Hair cutting, specifically self-harm through cutting one's own hair, has been observed in some individuals with depression. It is important to note that not everyone who cuts their hair is experiencing depression, but it can be a potential sign or coping mechanism for some individuals.
Cutting your hair isn't the best coping mechanism, but Hughes shares that it's not all that bad. “I think changing hair in response to a breakup can be a healthy distraction. I believe any change in small doses can be a positive thing and helps us play a little and switch up our mundane day-to-day look.”
Cutting off one's hair is subconsciously a symbolic attempt to take control of one's thinking and make a change.
The emotional shedding process
A breakup or other traumatic experience are common times for us women to cut their hair as we see it is the one thing we can take immediate control of; we all know it is often a struggle to adjust our feelings and move on right away.
In times of distress, we may seek different means of escape, such as a major haircut, instead of recognizing how making a drastic, and possibly regrettable, change to our appearance will only give us a fleeting sense of agency, argues Newman.
Hair holds emotional weight and memories, so much so that cutting it off can be a form of letting go of those memories that hold trauma, and a tool of empowerment.
"to cut" or to "change something", makes them feel brand new or a brand new person. wanting to change something in the present, like for example they are undergoing a depression, they feel the need for a change. cutting the hair gives them the feeling of being free, feels like freedom.
Janeese Castelar says she feels more powerful since shaving her head herself. Whether triggered by a sense of play, a need for security, or a desire to break up the monotony of life at home, cutting our own hair is, at its core, a form of self-expression that can signal an emotional release.
Trichotemnomania: obsessive-compulsive habit of cutting or shaving the hair.
“It's likely we are hardwired to feel emotionally connected to our hair,” says psychologist Vivian Diller, PhD. “We've associated it with status, wealth, and royalty since ancient times. Thick, rich hair has always meant health, sensuality, and youth, so it continues to mean that to women today.”
For someone with bipolar, depression may become so intense that the sufferer is willing to inflict self-harm in order to escape or relieve his emotions. These self-mutilating acts (cutting, hair pulling, excessive scratching or head-banging) are dangerous in the moment and can leave lasting emotional scars.
feel isolated — disinterested in the company of family and friends, or withdrawing from usual daily activities. feel overwhelmed — unable to concentrate or make decisions. be moody — feeling low or depression; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying.
“A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” Coco Chanel wisely uttered this quote, as she knew the power of a good haircut. That power she referred to is the confidence and sharpness of a new look and feel. It has become synonymous with breakups, new beginnings and the transformative power of change.
“Tonsurephobia is the fear of getting a haircut. This something Samson had, for sure, but it is also something to a lesser extent some men fear when they enter a barber shop. This anxiety is increasingly the case when you get a little older.
Aside from being left with a bad haircut, a do-it-yourself approach can lead to a mane that's more messed up than you might have thought possible. Sure, you could be left with a lopsided cut, but—even worse—one slip of the hand, and you may be missing a chunk of hair where you didn't plan for it to go missing.
A haircut can really be a morale booster. People who feel like they look good simply radiate positive energy. Consider how you might feel when you've got an uncomfortable mess on your head. It's no wonder that hair cuts can be a big deal in dictating how you feel.
Studies have shown that cutting one's hair (especially when going through a traumatic life change, such as a breakup) can provide a sense of control and emotional release. Changing one's hairstyle can also be a powerful tool in helping redefine or solidify one's identity. Even a simple trim has mental health benefits.
What is trichotillomania? Trichotillomania (often abbreviated as TTM) is a mental health disorder where a person compulsively pulls out or breaks their own hair. This condition falls under the classification of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Trichotillomania is on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, which means that it shares many symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), such as compulsive counting, checking, or washing.
Most of the time, hating your hair comes down to a bigger issue. Stress, tiredness and anxiety can all lead us to take out frustrations on how we look. Try to find some zen and then re-address your hair woes.
Getting a major haircut is a significant change in your appearance. This makes the person getting change both more sensitive and more emotional. Most people getting such a change have an idea of how they will look. Unfortunately, their idea often doesn't match the reality.
Asymmetrical hair styles shows a woman as being more fun, adventurous and a go-getter like someone with a blunt cut. The blunt cuts show a person who is direct and to the point, not a time waster. Those who choose bald or shaved heads are romantics. The choice of color also speaks about your personality.
It is symbolic of letting go of the past, getting out of our hair whatever has been troubling us, cutting old ties and lightening the load to go forwards into a new future.” She adds: “This doesn't mean that having long hair ties us into old tradition, however.
Showering and brushing your teeth or hair can all be tough tasks if you have depression. If you have major depression, sometimes even the smallest of hygiene tasks may feel insurmountable. Simply taking a shower or brushing your teeth can feel like they require a deep strength from within that you just don't have.
"Someone who is constantly changing her hair is either a natural chameleon whose aesthetic tends to run parallel to her moods, or she's searching for something and changing her look fills that need," says Jason Low, stylist at the Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon's in New York and Los Angeles.