When I was younger, I hated hair cuts. And like most young girls, I used to ‘desire’ long, straight, silky hair which equates to being good-looking, as shown on TV and media. I was pretty much raised in a conservative home and hairstyles was one of those things that I didn’t have much control over.

And that also probably shaped the way I think as an adult - in relation to a haircut. Coz’ I now get to decide how short or how long I want my hair to be!

While I don’t enjoy typical grooming activities like manicure, pedicure and massages, I always look forward to my haircut appointments. Interestingly, I also enjoy impromptu decisions to go for a haircut on a random day! Nonetheless, I’ll feel super down after a bad haircut too.

I reckoned it’s the feeling of being able to change something about myself and this ‘temporary permanence’ about it that I love. From trying out different hairstyles, hair colours and undercuts, I get to see myself and feel different from before I stepped into the hair salon.

This was one of the undercuts that I did from years ago. Really love it and you probably also need an experienced stylist to achieve this clean shave!

“Hair is an extension of our identity, how we see ourselves, and how we would like others to see us,” mental health counselor Danielle Forshee told Elite Daily. She added, “The decision to cut your hair during a transitional period, whether it be a positive or negative transition, symbolizes to the individual themselves a new start.”

To me, the significance of a haircut amounts to starting afresh and in fact it feels empowering.

It’s something that I can do on a regularly basis for a perk-me up, less damaging to my wallet (if I opted for just a cut) and health as compared to going on a diet, facial procedures or even surgery to change the way I look. It’s not that I don’t like the way I look but a haircut allows me to try out a different ‘visual’ version of me without the risks (coz’ hair grows).

Hair will grow. Feelings will go.

Like how I’d feel extremely lousy after a bad haircut, I know it’ll settle (after it’s grown out a little) and I’ll feel better about it after a week or so. I’ll likely whine with regrets of the haircut when I look at myself in the mirror and lament out loud. We can try doing that with our other feelings as well, instead of suppressing it or wishing it’ll go away. It takes time for the feelings to go away, just like it takes time for our hair to grow.

A new hairstyle can really change the way you feel.

Use it as a tool to change your mood and you’ll be amazed at how this simple transformation can do for yourself.

Is it time for a haircut? ;)