The Ideal and Reality of a Buzz-Cut Woman. Fulfilling a Long-Held 'I Want to Try That'.

A woman with a buzz cut. It is an unknown world. A presence that makes you turn your head.

Have you ever thought, 'Maybe I should buzz my hair?' I’ve had that thought cross my mind about once a year.

Short hair seems to be trending lately. I feel like buzz cuts for women—or 'buzz-cut women'—are gaining social acceptance. I see quite a few celebrities with buzz cuts. To name a few famous ones, Demi Moore (is that a bit old?) or Natalie Portman.

However, even though the number of women with buzz cuts is increasing, it still catches your eye when you actually see one, doesn't it? Don't you find yourself wondering, 'Why?' That’s how impactful that hairstyle is.

The time was September 2021, and Australia was in the middle of yet another lockdown in various regions. In an era where you couldn't walk outside freely, it’s only natural to want to do something impulsive.

This note is a record of the changes in the heart and body of a woman in her late 30s who shaved off all her shoulder-length hair to get a buzz cut. Can I become a Japanese-style Portman!?

What I prepared

• Hair clippers ← My husband's personal property

• Sharp scissors

• Newspaper ← To spread on the floor

• A spirit of challenge (a little bit)

That's it!

The road to the decision

Since this was a project years in the making, I remember asking various people what they thought. Below, the text in parentheses is my inner voice.

① I tell my husband, 'I want to try a buzz cut.'
I get the reaction, 'Why not?'
(But still... my husband isn't exactly normal.) ← Very rude of me. lol
　　⬇︎
② I tell a friend.
They are surprised, but I don't get a very bad reaction.
(Oh!? Is the reaction better than expected? Is it okay to do it?) ← It's not that I care what a friend says, but a girl's heart is still curious.
　　⬇︎
③ I talk to an acquaintance (a woman) who actually got a buzz cut.
(Does it seem surprisingly easy? Should I really do it? Ah, but she's Australian, so she looks cool with a buzz cut. I wonder how it would look on an Asian face.)
　　⬇︎
④ I Google Japanese people who have had buzz cuts.
(Hmm, it's not that bad, but I wonder if it only looks good if you're as beautiful as a celebrity. I can't really imagine the 'After'.)

※ About three years passed from the time I first thought of it until now.
　　⬇︎
⑤ A certain day in September 2021. During lockdown.
I mention it to my teacher during an online Pilates lesson. 'Oh, I hear a lot of people are getting buzz cuts lately. Why not? Just go for it,' she encourages me.
(Alright! Just do it! I'm not going out anyway, and I can't go to the salon. It's overgrown, and it's annoying when I sweat.)
　　⬇︎
⑥I head to the sink with the clippers in hand.

Finally, the day of destiny

I hold the scissors in my hand for a few minutes. Take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale.

Alright! I psyched myself up and put the scissors to my hair.

Snip.

Hair fell onto the newspaper with a soft patter. For now, I just kept cutting away without thinking about anything.

A few minutes later, once I had a choppy, uneven head of hair, it was finally time for the star of the show to make an appearance.

When I flipped the switch, the clippers started moving with a buzzing sound. Trembling slightly, I brought them to my head.

Bzzzzzzzt!

Oh no... I've done it now.

My head looked strange, with short, spiky patches standing out. That was when the regret finally hit me. But there was no turning back now.

All that was left was to just keep it short. I ran the clippers over my head with a sense of desperation.

I desperately cut—or rather, mowed—the back while checking it with a hand mirror and my smartphone camera. I stretched my arms from above and below, shortening the whole thing.

I kept moving my hands as if possessed, looking like someone who could never be seen by anyone else. Is that the sound of a lawnmower ringing in my ears? I started to lose track of whether it was hair or grass being mowed.

After about 30 minutes of total immersion, just as I started to break into a sweat despite it being winter, I somehow finished...

I let out a sigh of relief and looked in the mirror again. And what was reflected there was absolutely not a Japanese-style Natalie Portman.

I was Katsuo Isono. Ding.

Impact on Daily Life / Reactions from Others

During lockdown, I went for my one hour of exercise a day. When I walked down the street, I definitely got some double-takes (I think?). Lol

Since I'm in Australia, I thought people wouldn't really care, but maybe I was the one being self-conscious about other people's gazes.

Well, my work is online anyway. My dress code is flexible. Whether I have a buzz cut or whatever, if I don't want to be seen, I can just wear a beanie.

By the way, when I was in Japan, I was a teacher, so I disciplined myself to keep a neat appearance. Thinking back on those days, it's no problem at all.

As for the reactions of my husband and children? My husband was, of course, in favor of it from the start. My older child said "Wow!" and seemed to take it positively. My younger child gave me a "Who is this person?" look and then didn't react at all. Well, they got used to it quickly, though.

That's just how it is. Lol

Why a buzz cut in the first place?

