Hair Design, State of Mind

In the local Goth-punk scene here in Jacksonville, you're apt to find some of the most extreme fashions and hairstyles in the area. For people who are part of an extreme scene, a sign of dedication to the scene and the scene's aesthetic are more permanent modifications of the self, such as tattoos, hair and piercing.

Blue, magenta or cotton candy pink hair says to the world "I am not part of the corporate machine!" as do large gauge piercings. It might say so less loudly than it did ten or twenty years ago, when such a thing was less common and more socially risky, but the statement is still made with these choices.

"We live in a time that grants us a lot of permission to explore with our image," says Hair Peace stylist Bruce Musser.

Choosing a hair design is often a mix of what can be practically achieved on a daily basis and what you dream your hair can look like.

"A good relationship with a hair designer is a must. Bring to your designer clippings from magazines, or email an image to the salon in advance so that the designer can muse over and fully prepare to help you achieve that look," advises Musser, on where to begin when trying to find the perfect style.

But hair can be more than just looking beautiful. A change in hair color/cut can be transformative therapy because, unlike our clothes, we wake up with it and see it in the mirror. If, when you get your cut, you decide that it signifies something to you, whether it's a newfound independence or a just-discovered sense of spunkiness, you get a daily subconscious reminder that you've changed something about yourself. Those outer changes seep in and get us to be that different person we're wishing to be.

Nancy Baker, a stylist at Tania's Personal Hair Design, sees her hair designs as therapy that helps people deal with life changes. Says Baker "They come to you looking for answers...They like to look good and that makes them feel good...There are many people who come in that are going through something and they feel like if they sit in your chair, that it will change their outlook, and it really does."

Her sentiments are echoed by Musser, who explains the feelings behind the post-divorce 'do: "And yes, most women do want to go blonde after a divorce. It is an expression of independence. There is nothing more energizing than a makeover. After a makeover, you have the ability to shift a little bit, see and be seen in a new way."

The hair design you sport really can be a state of mind, helping you to express who you are, whether it's a new you or simply a bolder expression of yourself.