No hair? No problem. Your beauty, your rules.
There's something rather wonderful about the freedom to experiment with your appearance. And when you're bald or rocking a close crop, your face, features and personal style can take on a whole new prominence.
But let's get one thing straight. Being bald doesn't mean you have to wear dramatic make-up, enormous earrings or dress up every time you leave the house.
Some women love a full face of make-up. Others prefer a little lip gloss and mascara. And plenty are perfectly happy with a freshly moisturised face and nothing else.
All beautiful. All valid.
At Hair Not Necessary, we're interested in exploring the possibilities, sharing beauty discoveries and having fun with the looks that appeal to us.
Your Face Takes Centre Stage
One of the first things you might notice when you shave your head is how differently you see your facial features.
Your cheekbones, eyes, eyebrows, jawline and smile may become more noticeable without hair framing your face.
And this opens up some interesting possibilities.
Perhaps you've always wanted to experiment with a stronger lip colour. Maybe you've never considered trying a little highlighter or changing the shape of your eyebrows.
Or perhaps you're now noticing facial features you hadn't paid much attention to before.
There's no need to change anything, of course. But if you enjoy make-up, being bald can be a wonderful opportunity to experiment.
The Eyes Have It
Without a fringe or hairstyle surrounding your face, eye make-up can become a particularly striking feature.
Think beautifully defined brows, subtle eyeliner, a little mascara or an eyeshadow colour that complements your skin tone.
For a daytime look, you might prefer soft browns, warm neutrals or a simple sweep of colour.
For an evening out, perhaps a smoky eye, metallic shadow or a bold eyeliner.
And if you've experienced eyebrow or eyelash loss through alopecia or medical treatment, there are products and techniques that can help you create the appearance you prefer, should you wish to.
A good brow pencil, powder or suitable cosmetic product can make a difference to the look you're trying to achieve.
The important thing is finding an approach that works for you, rather than feeling obliged to recreate features you've lost.
Let's Talk Lips
A fabulous lipstick can be an accessory in its own right.
Red, plum, berry, coral, nude, pink. There are so many possibilities, and the right shade is simply the one you enjoy wearing.
Personally drawn to a striking red? Go for it.
Prefer a barely-there gloss? That works too.
You can experiment with contrasting your lip colour against your outfit, matching your make-up to your jewellery or choosing something that complements your natural skin tone.
And if you discover a shade you absolutely love, why not make it your signature?
There's no rule that says you have to change your make-up every time the trends change.
Bald Beauty Across Different Skin Tones
One thing we'd love to see more of is beauty inspiration that genuinely represents women of different ethnicities, ages and skin tones.
What looks wonderful on one person may need adjusting for another.
Foundation undertones, blush colours, highlighters and lip shades don't work identically across every complexion.
And for women with deeper skin tones, finding products that complement their complexion without leaving an unwanted grey or ashy appearance can still take some searching.
That's why we want The Bald Edit to feature a range of women, make-up artists, beauty professionals and products.
We want recommendations that reflect the women who are actually part of our community.
When Your Skin Needs Extra Care
For women experiencing hair loss during cancer treatment or other medical conditions, beauty routines may require a little more consideration.
Some treatments can leave skin dry, sensitive or more vulnerable to irritation.
Gentle products, clean make-up brushes and advice from your healthcare team can be especially important.
Beauty should be enjoyable, not something that makes your skin uncomfortable.
The UK charity Look Good Feel Better offers free beauty and skincare workshops for people affected by cancer, including practical guidance on make-up, eyebrows and changes to appearance.
Your Beauty, Your Decision
Perhaps the most interesting thing about bald beauty is how personal it is.
Some women discover a whole new enthusiasm for make-up after shaving their heads.
Others realise they need far less than they previously thought.
Some change their entire style. Others simply carry on being exactly who they've always been.
And isn't that the point?
There's no single way to be a beautiful bald woman.
You can be glamorous, understated, fashionable, practical, adventurous or somewhere in between.
The Bald Edit will explore beauty products, make-up techniques, expert tips and interesting finds to help you discover what appeals to you.
We'll also be asking our community to share their favourite products, beauty routines and the things they've learned along the way.
Because sometimes the best recommendation comes from another woman who's already tried it.
Hair Not Necessary. Beauty Always Personal.
Bald. Buzzed. Bold.
