Why women shave their heads

Written by Nia Harrison, photos by Sarah Nash.

Models: Greta Cross, Britney Spangenberg, Emma Wiltfong.

It is an emotional experience full of doubt, joy, and euphoria mixed with a bit of adrenaline. However, it can result in feelings of happiness, freedom, regret, and discomfort with a side of tears. These are just some of the rollercoasters of emotion women might face while shaving off their hair. 

For many women, cutting their hair is a huge deal whether they have done it or not. Some women go cold just at the thought of trimming their ends. Truthfully, it’s not an experience for everyone. Shaving one’s head holds a different meaning to everyone who has ever decided to say goodbye to hair. If you’ve ever wondered why a woman might cut her hair, Greta Cross, Britney Spangenberg, and Emma Wiltfong share their experiences of being women with shaved heads. 

Why do you shave your head? 

Greta Cross: “Honestly, it’s fun to have a shaved head. And, I wanted something different. Throughout high school, I would dye my hair and have different parts shaved. After having long hair for three or four years, it got boring again. Randomly before the semester started, I decided to shave it. I keep it shaved because I hate styling and dealing with hair. Plus, I'm not good at styling it. With short hair, there is no maintenance.”

Britney Spangenberg: “Originally, it was a bucket list item. I had never done it before, and I like short hair. My hair is curly, and it gets unmanageable, so I don't like the maintenance behind long hair. So, I just cut it. After I shaved it, I said to myself, ‘this is cute.' It just fits me. I decided that I like it, and I'm going to keep it. It's low maintenance, and it's a haircut that I can do myself. If I want longer hair, I'm just going to buy a wig.” 

Emma Wiltfong: “So I've been wanting to shave my head since high school. It was sort of a bucket list item. I just wanted to do it once. However, I knew that my mom wouldn't exactly approve. So I said, ‘Okay, when I get to college, I'm going to do it.’ It was last November, which is not necessarily an ideal time to shave, but my grandma had just died. I then decided I'm going to do it now. There’s no good time. I’m doing it.” 

What does it mean to you as a woman to have a shaved head?

Greta Cross: “This might be cliche, but it's super empowering to have a shaved head. It's becoming more mainstream for women to shave their heads, which is incredible. Women can feel comfortable. Women have high beauty standards, and a lot of them might feel like their hair defines them. That is not the case anymore. We’re learning that you can do whatever you want. Women can be happy and confident without having to fit into the normal standards that are placed on us.”

Britney Spangenberg: “I can do whatever I'm feeling no matter what other people say. Some people call me sir, and it's fine. I get it. I don't have too much of a deeper meaning to it. I just like it.”

Emma Wiltfong: “I keep it shaved because I like the way it feels. It is very aerodynamic. Also, I'm terrified of growing it out and going through all the awkward stages. But, I genuinely like the way I look with really short hair. As a woman with shaved hair, I like that it’s subverting the ideal of what a woman is, but you're still embracing femininity. You can look however you want and still be a woman.”

What would you tell someone debating shaving their head? 

Greta Cross: “Shave your head! I think it's such a rewarding experience. And if you don't like it, it'll grow back.”

Britney Spangenberg: “When you shave your head you can't just use one size guard the whole time. Also, it's not a good time when you're wearing glasses and you're trying to do it yourself.”

Emma Wiltfong: “If they haven't cut their hair yet, I'd say just do it. It's freeing. It might take a while to get used to it. Eventually, you’ll say, ‘this is how I look and I'm gonna rock it every day.’ Also, you don’t have to spend that much on shampoo, and you never have to brush it.” 

For women who have just shaved their hair, what is something you would tell them when it comes to adapting to the change?

Greta Cross: “When I was in high school, I would be misgendered, and that even still happens today. You have to be comfortable and know that that's a possibility. And that's going to happen and it's fine. People just don't know sometimes.”

Emma Wiltfong: “Going out into public with a shaved head as a woman the first time is scary. But in the end, you realize that no one cares. If they do, ignore them. They don't matter. They shouldn't be important to you if they care about the way you look.”

 A woman might physically be taking their hair away, but it only adds to their identity. The beautiful thing about cutting your hair is that only you can define what it means to you. The clippers or other people don’t define it. Rather it’s wanting drastic change or just out of boredom, women have many reasons for shaving their hair off. No matter if the reason is big or small, it is still important. Each reasoning is unique and personal to the person who does it.