I Am Not My Hair

It's been less than a week since I cut my hair and can I just say that I did not expect me to have such a huge reaction to my going bald??

I've always said that it's just hair and it will grow back...and if it doesn't, there's always wigs! I said this when I dyed my hair bright red. I said this when I shaved only the right side of my head (I was going for a Fantasia look...trust me, it was cute!). I said this Friday night before Tom shaved my head. However, there are a lot of people who don't feel that way. I've received mixed reviews (mostly negative) about my new 'do. An older gentleman at Verizon asked me if I was a model. He told me that he was happily married but wanted to let me know that I was an incredibly beautiful bald woman. A close friend gasped when they saw me and asked why I chose to cut my hair. They asked, "Did you do it so you could be the center of attention?" A co-worker described my look as "interesting" and stated that they couldn't wait until my hair grew back.

I'm pretty tough but I would be a liar if I said that peoples' comments didn't hurt my feelings a bit. It's hair...or lack thereof....it's not a huge deal...or at least, I didn't think it was.

I'm more than a Rihanna inspired 'do...more than a wig...more than extensions...more than a bald head...as India.Arie says, "I am not my hair. I am not this skin. I am not your expections, no."