I Pretend My Hairbrush Isn’t Full of My Own Shame

I never clean my round hairbrush until it’s so clogged with old hair it stops working. I pick at the matted strands, pretending it’s just routine, but it always feels like proof I’m failing at something basic. I cut the hair away in strips, careful not to break the bristles, but the clumps remind me of all the times I’ve stood in front of the mirror, yanking and tugging, hoping for a better version of myself to show up. When I finally scrub the brush with baking soda or tea tree oil, I wonder if I’m trying to erase the evidence—of stress, of breakage, of how much I want to look like I have it together. My brush looks clean again, but I still feel messy inside. #MirrorFatigue #BeautyBurnout #HairStory #Beauty #HairCare