In a world where hair is often seen as a symbol of beauty, especially in Indian culture, Neehar Sachdeva, an influencer based in the US, challenged these norms by embracing her baldness on her wedding day. Walking down the aisle with confidence, Neehar showed that true beauty comes from self-acceptance.

Neehar's journey with Alopecia

Neehar Sachdeva was diagnosed with alopecia when she was just six months old. For those unfamiliar, alopecia is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss. Interestingly, after her mundan ceremony, her hair grew back, but the condition resurfaced when she was in elementary school, leading to patchy hair loss.

Throughout her childhood, Neehar wore wigs, even while attending school, as her family encouraged keeping her condition a secret. However, this did not shield her from bullying. Reflecting on her experiences, she told Brown Girl Magazine, "The fact that we belonged to South Asian culture played a huge part in my family being so scared and secretive. At no fault to my parents because that was just how they were raised, but seeing them worry about what people thought, worry about what society would think, and worry about presenting ourselves in this way in front of people moulded how I thought about it. It moulded my impressions of being ashamed, hiding behind my wig or being so secretive about it."

Walking Down the Aisle with Confidence

Neehar recently tied the knot, and what captured everyone's attention wasn’t just her stunning bridal attire but her bold decision to flaunt her bald head. In the shared pictures and videos, Neehar is seen in a gorgeous red lehenga adorned with golden and white embroidery, along with hints of green. She paired it with a white dupatta draped over her shoulder and mint-hued jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, rings, a nath, kaleere, chooda, and a maang teeka.

The video begins with Neehar walking down the aisle with her head covered by a red veil. However, midway, she gracefully removed the veil, proudly revealing her baldness. Her makeup was minimal, with defined eyebrows and nude shades, perfectly complementing her natural beauty.

From bullying to empowerment

Despite the challenges, Neehar’s story is one of resilience. In 2021, she became the face of the Magazine’s campaign, The Bald Brown Bride, which aimed to normalize baldness for brides. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, "My bullies became my biggest cheerleaders." This transformation highlighted how self-acceptance could inspire others to embrace their uniqueness.

Nearly four years after the campaign, Neehar’s decision to walk down the aisle as a bald bride proved just how much she believed in the message she once advocated for.

Redefining beauty standards

Neehar Sachdeva’s wedding wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a bold statement challenging traditional beauty norms. In a culture where hair is often linked to femininity and beauty, Neehar’s confidence redefined what it means to be beautiful. Her story is a powerful reminder that beauty is not about fitting into societal molds but about embracing who you truly are.