This is a personal project that I photographed a couple months ago, documenting my girlfriend shaving her head for the first time. Hair had long been a symbol of her femininity and identity and as a queer person it felt very powerful for her to have the authority to cut it all off and start fresh without the societal implications that had always been associated with it. This felt particularly prominent alongside the pandemic, during forced isolation when I think everyone took the time to look at themselves without the gaze of those around them, but for who they actually wanted to be.

Do you see hair as a supporting role or a hurdle in your self-expression?
Iona: I think I used to see my hair as a hurdle in my self-expression. When I had long hair as a child, I saw it as something I didn’t have control over and something that made people see me as a feminine person. It felt more like an unwanted disguise that hid who I actually was. Now, my hair plays a supporting role in my self-expression and I use it as a way to explore how I see myself.

When I was younger, I had very long, thick hair that I was never allowed to cut. Everybody used to constantly comment on how beautiful they thought it was, how lucky I was. To them, I fit into their idea of what a girl should look like — whereas to me, it felt like a burden, because it didn’t represent me. When I first cut my hair short about five years ago, there was the expected reaction of devastation that I could have done such a thing, questions of “Are you doing ok?” The reality was, I was actually starting to feel more free.

What role has hair played in your femininity and queer identity specifically?
Iona: I think having short hair has allowed me to express my queerness much more openly. Now, every time I cut my hair, it feels like I’m reminding myself that it is important to look the way that’s comfortable to you, and not to let society’s ideas of gender and femininity dictate that for you.

Describe the feelings post buzz cut. What changed?
Iona: I immediately felt so much more confident and free once I buzzed my hair. My appearance now matches how I feel. I was proud of myself for just going for it and not letting the inevitability of peoples’ judgements stop me from doing something that was important to me. It reminded me how good it feels to do something just because you know it’s going to make you happy.