Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
Why Do YOU Shave Your Head?
As many of you know, I am writing a book titled Boldly Bald Women. I have come to a place where I would like input from those women who have shaved their heads and choose to go bare headed (weather permitting). I have gone through the downsides of living a boldly bald lifestyle. The section I am writing now asks the question:
"So why, if there is cruelty towards and discrimination against women daring to go bald in public, why would anyone in their right mind expose themselves to the emotional discomfort and societal intolerance of female baldness? Now there’s a sixty four thousand dollar question for you."
Some of you, who have already participated with this project via a questionnaire have sent me your reasons. This group has grown recently and if any of you are willing, I'd love to have you share. Those of us shaving our heads and living boldly bald are pioneers for the women who are less comfortable and more leery of consequences. I believe we can help those who follow to feel more free to explore options by sharing our own stories. There is no financial compensation for sharing, but there is the satisfaction of knowing you are using your difference for the good of your sisters.
Thank you for your willingness to shine!
Pam
"So why, if there is cruelty towards and discrimination against women daring to go bald in public, why would anyone in their right mind expose themselves to the emotional discomfort and societal intolerance of female baldness? Now there’s a sixty four thousand dollar question for you."
Some of you, who have already participated with this project via a questionnaire have sent me your reasons. This group has grown recently and if any of you are willing, I'd love to have you share. Those of us shaving our heads and living boldly bald are pioneers for the women who are less comfortable and more leery of consequences. I believe we can help those who follow to feel more free to explore options by sharing our own stories. There is no financial compensation for sharing, but there is the satisfaction of knowing you are using your difference for the good of your sisters.
Thank you for your willingness to shine!
Pam
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Joye Pressley on
-
I have Alopcecia Totalis so I didn't shave my head all my hair fell out. I chose to take off my wig because I was tired of hiding who I am and the condition that I have. While some days it's a struggle to go out in public, most days I do it without even thinking about it. I feel like if some woman who have hair can come out with some of the most awful weaves I have ever seen surely I can come out bald. I have found it to be one of the most freeing feelings in the world. When the wind blows I don't have to worry about my wig flying off. When I ride with the windows down I don't have to worry about my hair getting messed up. When out in public I don't have to wonder if my wig is on straight. I have started losing my eyebrows so I have pencil them in and I worry about wiping it off by mistakes. But my remedy for that is whoever I'm out with is on eyebrow patrol they are responsible for letting me know if I need to touch up my eyebrow...lol All in al I shaved my head because this is who God wants me to be and who am I to hide that. Much Love!!
-
-
-
I have Alopcecia Totalis so I didn't shave my head all my hair fell out. I chose to take off my wig because I was tired of hiding who I am and the condition that I have. While some days it's a struggle to go out in public, most days I do it without even thinking about it. I feel like if some woman who have hair can come out with some of the most awful weaves I have ever seen surely I can come out bald. I have found it to be one of the most freeing feelings in the world. When the wind blows I don't have to worry about my wig flying off. When I ride with the windows down I don't have to worry about my hair getting messed up. When out in public I don't have to wonder if my wig is on straight. I have started losing my eyebrows so I have pencil them in and I worry about wiping it off by mistakes. But my remedy for that is whoever I'm out with is on eyebrow patrol they are responsible for letting me know if I need to touch up my eyebrow...lol All in al I shaved my head because this is who God wants me to be and who am I to hide that. Much Love!!
-
-
Permalink Reply by Pam Fitros on
-
Joye,
I laughed so loudly at your absolutely straight on comment about the awful weaves I woke up both of my dogs (who mostly sleep and are used to quiet while I write). Yes, free. I too feel so free. Yeah, I did the eyebrow thing too - wound up sweating them down my cheeks or smearing them off with a thoughtless gesture. Now I wear kicky earrings and skip the eyebrows.
