It's often said that people in society wear metaphorical masks to hide their true selves from the real world. These masks hide the parts of ourself that we don't think are worthy or acceptable. Of course, they're not real masks. I'm not talking about painting on a clown face, or throwing on a Venetian mask. It's just putting on a different persona, something a little bit different. It's because we're afraid of showing our true selves, just in case somebody doesn't like what they see.
I've got a whole bunch of masks, in the metaphorical sense. But i've got a physical one too.
I've spent the last two weeks with straight hair. That may not sound like much, but when i straighten my hair, i look completely different. People don't recognise me, or they double-take when i walk into a room. I'm no longer the girl with the big, curly hair, that bounces all over the place and is never controlled. Now, i look serious, sleek and sensible. I have the kind of hair that people have in adverts or the movies; all long, and shiny and 'cool' looking. It's a stark comparison between the two.
It's not just a physical change. The straight-haired me has a personality to match. She's pretty subdued, and she has a handle on things. She's in control. Curly-haired me is a little bit nutsy, a little bit out of control, a little bit silly. Maybe other people notice the difference, i'm not sure. But i certainly do. I straighten my hair when i want to be that first person; someone different that nobody knows. People don't seem to be inclined to laugh at me as much, because i fit a societal norm. Straight edges, conformed, people tell me it looks 'pretty' and that i should do it more often. I wonder if people like the hair, or the personality that goes with it.
My hair's been straight for two weeks. I'm going curly again on the weekend. My curly-haired self is who i truly am. Straight-haired me is just a mask. One that i like to use when i really need to be someone different for awhile. I've not had it straight for so long in years, and it's almost a struggle to go curly again this weekend. It's easier being straight. But i have to go back to being 'me' eventually, and the longer i put it off, the harder it will be.
I've got a whole bunch of masks, in the metaphorical sense. But i've got a physical one too.
I've spent the last two weeks with straight hair. That may not sound like much, but when i straighten my hair, i look completely different. People don't recognise me, or they double-take when i walk into a room. I'm no longer the girl with the big, curly hair, that bounces all over the place and is never controlled. Now, i look serious, sleek and sensible. I have the kind of hair that people have in adverts or the movies; all long, and shiny and 'cool' looking. It's a stark comparison between the two.
It's not just a physical change. The straight-haired me has a personality to match. She's pretty subdued, and she has a handle on things. She's in control. Curly-haired me is a little bit nutsy, a little bit out of control, a little bit silly. Maybe other people notice the difference, i'm not sure. But i certainly do. I straighten my hair when i want to be that first person; someone different that nobody knows. People don't seem to be inclined to laugh at me as much, because i fit a societal norm. Straight edges, conformed, people tell me it looks 'pretty' and that i should do it more often. I wonder if people like the hair, or the personality that goes with it.
My hair's been straight for two weeks. I'm going curly again on the weekend. My curly-haired self is who i truly am. Straight-haired me is just a mask. One that i like to use when i really need to be someone different for awhile. I've not had it straight for so long in years, and it's almost a struggle to go curly again this weekend. It's easier being straight. But i have to go back to being 'me' eventually, and the longer i put it off, the harder it will be.
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