welcome to the buzzed project.
The buzzed project is the brainchild of myself and the wonderful Rachel who runs @buzzed.bopo.girl. As two shaven headed woman we wanted to connect with other people who rock a buzzcut and find out in their own words why the chose to live the shaved head life and how its changed them.
rachel, @buzzed.bopo.girl
Since I started to colour and cut my hair from the age of 13 this is when I lost my relationship with my hair. I have had my hair every cut and colour imaginable.
When I was 26 I made the decision to dread my own natural hair. This was a very spiritual and exciting process. It allowed me to bond with my hair because I was seeing it change and develop in its natural state, doing it's own thing. Problems arised when I started to develop scalp irritation and sensitivity. Although I had tried everything I came to the conclusion and realisation that my scalp was far too sensitive for this style.
So after much debating with myself and churning it over and over I decided to shave my hair completely.
It was such an empowering and liberating feeling. It is something I have never experienced before. Shaving my head forced me to consider the feelings that came with it. It gave me the confidence I NEVER knew I had. I have honestly never felt so beautiful. And considering this style goes against the media "norm" I have never felt so feminine! It felt badass and great that I had broken away from society and what is expected of everyone. I have never looked back. And anyone who is considering it I would say to go with your heart and do it for you!
taylor, @_taylorjayne
photographer- sarah marsden photography
I have wanted to shave my head for I want to say about 4 years. Through bleaching and cutting and growing my hair had become so damaged , although looking back I dont believe it was that bad I feel like I used that as my back up clause. If people hated it I could always tell them I was forced into it due to damage. I suppose though that says everything about my own insecurity. I shaved my head during a really intense period of growth in my life were I felt like I had to hyper project myself to the outside world so that they would understand who I was and what I was trying to represent. Shaving my head let me be a visual stereotype of a queer person and at the time I needed that as I was exploring what I truly felt my queerness meant to me. As the dust settled as the expression goes I began very quickly to understand that I didn't need to use my hair as a statement but rather it fit alongside my queerness as a true expression of self. I am my shaved head and it is me, I am living my truth fully and even though I understand I dont need to make statements to help others outwardly understand me I am so proud I was brave enough to do it , for me now being bald means I do not use my hair to hid behind I now dont use it as an expression just of my queerness, it is part of me but not my definer. It makes me feel bold and peaceful both at the same time. For me it helped me truly learn that my sexual and gender identities are not definable by the outfits I choose to wear. that my gender fluidity isn't just valid because of my look if that makes sense, that I am not more queer or more fluid because I chose a typically less feminine typically more queer hairstyle. At the end of the hair it is a part of me but not the whole part of me and I honestly don't know knowing how much I love it that I could imagine myself trying to grow it out anytime soon besides I am a queer performer and if I need to have hair I got some great wigs now !
1. How do others react to your buzzcut?
I work in a clothes shop were alot of the customers are older woman, maybe who you would assume would disapprove but I can honestly say not just from work but from my day to day life 99% of the reaction is always positive. Most people who know me personally would say they couldn't imagine me having hair anymore as this just seems to be me. I do get the odd dissaproving comment from strangers in the street, but I am an openly queer, femme presenting person covered in tattoos with the fashion sense of a weird childrens TV presenter mixed with a pensioner so I dont always know why specifically that particular person is staring unless its followed by a baldy comment lol.
2. Was shaving your head a decision you had considered for a while
It took me probably about 4 years and also I didnt buzz straight away I went from shoulder to bob to pixie to super pixie to buzz because it felt too intense to do it all at once.
3. Have you experienced strangers touching your head without your consent?
I am not the most social-able critter and when I do I choose only really to interact in safe spaces around other people who are like me so I dont feel like I have left myself open to the opportunity to having someone touch my head. I have had people who I know ask me to feel it and I have given consent for that, I feel like it will be different as well from a practical point of view I choose Winter to shave my head so I normally have a beanie on when I am out and about and I feel it will change in reaction from others when the seasons change. I feel I am strong enough now in myself to put someone in their place if they did touch my head without my consent because having very visible tattoos is very similar in the sense alot of people think that that gives them consent to touch me.
africa, @africabrooke
1. How do others react to your buzzcut?
The majority of people love it because it's still considered unique and 'daring' - especially in as a female in Western society. I do however sometimes get the odd look here and there but even then - it's not something I really notice anymore because it's such a norm for me. I think some people still struggle to understand how baldness and raw femininity can co-exist, but that's not really my problem!
2. Was shaving your head a decision that you had to consider for a while?
It's something I wanted to do for a long time but it took me a while to actually take action! I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and at 9 years old I came to the UK, this is when my beauty ideals shifted completely. I had short hair for most of my life and it was the norm for girls and women in my home country to have shaved heads. Once I came to the west though, I saw that everyone had long straight hair, and all the media I consumed cemented the belief in me that long hair was beautiful, so although I loved short hair, I felt an expectation to have it long and as close to European hair as possible. By the time I finally took the leap at 24, I was initially scared because I was worried I wouldn't be as attractive anymore - but I quickly realised just how false this belief was, and I would never go back!
3. Have you ever experienced strangers touching your head without your consent?
I never have, and I refuse to imagine such a thing ever happening!
amanda, @amanda.c.thomson
I am a mom to two Fur babies and a Human. I love music, literature and offensive cross stitching.
