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Entity reports on the power of the buzz: the rise of women buzz cuts.

Since the beginning of human history, women’s hair has been weighed down not just with product, but with heaps of symbolism within society. From the Ancient Egyptians subjecting themselves beeswaxing off all the hair on their bodies to Zhou Dynasty teens advertising their marriage readiness through a hair pinning ceremony, women have been told for ages that their tresses are of the utmost importance. In 2016 there seems to be no less importance placed in how women choose to wear their hair. But in a time when conventional beauty standards are in the process of being tossed on their heads, people are starting to let their inner selves shine. One form of this self expression is the shaved head trend, which is moving to the front lines as a force to dismantle the pervasive idea that a woman’s worth is largely based on the length and style of her strands. For instance, shorn-headed breakout model Ruth Bell quickly shot to stardom last year when she presented her new buzz-cut on the runway. Instagram muses such as Alana Derksen and Braina Laviena are currently ascending through the ranks of social media to the height of the fashion industry. And of course there’s Amber Rose, with her iconic blonde buzz still standing strong as she continues to make waves by advocating for the end of slut-shaming in society.

Other women who have trail blazed this look over the past several decades include iconic UK star Grace Jones, 90s supermodel Alex Wek, and actress Lupita Nyong’o, who caught the spotlight after being featured for her incredible role in 12 Years a Slave. Women like these are the poster children for the slogan “short hair, don’t care”. And they definitely don’t care about your beauty ideals, society.

However, a lot of pressure to keep those tresses long are still being put upon girls throughout the world. If you ever go to your nearest shopping mall, you’ll pretty much be bombarded by hundreds of glowing images featuring women with silky manes falling to their waists. In fact, the current global haircare industry has been valued at a little over $82 billion. These companies definitely aren’t fans of girls diving for the clippers. Also, it doesn’t help that girls have been slapped in the face since forever with the gendered stereotype that men will think they’re undesirable if they choose to pixify their look, never mind being seen as unstable, dangerous, and sexless. Just look at the reaction poor Britney got back in 2007, oogled at by the masses for the supposed “breakdown” that led her to pick up the buzzer. However, Britney, along with other women like Charlize Theron, who played misogyny’s worst enemy as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, have used their hair (or rather lack thereof) to tell the world that they will not be forced into submission by something as stupid as the patriarchy. And while not every girl is out there rocking the shaved head look, more and more women are choosing to wear alternative forms of hair expression with pride.

Speaking out about the rise of shaved heads in the fashion industry, i-D- magazine cover star Ruth Bell recently stated that fashion is now interested in “girls with more character.” She continued to say that “Ideals of beauty are becoming more wide ranging and more accepting of those who didn’t fit the mould maybe a decade or so ago.” Other prominent models who have sided with Bell’s notion include Tamy Glauser and Kris Gottschalk, who also rock the shorn style. Indeed, many models are casting aside traditional concepts of femininity and as a result are seeing their careers skyrocket.

Recently starring in Dove’s “Love Your Hair” campaign, freelance beauty editor Sable Yong note that “As far as I’ve known, hair trends generally start from celebrity/editorial and trickle down. But considering that so much influence comes from social media, plus a much louder conversation about gender-fluidity all around, [that] basically offers a ton of good-looking people looking great with no hair.” Dove’s latest film loudly promotes the idea that women should wear their hair however the hell they want, no matter what stigmas and stereotypes try to tell them what looks are professionally appropriate, beautiful, and desirable. “Now that beauty trends have shifted to focus on the individual and celebrating uniqueness, I think women are more encouraged to make the bold move,” states Yong.. “The difference of perspective now from say 20 years ago is that you’re not necessarily losing anything but hair by shaving your head. It’s just another avenue for self-exploration and self-representation.” While the buzzcut and every other edgy look that’s hot in the industry right now may not stay so forever, what will remain is the lasting and positive effects that this hair revolution will have on the battle for women’s empowerment everywhere.

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