According to the women in the family, some women "disfigure" themselves to express autonomy. Bad haircuts and hair colors along with tattoos and piercings are all their choice. Making themselves conventionally unattractive to men is appealing to some women, especially those who feel they lack autonomy. See my comment above about being intentionally ugly. It feels better to be intentionally ugly rather than stick to norms but be viewed as unattractive by the masses.