In July of 2015 I had a panic attack so bad I thought my husband was going to have to call and ambulance and have me admitted. The only thing I could think of doing to ease the pain and calm my breathing was to shave my hair off. Now it's not as drastic as it seems, I had short hair already and had been waffling with the idea of shaving it for some time but there was always something that prevented it (what would people think? would I still be pretty, etc.) Something about the panic attack made me shake all of that off and want to own myself in a different way. As soon as I shaved it off i took a deep breath and made the decision to stop thinking of my worth in hair length or clothing or make up. My worth was what I put into it. I haven't looked back since. It's funny when I first shaved it off having buzzed hair was looked at so differently, it wasn't as popular as it is now woman with shaved heads were still only Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta and Demi Moore in J.I Jane and of course Sinead O'Connor. Now you see it everywhere, it's beauty, it's strength, it's whatever the woman wants it to be. Granted there is still the sub set of old school, way back, douche bags who relate it to a sexual orientation or a type of woman they are afraid of but their voices definitely aren't as loud.
Life post hair is kind of the bomb.com I got the job I always wanted, a family I built from my dreams and the life I think I was meant to live. I still get sad sometimes and think that hair with make me prettier or more popular or have less of Mental Illness but I also know that not having hair makes me feel strong and powerful and brave and those things mean way more than the surface stuff.
XOXO
Amanda
alena, @kawaiicurvy
My name is Alena, I am 28 y.o. and a single mother to a wonderful 7y.o. daughter. We're living together with my parents in a small town in Germany. I am a tailor apprentice and also coach for relaxation training, e.g. meditation, autogenic training but due to mental health problems I am currently not able to work.
Buzzcut journey:
I was always affected by society's unrealistic beauty standards and the pressure to fit in. My life hasn't always been easy, but who's life is?! I took all things that happened to me very personal (and unfortunately I still do sometimes). People talking about me always made me panic and feel like I didn't belong here. The more I tried to fit in, the less I wanted to be "like them" because it felt so wrong. I got carried away more and more from the person I was and wanted to be. Slowly I started to change the way I look by getting piercings, tattoos, dying my hair a different color almost every week, wearing bright make up and alternative clothes. But somehow this wasn't as satisfying and freeing as I hoped it would be. I kind of built up an alter ago which actually was a mask to protect me from society, which was quite ironic considering my look was always bold and eye-catching, so it was clear that everyone would look at me.
When I discovered the body positive movement, feminism and the bald movement a few years ago, it felt like the home my soul was always longing for. These things became my safe haven. Having so many powerful women around me (even if it was only online), gave me the strength to wipe off the dirt with which I covered my true self all those years before.
I was having a pixie cut long before I shaved my head for the first time. And one day I just decided to cut it all off. I couldn't stand the pressure anymore that I put onto myself, just because society makes us think that our value is determined by our hair, our body, our skin, you name it.
How was your first experience going outside with your new hairstyle?:
It was kind of weird. The wind touched my head and I felt a little naked. I was totally thrilled because finally I didn't have to worry about a "proper" haircut anymore, which was always so stressful and mentally painful and exhausting for me. I felt strong and powerful and a little invincible. It was as if I broke free from society's unrealistic beauty standards. Now I could be the queen of my own little kingdom. A kingdom of equality, of beauty without measurements, a kingdom of selflove and freedom.
How have people reacted?:
There was, is and always will be a broad variety of possible reactions when people see a bald female (because a bald male is totally acceptable in society, you know?). Of course 98% of the people around me were a little irritated. Strangers stared (and still do) but with a face tattoo and also with being overweight you get those looks. That's society.
I am shaving my head for more than 2 years now and people get along with it, they even like to touch it ;)
Back when I started shaving my head some people asked me why I wanted to look like I had cancer or told me that women have to have long hair and all that jazz. All the stereotypical things you don't want to hear but get to hear.
Today with every new comment, I get happier to be different.
I am more than just my hair and that's for everyone to see!
What would you tell someone who doesn't think they can do it?:
Just do it! It's as simple as it sounds ;)
Don't be afraid. There's nothing to lose and it's just hair. It grows back soon. Of course this is just my humble opinion.
It's definitely worth a try because if you put all fears and doubts aside, it could change your whole life forever and bring you some peace and selflove and courage. You wouldn't wanna miss on that, would you?
And these things are worth much more than a haircut! :)
nyome, @curvynyome
1 how do others react to my buzzcut?
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Those closest to me my family and my friends like it and they say it suits me. I don’t really see any stares when I’m walking down the street etc so don’t get to many reactions lol because I don’t really notice.
2 Was Shaving your head a decision that you had to consider for a while?
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My hair was very short for a long time I had a tiny Afro and I had that for about two years. At the beginning of this year I thought to myself ( and a few people suggested) that I cut it off. I did have to think for a little while before I actually went bald because I felt that I would be losing something and I was holding onto it like it would never grow back! I am happy I have cut it now though. It is now part of who I am and I honestly couldn’t see myself having hair again.
3 Have you ever experienced strangers touching your head without your consent?
I never have fortunately and I hope I never have to be subject to it!!