Mom Spends Hours Painting Daughter’s Bald Head For Her Senior Year Portraits, And The Result Is Beautiful
Having a positive mindset and the support of your beloved ones really helps when life throws you a challenge. High school student Madisyn Babcock (17) is living with alopecia – a disease that causes hair loss – so when her senior photoshoot was just around the corner, Madisyn and her mom came up with a genius idea that would dramatically boost her confidence.
Embracing her natural beauty and raising awareness for her condition, Madisyn asked her mother to cover her head with paintings of flowers. “My mother’s always been an inspiring artist,” Babcock told A Plus. “As someone who always encourages me to be my true self and loves flowers, I knew my mother was the perfect person to paint my head.”
It wasn’t the first time when Madisyn stood in front of local photographer Chelsea Taylor’s lens. “Madisyn has had a positive attitude about the loss of her hair since day one, and has used this as an opportunity to show other girls how to love themselves and own their beauty- even if it isn’t conventional,” Taylor said. “Madisyn’s mom spent hours drawing out the design and painting it on the morning of her shoot. It turned out beautifully, and her images are a direct reflection of her spirit!”
“I chose flowers because they fit me as a person,” Babcock added. “I feel I’ve really blossomed into the person I’m supposed to be.” She also said that her mom didn’t just apply paint. “It signified every single moment we’ve gone through with the process of high school. I have an entirely new perspective on life than I did when I began high school, and in that moment I think we both saw growth in ourselves.”
More info: Chelsea Taylor
Meet Madisyn Babcock, a student suffering from alopecia – a disease that causes hair loss
Instead of hiding it, she decided to embrace it for her senior photoshoot
The 17-year-old and her mom came up with a beautiful idea
Madisyn asked her mother to cover her head with paintings of flowers
“My mother’s always been an inspiring artist. As someone who always encourages me to be my true self and loves flowers, I knew my mother was the perfect person to paint my head”
“It signified every single moment we’ve gone through with the process of high school”
“I have an entirely new perspective on life than I did when I began high school, and in that moment I think we both saw growth in ourselves”
You are so beautiful you don't need hair. You eyes are piercingly gorgeous.
While the gesture of painting her scalp is absolutely touching and lovely, there's equally absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a wig of hair if she wishes.
I doubt she did this because she feels bad about wearing a wig. It seems more likely that she just wanted to feel less self conscious about her condition by turning it into art.
Load More Replies...You're so lovely!! I inherited Alopecia from my mom, and it can be very hard to accept, especially when you're young. You rock, Madesyn!
I would just point out that "alopecia" is not a disease or a diagnosis, it is just the medical term for hair loss. What this young lady has is likely alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing non-scarring (reversible) hair loss. The good news is, it is eminently treatable, especially given the very promising results of tofacitinib in recent clinical trials.
While it is treatable, the treatments usually require ongoing treatment in order to maintain regrowth. The side effects of immune system suppressor like tofacitinib are not always worth it, and not every doctor will prescribe. I've had alopecia areata for 4 years and tried every treatment I could for a good year, including steroid injections into scalp and topical immunotherapy treatments. Like this young lady I've accepted my baldness and shave my head a few times a week, I have about 50% of my hair in patches. As a woman it's difficult to see your hair fall out and it takes a lot of courage to go patchy bald in public, people stare, especially children. I'm glad she's putting this out there for our fellow AA ladies.
Load More Replies...You are a beautiful person! If someone else says different, they are projecting something about themselves, and that has NOTHING to do with you!
I see lots of positive comments here, about how beautiful she is, but I don't think this is the point... I suffer from alopecia myself and have chosen to wear a wig. It has nothing to do with beauty. The problem is that hairloss is associated with ilness. Also, hairloss is socially accepted for men, but not for women. It is a tough situation. For me it has less to do with beauty and more to do with normalcy. The woman in the pics: of course she is beautiful and painting her head is a great gesture. But most of all, I praise her for her courage.
Girl, you rock that bald head. You are beautiful, seriously, model beautiful. When I had cancer I loved my bald head. It was so freeing. I'm no longer bald but my once to my hips hair stays very very short. I love it. I can open a car widow and not eat my hair. I swim and just put a towel to my head and it's dry. No bed head. Rock it sister!
