While the clippings were still falling, the owner of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles salon gathered up Britney’s long, brunette tresses, the Red Bull can she had drunk from, and the cigarette lighter she had used, as well as cigarette butts she’d stubbed out in the ashtray.
Before long, the whole kit and caboodle appeared on eBay, on sale for the eyebrow-raising price of one million dollars. A sale might have gone through, but eBay removed the listing, stating it was against their policies. It says it right there in terms of service: no pop star hair.
Taking the Ring Off
Britney could tell she took a wrong turn, and she was quick to fix it. A single month after the birth of her second son, Spears filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, citing “irreconcilable differences.” We like to imagine the difference was Spears didn't love Federline, but Federline did love Federline.
K-Fed got the news by text message and was stunned that Britney would break up the family. A pair of children had loosened the air-tight prenuptial agreement, sparking a custody battle that, in a legal sense, is still going on to this very day. Things had been trending down for Spears in the years leading up to 2007. Two marriages, two divorces, two children, and failed projects. In 2007, however, it all fell apart.
Shave and a Haircut
In January, Britney's aunt, Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom Britney had been very close, died of ovarian cancer. Sad for anyone. But, Britney took it harder than most and went so far as to checking herself into rehab in Antigua. One day later, she made an escape from the facility and flew back to America. One day after she left rehab, paparazzi found Britney sitting in her car outside a hair salon in Tarzana, California. One of the most famous women in the world was crying, alone, as people took pictures through the windows. After a few minutes, Spears got up, marched into the beauty salon, sat down, and took a good, long look at herself in the mirror.
A brief argument with the hairdresser followed. And then Britney Spears grabbed a pair of clippers and shaved her head bald. Every camera in the county went wild, and Spears's determined, almost crazed look became world-famous in an instant.
She Did it Again
Right after giving herself a new 'do, Spears made her way to a tattoo parlor to get a small tattoo of lips on her wrist (reason: unknown). The tattoo artist asked her why she had shaved her head, and Britney's response gave us all pause.
She told the tattoo artist: “I don't want anyone to touch me. I'm tired of people touching me.” A few days later, Britney was caught ringing Federline's doorbell, desperate to see her sons. After no answer, Spears turned her attention to the cameras. She grabbed an umbrella, attacked the paparazzi's cars, lashed out at photographers, and screamed obscenities.
Questions That Must Be Answered
A popular saying arose: “If Britney Spears survived 2007, you can survive this.” What happened to make the star snap? She had everything. Millions of dollars, a legendary career, adoring fans, even a family, just like she always wanted. Now she was a warning to stars and someone who clearly needed help.
It turns out her breakdown was a long time coming. She had been acting erratically for months. Her musical performances had become robotic moments of going through the motions. Fans and family alike couldn't help but we worried for Britney.