Thank you for your response! -
-
Permalink Reply by Tamara on
-
I shaved my head because I wanted to be me again. Me wasn't this emotional rollercoaster of a girl who tried to hide these bald spots on her head and cried everytime she showered or brushed her hair. Me was the happy girl who enjoyed her life. I only shaved my head a week ago, but I have gone every single day without a wig, and all but half of a day without a scarf. With the scarf I felt like I was still just trying to hid something from everyone. When its off and I go out, I feel free. I enjoy the cool air on my head. I REALLY enjoy riding with the windows down and not having my hair flying into my mouth and being a huge tangled mess. I am totally comfortable being bald, I actually think I am more comfortable bald than I was ever with my hair. I get looks, I get A LOT of looks, and I know that people are going to think what they want to think about my bald head. But I know why Im bald. My family and friends know why Im bald. Thats all that matters to me. If people can dye their hair green and tattoo their whole entire body, why can't I be bald?
-
-
-
Tamara,
Thank you for sharing. You are so right about being me. That's exactly how I feel too, and I imagine a lot more of us feel that same way. And only a week into living boldly bald! Congratulations! -
-
Permalink Reply by emma on
-
i have aa, i decided to shave my head when i first got it, as it was the only bit of choice and control i had, i tired wigs and felt fake felt i couldnt be me, altho i have had a lot of fun with with and thank god they was there on my down days, they made me feel worse, so i carried on shaving my head and decided if no one liked it then dont look, its not them that have to deal with this, my hair now has only odd patches and small i did try growing my hair but it would get so far and patch and itch and too be honest ive kinda got use to shaving my hair i couldnt imagine having hair again, as much as some days i want it back if im honest i love my patchy shaved head lol xxxx
-
-
-
Thank you Emma! It is so interesting to me how different we all are but how our feelings are so similar. Wigs made me feel worse as well. Not only did I get yeast infections on my scalp because I sweated so much, but I always felt like somebody else - a fake when I wore them. I was never free to be spontaneous. And now - well, now when I have a nightmare it's having my hair grow back. I love the look and feel of bald and the freedom it offers.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Pat on
-
I shave my head so I can be free! Free from hiding, free from worrying if some one knows, free from worrying if some one sees, free from crying, free from being depressed, free from fear about my hairloss!
Since I shaved, I am free to roll the car windows down, swim (something I haven't down in years, but do now ) exercise, sleep without my head covered, look at my self in the mirror and like what I see, be unique, hold my bald head up high, walk with confidence in a hairy world, shower without worrying about clogging up the drain ( and boy does the water feel good on my head!) and free to talk about alopecia with others!! -
-
-
Pat,
Free...unique...confident...I think those are threads that weave through the lives of those of us who have chosen this path. It is so good to hear the positives! Thank you. Was there a particular issue or event that made you decide to shave - something that happened to make you say: enough is enough? -
-
-
yes, the issuse was constant. I could no longer successfully cover up (with a weave)! I was wearing a wig and I thought I can no longer show any part of what I had left, so what was the point in keeping it. The main thing that gave me the courage to shave the rest was alopecia world. I saw so many beautiful bald people that really encouraged me. I dont think that without AW I would have taken that step. I has been a God send.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Galena on
-
Hello Pam!
It's approaching the second anniversary of my Big Shave. Six weeks prior to that day I tried to save my hair by wearing a braided weave method called "tree braids". Over the weeks of wearing the braids, I noticed that the braids were lifting off of my head and I could slip my fingers under them---not good. When I removed the braids I was actually removing my hair. I then had more exposed scalp than hair. It took me three days to summon the courage to shave off the remaining hair. It was a strangely exciting day. The hair came off very easily with no shadow--smooth as a baby's butt. I didn't know what to think of what I'd just done, I just stared in the mirror. Then I started laughing and jumped into the shower. My anxiety soon dissipated with the new dramatic sensation of water on my bald head.
Two years later,I still have a smooth head, no lashes or brows. I don't wear a head cover because it helps me psychologically--less anxiety and fear of exposure. I've come a long way through a tough journey. I'm doing so much better thanks to the support of family, friends and my online friends of AW.
~G -
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
