The Short Hair Club
I guess I'm an official member now
On March 18, I had my hairdresser chop off 5 inches of my hair.
This was the day after I had filmed a video revisiting 10 journals from the past decade or so, and that same day, I burst out crying at breakfast after watching this short film that my brother had shown me (prepare tissues):
You’d think, omg Abbey you’re so dramatic!
But okay, yes, but also, let me explain.
The last time I had my hair this short was after my breakup in 2023, and then I never bothered to care about what my hair looked like (it was a shitty year, to say the least).
In a way, I wanted to keep my long hair because (1) everyone knows I look like that and (2) I could hide my big face into my thick, long, dark hair.
This time though, I didn’t really have a goal in mind when I chopped it off. I had intended to have it chopped to shoulder length; somehow my stylist just said okay, let’s cut it short. Bye, hair!
Weirdly, I don’t hate it. Surprisingly, it doesn’t bother me how huge my face looks or that I can see my shoulders now. Plus, I love how much shampoo and water I save now that I only need a tiny pump every wash.
In my mind, joining the Short Hair Club™ means standing alongside these iconic women who I love and admire on the small screen. Let me introduce you to them (and some of my favorite series of all time).
Fleabag of Fleabag
We cannot talk about hair without talking about the iconic scene in Fleabag where her sister chops off a chunk of her hair (it’s French) looking like a pencil ✏️
Kidding aside, this show is one of my top 3 favorites1 and follows Fleabag (she does not have a name) as she navigates grief, love, relationships, and being a woman. Walk through the first season, stay for the second. Thank me later.
(Okay, fine, it is time for another rewatch)
Beth Harmon of The Queen’s Gambit
Strong-willed and strategic, Beth Harmon follows the beat of her own drum—she knows what she wants and stops at nothing to get it.
The Queen’s Gambit pulled me in really quickly—from the story to the end credits2 to the titular character. We see her desires, frustrations, vices, and the all-consuming obsession that drives her to the top of the chess world.
Her evolving style—both in fashion and hair—mirrors her growth, maturity, and ultimate realization of what she truly wants: to become a Grandmaster (and a master of her own life).
Peggy of Mad Men
I watched Mad Men months after The Queen’s Gambit (2020 really took me back to the 1960s—and for good reason), and let’s face it, none of the characters are truly likable except for Peggy. Peggy3 starts as Don Draper’s secretary and rises through the ranks to become a copywriter.
At the start of the series, we see Peggy in modest outfits and a ponytail, working her way up from the bottom of the office hierarchy. It’s a special case—she isn’t the titular character, so I didn’t notice the changes until she appeared on screen, switching up her outfit color scheme or the patterns of the dresses she wore to work.
Ultimately, we watch her confidence grow, flourish, and thrive. I love her determination, grit, and her role as Don Draper’s right hand. Their non-romantic relationship is my favorite throughout the show.
This series, often considered one of the best TV shows of all time, takes viewers back to the Golden Age of Advertising4—showcasing both the glitz and glamour, and the gritty reality that surrounds it all. A must-watch, but I wouldn’t call it bingeable—savor it like your favorite glass of wine. (I watched all seven seasons on and off from November 2020 until January 2022, before I moved away.)
Midge Maisel of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
In the 1960s where men dominate the comedy scene (and, let’s be real, most industries…still today), housewife Midge Maisel tries her hand at becoming a comedian.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows Midge’s journey to stardom—from her humble beginnings performing stand-up at the Gaslight Café to headlining at Carnegie Hall.
Throughout the series, I love how you can see Midge trying—trying to be a good parent, a loving daughter, and, most of all, a great comic. She’s constantly deciding which path to carve and finding ways to get there. It’s admirable. And she does it all with her beautifully sculpted hair and top-tier outfits5 (I have a soft spot for the neck scarves).
Her personality shapeshifts over five seasons as she meets people who either make or break her, pushing her to realize her true potential—and what lies beyond it.
The conversations are sharp, the humor witty, the banter top-notch. And this quote she says at the finale, I think about a lot:
“I want a big life; I want to experience everything. I want to break every single rule there is. They say ambition is an unattractive trait in a woman — maybe. But you know what’s really unattractive? Waiting around for something to happen. Staring out a window, thinking the life you should be living is out there somewhere, but not being willing to open the door and go out there and get it, even if someone tells you you can’t.”
I’ve always admired women with short hair. There’s an unsung level of confidence that comes from those who voluntarily chop their hair off in search of a new beginning. Not to toot my own horn, but that’s exactly what I symbolized this cut to be for me:
A fresh new start. Just in time for Spring.
My forever top 3: Mad Men, Fleabag, and…the third one always changes, I wanna say Ted Lasso or The Bear is tied
At some point I’m going to share my favorite end credits sequences, but for now:
I love her character so much that I named my typewriter (an Olympia) after her
I’m biased because I have a degree in Advertising Management, but regardless, go watch it
Pretty sure I started watching this show because of this video:
Adore your hair cut. It absolutely suits you. And it is perfect for the next courageous step in your career.
Terrific hair cut. You look great. Daring to change is a sign of maturity and confidence.