Welcome to Beauty School! Every Monday, JET experts will teach you how to preserve your sexy. This week, beauty expert and former pageant gal Nicole L. Townsend chats makeovers and their effects on significant others.
Like many women, I consider myself pretty lucky to have some of the most beautiful, independent, smart and adventurous girlfriends on the plant, but a recent conversation about certain hairstyle choices and lengths knocked me off my rocker a bit.
I was surprised to learn that a majority of my married or otherwise attached gal pals refrain from over-indulging in shorter length haircuts, coloring their hair or going completely natural and growing out their relaxers. So what’s with the conservative behavior?
Turns out, even though they’re holding the mirror, they actually see the reflections of their significant others saying that longer hair is better. Record scratch…
For starters, maybe I’m a little biased because as a single woman, I don’t march to anyone else’s beat except for my own, especially as it relates to how I look. Granted, I’ve been rocking my signature pixie haircut for as long as I can remember (hell, since I was in college). I even shaved all of my hair off just to make a point! Even still, when I had a boyfriend, I don’t ever recall relying on his permission to dye my hair purple if I so chose to.
Is it different for women who are married? Perhaps, but I’m not buying it.
Sure, I’d be lying if I said that in some cases, the opinions of others didn’t matter to me, but that’s not really the point here. The beauty business is subjective, ever-changing and dynamic even on its worst day, so the need for the stamp of approval is beyond me.
What is it about shorter hair that turns men off? Why not rock an afro (or puff) the size of Kanye’s ego? Who’s to say that dreadlocks, weaves, mullets or any other protective style somehow takes away from the femininity of a woman? Some of the ladies even mentioned that she couldn’t recall any men of color who preferred a woman with a short ‘do. Say what? Where in the world have I been, or did this, “My husband/boyfriend would kill me if I cut or colored my hair” approach always exist?
Thing is, I’m the queen of makeovers, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been an advocate of women having the right to express themselves in whatever creative form they chose. Yes, we all want to put forth our best selves for the ones we love, but when I pick up a mirror, the opinion of the person staring back at me is what matters most.
I’d love to hear from you! Do you feel obligated or pressured to consult with your significant other about hairstyle choices or other beauty regimens?
