During lockdown, what's driving our relentless hair checks in the mirror? That frantic passion for perfection amid confinement—cursing at usually friendly reflections—needs a reality check. We can't keep attacking our strands like this. If Jacques Dessange popularized the tousled look, it's time for us to innovate with effortlessly chic disheveled styles.
Can you feel mentally sharp without looking the part up top? As Nicolas Pinon, doctor of psychological sciences, told Belgian site dhnet.be: "It's very likely because it helps forge our self-esteem—the set of judgments we make about ourselves, about our value, to hold a positive self-view. It involves both being and appearance. Hair, which defines the individual, plays a key role."
He expands on the "tyranny of images" gripping us: "Today almost everyone has a 'digital self'—a screen identity boosted by filters (Snapchat and beyond), erasing flaws to project an idealized image some grow addicted to."
This appearance addiction ties to our social nature: "Behind it all is the idea that we are social beings who need others to give meaning to our lives, actions, and identity. Some are more sensitive to this social validation."
And those unbothered by messy hair? "Probably because they built their 'narcissism' on other pillars (intelligence, wealth, humor…). Yet everyone works to sustain self-esteem, avoiding narcissistic collapse and negative emotions like sadness." During confinement, try a pretty disheveled bun—sexy without trying too hard.
