Thread by @monaeltahawy

Men and women of all social classes were wearing eyeliner as early as 6000 BC in Egypt. I buzzed my hair because I feel freer this way. And my eyeliner is more obvious 📷 @rerutled

The hieroglyphic term for makeup artist derives from the root “sesh,” which translates to write or engrave. As I hold that eyeliner brush, I feel like a calligrapher, writing a letter of love to myself

feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b…

I loved my red hair, which I had for eight years. But this buzzcut is a whole new level of power, that I write about here feministgiant.com/p/essay-the-ki…

For eight years, my hair was a bright, flaming red. I dyed it red to set fire to my rage, to mould it into what I needed in order to get to the core of my being. There, I found power.

When the pandemic started, the power that my crown of flames had once given me became moot.

What good was the power of a crown of flames, during a pandemic, when I am at home all the time, effectively hiding from a virus? What was my power without that fire? How do I signal power now?

From an early age, my hair has been the site of a dance between disobedience and independence. In the confines of lockdown, I learned to liberate myself from what had once given me power so that I could fashion anew my strength. I had to shave my hair off. feministgiant.com/p/essay-the-ki…

Thank you beloved @rerutled for the buzzcuts during this pandemic

The ancient Egyptian word for “makeup palette” derives from the word meaning “to protect.” My ancestors believed Kohl eyeliner protected them vs harsh sunlight or the Evil Eye; I believe the eyeliner I apply protects me with what I call Deliberate Beauty feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b…

Subscribe to FEMINIST GIANT for feminist essays - from buzzcuts to beating assaulters to saying fuck with the perfect eyeliner on 📷 @rerutled

feministgiant.com