More women embrace baldness as symbol of beauty and empowerment
“Being bald is sexy. It’s an attitude. It’s a luxury. It’s a lifestyle.”
That’s how Brennan Nevada Johnson introduces her video podcast, launched last November to celebrate the confidence and beauty of bald women. Fourteen years ago, Johnson voluntarily shaved her head — a decision that would reshape her life and perspective.
For centuries, long hair has been regarded as a symbol of femininity, health and fertility. But a growing number of women are challenging that notion, redefining baldness as bold, beautiful and empowering.
“Once you do it, it brings all this confidence into your life,” said Johnson, 34. “Whenever you see someone bald and not wearing a wig, know that they’ve fully embraced themselves — and that’s not easy to do.”
Her initial decision was practical. As a college volleyball player, sweat often ruined her costly hair treatments. Once she shaved her head, she never looked back. “It’s such a fashion statement, and it’s a really powerful look,” said Johnson, now a New York-based public relations entrepreneur.
Her podcast, Bald and Buzzed with Brennan, aims to create a space where bald women can feel affirmed and celebrated.
Across the U.S., many women — whether bald by choice or due to health conditions — are finding solidarity through online communities, conferences and social media.
Dash Lopez, a 29-year-old content creator, shaved her head during the pandemic after years of frustration with her hair. “It makes me feel powerful that I’m detaching from things people place so much emphasis on,” she said. Her online videos about bald beauty have reached millions.
Lopez briefly enjoyed success in modeling, but said bookings declined when trends shifted. Still, she remains committed to embracing her look. “I’m doing it for my own self-empowerment and a deeper understanding of what beauty means to me.”
For others, the journey began with illness. Atlanta flight attendant Felicia Flores lost her hair due to alopecia and initially wore wigs to hide it. Inspired by other bald women, she eventually embraced her look and later founded Baldie Con, an annual event celebrating bald beauty.
In Philadelphia, nurse and weekend mechanic Aicha Soumaoro said going bald gave her “a new skin, a new layer, a new personality.”
“Being bald is like a boost of confidence out of nowhere,” said Soumaoro, 27. “It feels amazing — like I was born again.”
Atlanta performer Tiffany Michael Thomas, who goes by the stage name Amor Lauren, shaved her head in solidarity with her mother during cancer treatment. After her mother’s passing, she kept the look.
“Once I embraced it, I felt unstoppable,” said Thomas, 37. “There’s nothing left to hide behind anymore.”
Her message to women who hesitate? “Do it scared. The best way to overcome fear is to face it.”
Source: AP