✍🏾: @tiff.chey
Well-known actress #JadaPinkettSmith has been more vocal about her daily challenges associated with #AlopeciaAreata, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles anywhere on the body. It can be caused by extreme stress or anxiety, something that The Smith Family is no stranger to.
Jada first revealed her AA diagnosis in 2018 and has been embracing the challenges of the condition, including cutting her hair since it was already falling out. Back in December, she posted a video on Instagram where she opened up about her diagnosis and a new scar that was caused by AA.
“Look at this line right here,” Pinkett-Smith said as she pointed to her scalp. “Now this is going to be a little bit more difficult for me to hide, so I thought I’d just share it so y’all not asking any questions — but you know, mama’s going to put some rhinestones in there, and I’m going to make me a little crown.”
According to a 2016 survey of 5,594 Black women, 47.6 percent of respondents said they experienced hair loss. A majority of respondents who experience hair loss do not seek help from medical professionals and often go undiagnosed, according to the report. A Nurses’ Health Study conducted in 2018 also found an increased likelihood of Alopecia Areata in Black and Hispanic women compared to white women.
Pinkett-Smith is among the notable women of color who have broken their silence about hair loss, inspiring others like her to bring awareness to Alopecia Areata and the physical as well as psychological effects it can have on women. This world that we live in unfortunately makes having long, full hair a too beauty standard, but considering how many people experience hair loss, it’s time for a shift!
Like #IndiaArie said, “I am NOT my hair!” #BWLM💕
