The battleground for your own identity is a topic that’s familiar to anyone who’s outside the social norm. Specifically, hair is such a large part of the traditional gendering of the body, that it’s near impossible to divorce it from LBGTQ+ identities.
As one of the most immediately visible features we have, it’s long been a way for both trans and queer people to stake a claim in their own identity and flip expectations regarding who they are. Through that sense of expression, finding a haircut that you can safely wear and enjoy has become a moment of self-liberation for many in the community.
Flipping the script
This isn’t to say everyone in the LGBTQ+ community needs to immediately embrace an unorthodox hairstyle, nor can you safely assume everyone with a slightly daring cut is out to subvert sexual stereotypes. Sometimes we just wear what we like. Yet a cornerstone of subversion isn’t always rejecting the established; sometimes it’s just about staking a claim to who you are. Hair grows quickly, and can be styled in a near-infinite range of ways. A great haircut can give you the confidence you need to get by in a world that feels like it doesn’t accept you.
A tool for self-discovery
There’s little surprise that the LGBTQ+ community would turn to hair to express themselves. You can play, embrace freedom, and celebrate yourself and your queerness. In the days (and places) where positive representations of LGBTQ+ were scarce, it could also be a way to queer-code yourself without necessarily inviting danger and social discrimination to your doorstep.
There’s a reason hair has been a tool for self-discovery for many communities through the years. From finding pleasing aesthetics to affirming to ourselves what we know to be true, hair is the one battleground we all share. Even among heterosexual communities, we turn to haircuts as a way to free ourselves from the past or announce major life milestones, whether it’s sculpting a colorful mohawk or growing a beard to stand out from the crowd. Your hair can make you feel a sense of individuality, or indicate that you’re part of a team, and everyone deserves the right haircut for them. At salons like Therapy Hair Studio, you can find the cut that validates your identity, which can be a cornerstone to feeling comfortable within your body and life.
Whether you wear your hair as a means to express your gender identity or make a statement in the boardroom, your personal style has a great deal of power. Your hair isn’t just part of who you are; it’s a key component of presenting yourself to the world, whether it accepts you as who you are or not. Whether it’s self discovery, fun, or a key part of who you are, embrace the hair you wear.
Life’s too short for a boring haircut, and it’s time to let your inner diva shine- whatever that means to you.
