Hair loss and cancer as a Black woman is a conversation that has long been overlooked — both in medical spaces and in beauty culture. Chemotherapy hair loss impacts identity, confidence, and cultural expression in deeply layered ways, especially for women of color whose hair carries history, heritage, and community.

In this first-of-its-kind series, Sonya Keshwani, founder of StyleEsteem Wardrobe, sits down with Dr. Alexea Gaffney-Adams — a Stage III breast cancer survivor, infectious diseases physician at Stony Brook Medicine, and community advocate — to openly discuss hair, chemotherapy hair loss, breast cancer, and the lived experience of navigating cancer as a woman of color. Together, they explore how hair loss in Black women intersects with health disparities, self-image, and cultural identity, while offering guidance, solidarity, and empowerment.

This series is for anyone seeking honest dialogue about cancer hair loss, resilience, and reclaiming confidence through every stage of the journey.

Part 1: Hair Loss and Cancer as a Black Woman with Dr. Alexea Gaffney-Adams

Part 2: Hair Loss and Cancer as a Black Woman with Dr. Alexea Gaffney-Adams