a stylish story for you

Towards the end of my final college semester, I walked into a class, and everyone looked at me. I wore the same mask as always. And I wore the same clothes as always.

But this time, I had all the hair on my head shaved off…

I rocked a buzz cut between the ages of 3 and 17. The good ole 4-2 (four on the top, two on the sides) was my go-to haircut.

I never needed a hairbrush. I never needed a hairdryer. And I never once woke up with bad bed head.

Hat hair never fazed me. My hair never clogged the shower drain. And my haircuts costed less than $20.

The buzz cut gifted me a convenience with which no other haircut could compete.

Hairstyling and haircuts allow you to be creative. They let you decide how you look.

Young me didn’t know that.

I kept the buzz cuts rolling because they were just easy for me. I didn’t do it as a style statement. (Although I did have one awkward summer at 7 when I only wanted to rock a faux hawk)

It turns out that style defined me. Everyone knew me for always having short hair. No one ever questioned it. No one ever told me to grow it out…

But then, one day, I did.

Halfway through my senior year of high school, I went crazy. I felt the need to revolutionize my hairdo.

I kept the sides short but let the top go wild. I never let it grow more than a few inches, but it was no longer a buzz cut.

For the first time in my life, I used a brush, lathered my hair with gel, and could run my fingers through my hair.

Changing my hairstyle gave me a way to mature. I grew up and transformed myself into something more. I injected more personality into my appearance.

And I loved my new haircut.

For the next three years, I never once changed it. My buzz cut defined who I used to be, and this haircut represented the new me.

In the years and months after you develop a new style, it’s hard to go back.

Thinking about how you used to dress or how you used to do your hair seems wrong. You begin to question why you ever made those choices in the first place.

And that’s the depth I reached. After three years with my new hair, thinking about buzz cuts disgusted me.

Yet, I felt bored right before college ended. I spent three years redefining myself and creating a new persona. But… My new haircut came with drawbacks.

I had to wash my hair every morning to get rid of bed head. Hat hair became my enemy. And my haircuts were a lot more expensive at $30.

Then I remembered the buzz cuts I would always get as a kid. Nostalgic memories flooded my mind, and they convinced me to get a buzz cut again.

So, I made the impulsive decision to tell the barber to give me a “four on the top and a two on the sides.”

Bringing back the buzz cut made me happy. It gave me the flair and excitement I needed.

And the following Tuesday, I went to my class. Everyone glanced at me as I walked in.

I tried staying under the radar and went about my routine as usual.

There was one kid – whose name is a complete mystery to me – but I will never forget what he said that day…

He said in a hesitant voice, “Hey, I don’t want to judge, but... are you okay?”

Why wouldn’t I be okay? He confused me. Then I saw his eyes flicker towards my hair.

During that spring, many people were going through tough times mentally. Some people used their words to express how they felt. But some used their styles to relay that message.

I never considered how the sudden 360 in my appearance would affect the lens through which others see me.

It was easy for me to know that reviving the buzz cut brought me joy. But other people couldn’t read my mind.

My classmate was courageous to speak up like that.

Remember, how we style our hair and clothes defines who we are. Our styles tell a story. So, whenever we change our looks, we change the stories about how we feel.

It’s important to notice when people change their appearance because that indicates they’ve changed how they see themselves.

You can’t tell whether they see themselves in a brighter or dimmer light. But next time, if someone’s appearance tells a different story than usual, take notes from my classmate. Ask them how they are.

More times than not, they’ll be fine. But you never know when you’d be able to make someone’s day better by showing you care.