You can see a sweet soul shining through those eyes. A woman who realizes people are more than their looks.
have niece who has lost her hair from lupus, is can see her pain has turned to joy with this girl i only wish my cousin can become such a supportive father as this girls mother has become. i have faith in him, she is so wonderful.
This young lady is soooo gorgeous! I am affected with the same auto immune disorder and embraced it waaaaay too late in life. So very proud of your bravery Madisyn. #baldchicksrock!
This young lady is gorgeous. I have the same auto immune disorder and embraced it waaaaay too late in life. Soooooo proud of you Madisyn!!!
Beautiful! I would like to ask permission to have the sideways shot be a reference for my next painting project, if it's okay.
"You belong among the wildflowers... you belong somewhere you can feel free."
I agree with many she is a beautiful young lady. She doesn't need hair. A warm smile and those beautiful eyes. It was wonderful for her to bring her mom in on her pictures. Her mom did a great job and it will be something that she will cherish in her memories always.
This makes it looks like het baldness is something that should be covered, as though it is ugly or shameful. It isn't. She's beautiful as she is.
Wow, I got downvotes for saying baldness is nothing to be ashamed off and saying she’s beautiful 🤔
Load More Replies...When someone is this deeply beautiful, you hardly need to guild the lily, but nice work mom. I hope she knows that you can buy hair, but you can't buy that face.
So true! There are a lot of beautiful, realistic looking wigs out there! But her face is STUNNING!
Load More Replies...O my goodness, this beautiful girl, is so inspiring, she shows that it dosent matter what you look like to be beautiful. Congrats on graduating, you’ll go far.
Not many women can pull off the bald head look and you my dear absolutely can you look stunning, radiant, gorgeous , and every other positive thing I️ can't think of right now. You are an amazing inspiration to people and hopefully someone with the same troubles can see how strong and confident you are and it will show them how to also be a confident strong person
Beautiful! A friend (she was also my neighbor) from my high school also got alopecia during high school. She used to wore a knitted net-like hat. And now she wears a wig. But she would never take the net-like hat off in front of other friends even though you saw her baldness through it. This would have been beautiful on her too. Really love this head painting! A beautiful masterpiece! Compliments to both of them!
I have a very close friend who has got alopecia about 10yrs ago, she had a head of long blonde hair and then was 100% hairless within a couple of months, it was hard to watch her self esteem go down and i told her again and again "you're beautiful with or without hair", i know its easy for me to say that but she has now accepted this is her and once she has embraced it she is a lot happier with herself, i understand a woman losing her hair is a massive deal but the same thing here. You are so beautiful Madisyn, you and your mom are amazing, be strong and don't ever let anyone get you down.
You are very brave embracing it the way you did, but it turns out you look absolutely fantastic! (..and that is one seriously cool mom you got right there!) Keep that smile on, it's contagious!
I think both women are amazing, beautiful in mind, body and soul. Very inspiring.
Beautiful. My 5 year old great niece has had alopecia since the age of two. She has a twin with a full head of blonde curly long hair. My beautiful Hope used to say " I ain't got no hair"
I really want to say something long and super deep, but really all I can think of to say is this: You are beautiful and your mom is a wonderful artist. Keep being like this and you will go far!
Great story. I can imagine it is very hard for a teenage girl to lose her hair.
I hope that you read this, Madisyn, as well as any other sufferers. Alopecia Areata CAN be cured by doctors in Thailand using mesotherapy. I developed serious alopecia in about 2003 and was cured in Thailand. There is a clinic in BB Building, Asok Montri Rd. in Bangkok called TrueDerma that I have used. The doctor is a professor of dermatology, Professor Montree and he's a lovely man. I highly recommend him. Email: umontree@gmail.com
Beautiful! Beauty on the inside and the outside. You are so inspiring, not just to those who suffer from alopecia but to those around the world. You are gorgeous! And your mother is VERY talented.
Why did the tattoo change sides in the pictures? First on her right side ... towards the end on her left side. Just asking.
My guess would be that the author flipped the one photo so that the two photo's look more similar (i.e. same angle) for comparison's sake.
