As the lockdown continues, South Africans have been forced to find ways of emulating their lives pre-lockdown. This has put a lot of pressure on some as finding new ways to “become a better version of you” isn’t necessarily on their to-do list during this time.
Read more: three influencers who’ve braided their own hair during lockdown – and how you can too
For some people, cutting their hair has symbolised starting afresh or it’s a way to cut out the admin of styling their hair every day. DRUM spoke to three women to find out why they decided to make the big chop during this time.
è Silver
“The reason I cut my hair was due to anxiety and other mental-health issues. I have debilitating illnesses and honestly, having natural and extremely curly hair becomes difficult to maintain. I would go days with my hair not being moisturised and becoming matted and knotted because I was neglecting it. I ultimately decided to shave my hair because I have a series of surgeries coming up and it’s just easier for me to maintain short or no hair when I’m feeling at my worst. Anaesthetic has a tendency to dry out my hair, so I decided to just get rid of it before any problems arise. This is my clean slate and I’m looking forward to what’s going to come out of it.”
“I decided to chop my hair because I’ve always had Fomo (fear of missing out). I’ve seen so many girls cut their hair and love it so much. I’ve always wanted to, but I’ve always been scared. I actually realised that the best time to cut my hair was now during lockdown because I’m home and if I didn’t like it, it would be okay because nobody would see me as I would be at home.”
èdo
“Honestly, for me, I got flustered. I was already in a bad space mentally and when Cyril [Ramaphosa] announced the lockdown, I felt trapped and powerless. In that moment, my hair felt like a huge burden that I couldn’t bear. I felt this need to crawl out of my skin and rip my hair out in a frenzy. But I decided to get scissors and cut my 30-inch dreads off. I regret it deeply, but I think the regrowth of my hair is symbolic for the healing I’m doing and my rebirth.”
