In early 2023, I found myself back in the U.S. after a few years abroad, craving a fresh challenge and an exciting new experience. I’ve never considered myself a performer, but one fateful day, an ad caught my eye for a company that casts extras for television shows. Curiosity piqued, especially since this company worked on one of my all-time favorite series, I decided to throw caution to the wind and apply. Little did I know, this choice would lead to an unforgettable experience—and not all of it would be glamorous!

Fast forward to the fall, when I stumbled upon a casting call that I perfectly fit. With a mix of nerves and excitement, I sent in my details, only to receive the thrilling news that I had been cast as an extra! However, the notice also came with a caveat: a haircut was mandatory, a common requirement for those involved in the show set in a particular era. I shrugged it off as a minor inconvenience—after all, how bad could it be?

The first step was my costume fitting, which was a dream for a fashion-lover like me. Surrounded by quirky outfits and a vibrant team, I felt the anticipation build. A week later, I arrived for my hair appointment, confident and brimming with enthusiasm. The stylist before me left with a modest shoulder-length cut, and my hair was already styled and fresh from a recent appointment, so I thought I’d be in good hands.

As I walked into the salon, things took an unexpected turn. My stylist, a charming guy with a great sense of humor, took one look at my hair and exclaimed, “Thank God, this is something I can really do something with.” At the time, I took this as an encouraging sign. But in hindsight, it should've sent up huge red flags about what was to come.

After an initial snip of a few inches—manageable and liberating—I was ready for the transformation. Yet, as he kept cutting, my sense of delight turned into sheer horror. I glanced sideways to catch a glimpse of my reflection, and it hit me: the haircut was going from cute and chic to decidedly shocking. The razor came out, and soon enough I was watching my once-proud locks morph into an unrecognizable mullet-esque shag.

Stumbling out of the salon, I was in a daze. I had lost around five inches of hair, and instead of the stylish look I envisioned, I felt like a caricature of myself. The next week was a whirlwind of emotions: from embarrassment and sadness to questioning my self-worth, I struggled to reconcile this drastic change to my appearance. It was then that I realized how deeply intertwined my perception of femininity was with my hair and how easily my confidence had taken a hit.

My loving partner noticed my distress and came to the rescue with a cozy beanie, which quickly became my go-to accessory. Despite the initial devastation of my new haircut, I began to tweak my makeup and experiment with clothing, hoping to adjust my style to fit my unexpected new look. I even scoured Reddit, finding countless others who shared similar “bad haircut” stories. It was comforting to know I wasn’t alone in this hair-raising saga.

After two weeks of getting accustomed to my awkward haircut, I finally filmed my scenes for the show. The experience itself was exhilarating, filled with laughter and camaraderie that made the ordeal almost worthwhile. Yet, the very next day, I rushed back to my regular hairstylist to begin the long process of fixing the post-haircut chaos.

In the ensuing weeks, I’ve begun to embrace my new hair, albeit with a sense of caution. While I still grapple with my confidence, I’ve learned that the sum of my identity is not just rooted in my appearance but in my essence as a person. Each day is a step towards acceptance—both of my new style and the deeper understandings of my femininity.

Through this hair crisis, I found not only resilience but also gratitude for the lessons learned. Hair truly does grow back, and sometimes, the unexpected paths lead to the most profound self-discoveries. So here’s to embracing the twists and turns of life—one haircut at a time!