Load More Replies...A fantastic idea you can do anything, your one beautiful person, so many who suffer hair loss through illnesses from one kind or another will be inspired by you and your mother with this art work. People don’t seem to realise how beautiful they are without hair, this idea will help them to feel good about themselves, my love goes out to all who have hair loss including the men out there remember your Beautiful 💞💞
This is a very beautiful story about this beautiful girl that that has the courage to stand up for herself
U both should cover the market with decals for women who’ve lost hair!
Your senior pictures are the most beautiful I have ever seen because of your heart and positive attitude, not just because of your beautiful skin, eyes and smile. May God bless you abundantly.
Absolutely stunning! Who needs hair when you're as gorgeous as you are!
A genius idea and the turnout was remarkable! It made Madisyn from beautiful to stunningly beautiful! I see she has tattoos - if it were me I'd have those very flowers tattooed on my head; same flowers, same colors. It's brilliant!
Madisyn you are beautiful ! My daughter has aleopecia ! She is beautiful also . Be proud of who you are ! Beautiful young lady ! 💟
With a gorgeous face and smile like that do people really focus on her scalp? If they do, they're the handicapped ones.
Have to agree with others very beautiful young lady. I hope she never bothers with a wig or puts tattoos on her scalp there is just no need. Very cool idea to have her mom paint the flowers it will be something they will both cherish and remember the rest of their lives.
What an amazing story! A beautiful medium for her Mother to paint upon! Your photos were gorgeous!!
My brother's wife (whom we all hate) is a stay at home mum, even though her kids are almost 20. She had a breakdown and told us it was because she had alopecia. She spent £2k on a human hair wig without telling my brother, which subsequently meant they couldn't afford their mortgage that month. Her 'alopecia' was a tiny 2mm x 2mm patch underneath all of her hair and wasn't visible at all. She should read about this awesome girl and stop being so self pitying.
Or you should stop being a jerk and your brother should start being supportive.
Load More Replies...This is the most beautiful thing ever! You're so gorgeous, especially those jaw dropping eyes!!
You have an ethereal beauty! You have a glow that comes from within you! That is your gorgeous soul shining through! Hair would only detract from that incredibly almost "unearthly" beauty! I would expect (after these photos are seen) that if you wish to take them up on it...you WILL have a modeling contract within a month or two! Choose carefully, for I predict that ALL of the agencies are going to fight over you!
I have a friend with alopecia, and I've seen her worry and frustration. However, you have beautiful head (many people have very misshapen skulls!), and you look more beautiful without your hair--you are all aglow.
I wish i could have the courage you do to always be myself 💕 you are amazing!
Is that first picture with long flowing hair her? If not, who is it? And why?
It’s her, looks like they’re just showing the difference with a wig and without.
Load More Replies...Hard enough for guys to loose their hair, harder still for women. But to adopt such a brutally strong attitude is commendable. She looks truly stunning!! Maybe we need to find a male equivalent to stop male pattern baldness crippling our confidence and self esteem?!
Says the person with a murdered & severely mutilated actress' nick name as his screen name. Btw, how is Madisyn a stripper name? I'm honestly confused.
Load More Replies...Give her a break, she's been through tough times! If I was her parent, I'd let her get the tattoos if it made her feel more confident about herself.
Load More Replies...You are so beautiful you don't need hair. You eyes are piercingly gorgeous.
While the gesture of painting her scalp is absolutely touching and lovely, there's equally absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a wig of hair if she wishes.
I doubt she did this because she feels bad about wearing a wig. It seems more likely that she just wanted to feel less self conscious about her condition by turning it into art.
Load More Replies...You're so lovely!! I inherited Alopecia from my mom, and it can be very hard to accept, especially when you're young. You rock, Madesyn!
I would just point out that "alopecia" is not a disease or a diagnosis, it is just the medical term for hair loss. What this young lady has is likely alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing non-scarring (reversible) hair loss. The good news is, it is eminently treatable, especially given the very promising results of tofacitinib in recent clinical trials.
While it is treatable, the treatments usually require ongoing treatment in order to maintain regrowth. The side effects of immune system suppressor like tofacitinib are not always worth it, and not every doctor will prescribe. I've had alopecia areata for 4 years and tried every treatment I could for a good year, including steroid injections into scalp and topical immunotherapy treatments. Like this young lady I've accepted my baldness and shave my head a few times a week, I have about 50% of my hair in patches. As a woman it's difficult to see your hair fall out and it takes a lot of courage to go patchy bald in public, people stare, especially children. I'm glad she's putting this out there for our fellow AA ladies.
