After about 16 years, this blog reached 800,000 visitors. That doesn't seem like anything to celebrate, but for a niche blog in an era where social media dominate, that's actually better than I had expected. There is not much time for updates, but updates will happen as time permits and this blog seems valuable to at least someone.
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It was then I knew I was ready to show my true self to the world. I wanted to be free. And I feel liberated!
My hope is to inspire other people to find the confidence and courage to accept themselves, be fearless, be you! That is where true beauty lies.
And here is a video of a her story on her CBS affiliate station:
"Not coming out was a dark place for me. I felt ugly," Temple said. "We were brought up that hair was everything, so I had to unlearn that hair wasn't everything."
Since shaving off the last of her locs in 2020, Conley-Bacon has reclaimed her crown and discovered a newfound freedom.
"When I look in the mirror, no makeup no anything I was like what the hell was I waiting for!" Conley-Bacon said. "I am free."
Shuler: What does that mean to you?
Conley-Bacon: To be bold, to show up as yourself each and every day.
The First Annual Bald and Beautiful Pageant aims to celebrate the elegance, confidence, and unique beauty of bare-headed women.
Taking place at the Mesquite Arts Center on September 28, the pageant will include up to 30 bald women, and hopes to instill self-confidence, raise awareness, and help support community engagement.
“As a bald woman myself, I started engaging with the community that also had more beautiful, bald women,” said Kateena Prescott, Pageant Director/President of the She Is Movement. “I had identified that there was not a lot of confidence in that community, so I wanted to be the pillar to be able to…raise awareness and be an advocate.”
September is Alopecia Awareness Month, which is a common medical condition that can cause hair loss, although baldness can be caused by multiple types of diseases, treatments, and conditions.
The pageant contestants will compete in five categories: formal wear, swim wear/beach attire, talent, questionnaire, and the final section, “my prerogative,” which is an opportunity for each contestant to show off their uniqueness. The event will also include entertainment, music, and onsite small business vendors.
“Society looks at them in a different way, being bald and beautiful,” said Okemar Weatherall, Vice President of the She Is Movement. “We want to let them know it’s okay, and we’re here to support them in any way necessary.”
This articleThis article features Alicia Flores who founded an annual event called Baldie Con (here is their Instagram profilehere is their Instagram profile). Here is a bit from the article:
Inspired by the community of support she felt in her own life, Flores said she poured her life savings into what she describes as her "passion project," an annual conference known as Baldie Con.
Baldie Con, which was held in September this year in Atlanta, is a two-day gathering for women who have hair loss issues, whether from alopecia or any other condition.
"That's what makes Baldie Con so special, is that we're inclusive," Flores said. "I just want them to be recognized for being special and beautiful and to know that they're loved and know that there's a community out there for them to embrace and to have any kind of information that's out there, whether it's about hair loss, different remedies, treatments."
As the subtitle says, Dash Lopez discusses her weekly series “Fresh Cut Fridays,” embracing her beauty, and more. Here is a bit of her story:
Hair has a history of being complex for Black women. Society has constantly pressured us on how our hair should be styled to look professional, groomed, and accepted. But being the resilient people we are, we’ve pushed back against these narratives by embracing our hair in whatever way feels best for us. Dash Lopez, for example, is an Afro-Latina content creator, and host of the Gotta Dash podcast, is empowering bald women (71 million viewers, to be exact) in her series, Fresh Cut Fridays. This weekly series reminds others to own their narrative as Lopez gives insight into how she owns hers; shaving her hair each week included.
Before Fresh Cut Fridays, Dash Lopez was just a girl trying to navigate beauty standards through her hair. “Growing up in a Puerto Rican and Dominican household, I was always praised for having ‘good hair’ by my elders, which didn’t make me feel good,” says Lopez. At the age of 18, Lopez decided to take her identity into her own hands by doing a “big chop,” something that wasn’t widely accepted by her community. “Everyone was pissed when I cut my hair. I wish they didn’t project that onto me.”
As Lopez entered her 20s, she continued to explore her hair in its new form. She began playing with different colors and styles. Experimentation gave her the confidence to shave her head completely. Judgments and assumptions began to increase from her community and, at times, it became hard to bear. Lopez says, “People have assumed that I have cancer, I’m a lesbian, and have even compared me to Britney Spears.”
Lopez began to clap back at those who disagreed with her decision by diving into radical acceptance. She started to notice features about herself that weren’t as obvious when she had hair. “I would look in the mirror and notice how much I liked my ears or shoulders. Shaving my head allows me to look at my beauty differently.” This realization gave her the courage to continue rocking the hairstyle despite other people’s opinions. Instagram became a safe space where Lopez could share her struggles with other bald women and encourage them along the way.
As of late, Lopez has built a community of nearly 90,000 bald women and other supporters. She continues to inspire others by redefining beauty on her terms. “I’ve learned that you can shave your head, and it doesn’t make you less beautiful or of a woman,” she says. With that, and in everything else she does, Lopez serves as an important reminder that the standard of beauty is defined by how we choose to view ourselves. The more we go inward, the closer we are to seeing all of our beauty for what it is.
Usually I don't excerpt this much from an article, but this is an exception. I really recommend her Instagram profile. If you are a bald woman or girl or are thinking of shaving your head, she will offer plenty of advice and support as you redefine beauty on your own terms.
I actually had a blast shaving my head (I even made a video of it!) and I've been enjoying the freedom of no hair for the past couple of months. I can't really say that I've been enjoying some of the unsolicited comments that my shaved head provokes, however. I've received some lovely compliments from both friends and strangers alike, but I've also had to field awkward questions and rude comments. Sometimes they're well-intentioned and sometimes not, but either way I'm sure most girls with shaved heads will agree that hearing these nine things over and over again gets pretty tiring.
She then goes through her list. None of the items really surprise me. Don't ask why questions or ask if she is going through chemo. Don't touch her head (without permission). Don't say "you're so brave" or "I could never do that." Really this is common sense stuff. Right? She ends on this note:
So many women have said this to me. It's well-intentioned most of the time (although sometimes there is definitely some shade behind it). The truth is, I'm not brave and you can do it. It's just hair and it grows back. Sure, I was a little nervous to see what it would look like and if I would like it, but I knew even if I hated it, it was temporary.
If you don't want a shaved head, that's fine. You can say that and I won't be insulted. It's not for everyone. If you do want to try it though, then just do it! You'll probably realize that it's a lot of fun. No bravery needed. Well... Maybe a little bravery to put up with some of the silly comments you'll get.
Here are four videos by Talia Nat interviewing women who were part of Semester at Sea with her about their experience shaving their heads during Neptune Day (when the ship crosses the equator). The interviews appear to be recent. I don't know if there will be more than these four videos. They're all worth viewing.
Katie:
Alejandra:
Natalie:
Jasmine: