding. Though it is not a mandate, many Hasidic women submit to this tradition. In ancient Europe, non-Jewish kings had the right to any woman in their kingdom on their wedding night. Shaving the head was like a preventative measure: if the king saw the bride with shaved hair, he would perhaps find her unattractive and not invade (rape) her. Puts a different perspective on a female’s choice to go bald, doesn’t it?
It’s easy to flaunt the femme look because of the expectations placed upon women to have and maintain glorious hair. It is much harder to dawn low fade and pull off the pride, beauty and grace that often accompanies it. Makeup, accessories, bright skirts and ‘bedazzled’ shirts are not enough to make it work—they are just the icing on the cake. The poise and character of a feminine gem is often exposed in the midst of the decision to go bald. I admire television journalist and icon Robin Roberts’ bravery and transparency. In August of 2007 she underwent surgery for breast cancer. She could have easily hired a team of professionals and stylists to conceal her transition, before, during and after chemotherapy treatments. She could have chosen to continue wearing her custom-made wig that perfectly framed her beautiful face. She did not. She went public with her battle and with her hair—even to the point of sharing her shave on national television and with the world.
Many others of you, like Robin did, would concur with the popular artist India.Arie in saying “I am not my hair!” Because hair doesn’t make or break the character, spirit and personality of a person, it doesn’t matter how they rock their hair, or if they have none at all.
Final thought: Character is not what one does to their external appearance; rather, it is the effort and sacrifice that one is willing to make to become who they were created to be. Character is greater than a gift, ability or even beauty. Your gifts may take you to places unimaginable, and place you in the presence of great people; however, it is your character that keeps you there, and sustained because of it.
I prefer to have the mind and character of Christ (Philippians 2: 5-9; 13). If what is in me represents the glory and honor of God as I submit to Him as Lord of my life, then it will exude in my walk, be reflected in my clothing, and revealed in the way I carry myself (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). Hair or not, the definition of true femininity for me is being the bride of Christ, submitted to His perfect will.
Tagged: Archives
Posted in Bared Hair ~