Load More Replies...You are a beautiful person! If someone else says different, they are projecting something about themselves, and that has NOTHING to do with you!
I see lots of positive comments here, about how beautiful she is, but I don't think this is the point... I suffer from alopecia myself and have chosen to wear a wig. It has nothing to do with beauty. The problem is that hairloss is associated with ilness. Also, hairloss is socially accepted for men, but not for women. It is a tough situation. For me it has less to do with beauty and more to do with normalcy. The woman in the pics: of course she is beautiful and painting her head is a great gesture. But most of all, I praise her for her courage.
Girl, you rock that bald head. You are beautiful, seriously, model beautiful. When I had cancer I loved my bald head. It was so freeing. I'm no longer bald but my once to my hips hair stays very very short. I love it. I can open a car widow and not eat my hair. I swim and just put a towel to my head and it's dry. No bed head. Rock it sister!
You can see a sweet soul shining through those eyes. A woman who realizes people are more than their looks.
have niece who has lost her hair from lupus, is can see her pain has turned to joy with this girl i only wish my cousin can become such a supportive father as this girls mother has become. i have faith in him, she is so wonderful.
This young lady is soooo gorgeous! I am affected with the same auto immune disorder and embraced it waaaaay too late in life. So very proud of your bravery Madisyn. #baldchicksrock!
This young lady is gorgeous. I have the same auto immune disorder and embraced it waaaaay too late in life. Soooooo proud of you Madisyn!!!
Beautiful! I would like to ask permission to have the sideways shot be a reference for my next painting project, if it's okay.
"You belong among the wildflowers... you belong somewhere you can feel free."
I agree with many she is a beautiful young lady. She doesn't need hair. A warm smile and those beautiful eyes. It was wonderful for her to bring her mom in on her pictures. Her mom did a great job and it will be something that she will cherish in her memories always.
This makes it looks like het baldness is something that should be covered, as though it is ugly or shameful. It isn't. She's beautiful as she is.
Wow, I got downvotes for saying baldness is nothing to be ashamed off and saying she’s beautiful 🤔
Load More Replies...When someone is this deeply beautiful, you hardly need to guild the lily, but nice work mom. I hope she knows that you can buy hair, but you can't buy that face.
So true! There are a lot of beautiful, realistic looking wigs out there! But her face is STUNNING!
Load More Replies...O my goodness, this beautiful girl, is so inspiring, she shows that it dosent matter what you look like to be beautiful. Congrats on graduating, you’ll go far.
Not many women can pull off the bald head look and you my dear absolutely can you look stunning, radiant, gorgeous , and every other positive thing I️ can't think of right now. You are an amazing inspiration to people and hopefully someone with the same troubles can see how strong and confident you are and it will show them how to also be a confident strong person
Beautiful! A friend (she was also my neighbor) from my high school also got alopecia during high school. She used to wore a knitted net-like hat. And now she wears a wig. But she would never take the net-like hat off in front of other friends even though you saw her baldness through it. This would have been beautiful on her too. Really love this head painting! A beautiful masterpiece! Compliments to both of them!
I have a very close friend who has got alopecia about 10yrs ago, she had a head of long blonde hair and then was 100% hairless within a couple of months, it was hard to watch her self esteem go down and i told her again and again "you're beautiful with or without hair", i know its easy for me to say that but she has now accepted this is her and once she has embraced it she is a lot happier with herself, i understand a woman losing her hair is a massive deal but the same thing here. You are so beautiful Madisyn, you and your mom are amazing, be strong and don't ever let anyone get you down.
You are very brave embracing it the way you did, but it turns out you look absolutely fantastic! (..and that is one seriously cool mom you got right there!) Keep that smile on, it's contagious!
I think both women are amazing, beautiful in mind, body and soul. Very inspiring.
Beautiful. My 5 year old great niece has had alopecia since the age of two. She has a twin with a full head of blonde curly long hair. My beautiful Hope used to say " I ain't got no hair"
I really want to say something long and super deep, but really all I can think of to say is this: You are beautiful and your mom is a wonderful artist. Keep being like this and you will go far!
