Thread by @monaeltahawy

I told @rerutled that once my red hair colour fades, I’ll cut it all off. Buzzcut!

I dyed my hair red to say “fuck you, I survived” to the #Egyptian regime after its riot police attacked me.

My colourist & I want to survive #COVID19 and won’t be meeting again for a while.

"I responded by reclaiming ownership of my body...dyeing my hair red...getting tattoos...I own this body, and fuck you...You didn’t kill me."
theliftedbrow.com/liftedbrow/201…

I don’t know how long I’ll wait before I get that buzzcut. I’ve had bright red hair for 8 years now. It’s become such an integral part of who I am. Friends can find me easily when we arrange to meet and it’s a trigger for trolls.

The day I cut it all off will be fucking gutting.

I know that not being able to get my roots done or freshening my red is not at the top of the list of concerns as I try to navigate the uncertainty of the weeks ahead.

Surviving a regime’s brutality was one thing. I was lucky.

I would like to survive this pandemic.

#COVID19

This was taken soon after I survived that attack by #Egyptian riot police and shortly before I went red. I went red for defiance. I will find other ways to defy #COVID.
📷 Peter Hapak for TIME