new beginnings

I have had long hair for my entire life. In primary school it was down past my waist and I had a block fringe.

Before secondary school, I cut it off to just under my chest. That was very dramatic for me but I still had my long hair.

Year 9 I decided to grow out my fringe completely. This was the biggest change I made to my hair, ever. I had always had long shit and a block fringe but I needed a change.

I didn't change my hair again until very recently. Two weeks ago.

I decided to cut 27cm off my hair, leaving me with a shoulder-length cut. I donated my hair to the Little Princess Trust (an amazing charity that makes wigs for children who suffer from hair loss due to cancer, alopecia or any other disease that leads to that side effect). This was such a dramatic change. One day I woke up and thought, "I'm done!" - I was over long hair and I wanted it gone.

I was extremely nervous. My hair has always been a sort of safety blanket to me. It was everything I love about myself. So even though I wanted this change, I was scared to lose some of myself in getting rid of my hair.

I had been thinking about it and talking about it for months, slowly getting more excited about my new look. Then the time came for me to actually do it. There was a mixture of fear (what if it didn't suit me? What if I didn't look like myself?) and excitement as to what I would be able to do with my new hair.

The first plait came off and I felt my hair get lighter, and with it I felt lighter. I've been going through changes understanding my mental health and, to me, every cut represented another weight from my mental health lifting away. I know it doesn't fix anything but it gives me hope for a new chapter as I move into adulthood.

The first time I saw my hair I fell in love. It looked amazing, I really suited it and I was so happy that I found the courage within myself to take off my safety blanket and move into a new beginning.