Protected: How These Two Creators Are Exploring Self-expression Through Hair As They Re-experience The ‘90s
Nostalgia reigns supreme in today’s world—so many of us find ourselves consistently captivated by the trends and styles of bygone eras. The latest societal fixation? The ‘90s. An iconic array of hairstyles are making a triumphant return to the forefront of mainstream fashion—from top knots, crimped hair and frosted tips to butterfly clips and gravity-defying ponytails.
But beauty and hair nostalgia, with all its enchantment, is a privilege that often eludes those from marginalized communities. It’s a wistful journey down memory lane that is not always accessible to everyone. For many individuals, historical beauty standards and trends may have served as reminders of exclusion and, often, discrimination.
Myles Sexton’s (they/them) and Jamie Pandit’s (she/her) walk down memory lane has required them both to hold space and grace for their past selves *and* give themselves the permission—that they so rightfully deserve—to live loudly and boldly. With their favourite nourishing, protective and reparative haircare products in hand (because you don’t have to choose between serving a look and the health of your hair with OGX)—from the classic OGX Hydrate and Repair Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Strength Shampoo and Conditioner to the OGX Protecting + Silk Blowout Quick Drying Thermal Spray—they’ve charted a course and set out to liberate their ‘90s selves to show up and show out. After all, it’s Pride, baby.
Myles Sexton
They/Them, Content Creator and HIV/AIDS & Sobriety Advocate
@torontolife TO-based content creator @mylessexton had a memorable Pride weekend with this bold, ‘90s-inspired floral hair moment styled with their favourite @ogx_beauty products!
Myles’ OGX Favourites:
I’m a ‘91 baby, so I’ve lived through the many hair moments of the ‘90s. I had a mullet, a mushroom cut, a spike bang, a rat tail, a shaved undercut—the works—and I loved them all (maybe not so much the mushroom cut, but you know what I mean). Hair and fashion trends from that era were fierce and so detailed, but they were also effortless in a way—if you get it, you get it.
As I’ve gone through the evolution of my hair journey, I’ve realized that my hair plays such a critical role in my self-confidence. I feel like my hair has been the centrepiece of my gender expression. All these versions of Myles, my different eras, live within me. So when I see particular hairstyles out and about, it brings back many memories and emotions from specific periods of my life. As much as I played with my hair, I wasn’t always able to fully lean into expressing myself with my hair until my senior year—from access to the confidence and surety of self; there were so many reasons why I couldn’t and didn’t play and express myself through my hair.
I have many full-circle moments these days—I give myself the most permission to embrace what I want to do with my hair. We all have those moments that manifest into shame within us. Dealing with this internalized shame by sitting with it and understanding where it came from, it’s liberating. I’m reclaiming my power, one hairdo at a time. I’m exhaling, and I’m washing my shame away.
My wash day routine is self-care, and it’s spiritual. I take a moment to check in with myself and be present as I work my product through my hair and rinse it away. I love using products, including OGX’s Hydrate & Revive line, that are nourishing for my hair, and that smell delicious—it’s an experience and those baby blue OGX bottles are a classic. And I’m an active participant in that moment.
Looking back and tapping into nostalgia means going back in time and giving myself permission to simply be. I’m crimping, I’m back-combing, I’m braiding, and I’m emulating a mullet. That baby Myles is within me, and one of the ways I reparent them is by playing with my hair in the ways I know they wanted to.
@fashionmagazine Canadian content creator @mylessexton takes a trip down memory lane with @fashioncanada by recreating their fave ’90s hairstyle and reflecting on this iconic era
Jamie Pandit
She/Her, digital creator, fashion expert, influencer
@fashionmagazine Here’s a peek into digital creator @justjamiepandit’s memorable Pride weekend in Toronto. She gave her younger self a chance to truthfully experience the ‘90s with butterfly clips and her favourite @ogx_beauty products. “Butterflies are incredibly significant to many transgender folks due to their transformative nature. After all, I have been cocooned long enough, hiding who I am and wanting to be free. This Pride, I did just that. I unleashed my essence through my outer shell, spread my wings, and celebrated Pride proudly with my husband and friends. We hugged, cried and danced until our feet hurt. I felt so beautiful from every positive compliment and I got to walk down the streets of Toronto loudly and boldly as a transgender woman. I am proud of her. Little Jamie is proud of her.” How did you celebrate Pride this year? 🦋
Jamie’s OGX Favourites:
Sometimes I wish we didn’t attach femininity so much to hair, but my hair has been a massive part of my identity as a transgender woman. My hair has been a safety net. I have stretch marks on my shoulders that my hair has hidden, and when people commented on them or said that I have “really broad shoulders for a woman,” my hair protected me then, too.
Looking back, it’s always been this way. I remember throwing tantrums anytime my parents wanted to cut my hair when I was a kid. I came to Canada when I was 11, so truthfully, so much of what I saw as not just dreamy ‘90s beauty and hair, but beauty and hair, in general, was informed by my life in Bangladesh. Seeing all the South Asian women around me with their long hair made me believe this was a core tenet of being feminine. Long, luscious, thick, shiny hair flowing naturally or pulled up into an intricate updo is all I wanted—reminiscent of every ‘90s Bollywood starlet.
I didn’t know what the word transgender meant or how to describe myself even. But I did know that I wanted to explore myself through my hair. When I transitioned at 15, I felt like I couldn’t go outside unless my hair was long and beautiful—I needed to look a certain way to leave my house comfortably. Because I didn’t start growing my hair out until I was around 16, I can’t say I have fond memories of my hair. The one time I tried to explore by getting blonde streaks in my short hair doesn’t feel like it counted because I didn’t feel like, well, myself.
Transitioning and not having the proper support when it comes to life, as well as taking care of your hair and skin, is rough. I had to figure it out on my own. I’ve burnt my hair and put it through a lot of stress. But my nourishing shampoo and conditioners from OGX, paired with my heat protectant, are my go-to now—they protect and repair my hair. I’m excited to play with my hair and explore that world of hair self-expression without compromising the health of my hair and scalp, thanks to OGX’s range of products. I find myself excited to lean in and start exploring the parts of myself that I get to wake up and breathe life into. I have this divine feminine energy within me, and I’m honouring that—not because I’m a trans woman, but because that’s me.
Butterflies are incredibly significant to transgender folks—transformation and all—so I’m excited to play with butterfly clips. I’m giving baby Jamie a chance to experience the ‘90s as trends come swinging back around—she’s been cocooned long enough. The thought of breaking out as a beautiful butterfly and spreading my wings is exhilarating and liberating, all at once.
@torontolife TO-based content creator @Jamie Pandit reflects on her relationship with her hair and identity by recreating her favourite ‘90s hairstyle 🦋
Liberation, self-acceptance and self-expression—through hair—are core pillars of the OGX brand. OGX is a brand that stands up for what’s right and exists to live loudly and boldly. This year, they are participating in CARE WITH PRIDE, which is an employee volunteer-led initiative that openly and actively champions love, equality and care for all individuals within the LGBTQ2+ community. This initiative has donated more than $1 million to charitable organizations across North America since 2011. With the values and the products to back it up, OGX is a tool and a facilitator of creative expression.
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