“The shaved head is truly a mysterious thing,” said Asher Wolfsmith, a fellow editor of the Pigeon Press. But how does this bare scalp, this canvas for a million assumptions, compare to the individualistic expression of long hair? The long locks of freedom worn by hippies, artists and rock stars encompasses a story of growth and change. Unlike a shaved head, long hair unlocks infinite possibilities for creative expression.
Wolfsmith believes that members of the Northwest Academy community should shave their heads because it’s hygienic, cathartic and aesthetically pleasing. Long hair does build up more grease and sweat and can feel gross. However, short hair discourages all other routine hygiene. There is no better feeling than clean and voluptuous hair falling on your shoulders after a hot shower, which will increase your desire to keep clean and shower more often.
As well as encouraging hygiene, long hair also reduces stress. Wolfsmith made the point that shaving your head is cathartic. But shaving your head is something you can rarely do. Meanwhile, styling and shaping your hair to perfection is equally stress-reducing. The difference is you can do it every morning!
Wolfsmith concluded that a mandate for every member of the Northwest Academy community to shave their heads is necessary. He believes this would provide unity and contribute to personal and communal aesthetics.
I instead propose the opposite: every member of the Northwest Academy community should be strongly encouraged, if not required, to grow out their hair to at least shoulder length. At any arts-focused school, an environment of creativity should be fostered. Long hair is the perfect way to strengthen the creativity of the students because of its versatility.
Thirty seconds with a razor ruin these opportunities for personalization. The shaved head only portrays a blank, unnatural and militant aesthetic. Do we really want to stare into the computer screen and see a class of shaved heads staring back at you? Diversity, expression and creativity will represent the community far more fully.
