Returning from winter break, something about the School was decidedly different. Gone were the luscious locks and carefully-maintained hairstyles of many classmates, and in were the buzz cuts, which trim the hair uniformly close to the scalp. The halls of Boston Latin School are now more reminiscent of a strict military academy than a vibrant public school. Such a transition ultimately undermines each person’s unique expression and identity.
For starters, buzz cuts are boring and merely an excuse to not take care of one’s hair. People have the privilege to express who they are based on their hairstyle. Students should not waste such a valuable opportunity by chopping almost all of it off. As Adriana Depina (IV) comments, a good haircut “accentuates the face card and can also be tied in with your personality.” Clearly, removing so much hair limits one’s sense of expression and individuality.
In fact, different hairstyles make different impressions on people. For instance, curly hair has been shown to signal creativity, while smooth hair and well-groomed hair can often signal a sense of control and precision. Buzz cuts, on the other hand, give the unpleasant impression of a rigid and uniform style, similar to that of a soldier. Such harsh, robotic imagery has no place in a school, which is not as restrictive as the military.
Considering the heavy connotations of a buzz cut, it is no surprise that many people can distinctly remember coming into school the day after getting one. Peers look up, whispering about the new look. Everyone is taken aback and almost do not recognize them. Cormac Ryan (IV) says, “It’s kind of weird. You see someone […] [with] all that hair. […] Then you see someone with no hair, and people [think] it’s a different person.” Such an audible reaction may be a sign that the decision to get a buzz cut is an unwise one.
There are, however, people who get buzz cuts because their old hairstyles were not working for them, or so that they may liberate themselves from the consumerism of the modern world. While maintaining hair is admittedly expensive and often time-consuming, the abundance of hair products, such as curling creams, hair masks, serums, treatments and leave-in conditioners guarantees that everyone has multiple ways to style their hair and express themselves as they wish. Such products could also help one’s hair become more desirable, instead of having to resort to a buzz cut as a way to “save” their look.
Getting a buzz cut to avoid regular maintenance of normal-length hair is not an effective solution. A buzz cut still requires care, which arguably may be even more demanding. Caleb Kohn (I) shares, “You have to buzz [your hair] at least once a month […] [which] can be potentially costly.”
Many students tend to get buzz cuts during winter break, but, ironically, buzz cuts are especially impractical for Boston’s cold winter months. BLS science teacher Mr. Michael Galego comments, “In the winter you lose a lot of heat through your head.” Hair helps keep humans insulated during the more frigid temperatures. By having a buzz cut during the freezing season, students lose the main source of insulation on their head.
So, do not get a buzz cut! They are unfashionable and hinder one’s expression of individualism. A buzz cut is also not more cost efficient, and coupled with the loss of freedom in styling that hair products provide, the decision to get a buzz cut is not a wise one. In fact, it may even be a danger to your health during this time of year.
So, what are you waiting for? Show off your luscious locks and be confident in your body in the new year!