The Shame in Being Bald

This blog is inspired by the advertisements and societal negative connotations of being bald. "Woes me" I'm balding. I get it, but it's not the end of your social world. When I started losing my hair, I was a freshman in college. The amount of embarassment, shame, and lack of self confidence I carried were unhealthy and overwhelming. As a female, it has never really been "acceptable" to be bald. We all see the hair product commercials and the women flaunting and tossing their long, silky, healthful locks around. "I wish my hair could look like that." "Oh my gawd, another split end! What is WRONG with me?!" "I can't go out, my hair looks a mess." Oh yes. Hair is an excuse, a shamer, and often is used to portray one's personality.

We dye, tie, cut, curl, straighten, and mold this abundance of dead tissue coming out of our heads. We DEFINE ourselves because of it. This took me a few years to figure out. I wore the wigs. OH! The compliments! "Your hair is SO perfect! How do you do it?!" I would always feel awkward because in my head the answer was "well, I just put it on," but the shame said "oh you know! I just brush it..." OY! Eventually, my answer turned into "It's actually a wig. I'm bald!" And then preceded with my alopecia story as to respond to the bewildered faces.

Alas, my friends, it's all about your attitude. If you're going to allow outside forces to bring your spirits down, seek those people as challenges to being more positive about yourself. No need to throw shade back, accept their bad attitudes and make yours better. Spread the love, love the bald, love thyself.