

How Going Bald Inspired This Woman To Start A Baldie Movement
When you write for a living, you tend to see a lot of photographs. But I must admit that it's been a hot minute since I've seen one that is quite as striking as the feature photo for this article. Just look at those women. Beautiful eyes. Flawless skin. Each of them with a bold-yet-uber-feminine bald head. And that deep chocolate sistah in the middle? That's Nell Coleman. She's the founder of The Baldie Movement. We'll dive more into that in just a sec.
When I first discovered that today is National Be Bald Be Free Day, it took me back to when I used to rock a shadow fade; one that barely had any hair up top. And although I'm currently on a journey to grow my natural hair out, as I told Nell, sometimes I miss having a close-to-bald head. Looking at her, it almost tempts me to bring my clippers out of retirement. "Girl, I've been bald, by choice, for nine years now," Nell said casually. "You can't get me to go back."
Back to what exactly? A few things. Back to being a slave to relaxers. Back to being consumed by other people's expectations. Back to feeling insecure if there wasn't hair on her head. At almost 30, Nell is confident, focused and determined to help other women, especially bald women, feel the same way—whether they are bald due to alopecia, cancer treatments, an autoimmune disease or, like Nell, it's not by circumstance but by choice. Yeah, Nell and her head are both dopeness personified. But it wasn't always that way. Not by a long shot.
The Journey to Becoming a Bona Fide “Baldie”
"Back when I was 17, I was sick of perms and coloring my hair," recalls Nell. "I decided that I wanted to reflect my true identity as a Black woman, so I went natural. But the dance team that I was on at the time had a coach—a Black female coach—who told me that my hair was too 'African-ish'. She said that I would need to straighten my hair, every day, before practice."
As if that wasn't insulting enough, it gets worse. "There was another girl on the team who had natural hair too," Nell went on to explain. "When I asked the coach why she got to keep her hair the way it was, she said it was because her curls were looser."
Wow Nell. Sometimes, it be our own people. "I know," Nell went on. "I was told that if I didn't straighten my hair that I would be kicked off of the team; that meant I would lose my scholarship. So, I broke down and permed my hair. But guess what? A week later, I ended up fracturing my foot. I should've left my hair natural anyway."
Although Nell didn't quite know it at the time, what she experienced as a teenager was preparing her for a path, a passion—a movement. In 2010, after being tired of, even her natural hair (or a texturized version of it), "dictating to her" how much time she spent in the mirror, how good she felt about herself or even how she should appear to others, Nell decided to shave her head bald.
"I wanted to get to a place where I could feel beautiful without my hair," she explains.
Good for you, girl. "Well, it should've been," Nell stated. "But don't you know that I turned right around and hid my head for another six months? I was still so worried about what people would think of me that I wore wigs. Then, one day a guy challenged me to remove the wig. He told me that I needed to 'own my baldness'. I did—and I haven't looked back since."
December of 2012, Nell officially started The Bald Movement (which is now known as The Baldie Movement). In 2015, an older woman by the name of Adrianne encouraged Nell to hold events for other bald women throughout the country. Since, The Baldie Movement has been thriving, thanks to meet-and-greets in places like New York, Atlanta, DC and North Carolina. There is also a "secret" online members-only Facebook community with over 1000 women—all of which are also rockin' bald heads.
"Whenever I go onto the page, it is such a wonderful reminder that I am not the only one like me," says Nell. "I don't have to feel like an 'outsider' or a 'monster' because there are others who are also learning what it means to see the true beauty of themselves."
The Beauty Within The Baldie Movement
When I asked Nell about how the movement has affected others, what she said was powerful. "I conducted my own study on bald women and realized that, especially when the baldness is due to alopecia or some sort of health issue, lots of stress, depression and even suicidal thoughts are things that many women deal with. That's why I wanted to start The Baldie Movement. It's a place where women can feel totally comfortable being their true selves."
Although there are networking events (including a cruise that's coming up in the spring of 2020) and cool baldie gear, Nell admits that what currently makes her the most proud is the online support group. It's one that consists of women all over the country who are (currently) between the ages of 25-60, although the movement also reaches out to children who are bald as well.
"There are so many women who come to the group and that's where they take off their wig and show us their head," says Nell. "It's empowering that they feel safe enough to do that."
