Black women’s hair has been a topic of conversation for years. It has long been more than just a style—it’s a cultural symbol, a form of self-expression, and often, a source of pride. But for many breast cancer survivors, chemotherapy and other treatments bring the difficult experience of hair loss, challenging personal and cultural beauty norms in profound ways. Despite this, countless Black women have courageously redefined what beauty means to them, embracing short hair or regrowth with a newfound confidence.
Through resilience and a reimagined sense of identity, these women have transformed a process that once seemed like a loss into an empowering journey, where short hair represents strength, healing and an unapologetic self-love that radiates beyond beauty. To quote neo-soul singer India.Arie, “I Am Not My Hair.”
Below 4 women tell their story of finding beauty in a dark place.
Tyra Hagans
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, a major concern of mine was whether the treatment I had to undergo would cause hair loss. As someone who always had long and thick hair (and a licensed cosmetologist), it had become very much a part of my identity. Desperately needing some semblance of control in a powerless situation, I decided to chop it off before it could continue to fall out in clumps. Who knew that cutting my hair would make me feel so free? Though I had not previously been consciously aware of what I was carrying, I could feel years of pain, shame and guilt instantly lift from my shoulders, which gave me the courage to start living in my truth.
Image courtesy of Tyra Hagans.
Image courtesy of Tyra Hagans.
DeLisa Johnigarn
I am a triple negative breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 2022. My cancer journey began in August 2022 when I was diagnosed and given a two-year 65% percent chance of survival. By God’s grace, I am still here and still fighting. I am under the care of UT Southwestern Cancer Center in Dallas, where I receive top-notch treatment. I refuse to let cancer defeat me. Even when I lose my hair, I continue to embrace the beautiful me. Even when my body is weak, I still stand strong and look stunning. Hair loss is not a sign of weakness, nor should it be a reason to be shunned. Those of us experiencing cancer are beautiful on the inside and outside. I have inspired other women facing cancer and other survivors who have lost their hair to embrace their beauty, never hide and show the world our beauty.
Image: courtesy of DeLisa Johnigarn.
Image: courtesy of DeLisa Johnigarn.
Patara
I was on a 15-year journey of growing my Locs before breast cancer. I never planned on cutting my hair, but now that I am a survivor I realize that journey led me to know that my beauty shines from within.
Image: courtesy of Patara.
Image: courtesy of Patara.
Ashley Bell
Over the years, I’ve collected caps, never really wearing them, just storing them for the perfect outfit. I’m not sure exactly what sparked my interest in hats, but I’m glad it happened because those hats have become an important part of helping me regain my “fly” after breast cancer.
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer and realized I was going to lose my hair, I imagined it would be a temporary thing. Without really thinking about it, I somehow imagined my hair would start growing back as soon as I lost it. I hadn’t realized I would remain bald for the entire five months of chemotherapy and a few months after and that it would be a full year before I had a good head of hair to show for myself.
They don’t tell you that your hair doesn’t grow back all perfect and sexy after chemo – far from it! There are a lot of things you may not realize about hair regrowth after cancer until it happens:
Your hair grows back unevenly at varying speeds. The hair on the crown is often the last bit to grow, so it may look like you have a hugely receding hairline for a couple of months with random sprouts of hair at the back and sides. Your hair can grow back an entirely different color. Your perfectly beautiful brown Afro might grow back grey, or your once straight hair can grow back curly, and vice versa. But the important thing is that most people’s hair doesn’t grow back as they would like it to. Furthermore, we often lose the bulk of our eyelashes and eyebrows at the very end of chemotherapy. So just when the treatment is all over, we start looking more like a cancer patient than ever.
People expect me to look good, but underneath the wigs, I am hairless and look quite frankly like a cancer patient. The wigs are hot and uncomfortable, and I fear I am slowing my hair growth by covering my scalp all day. Hence, the hats most of the time.
I’m still self-conscious, especially after brain surgery, but I’m growing more confident with my new baby hair by the day. I would even go as far as to say I love my new hair. Without cancer, I never could have appreciated something so simple as a centimeter of hair growth, but it’s a thing of beauty to me now – a silky soft layer around my head that I can’t stop touching to make sure it’s still there. They do say you appreciate the simple things a lot more after cancer.
Losing your hair can feel a lot like losing your femininity – especially when you lose your breasts, periods and fertility, too. But with the help of my trusty hats and some lip gloss, I can go back to being just me. Another battle won against the big scary ‘C.’
Image: courtesy of Ashley Bell.
Image: courtesy of Ashley Bell.
