A post-breakup haircut is a rite of passage when it comes to heartbreak, and while it might seem silly that a new 'do will heal a broken heart, a physical transformation can truly make us happier.
We spoke to neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart about why changing our looks can positively impact our mood – and there's some serious science behind the idea that a new appearance can cheer us up.
Dr. Tara underwent an image overhaul this year, switching her shoulder-skimming bob for long, lustrous locks – and her ultra-glossy extensions had a surprising impact on her mood. Tara wasn't changing up her style with the aim to feel happier, though.
© InstagramEvery year she challenges herself to master a new skill, from learning a language to tackling a physical goal, all in the name of continual development, but in 2023 she decided to opt for a physical change instead.
"After the age of 25, if we don't actively take on new challenges, our brain will plateau. We tend to stick to what we're already good at and we don't even attempt to look at our development areas, but learning new skills can help with preventing cognitive decline in the future."
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"Because I'm a neuroscientist, I've always focused on mental challenges, but in the spirit of continually evolving reinvention, I decided to focus on outer things too," Dr. Tara explained of why she changed her hair this year.
Why does changing our hair make us happier?
When we change something about ourselves and like it, our brain releases a cocktail of happy chemicals.
"I could feel dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin flooding into my brain when my new hair was unveiled," Dr. Tara said. "Dopamine is the reward hormone and it was created because I was getting something that I wanted (longer hair), so that was an immediate hit of happiness, and it definitely had an impact on my mood.
"I could not stop smiling and laughing and my stylist explained that making her clients feel good makes her happy too, so my happiness was infectious, creating oxytocin, which is bonding and makes you feel warm."
We don't need to undergo a dramatic transformation to generate happy hormones, though.
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"Even if you just wear a new lipstick, when you look in the mirror, you see something that is a version of yourself that you really like.
"In response to liking what you see and feeling happy about it, the chemicals produced are dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin – creating a warm fuzzy feeling."
Though Tara felt extremely happy post-image overhaul, she cautions we shouldn't assume we'll be happier simply by changing our appearance, and there are important things to consider before taking the plunge.
1. Make sure it feels authentic
Dr. Tara was reluctant to try hair extensions initially, for fear they wouldn't feel authentic.
"Being authentic was really important to me," she said. "My friends have all said I still look like myself, which really boosted my happiness," she said.
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"An appearance change can confuse our friends and family, because we no longer look like the person they know,and it takes a lot of getting used to, but with my hair, people said it feels authentic," Tara says.
"You need to find a transformation that feels authentic to you. I'm truly happy with my hair, because people that know me like it and people that don't know me, don't realise. My new hair just feels right."
2. Don't hide your decision
If you're considering changing something about yourself but wouldn't feel comfortable with people knowing, it could be a sign that it goes against your values, which could be problematic, Dr. Tara explains.
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"If you feel the need to hide it, I would question what's behind the decision to have the work done," she says.
3. Do the work on the inside too
"People often want to change themselves due to a lack of confidence, but when they make the exterior change they are disappointed when they don't feel different inside," Dr. Tara explains. "External changes don't solve the problem that was on the inside."
"If you make a change on the outside, but still feel the same on the inside, it's called cognitive dissonance. This is because what's happening on the outside doesn't mirror what's happening on the inside and vice versa."
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For example, you could look glossy and gorgeous on the outside but still feel a lack of happiness.
"If you want to make the change for confidence reasons, you need to really think about how it's going to improve your confidence and work on that too."
Subscribe to Hello Happiness, for your ultimate guide on how to be happier, and listen to Dr. Tara's Reinvent Yourself podcast here.
