A few weeks ago I did something I have dreamed and talked about since I was in high school; I shaved my head. No, I didn't do it for the common reasons, instead, I did it for myself and my mental health.

Like I said I have dreamed of shaving my head since I was in high school. I had seen influential girls on Tumblr do it and I watched as they transformed into someone they loved and wanted to be.

I didn't believe doing such a thing could be so impactful, but to see others becoming their truest self-inspired me.
So why now? It wasn't just a whim. I needed an appearance change for an opportunity and felt like this might be my time to finally do something that has been on my mind for years.

At the time I had purple hair with part of my head shaved a look I truly loved and felt like myself in. I've always been a believer of inner beauty shining through to the out, but sometimes you need your outer beauty to reflect what is going on inside. The purple hair was great but it still wasn't who I was

When I heard I had to have a normal look I thought I would just grow out my shaved part and dye my hair blonde, but then it hit me why not start anew. Why not take the chance to look how I wanted the world to see me.

Unapologetically I went into my bathroom grabbed my shaver and after a few deep breaths began shaving my head. At first, it seemed really nerve-racking. But after a few long drags across my head I began to see something I hadn't seen in a while. I was smiling. I was genuinely happy with how I felt.

For once in my life, I can say that I am the happiest I have ever been inside and out. Did a simple haircut do that to me? I don't know but what I do know is that for the first time in my life I feel the most beautiful and confident I have ever felt.

I'm not hiding behind bangs that covered my face for years, I'm not distracting people with colorful hair, and I'm not doing things to fit in. I am living simply as myself. For once I understood why the other girls and did what is considered such an extreme.

Now I'm not saying everyone should go out and drastically change their appearance under to feel better. I have been working on my inner self for a year. Shaving my head was just the cherry on top of the happiness cake.

Does everyone understand why I did what I did? Absolutely not, but those who do thank me for my bravery. I tell them that this is not bravery just a young woman coming into her own.

So why share my story? Easy I wanted to empower other women to live to their fullest potential. To live unapologetically and be the person inside and out of what they want to see in the world that they live in. Be inspired and inspire others, my friends.