Dash Lopez Is Bringing Visibility to Bald Women in Beauty

A 10-year veteran of beauty space, creator Dash Lopez I know one or two things people do on the internet. Five years ago, she began sharing her journey after making the decision to shave her head. This is a choice that completely influenced her brand trajectory. “I didn’t know how to show up in a traditional way, so I wanted to show up on social in a less traditional way,” Lopez said of who wears what. “Sometimes you have a creator’s dismorphia, and you can’t really see yourself all the time because it ruins you.”

She began rethinking the kind of content she felt was loyal to her and began to connect with her followers. This ultimately led to her creation of her Instagram video series Friday’s fresh cutshe goes through her full scalpcare routine after a fresh shaving. Over time, the video has become popular in addition to other content, helping to nurture the community and empower other bald women across the country. “The main thing I aim to make everyone on the same page is to live in their truth, own their stories, whether it’s by choice or not, and they’re still beautiful.”

Below, we will learn how her journey and delving into her strength as a bald woman is challenging the beauty industry.

What first sparked the idea to shave your head? How would you explain the beginning of that journey?

The journey began, and I wanted to connect with myself on a deeper level. At the time, I didn’t realize that it was something I was doing with my haircut. At first, I didn’t have to think about my hair tomorrow or the next day, so it was about maintenance. It was very convenient and I felt powerful, but I didn’t realize how powerful it was until I started meeting people in my daily life and started talking about why I chose to make that decision.

Society has a relationship between hair and identity. What was the relationship for you before you made that decision?

I felt that the driving force was undoubtedly separated from the whole rhetoric of “good, bad hair.” I grew up in a Dominican community. My mother and I were Afro Latina and we were in the salon every weekend watching the women from my family do their hair. I had a hair texture that was noticeably different from the other women in my family, and they feel like I internalized the notion that I can’t cut it or cut it or do anything to tamper with or tamper with it. In hindsight, I think I rejected the idea that without my hair I wouldn’t be that beautiful.

When you think about ways to empower other women in your position, do you think there is a cultural connection to it too?

Thousand percent. I think about cultural ties, as it even influences conversations around my hair with women in my family. My mother chose to become a naturalist and no longer let her hair relax chemically. I was open about women, especially women of color, who found products that suit alopecia, hair loss, and hair texture, and many people decided that they didn’t need to, or wanted to deal with, that they would not have to. Being able to step into that choice definitely shifted conversations with women in my community about the meaning of having good or bad hair culturally and how I can expose it.

You know… you do something for yourself and you see how it makes you feel. You are sitting with it and that’s your journey. But opening the floor with the aim of others telling their stories and amplifying their voices in ways they didn’t know you could, and it really changes your perspective. It’ll be bigger than you. You realize it’s not just about hair. It is to find purpose, beauty and empowerment through other things. I always say it’s like when you lose one sense. Your other senses have become stronger and this community has shown it to me. It may seem very frivolous at first, but when you have a woman reaching out to you about how they were empowered, it’s an impact.

When someone makes the decision to shave their head, it is often seen and treated differently than when someone loses their hair for medical reasons. Why do you think it is and what do you think you challenge those reactions by appearing as your real self?

Whether it’s a choice or not, you’re still facing the way people perceive you. I think the main thing I’m challenging is that we should not recognize anything. As kids, we are taught not to tease people because of their appearance, but when it comes to hair, we find ourselves confident in asking personal questions like, “Do you have cancer?” Or “Are you sick?” In fact, the illness doesn’t see it. For example, you can deal with cancer, but still have perfect hair. These assumptions can be very hurtful and ignorant, as they mean that someone cannot find beauty in a way that transcends social expectations.

Someone is able to ald your choice and is empowered. On the other hand, someone may be bald and still going through the process of trying to find themselves, but that is a direct result of what society has taught them.

You will be attending Baldie Con later this year. What does it mean to you to have an event dedicated to a bald woman?

It’s going to be a very long time Baldie Con It’s just one of the great events the community has put together. One of my favourite brands is Baldare Scalpcareand they’re hosting Baldie Brunch in September. We love to see a comeback of all this stuff happening as we need community and support outside of support groups that are often very dull, cold and quiet. We deserve an environment where we dress up and feel feminine. That’s what I like about these revitalizations. They empower women to showcase women in a way that makes them feel most empowered and beautiful, unrelated to their hair.

People are questioning whether your hair is somehow challenging your femininity, but I think events like this really emphasize it even more that it makes it stronger.

Your fresh cut Friday video reminds the beauty industry that bald women are the majority of the conversation when it comes to finding hair and scalp products that provide quality. Do you think you’re assuming people aren’t?

Absolutely, and even the main comments I’ve got from some people, namely other bald people who have never been in the usual way, “Why are you doing it all? Just use alcohol, petrolatum jelly and call it a day.” I’m like, “Well, no.” I’m not a licensed aesthetician, but if I take a shower and shave and then nourish it, I’m going to do the same with my scalp because it’s still skin. It felt very easy for me, and when I started sharing it, it kicked off that conversation that ScalpCare is skincare.

It is depicted by so many different people, the girls of Bardo, and even girls with hair. They sit down and they look and say, “Oh, wow, I’m going to experience accumulation and flakes, so I should strip my scalp.” scalpcare is something that everyone can benefit and I love it Friday’s fresh cut I emphasized that.

How has your beauty regimen evolved?

I am someone who loves the after-shower experience and my scalpcare routine has become truly spiritual practice and ritual. I’ve been doing this for 5 years and started sharing it on social. I feel it’s powerful, but I also show people what I’m doing and teach them that this is something they can do too. Having a routine will provide you with nutrition to make you feel better. And I want people to know that people feel calm even when they lean towards that self-care.

What are your favorite products you currently use? What do you have in your rotation?

I’m very consistent with many of the things I use, but my favorite Scalpcare brand is Baldare Scalpcare. It was created by a bald woman for firmness. We don’t have many Scalpcare products there, so the fact that she is one of the few people who are truly pioneering is fantastic. Briogeo is also one of the few brands with an entire scalp revival line, and anyone can benefit from it, whether it has long hair or not.

The biggest concerns people ask me [about is] How I shave grain without getting out and aftercare is a big part of that. I think a lot of that needs to be done [with] Decorative hair pads for first aid beauty. Naturium and Pola’s Choice There is also BHA peeling, which is very suitable for removing impurities from pores.

What do you give to someone who is traveling like you, or who thinks they have a shaved head?

There are a lot of comments like, “I wish I could do this and get my hair back together.” …For anyone, even those struggling with the decision to do it because of health issues, I think it is probably the most powerful, shocking and healthy form of separation you will experience in your life. It definitely transcends beyond other spaces and helps you find empowerment in those spaces.

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