Do You Cut Your Hair When Stressed/triggered?

[Kas_Can_Fly]

So I saw in another thread and was surprised, I didn't want to take it of topic. When I'm in a really bad place or triggered, sometimes I feel the overwhelming urge to cut my hair, the urge to do this is much stronger when my hair is growing longer, I end up cutting it or buzzing it off with clippers (not bald, just short - I use an #8 and #12 clipper guard that gives a good pixie cut).

I don't feel that I do this as direct relation to a trauma or memory, or because I'm loosing it. I think it's probably that I feel an intense need for change and that cutting my hair is something I can do. Though I have noticed, I hate having long hair mostly because I don't think it suits me, but also it's a lot of work (my hair is incredibly thick) and I seem to strangle myself with it in my sleep. The only way I'd grow my hair out now is to get dreadlocks which I do really want, but I can't even grow it for that because I get antsy to cut it all off.

I was surprised to see that two other members mentioned they cut their hair (though I don't know to what degree) and I wondered if anyone else feels the need to cut their hair when triggered or coming out of a bad place and whether this is just metamorphic (needing change) or practical (needing a lower maintenance cut), or if some members have a negative feelings about having longer hair.

 

[rightkindofme]

Some religions believe that you store energy in your hair. Getting a big hair cut is a way of releasing things you no longer want to hold on to. :)

I've been giving myself stress haircuts for ... Almost twenty years now. I've shaved my head twice.

 

[Jane.l]

I used to cut, dye change my hair a lot and I think it was about reinventing myself - if I keep changing it keeps the hurt out - I think I am a bit more subtle nowadays - I haven't had electric blue hair for a long time! Hmmm maybe it's time for a change.

 

[rightkindofme]

My hair used to look like a box of crayons exploded out of my head. Sigh. Unfortunately the bleach killed my hair dead. Sad face.

 

[FindingMyself88]

I too cut my hair…and then I regret cutting it so short because I have nothing to "hide" behind. I use to dye it a lot as well, I still would if I could afford it! I am right now in the process of letting it grow out again. I cut it REALLY short last time. I want to let it get to a moderate length and see if I can control my impulses and keep it at a certain length.

interesting topic...

 

[Leigh925]

I think about it all the time when I am triggered. I also think it is about wanting to reinvent myself. I am more afraid of hating my decision when I am not triggered and having to live with it so I haven't done it...yet!

 

[Deleted member 20280]

I shave my head to a zero military grade as a form of self controlled srlf harm. I no longer cut myself and have been doing this for nearly 12 years now as a release of the urges to self harm.

Laurie

 

[KwanYingirl]

I had been changing up my hair constantly from age 18 to about 45. At 45 is when I had massive chemical exposure and my hair came out in clumps. It's been shitty ever since. I would grow it super long then impulsively have a buzz cut. Or color change. Always something. Remember perms way back when?

I remember once I had a buzz cut and was working at a little hospital. The orthopedic surgeon came into the office and said Jesus Christ are you getting chemo and I said as a matter of fact I am. Taught him not to insult me.

My fingernails have to be short. One of my abusers had long fingernails and he would dig them into me sometimes breaking the skin to threaten me not to tell anyone what "we" were doing. Never have had a manicure. Ever. I hate fingernails.

 

[Deleted member 27340]

I recently cut my hair impulsively, for the same reasons as people mention above. It was to my lower back and belly button, then I really put it all up in a rubber band on top of my head before cutting the ponytail off. After some more adjustments, the shortest strays ended at about 2cm and the longest at around 6-10cm. Now the shortest parts are about 5cm and the longest hangs on my shoulders.

I've also dyed it to make a change, and now I'm thinking of letting it grow out and dip dye to make changes, as that won't destroy ALL of it.

 

[blue-Ocean]

Not cut my hair in a long time, but at as a teen when things were going on abuse etc, this is my reason for PTSD I cut my hair for what felt for no reason. But of course there was a deep reason as I had lost my memory of the abuse but inside my heart had not forgot, I just hacked it off. I looked like a boy which pleased me as being a girl I was abused, so there is always a trigger to something like this. I feel its our way of taking control and cutting our hair is something we are in control of, not sure if I make sense but its my thoughts on it.

 

[The Albatross]

I used to do that. One time I had my hair cut like the girl from Drop Dead Fred when he cuts her hair (asymmetrical ). Then one day I talked to my mother on the phone and told her I freaked out and cut my hair again. She said she did too. When I saw her a couple days later we had the same hair cut. I started letting it grow out after that.

 

[NovemberStar]

I have and have kept doing so for the last 6 months.

My was long but I cut it really short 2 years ago - it gave me a real boost to be honest - very liberating.

Last December when I got some news that devastated me, I shaved my head down to a no 4. Then I shaved it to a no 3. I dyed it bright bright red. I gave myself a Mohawk. I dyed it plata I'm blonde. Until it started to fall out due to all the peroxide.

Now I've kept it shaved to a no 4

It's practical. And I just don't give a shit as to how it looks or if it isn't feminine.

I find it empowering actually - as a woman, it can be very freeing to deliberately break away from so called beauty standards of 'feminine'.

I guess for me, it came to symbolise COURAGE. Sending a signal out to the wider world - I have the courage to shave my head and keep it this way'. As well as a message if courage to myself of course.