​I found that strength and so much more when I gave away my hair. While I’d recommend shaving your head in the summer (I learned this lesson the hard way), I haven’t regretted my decision one bit. In fact, I think every woman should go bald at least once in their lifetime. Here are a few reasons why:

​Get used to hearing, “I wish I had the balls to do that!” This is probably the most common reaction I got from other women when they learned that I was bald on purpose. What I didn’t expect? Even now that my hair has grown back, I’m still that girl that had the balls to shave her head. Baldness may be temporary, but the confidence and self-respect you’ll gain from going hairless lasts forever.

My first day back at work after shaving my head was a real eye-opener. A couple of my coworkers were disgusted (I was equally disgusted with them at this point, so I didn’t really care). But overall, the responses I received were overwhelmingly positive. Some of the employees that I oversaw actually told me that they respected me more as a leader. A few people who had either survived cancer themselves or lost loved ones to the disease just hugged me with tears in their eyes. No words needed.
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When I spoke with another incredibly strong woman who had shaved her head in the past, I felt as though I was now a part of some exclusive society of gutsy women who shared a special bond. My baldness wasn’t just an excuse to wear cute hats; it was a conversation starter, an unspoken understanding, a badge of honor.  

​This is just a practical benefit and a time-saving life hack. No hair = no hassle!

​Being bald gave me a deeper understanding of the struggles that many people face on a daily basis – not just because they’ve lost their hair for any number of reasons, but as a result of any physical difference that may elicit stares from strangers. The first time I went out for a nice dinner with my boyfriend as a bald girl, I was understandably self-conscious. I was more aware of the people around me and their reactions to my bald head. Not being able to blend in easily  was a foreign feeling to me, but it was a healthy reminder that many people don’t have the luxury of “blending in.” 

If you don’t really need your hair, what other things that you consider “necessary” are actually just weighing you down? Donating your hair can inspire you to donate or purge other things that aren’t really making your life any better and might actually be more of a hassle than anything else. Maybe you won’t become a full-blown minimalist, but you’ll put more thought into the things you take for granted every day. 

If I’ve convinced you to donate your hair, visit the Wigs for Kids website, where you can learn more about the process. Wigs for Kids provides hairpieces for children free of cost and they make it easy to donate!

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure.

This post is the first in a series of stories from my fellow Outdoor Mindset members. Outdoor Mindset's mission is to unite and empower people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion for the outdoors.

I'm excited to share our first guest post from Chandlee, who lives in Vermont. Here's her story:

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure.

​For the last several years, I’ve been an active member of an organization called Outdoor Mindset. Founded in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, its mission is to unite and empower people affected by neurological challenges through a common passion for the outdoors.