It May Be Time For You To Buzz Your Hair (There Are Some Major Benefits)

Buzzing your hair can be scary, especially for women who use their long locks as a security blanket — some even use them as a literal blanket, per Hair by L'Oréal. In many cases, women are afraid they won't be as attractive without their hair, which prevents them from taking the leap. It's a rational thought, but worrying about what other people think shouldn't stop you from buzzing your head. If you want to do it, you should! We only live one life, so why not try something different? There's no better time to step out of your comfort zone than right now.

There are actually several major benefits to shaving all of your hair off (besides looking like a total baddie). Reaching for that buzzer can benefit you both physically and mentally — it's just up to you to take the plunge. Seeing yourself without hair may seem shocking at first, but we promise it's worth it in the end.

One of the most obvious benefits of buzzing your hair is the lack of maintenance a shaved head requires. Think of how awesome it would be to wake up and not have to worry about washing or styling your hair — you're basically cutting your morning routine in half. Do everything else you normally do to get ready (skincare, makeup, deciding what to wear) and you're out the door! The only upkeep a buzz cut requires is a touch-up, but this will depend on how quickly your hair grows. Insider notes that the three-week mark is a good starting point.

There are no rules when it comes to caring for your shaved head, but it is worth noting the significant difference in maintenance between a buzz cut and a full head of hair. Obviously, you can use any hair care products you might need — such as hair gel or hairspray — if you have stubborn pieces that don't want to stay in place. You'll also want to care for your scalp, especially when it comes to spending time under the sun.

If you were blessed with strong facial features, such as a sharp jawline and cheekbones, you're an excellent candidate for buzzing your hair. By shaving your head, you'll significantly enhance those features with your hair's light and fuzzy texture, Bespoke Unit explains. It's very reminiscent of the standard military cut, which does the exact same thing for your face. Plus, your cheeks will look straighter and sharper, too — this means less need to contour (and that means saving money on unnecessary products). Talk about a win-win!

Diamond-shaped and square faces also do well with the buzz cut, as a shaved head highlights these facial features while also reducing some of their hardness. There are some face shapes that look less flattering with the shaved head, but are still able to pull off the look. However, if you have a rounder face, you may want to sit this one out.

It's a sad truth, but unfortunately, men aren't the only ones who have to worry about thinning hair and receding hairlines. In fact, 30% of all women deal with some sort of hair loss for one reason or another, according to Harvard Medical School. This is where buzzing your hair comes into play — if you don't have any hair, you don't have to worry about it thinning or falling out. The only thing you need to concern yourself with is how awesome you're going to look when you're done.

There's a major misconception about buzzing your hair, which is that doing so will make your hair grow back thicker and speed up the growth process. Shaving your head doesn't affect its thickness, nor does it make your hair grow longer or faster. With that said, if you're only shaving your head for these reasons alone, you may want to reconsider your decision.

While buzzing your hair doesn't do much for growth or thickness, it does help remove damaged locks. If you struggle with dead ends due to styling with hot tools or excessively coloring your hair, shaving your head may be the answer to your problems. For some of us, split ends are inevitable, even if you don't use heat on your hair, as Healthline explains. Believe it or not, being exposed to severe weather can cause serious damage to your hair.

If you're tired of staring at your fried, brittle hair every day, you might want to consider what buzzing it can do, especially if you intend to regrow it. At the end of the day, it's just hair — it will grow back, and this can give you a fresh, healthy start. If you really don't like it, you can always play around with wigs, which is a fun way to switch up your look.

Aside from physical benefits, buzzing your hair can do wonders for your mental health as well. Perhaps you have trauma associated with your long hair, and shaving it could free you from that particular pain. It's not uncommon for people to cut their hair during highly stressful situations, like the death of a loved one, a terrible breakup, or after surviving sexual assault, according to Quartz. If you've experienced any of the situations — or any other form of trauma — there's nothing wrong with buzzing your hair. Just keep in mind that there are also professional mental health resources available.

When it comes time for the big event, don't be afraid to reach out to your friends and family for support. Even if you aren't doing it to deal with trauma, shaving your head is a big deal and you don't have to go through it alone. This is an exciting moment and should be treated like one.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.