When I asked her if there are any rules or guidelines to join the group or the movement at all, Nell paused and then said, "We encourage members to not wear wigs. We're not out here trying to find a 'cure'. A cure for what, exactly? At the end of the day, we have to take our wigs off. Might as well get comfortable without having it on in the first place. I'm a firm believer that hair is like an accessory. It doesn't determine your worth or value—you do."
And What About the Fears One Might Have of Becoming a “Baldie”?
As Nell and I continued to chop it up, I tried to put myself back in the headspace I was in back when I was on the fence about shaving my own head. I shared with her the pressure that I got from an ex because—how do I put this PG-style?—he used to freak out sometimes during our intimate moments; he used to feel like my hairstyle was too masculine.
"Do you really know what I think about men like that? Girl, excuse me, but f—k him. Leave him too. You need to find a man who's gonna love you for you. Any other one really needs to get to steppin' because you shouldn't have to conform to someone to make it work. When people do too much of that in a relationship, both people end up being dissatisfied. Men who love themselves don't care what their woman's hair looks like anyway. Like I said, get to steppin'."
As our conversation came to a close, I had just one more question for Nell. I wanted to know what she says to women who are contemplating going bald, come across her movement but aren't quite sure what to do. "The right questions will give people the best answer," Nell said. "They need to ask themselves if they're afraid. Are they insecure? Is it that they care too much what people think? Do they not feel like they'll get enough support? When they see what is holding them back, that makes it easier to build up the confidence so that they can be like, 'F—k it. This is me. I'm doing it.'"
Nell knows of what she speaks. It was the question, "Why do so many women lose their confidence if they don't have any hair?" that has totally changed her life—totally for the better.
"It's great to know that I can feel beautiful without relying on hair to do it," she admitted. "There's a quote that I live by—'There's nothing more beautiful than a woman who is unafraid to be themselves." True dat.
Y'all, Nell is out here representing to the fullest for the bald women of the world. But does she ever worry that growing her hair back might contradict her brand? "I can just throw a wig on if I feel like I want some hair on my head," she quips. "But as far as growing mine back out, that's not happening. I'm good just like this." Yes Nell. Yes, you are.
Be sure to check out the movement for yourself at The Baldie Movement. Then follow it on Instagram @TheBaldieMovement.
Feature image by instagram.com/maxwillphotography
Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her Initial Fear To Share Her Spiritual Journey With Others
Watching Angela “Blac Chyna” White’s transformation in real-time has truly been a sight to see. It wasn’t that long ago that she announced that she was reversing her cosmetic surgeries in an effort to go back to who she was before the world came to know her as Blac Chyna. In previous interviews, she stated that she was dissolving her facial and lip fillers, removing her breast implants, and getting a butt reduction, as well as removing the dimple piercings that enhanced her fame and controversial tattoos.
In a recent Tamron Hall interview, the mother of two said that she has “fully recovered” from the procedures. She is also celebrating one year of sobriety and opened up about being worried about how her new journey would be received by others.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, right, and of course, like, you know, coming out, I’m like young, I’m gonna do wild things as we all have,” she said.
“...I feel like by me being vocal and showing everybody you can change your life and things can get better, like through myself, that right there is an accomplishment, and that’s a part of freedom, too.”
But as she started on her journey, many people have shown her grace, which is something she’s grateful for. “And then the fact that people have been showing me grace, it’s like amazing,” she said. “And I feel like when I did it, I just did it. It was more so like spiritual thing and I feel like people see that, and I’ve always been like my authentic self, so what you see is kinda what you get with me, and that’s just kinda what it is.”
Chyna, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theology Seminary and Bible College, has also repaired her relationship with her mom, Tokyo Toni. The social media celebrity surprised her daughter on the Tamron Hall Show. Prior to the sentimental surprise, Chyna dished on the reconciliation and having a better understanding of her mom.
“I must say, some of the things I have to take accountability for because, like my actions. As a mother, you don’t want to see your daughter doing certain things ‘cause it’s like it doesn’t matter what my past was or what we’re going through, I didn’t raise you that way,” she admitted. “So, it’s like, okay, maybe I was a little bit wrong. Maybe I was acting out a little bit. But I feel like as we grow older, I kinda see more, and I understand more.”
Chyna will be starring in season two of Fox's reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
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Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images