Pressley Reveals Baldness, Discusses Alopecia For First Time

BOSTON — U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley loves experimenting with different hairstyles. Her Senegalese and bomb twists became a large part of her political brand and a symbol of recognition for black women and girls across the country. But lately, wigs have been her source of expression.

Pressley decided to go public on the reason why in an interview with the Root. She was diagnosed with alopecia, a condition where the body attacks healthy hair follicles. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, the hair follicles become smaller and slow down to the point hair growth may stop.

For Pressley, going public was a difficult decision for her but an important one because she believes it's important to be transparent, accept herself and show power in her "new normal."

Since being diagnosed, she would lose hair from her scalp every morning and try to hide the growing baldness as her Capitol Hill schedule became more and more demanding.

"I've only been bald in the privacy of my home and in the company of close friends," Pressley told the Root."

Pressley lost her final piece of hair the night before President Donald Trump's impeachment, which happened to also be the anniversary of her mother's death.

“I was missing her," Pressley said. "I was mourning my hair. I was mourning the state of our democracy. I was mourning my mentor, Chairman Elijah Cummings."

Pressley said she knew her bald head would be viewed as a political message because she had already been accused of being "militant" while wearing the hair in twists. She called her friend who got her in touch with Jamal Edmonds, a stylist who created a wig for Pressley hours before the impeachment vote.

And now, Pressley has a few wigs, some of which she names after the women who have inspired her.

"One I call 'FLOTUS' because it feels very Michelle Obama to me, [and another] I call 'Tracee,' because it feels very Tracee Ellis Ross to me," Pressley told the Root.

Pressley told the Root she's still trying to make peace with the diagnosis but said she's making progress towards accepting it daily.

Though she’s still in the process of making peace with having alopecia, Pressley added that she’s making progress every day.

"It’s about self-agency. It's about power. It's about acceptance," Pressley said.

She has continued to share her journey in a video with the Root. See her journey below: