My hair has been one of my main forms of self-expression since I was young. Whether I cut it or dyed it, I was never policed by my parents on what I could do. I’ve gone pink, blonde, black and a lot of colors in between too, but this year I decided to start completely new and shave my head.

This huge change in appearance is something I’ve wanted to do for a couple of years but always backed out of. The thing that always stood in my way was the way others would see me. I questioned if I would still be pretty to other people or if I would still look feminine without hair.

As a senior in high school, I’ve come to a point where I value my peers, but I’ve realized that their opinions about me do not shape who I am. I decided that the only thing that mattered was if I wanted to cut my hair or not and I wanted to.

The women I know that have shaved their heads have expressed to me that the process can be very emotional. I think a lot of women feel a connection between their hair and beauty and cutting that tie is hard for some people. For me, it was completely different. I was watching my hair fall onto the ground and it was as if I was completely disconnected from it the moment it came off.

The most bizarre part for me was the way it felt. There’s a weightless aspect that I’ve never felt before and it makes me feel powerful. It’s extremely freeing for me now, I don’t have to worry about doing my hair in the morning or the physical weight on my head anymore. My face isn’t hidden by anything anymore and it gives me confidence in not only my appearance but my choices and actions as well.

Beauty is internal as much as it is external and I’ve learned that hair does not impact who I am.