People shaving their heads

Pop culture is plagued by women that've shaved their particular heads.

Their conditions are often serious: Natalie Portman sobbing violently as a jailer chops away clumps of her locks in V for Vendetta (2005); Demi Moore glaring at her very own reflection as she barbers the woman option to belonging into the hypermasculine world of G.I. Jane's (1998) Navy SEALS.

G.I. Jane

But the truth is, speaking with the ladies who've really done it — an implicit refutation of main-stream United states beauty criteria, whether intended or not — reveals a selection of stories and reasoning that go beyond this narrative of duress.

Thought it's arguably no more the rare rehearse it was inside U.S., the ladies which voluntarily cut off each of their hair nonetheless go through a variety of experiences that, even in 2015, say lots about perceptions of modern womanhood.

V is actually for Vendetta

Here are four ladies who've shaved their heads at one-point or any other — their stories as told to Mic and edited for quality — and (gasp) existed to tell the story:

1., 34, head shaved 2013

My head ended up being shaved in Cuba as part of a ritual service. I've been a practitioner of Cuban African-inspired religions for 12 many years today [Regla de Ocho or Santería, in particular], while the act of head-shaving is a component of a ceremony in the process of whatever they call "making Saint." In U.S. context and language, it is part of becoming a "priestess" within the religion. Conceptually, the service is all about rebirth into an innovative new, stronger religious self and the head-shaving is a component of this symbolic beginning.

The traditional procedure of this ritual suggests one cannot examine by themselves in a mirror for [three] months. But because i will be [an American] and respected the context right here ended up being various, I experienced the option of [allowing mirror use].

"I do perhaps not be sorry one little bit."

[making] Cuba, the outgoing immigration officer violated my legal rights making me personally just take my mind wrap right off to expose my mind after which took an image. It was horrifying — not due to the way I looked, but because it was therefore disrespectful.

The non-public is governmental, so [for myself, shaving my mind was political]. But I wasn't focused on without having locks. I happened to be simply attempting to handle and adapt to the sensory energy that overwhelmed me post-ritual. The feeling of freedom, liberation of fat (both actual and symbolic) that originated from the head-shaving and ritual allowed me to become a significantly better self. And I also try not to be sorry one little bit.

Singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor

2. Ingrid, 35, head shaved 1999 and 2001

The 1st time I shaved my head ended up being immediately after graduating high school. I'm able to actually say that people four years were the worst years of my life. I am one of many within. We believed like We required a fresh begin, a metaphorical demise —dramatic a lot? We required some thing to assist me examine my expression without remembering which I was before that part of my life was more than.

I happened to be dubbed a lesbian after, to no real surprise, as my masculine demeanor has done that since the fifth level. Irrespective, I kept at it and come winter, I wore head scarves, bright, gorgeous head scarves.

"I think there's definitely a stigma about women with short hair, no doubt."

By 2001, I did it once more because I wanted that exquisite freedom that was therefore jutting and addicting. I wanted to do it for no other explanation other than to feel calm. I started to wear males's clothes and wallowed in the comfortable fabrics and bare mind until We grew fed up with it and went back to wearing women's clothing. Shaving my head helped myself become freer. It allowed us to undertake my demeanor head on. I constantly, up to extremely recently, identified much more with my masculine energy. It provided me with a real sense of just how adaptable I could be.

I think there's positively a stigma about ladies with short hair, without doubt. But I also genuinely believe that it's okay to need feel masculine by shaving your mind, or feminine by developing it, or the other way around, be it if you're a person or a lady.

3. Karineh, 35, head shaved

we started shaving my head my junior 12 months in university at [University of California, ] Berkeley. I did not know very well what regarding my tresses and thought I would personally give it a try. I have loved it since.

"I always defer to Audre Lorde: the non-public is political."

Shaving my mind became a topic of discussion for most, including my parents (they believed I happened to be going right on through an identity crisis), and lots of folks believed I was queer. Personally I think many feminine with my hair quick. People believed I was courageous. Frequently guys believe that I am a lesbian and females believe that i will be a cancer survivor. I simply failed to know very well what regarding my locks.

[Was it governmental?] I usually defer to Audre Lorde: the private is governmental. If my hair is part of a greater aesthetic, then it is rooted in a politics of identity.

Actress, singer and design Willow Smith

4. Kate, 36, mind shaved early 1990s, 2001 and 2009

First time I shaved my mind was in junior large, for a lark.

Second time was at 2001, for a friend's quick film — I became basically a prop, Bald Chick on Left. That was funny in a terrible form of method, because the shoot occurred a couple of days before 9/11, and people believed I was publicly grieving. It was a weird time.

Third shaved-head event ended up being summer of 2009 — I became located in Austin, Texas, hence summer ended up being so mercilessly hot it felt mandatory. We held my mind Bic'd from June to October that point. It had been great.

This can be counterintuitive per every thing we're taught as to what tends to make ladies pretty, but I have never ever thought nearly as appealing, pretty or sexy as I do once I'm bald. Some thing regarding actually scraping off the bullshit while the window dressing and just placing my face available to you. I are more aggressive with makeup products, jewellery and styling, like i've a blank canvas, that will be fun.

"every little thing about ladies' individual visual is naturally governmental and always was."

The reactions I get are typically wondering, though i actually do get a lot more interest from guys — the enjoyable, respectful, "Oh my you appear interesting" kind of interest. It can help that I move in liberal, weirdness-enabled sectors and will have. I would anticipate a much different reaction easily existed away from hipster bubble.

My hubby is a little ambivalent about this, though. He likes how I look entirely cueball bald but is not in love with the growing-out phase, where I strongly resemble a 14-year-old guy.

Every little thing about ladies' individual visual is naturally political and always is, therefore the governmental content varies wildly based that's doing just what and exactly what her personal position is. It does not feel governmental once I do so, but I'm in a really rarefied and privileged spot.