Since I got the buzz cut, every time I meet someone, they ask me how it happened. Yeah, it's curious, isn't it? I'd be curious too.

There are three reasons why I decided to get a buzz cut.

A familiar presence

One is my husband. When his hair gets long, he just shaves it all off with clippers—no hair salon needed. Watching that, I thought it looked easy. I was envious that he didn't have to go to the hairdresser.

A few years ago, he got cancer. Because of the treatment, he lost his hair and became skin-headed. Seeing that, I thought, "Oh, maybe I should try a buzz cut too." Maybe I wanted to show my support. Like, "You're not alone."

Well, at the time, I was just trying to keep my head above water every day, so I didn't put it into action (don't worry, his treatment is over now and he's doing well).

Longing

Since then, I started noticing women with buzz cuts. While it's normal for men, it draws attention when a woman does it. The second reason was that I felt a sense of admiration for their dignified appearance, which seemed unbothered by the eyes of those around them.

I originally had short hair until I was about middle school age. But I had a complex about my short, wavy hair. I hated how it would puff up and spread out whenever it was humid.

Once I reached high school, I used straight perms and hair straightening treatments to keep my hair long and black. I hadn't even considered having short hair for years.

But long hair is such a hassle to take care of, isn't it? It takes forever to dry after washing. My kids are small, so they pull on it. It gets caught on everything. And if there's hair on the floor, it's usually mine.

Taking care of it is such a pain!

I want to build confidence.

The third reason was that I kept saying 'I want to buzz my hair' but never actually did it. Was I just all talk because I lacked confidence? I was fed up with myself for that.

I kept telling myself, 'Just do it already, for goodness' sake.' Haha.

When I was in Japan, I was bound by 'what's right' and common sense, so I never had the experience of doing anything bold. I was a 'good girl' who listened to my parents and those around me, so I didn't really have a rebellious phase.

After coming to Australia, I gradually shed my shell. I slowly became able to accept my flaws (or what I thought were flaws). I also found a community that accepts me for who I am.

Maybe that's why. I became curious: what kind of scenery lies beyond doing something that would make people go, 'Wait, what?'

The Scenery After a Buzz Cut

What I saw and felt after buzzing my hair was surprisingly positive.

What I Gained

• Time

• Self-affirmation and confidence

• An awakening to fashion

• New earrings

When you have a buzz cut, your head dries quickly after washing. You only need a little shampoo, so it saves time and money. For the first few months, it was very easy because I didn't need to style it in the morning. That was only during the super-short phase where it had no choice but to grow straight, though. Now that it has some length, it's a total 'bomber' every morning.

It is true that my self-esteem has gone up. Like the comments in the VOGUE article, I gained confidence because my unruly, annoying hair was gone (even if just for a little while).

And above all, the fact that I “took action.” It makes me feel like, “Hey, I’m pretty capable!”

That said, the feminine part I used to cover with my hair is gone. If I stay like this, I really look like Katsuo-kun. So, I want to decorate my ears (in my own opinion).

Also, since becoming a mother, I’ve started paying more attention to my appearance than ever before. That’s actually quite fun.

Things I let go of

• Hair ← Obviously, haha.

• Clothes

It turns out there are clothes that don't suit you when you have a buzz cut. Black and gray have disappeared from my wardrobe, and colorful items have increased. Also, white shirts.

Things I couldn't let go of / Things that increased

• How I am perceived by others.

• Knit hats

• Instagram accounts I follow

Although I aimed to be a dignified woman who doesn't care about what others think, I still worry about the reactions of those around me.

I was only able to go out with my head exposed a few times. It was winter and cold back then, but I wore a knit hat the whole time I had the Katsuo-kun hairstyle. Even inside the house.

I think I made an effort to let go of my need for approval by occasionally taking off my hat to take selfies or showing it to people. By the way, showing it to my mother was the most nerve-wracking part.

To “brainwash” myself into thinking that short hair and buzz-cut girls are cool too, I searched for “short hair,” “buzzcut,” and “bouzu joshi” (buzz-cut girl) on Instagram. I started following accounts that caught my eye. I also use them for hair and fashion inspiration.

By the way, a super short haircut is sometimes called a "pixie cut."

The name comes from a fairy called a pixie.

And now to the present

With all that said, it's been almost a year since I buzzed my hair.

I can't believe a whole year has already passed. I'm currently enjoying this new version of myself.

My hair grew past the Katsuo style and started getting longer. I've dyed it pink, swapped out hats and outfits, and even got new piercings.

Lately, it's more black than just roots. It's about time I added some color. Once it grows out a bit more, an asymmetrical short cut like this might be nice.

If asked if I'd do it again? Hmm... I think I'm good for now.

Unless I feel like I really need a major change, I'm quite fond of myself with short hair. For now, I'm going to have as much fun with my hair as I can!

But I did something I had always wanted to do. It became a discovery of a new me and a funny story to tell.

And that's that.