Tag Page PerfectionPressure

I Couldn't Afford to Look Like I Cared

I started cutting my kid's hair because thirty dollars every six weeks felt impossible. But somewhere between the first buzz cut and learning to layer, it became about more than money. I'd watch other moms at pickup with their children's perfect salon cuts. Mine looked homemade. You could tell. I bought professional scissors. Watched YouTube tutorials until 2am. Set up a whole station in our kitchen like I was running a business. The towel around their shoulders, the spray bottle, the way I'd hold their head still. Every crooked line felt like proof I wasn't enough. Every uneven bang was evidence that we were struggling. That I was failing at something as basic as keeping my child presentable. I got obsessed with the angles, the measurements, the perfect fade. My hands would shake. I'd redo sections three times while they sat there, patient and trusting. The worst part? I was better at it than most salons. But I still felt like I was cheating somehow. Like everyone could see our secret. #MomGuilt #BeautyOnABudget #PerfectionPressure #Beauty #HairCare