Hair IS the Outfit
By: Claire Montague
I’ve been having a bad hair day for what feels like everyday the past month, and it makes me feel bored and uninspired when getting ready. This feeling is usually how I know I’m due for a haircut, so naturally I created a Pinterest board with different hairstyles I could try out. Every morning when I get dressed, I notice my outfit doesn’t reach its full potential solely because of my hair. This observation prompted my curiosity on the concept that is hair theory, and how the style and color of one's hair truly can change how they’re perceived.
Hair theory originated on TikTok in the spring of 2023, but is still relevant today. Recently, people online have been cropping their long locks to a classic bob, or going from dark hair, to a bleached blonde bombshell. Hair theory suggests the way a person wears their hair affects how they are perceived by others and their personal confidence. Hair is part of our identity; the experimentation with it allows us to express our personalities. The way our hair is cut or styled can show a transformation in the way we are feeling that day, or even in an era of our lives. With this, there are definite stereotypes attached to our hair colors. Blondes are said to ‘have more fun,’ brunettes are more ‘studious,’ those with black hair are more 'sophisticated,’ and redheads are ‘temperamental,’ these stereotypes influence the way people see each other. This could be why people feel the need to make a change every once in a while, so as to take control of their image and their identities.
With all of this in mind, it is not crazy to say that hair IS the outfit. For instance, think about how hair is perceived in movies. In the movie Marie Antoinette (2006), Kirsten Dunst’s, who plays this adaptation of Antoinette, hair continuously gets bigger and bigger. This shows her transformation in the social hierarchy and change of power. However, the volume of her hair also serves to emphasize the volume of her outfit. Think about it, imagine her big ruffled dress with a simple slick back bun. It doesn’t work the same as the tower of voluminous curls on her head.
The hair is vital to the outfit. In Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Audrey Hepburn's twisted updo elevates her already elegant pearls and black Givenchy dress. It’s just not the same without it. Within the fashion industry, backstage of every photoshoot or runway show, there are hair and makeup teams to help realize the aesthetic the designer created. For instance, for the Dolce & Gabbana SS 25 collection, all of the models wore blonde curly wigs with a simple black headband so the viewers could make a connection to the clothing being shown and Madonna’s iconic style in the 90s. The hair was essential for making this connection.
If I had my own personal hair-stylist when getting ready in the morning, maybe they could help me realize the full potential of my own personal aesthetic everyday, but that’s unrealistic. I am at a point in my life where I feel the need to make a change and I can’t think of a better way to do that than to get a new haircut. This will give me the opportunity to gain a new perspective on my identity, helping to elevate both my outfits and confidence. I am sure I am not alone in having this mindset; hair is an essential element to achieve confidence in our style and identity. One could say, the most versatile accessory.
