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The Gable Edit | Rooted: Stories About Hair & Identity

 ✂️ Hair Is Identity

Why Blowouts & Natural Curls Are About So Much More Than Style

From creating Dreamcoat reels to chair chats at Blo FiDi, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the connection between hair and identity—how the way we wear our hair reflects how we want to be seen, and sometimes, how we’re allowed to be seen.

Hair is one of the most visible tools of self-expression, transformation, and even rebellion. Especially for ambitious, expressive women—it’s not just style, it’s strategy.

🎨 Color Me (Brand) Beautiful

A hobby of mine is constant learning. While working at Colgate-Palmolive, I took evening classes at FIT—everything from Designer History to Trend Tracking. But the class that really stuck with me? Image Consulting.

That course cracked something open. I had spent my entire career in brand management (starting after Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management), yet I’d rarely thought about my brand. What do I bring into a room—visually, energetically, stylistically?

What we wear, the makeup we choose, how we style our hair… these are all subtle cues we send into the world. And when aligned with intention, they can be powerful tools for authenticity.

💇‍♀️ The Hair You’re Born With… and the One You’re Allowed to Wear

I have naturally curly hair. But for most of my life, you wouldn’t know it. I idolized my sister’s sleek, straight hair. I straightened mine so often that my mom didn’t even know it was curly until I came home from college.

In my 20s and 30s, I tried to embrace my curls now and then—especially because I believe we’re beautiful as we are, and I wanted to live that belief. Still, I rarely wore my curls to work.

One time I did, I paid for it. Literally.

My year-end review focused more on my hair than my performance. My curls were labeled “too fun for the office.” Let that sink in.

I was shamed for showing up naturally. And it stuck with me. It made me question not just how I wear my hair—but what others assume when they see it.

🧠 Hair Typing & Identity Bias: What the World Might Be Thinking

If you’re going to be judged by your hair (and let’s be honest—you are), you might as well know the stereotypes. Not because I believe in them, but because I believe in naming bias so we can challenge it.

Here are some common (if problematic) associations:

Hair Length + Texture

  • Long hair: Youthful, romantic, creative

  • Short hair: Confident, professional, self-assured

  • Straight: Disciplined, polished

  • Wavy: Playful, creative, elegant

  • Curly: Energetic, fun-loving, warm

  • Flowing & long: Laid-back, free-spirited

Style Statements

  • Pixie cut: Fearless, bold, open to change

  • Short & chic: Flirty, stylish, self-possessed

  • Braids: Grounded, powerful, deeply rooted

  • Messy bun: Relaxed, approachable, spontaneous

  • Side part: Reliable, thoughtful, steady

  • Blunt bob: Decisive, editorial, iconic (Anna Wintour, anyone?)

Again—these are not rules. But they’re real in the way unconscious bias is real. And navigating that reality with awareness is its own kind of power.

🪞 What’s Your Hair Saying About You?

Hair isn’t just fashion. It’s identity, emotion, memory. It can be armor or an invitation. Rebellion or alignment. Sometimes it’s just practical—but it’s never just hair.

So here’s what I’m learning: Whether it’s a glossy blowout, a brave pixie, or a return to your natural texture—how you wear your hair should be a choice that makes you feel like you.

I mentioned Blo FiDi earlier, Want to come see us?

Blo Blow Dry Bar - NYC Financial District

105 Nassau Street (Corner of Nassau & Ann Streets - right down from the Fulton Street Stop!)

Booking Site

Some of the looks we specialize in:



About Sara
Style has always been my secret language — a way to tell the world who I am without saying a word. I’m a marketing exec by trade, a scarf enthusiast by choice, and someone who believes that great style doesn’t follow rules, it follows instinct.

The Gable Edit is where I share what’s catching my eye: from emerging trends to timeless staples, with plenty of scarf styling tips woven in (pun absolutely intended). Whether it’s the perfect pop of color or the accessory that pulls it all together, I’m here to help you find your own edit — and have a little fun along the way.

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