Nearly 2% of people worldwide battle alopecia, and Jada Pinkett Smith is celebrating her fight. The actress and talk show host recently shared pictures showing her hair’s recent growth.
Pinkett Smith shared two selfies via Instagram showcasing the “Past” and “Present” of her crown’s progress. In the first image from the past, Pinkett Smith shows off her shaved head while wearing a face of flawless makeup. The photo from the present features the mother of two sporting a short, bleach-blonde pixie cut, very reminiscent of her early acting days.
“This here hair is act’n like it’s try’n a make a come back. Still have some trouble spots but — we’ll see✨” she captioned the post.
In 2018, Pinkett Smith opened up about her battle with alopecia. During a segment on Red Table Talk, she revealed her diagnosis due to the questions about her wearing turbans or headwraps.
“I’ve been having issues with hair loss,” she said at the time. “It was terrifying when it first started. I was in the shower one day and had just handfuls of hair in my hands and I was just like, ‘Oh my God, am I going bald?'”
She added, “It was one of those times in my life where I was literally shaking in fear.”
The Girls Trip actress finally chose to do the big chop in 2021. She posted a video of her freshly shaved head, mentioning that she and her alopecia would be “friends.” She also claimed that her daughter, Willow Smith, inspired the cut.
“Willow made me do it because it was time to let go,” she said.
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Pinkett Smith wore her shaved head proudly over the years as a spokesperson for those battling alopecia, especially for Black women. Although her bald head was a sign of strength, it could also draw negative attention.
Chris Rock made Pinkett Smith and her lack of hair the focus of one of his jokes while presenting an award at the Oscars in 2022.
“Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” he quipped from the stage, which caused Will Smith to walk up on stage and stap Rock.
“Keep my wife’s name out your f**king mouth!” he warned the comedian.
Pinkett Smith’s short haircuts have been her trademark since her early acting career.
Her pixie cuts and blonde waves inspired generations of Black women to follow through with the big chop and embrace their natural beauty.
