Short , Don’t Care: Silvia Dykstra’s Inspiring Reason Behind Cutting Her Hair

By: Achsah Henry

TAMPA, Fla. - In the summer before university, Silvia Dykstra found herself in the chair of a hair salon. Silvia made a decision many females fear and cut off her . It was an empowering moment for the then soon-to-be college freshman.

“I didn’t have any hair to hide behind,” Dykstra said. “So I was my true self for the first time in my life it felt.”

Growing up, Dykstra had beautiful long hair, but now the trendy fashionista sports a . She explains that her newfound love for short hair started as a way to prove to her male companions that females could be beautiful and feminine without long hair.

A Daily Mail poll survey done in 2008 found that, “Of all the a woman could flaunt – results showed an overwhelming 43 percent of men considered long, wavy locks to be the sexiest.” Clearly it is a common opinion amongst members of the male gender that females with longer hair are considered to be more attractive and feminine.

Dykstra shared that her male friends had spoken to her about their feelings toward women with longer hair, and they all agreed that a girl with longer hair was instinctually more attractive. She felt that cutting her hair was a way of empowering women everywhere.

The notion of longer hair being a symbol of beauty and femininity has been long instilled throughout the generations.

-more- Lucinda Ellery, a hair specialist, explained in a blog post for “Huffington Post Women” that, “History shows that hair is a symbol of femininity … during the Civil War era, when women weren’t allowed to battle, they’d cut off their locks to disguise their identities – and how, since Biblical times, women have viewed their hair as a ‘crowning glory.’”

Dykstra now maintains her short hair. She cuts her hair every two years, and explains that once it is manageable any length is fine with her. Through cutting her hair, Dykstra also finds satisfaction in donating her locks to young cancer patients enduring chemotherapy.

“Hair length and quality can act as a cue to a woman’s youth and health and, as such, signify reproductive potential,” revealed Hinsz, Matz and Patience in their 2001 study. This observation may also contribute to many of men’s innate reactions to longer hair being more desirable.

Dykstra has a love for fashion and style. She hopes that women can be inspired by her trendy short hairstyles and believes that long hair does not represent female attractiveness and beauty.

“I wanted to find a boyfriend and friends who appreciate me for my personality and character rather than looks,” Dykstra said. “I’m glad to say that I found them all.”

The drastic change in has not only changed Dykstra’s perception of hair and beauty, but it has also altered her peers’ perceptions, which was a goal she really wanted to achieve.

“I think my guy friends realized that women with short hair can be cute and girly,” Dykstra explained.

“I actually think it opened their eyes that hair, as well as overall looks, aren’t what girls should be judged on.”

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