Exclusively by Mo Clark
Hair has always been more than legs – it is a crown of glory, an identity shield and for many black women, a vibrant reflection of durability. In every twist, braid, curl, or even bald, there is a story of power, survival and self -determination. For the survivors and the Nurses, the journey of the wreath’s arms is deeply tied to the healing, the confidence and the courage to boldly stand up to authenticity. Dr. Jacque She is committed to doing her role to train and restore.
HH: Hair has been described as both a crown and a shield for black women. How does your hair trip – through different styles and seasons of life – making a reflection of your treatment and durability?
For many black women, our hair is more than just an accessory. It is an expression of our identity, our history and our spirit. It was indeed both a crown and a shield, but for me, it became something transformed. A living canvas of my journey through treatment and resilience.
In every age of my life, my hair has told me a story. When cancer took my hair out of my head, it was the final stripping of what it felt as part of my substance, but soon I realized it was completely okay. I was bald, but in this baldness, I chose to celebrate and lift my crown. I made it an act of deep self-love. It was my way to say, “Even without the hair, I’m whole. I am beautiful. I am me.”
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Through the journey from baldness to the gradual growth of my hair, wearing braids, I was determined to throw it away. My only requirement was that my head and hair look at least neat. In this process, I realized that true beauty and trust do not come from style to your head, but from the spirit you carry. My hair became a symbol of my steadfast spirit, my determination to show and my commitment to live with gratitude and joy.
My trip to my hair has taught that durability is not about avoiding change, but for hug. It is about finding power in vulnerability and celebrating every step of the trip. Today, my hair continues to take her own life. Different challenges abound, and sometimes this requires laughter and we just remember that I’m not my hair.
HH: Positivitea pressure was born both from survival and purpose. How do you see the connection between beauty rituals, such as hair care, and the emotional well -being you do through your non -profit organization?
The relationship between beauty rituals and emotional well -being lies at the core of our mission to push Positivitea. It is the belief that in order to really heal, we must take care of himself completely, not only a part of himself, but from the deeper inner spirit of the person to the crown of the head.
For me, one of my paddocks was always simple, but strong: “Look well. You feel good, do good.”
Beauty rituals, such as hair care, are not just vanity. They are acts of self-care that are really beautiful. In a time of survival, when everything can sometimes feel out of your control, the simple act of washing your hair, or in my case, lubricating my bald head, style a wig or carefully eliminated a braid can be an anchor. It is a rehabilitation ritual. A moment to look in the mirror and confirm your value, knowing that in every way, you are good enough!
To Drinking positivesEmpowering someone with financial support to focus on treatment also means that he is given the peace of mind to participate in these restoration rituals. Our focus is not to generalize, as the journey is different for everyone. Nevertheless, we believe that when you are feeling well inside, you can fully appear in the world. And when you look good and feel good, you are authorized to do good for yourself and for your community.
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HH: During your treatment, you chose to appear with boldness – teaching a full Zumba class on the same day. What is the role that movement, style and self-expression play in helping you regain your joy and power?
For me, motion, style and self-expression are not just treatment tools. They are the very vehicles through which I restored my joy and power.
I always believed in the symbiotic relationship between a strong body and a strong mind. Starting camps lessons are a proof of it. Teaching boot camp on the same day of my surgery in 2008, not recommended for anyone, so please don’t do that! 🙂
This is what I was in healing, the appearance to teach was an act of disobedience against the disease that was trying to slow me. It was my way to show myself that even when my body was struggling at a cellular level, my spirit remained unbreakable. Every burpee, every push-up, every happy voice in class was a claim of life.
This is where style and self-expression come in. I chose to wear bold, colorful clothes and even when I was a bald-as a visual manifestation of my inner joy. And, in those days, when I didn’t feel so cute, I just shook the cute head scarf I could find. The style was a statement. It was a refusal to let cancer determine me. It was an expression of power and a statement that I would not decrease.
Moving and style with me allowed me to get back in control of my narrative. It was a way to say, “I’m here, I’m strong, I’m handsome, I’m happy.” They helped me realize that our power is not only about what we can afford, but for our ability to find and express joy in the midst of adversity
HH: For many women, hair is linked to self -confidence and cultural identity. How do you encourage other survivors to embrace their “crown” as part of their therapeutic journey, especially when the disease or treatment change the way they see themselves?
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This is a beautiful and deep personal question, because every woman’s relationship with her hair is unique. While my journey included the hug of the baldness and later the rocking braids, I never want to prescribe a single path to another survivor. The goal is not to look like me, per se, or to do just as I did. The goal is to feel like yourself again.
When I was first diagnosed in 2008, the options for hair replacement and style were more limited. Today, there are incredible developments in wig technology, a beautiful head wrap and innovative hair care products that allow women to explore what feels more authentic to them. I think the conversation has been shifted from “what have I lost?” “What can I recover and redefine?”
My message to other survivors is not for the style you have to choose, but for permission to choose. Your “crown” is what makes you feel more like you in this new season of your life. It is the wig that makes you feel strong, the head that makes you feel beautiful or the mere courage to hug your naked head.
The real work of healing is to find your own sense of power and self -determination. I encourage every survivor to explore the best products available today and find the choice that allows them to look in the mirror and see their power to reflect back to them. At the end of the day, a woman’s crown is not just on her head. It is in the unbreakable spirit it carries.
This month of suicide prevention, trigger a strong discussion of beauty and mental health. What do you hope for women – especially women of color – take away from your message to honor their crown and restore their trust?
This discussion of beauty and mental health, especially during the month of suicide prevention, is so vital. It is the pull behind the veil and the recognition that our external expression is deeply tied to our inner state. In a world where beauty patterns can be standardized to speak and cultural standards can change, it is my greatest hope that women, especially women of color, removing this simple but revolutionary message: Your value is not defined by external beauty standards and your own In your mental health.
For a long time, women of color have carried the weight of both external and internal pressures to comply with the rigid ideal beauty. This relentless effort can be an invisible weight that drains our trust and erodes the sense of self -esteem.
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By choosing to honor our crowns – whether it is bald head, wig, weaving, or our natural texture – we restore our narratives. We say that our value is inherent, our beauty is a genetic right and our well -being is non -negotiable.
I want all women to understand that recovering their trust is not a passive act. It is an active practice of self-acceptance. It is to allow ourselves to be authentic, to be vulnerable and to seek help when we need it. The true power is not to suffer silently, but to speak our truth, to raise each other, and to remind ourselves that we are beautiful, we are worthy and we are not alone. Continue to push and don’t let social noise push you to the edge of your return – your world needs, whether you have hair or not! You’re beautiful!
As we honor the month of suicide prevention, this discussion with Dr. Jacque reminds us that beauty is not bound by the standards of society-is anchored in self-love, emotional well-being and power to regain our crowns in any form. Whether decorated with curls, scarves, wigs, or proud naked, our crowns remain symbols of durability and value. Let this serve as a call to women everywhere: you love your crown, cultivate your spirit and never forget that your beauty – and your life – are incalculable gifts in this world.
