Throughout high school, I shamelessly dyed and bleached my hair more often than I completed homework. I assumed my hair was positively bulletproof; no developer was too strong, no amount of powder bleach in the mixing bowl was enough, and adverse reactions to box dye were nonexistent. Unfortunately, the popular saying about assumptions and what they make out of you is true, as halfway through my junior year, my hair melted. Trimming does nothing when every strand is dead to the root, so, shortly after graduation, I opted for a pixie cut. Since then, my hair had grown out, and I recently had it chopped off a second time. Below are statements girls with short hair are absolutely exhausted of hearing.

1. "So... are you gay or something?"

I know, I know, flannel and short hair obviously means I'm a lesbian - except for, y'know, when it doesn't. Surprisingly enough, I just enjoy having short hair; who I'm in to has absolutely no connection to the mop atop my head.

2. "You look like a boy."

Pizza rolls, not gender roles, folks! Women can have short hair and still be feminine, just as men can have longer hair and still be masculine. Hair length is only a portion of gender expression, not the entire definition of who you identify as!

3. "You know, I don't usually like girls with short hair, but..."

This is the equivalent of saying, "I didn't find you conventionally attractive at first but I'm willing to try and see how far I can get anyway." It isn't flattering, please don't use it!

4. "When are you growing it out again?"

Some girls have short hair because they like it! Not every pixie came about through botched dye or bleach, so the goal may not be to grow it. You're allowed to have short hair "just because," and you're allowed to enjoy it!

5. "Oh, you're just like Britney Spears!"

First of all, leave Britney alone. Second of all, stop while you're ahead because that's a bogus comparison that holds absolutely no relevance to why I happily got my hair chopped off.

6. "Is your boyfriend okay with that?"

See also: "You know boys don't like short hair, right?" My hair, my rules. I was not constructed for anybody to gawk over the length of my locks, nor am I trying to impress anybody with my curls.

7. "That ACTUALLY looks good!"

Thank you, I think? I wasn't aware you figured it would look like garbage so, I appreciate the backhanded compliment.

8. "Why did you do that!"

Because I wanted to? Because my hair was crispy and I wanted a second chance? Because I think it's cute? Because I wanted to try something new? Need I go on?

9. "Can I touch it?"

Believe it or not, it took a lot of time and products to style this mess. If you destroy it, we will have a problem. Also, do I know you?

10. "I wish I had the confidence to do that."

But sis, you do! The only reason I am personally tired of hearing this, is that excessive confidence isn't required to take the chop. You'd be surprised at how much confidence you actually gain from ridding yourself of the "hair shield" you were once accustomed to hiding behind. Go for it!