What? A doctor with an undercut hairstyle?

When did health professionals start doing that?

Crowd mentality dominates the world today. People enjoy liking what other people like. If I see an amazing dress or pair of earrings worn by someone who I admire with thousands of likes and comments, in theory, am first in line to try it. I say in theory because sometimes the more notable the wearer, the more expensive the article.

I have student loans that won’t let me be great.

Crowd mentality is a natural part of humanity. In many ways, people seek to be “normal.” But we all have an individuality that makes us feel special too. All of my life I have enjoyed breaking just enough of the mold to be different. Well, maybe not ALL OF MY LIFE. It really started in college at Xavier University of Louisiana. (XU Rocks the house).

Moving from Chicago to the humidity of New Orleans, I made a life-changing decision to cut off my permed hair and go natural. My first roommate was a young woman who marched to the beat of her own drum. She colored her natural fro regularly and taught me how to do the same. Now these were the days before Facebook was popular on the scene, but trust me when I tell you that my hair style and color choices turned heads every which-a-way. I went pink, blonde, even green at one point. Am I lying, Charmel?

Fast-forward to gaining admission to medical school at Northwestern University.

I made the decision to tone down my colored fro and transition to a loc style with more flexibility and less flare. In residency, color changes re-emerged, but to a lesser degree than my novice beginnings.

In the spring of 2017, my volume of hair began to annoy me enough that, in my own bathroom under no supervision, my husbands clippers became acquainted with the back of my head. I won’t call that a good decision because hair-barbering is an art, if you don’t already know. Enter the most awesome barber I know…

Nolan, of Blues Barbershop in Chicago

I asked Nolan to do whatever he wanted back there and he hooked me up with an undercut that screamed individuality and style. Now every time I have a media event to do, a talk to give, or just feel like being me, I go and get an unique cut. I believe that anyone can express their individuality as long as it doesn’t distract from their ultimate purpose.

For me, expressing myself is an integral part of my purpose.

As women, and as human beings, if we stifle our individuality, we never reach our full potential for impact on this world. The greatest movements were started and elevated by individuals who broke the mold, even if not initially supported by the group or community as a whole.

I think Dr. Martin Luther King would have liked my undercut.

Why? Because individuality and stepping outside of the norm is how change happens. Change is needed in so many parts of our world. Check out one of my latest posts about my ultimate goals for change and how I plan to help people with student loans in the future. I may even help you out.

How I turned my hair style choice into a subject that the father of The Civil Rights Movement would care about, the world may never understand. At least I’m consistent with my mysterious disposition.