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BALD BADDIE — I am more than my hair

BALD BADDIE — I am more than my hair

“As I walk through the valley of hair loss, I will know no shame, for as my hair falls, I will know I am stronger, I will know — I am more than my hair.”

Jada Pinkett Smith shaves her head and helps normalize hair loss in women – That headline is my highlight for the month. In 2018, Jada Smith started experiencing hair loss, which she shared in her talk show red table talk. “I’ve been getting a lot of questions about why I was wearing this turban. Well, I have been having issues with hair loss,” she stated tearfully at her show. Now, 3 years later, inspired by her daughter, Willow, she is letting it go – she shaved off her hair. She posted a selfie on Instagram with the caption: “It was time to let go. But my 50’s are about to be divinely lit with this shed.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPHlKsoH1G/?utm_medium=copy_link

Despite the fact that hair loss is normal for many, most people find it difficult to resonate with a bald-headed woman. In fact, most people think that only men experience hair loss at their old age. But that isn’t true. People of different ages, race and gender can experience alopecia – hair loss – which can be caused by stress, pregnancy, or terminal illnesses like cancer.

I whip my hair back and forth

I whip my hair back and forth (Just whip it)

I whip my hair back and forth

I whip my hair back and forth (Whip it real good)

Lisa sang along to Willow’s Whip my hair, screaming at the top of her lungs hoping that everyone would get the memo that she doesn’t want to be disturbed. She smiled as she went down memory lane, reminiscing on how she played with her friends, braid their hair, while they do same for her. “Good old days,” she muttered to herself as she took off the fifth wig her husband is getting for her that month. Maybe he thinks getting her different wigs will make her feel better about her hair loss.

She was five months pregnant when she realized she had shedding too much hair. She thought with time it would stop, she went to different salons and used different product, but it kept shedding. She was adviced by a dermatologist to get a skin cut.

Lisa watched with disdain as the hairstylist shaved off what she had left, she watched as her hair dropped to the floor wishing she could glue it back. Even with the numerous wigs that she owned, she still didn‘t feel complete without her black lustrous hair and wished she could rock her bald head unapologetically.

She rubbed her shiny head with a drop of coconut oil, “Shine bright like a diamond baby”, she whispered, as she continued staring at herself in the mirror, coming to terms with her new reality.

How common is hair loss in women?

Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss.

Any girl or woman can be affected by hair loss. However, it is usually common for:

  • Women older than 40.
  • Women who have just had babies.
  • Women who have had chemotherapy and those who have been affected by other medications.
  • Women who often have hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight braids) or use harsh chemicals on their hair.
  • Menopausal women.

Common causes of hair loss in women:

  • Vitamin deficiency.
  • Dieting (rapid weight loss).
  • Restrictive diets.
  • Over processed scalp hair

Hair is one of the first things people notice about us when we meet them. Hair conveys aspects about your style and personality.

by Dalia Hosny

“Cancelled!… Uhhh”, Fatima sighed as she successfully canceled another outing with her friends. She refused to be the topic of discussion and sympathy again.

Fatima had been finding it hard to interact with people since her hair loss journey. She was known to always flaunt her hair, show off the new styles she made, and flip her hair to any guy in the room. But, with her new reality she had found solace in loneliness.

Hair loss can result in the following:

1. Loss of personal attractiveness and fear of not looking attractive to other people.

2. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and embarrassment.

3. Effects on social life.

How is a woman’s self esteem affected by hair loss?

Hair loss can dampen a woman’s self-esteem, cause depression, and take away her sense of self-worth. Many women are embarrassed to get help. They don’t want to talk about it, but yet they hate having the condition.

“Hair loss not only robs a woman of her sense of style, but often times, her sense of self-esteem and her security — it can be very devastating,” says Michael Reed, MD, a New York University Medical Center dermatologist who specializes in female pattern hair loss.

Hair symbolizes physical strength and virility. The virtues and properties of a person are said to be concentrated in their hair. It is a symbol of instinct, of female seduction and physical attraction. Some cultures suggest baldness as a sign of sterility.

“It felt like a part of me kept shedding alongside my hair.”

Here are ways to cope with hair loss to improve your self esteem:

1. Find a support group.

There is a saying that goes, “Misery loves company.”

It might help to talk to someone that knows exactly what you are going through, talking about your struggles most times, makes you feel a lot better and helps you to view things from a different perspective.

2. Experiment with scarves

Masking hair loss is the first go-to solution for many people experiencing hair loss. It is okay to not want to the whole world to know about your hair struggles.

Knotting a bandana or wrapping a pretty silk scarf around your head can be a stylish accessory while also masking your hair loss. If you’ve lost all your hair, you might want to choose fabrics that are very soft, so they don’t irritate your bare scalp.

3. Experiment with Wigs

It might not be ideal but experimenting with wigs has its perks. If you’ve lost all your hair as a result of alopecia or chemotherapy, a wig might be a way to camouflage your scalp on an occasional or regular basis.

4. Be bold and be bald

This approach is not for everyone. But some women find strength in embracing their baldness. Rather than covering it up, they’re showing it to the world, and that can feel really liberating.

The basis of self-confidence is our personality, not physical traits – even if our culture makes us think otherwise. Physical beauty is just one aspect of our identity. The attractiveness lies elsewhere

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