Great story. I can imagine it is very hard for a teenage girl to lose her hair.
I hope that you read this, Madisyn, as well as any other sufferers. Alopecia Areata CAN be cured by doctors in Thailand using mesotherapy. I developed serious alopecia in about 2003 and was cured in Thailand. There is a clinic in BB Building, Asok Montri Rd. in Bangkok called TrueDerma that I have used. The doctor is a professor of dermatology, Professor Montree and he's a lovely man. I highly recommend him. Email: umontree@gmail.com
Beautiful! Beauty on the inside and the outside. You are so inspiring, not just to those who suffer from alopecia but to those around the world. You are gorgeous! And your mother is VERY talented.
Why did the tattoo change sides in the pictures? First on her right side ... towards the end on her left side. Just asking.
My guess would be that the author flipped the one photo so that the two photo's look more similar (i.e. same angle) for comparison's sake.
Load More Replies...A fantastic idea you can do anything, your one beautiful person, so many who suffer hair loss through illnesses from one kind or another will be inspired by you and your mother with this art work. People don’t seem to realise how beautiful they are without hair, this idea will help them to feel good about themselves, my love goes out to all who have hair loss including the men out there remember your Beautiful 💞💞
This is a very beautiful story about this beautiful girl that that has the courage to stand up for herself
U both should cover the market with decals for women who’ve lost hair!
Your senior pictures are the most beautiful I have ever seen because of your heart and positive attitude, not just because of your beautiful skin, eyes and smile. May God bless you abundantly.
Absolutely stunning! Who needs hair when you're as gorgeous as you are!
A genius idea and the turnout was remarkable! It made Madisyn from beautiful to stunningly beautiful! I see she has tattoos - if it were me I'd have those very flowers tattooed on my head; same flowers, same colors. It's brilliant!
Madisyn you are beautiful ! My daughter has aleopecia ! She is beautiful also . Be proud of who you are ! Beautiful young lady ! 💟
With a gorgeous face and smile like that do people really focus on her scalp? If they do, they're the handicapped ones.
Have to agree with others very beautiful young lady. I hope she never bothers with a wig or puts tattoos on her scalp there is just no need. Very cool idea to have her mom paint the flowers it will be something they will both cherish and remember the rest of their lives.
What an amazing story! A beautiful medium for her Mother to paint upon! Your photos were gorgeous!!
My brother's wife (whom we all hate) is a stay at home mum, even though her kids are almost 20. She had a breakdown and told us it was because she had alopecia. She spent £2k on a human hair wig without telling my brother, which subsequently meant they couldn't afford their mortgage that month. Her 'alopecia' was a tiny 2mm x 2mm patch underneath all of her hair and wasn't visible at all. She should read about this awesome girl and stop being so self pitying.
Or you should stop being a jerk and your brother should start being supportive.
Load More Replies...This is the most beautiful thing ever! You're so gorgeous, especially those jaw dropping eyes!!
You have an ethereal beauty! You have a glow that comes from within you! That is your gorgeous soul shining through! Hair would only detract from that incredibly almost "unearthly" beauty! I would expect (after these photos are seen) that if you wish to take them up on it...you WILL have a modeling contract within a month or two! Choose carefully, for I predict that ALL of the agencies are going to fight over you!
I have a friend with alopecia, and I've seen her worry and frustration. However, you have beautiful head (many people have very misshapen skulls!), and you look more beautiful without your hair--you are all aglow.
I wish i could have the courage you do to always be myself 💕 you are amazing!
Is that first picture with long flowing hair her? If not, who is it? And why?
It’s her, looks like they’re just showing the difference with a wig and without.
Load More Replies...Hard enough for guys to loose their hair, harder still for women. But to adopt such a brutally strong attitude is commendable. She looks truly stunning!! Maybe we need to find a male equivalent to stop male pattern baldness crippling our confidence and self esteem?!
Says the person with a murdered & severely mutilated actress' nick name as his screen name. Btw, how is Madisyn a stripper name? I'm honestly confused.
Load More Replies...Give her a break, she's been through tough times! If I was her parent, I'd let her get the tattoos if it made her feel more confident about herself.
Load More Replies...
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