Neehar Sachdeva on shedding expectations (and wigs) to embrace her truth

When Ross dumped Bonnie in Friends after she shaved her head, it subtly reinforced a beauty standard that many of us grew up internalising: A woman’s desirability is linked to her hair. Bonnie—confident, smart, and quirky—was reduced to a punchline the moment she no longer fit the “feminine ideal” of long, luscious locks. That scene echoed a wider cultural obsession with thick long hair, and fed into the belief that hair is social currency. But women like Neehar Sachdeva are flipping that narrative on its head. From wearing wigs at age 11 to confidently walking down the aisle bald and beaming, Neehar’s journey with alopecia is both powerful and personal. Whether it was reclaiming her power by shaving her head in her 20s or watching her wedding (January 2025) photos go viral—not for what was missing, but for how she showed up as herself—Neehar, who has alopecia, a hair-loss condition, challenges traditional beauty norms and inspires a bold, expansive view of womanhood. Today, she continues to stand up for every girl learning to love what makes her different.

Cosmopolitan India: Tell us about your growing-up years—the trials, tribulations, and triumphs.

Neehar Sachdeva: Growing up with alopecia shaped every part of who I am. I was diagnosed at six months old, and by the time I was nine, I started wearing hats to cover my bald spots. By age 11, I transitioned to wearing a wig—and continued doing so through some of the most formative years of my life. Wearing a wig at that age deeply affected my mental and emotional well-being. I didn’t feel beautiful. I was bullied at school. And what made it harder was feeling like no one around me could understand what I was going through. That mix of isolation and pressure made those years incredibly difficult—but it also built a level of mental strength I carry with me to this day. A major turning point came when I was 16. I had a short period of hair growth and, for the first time in years, I stopped wearing a wig. For six months, I finally felt like myself. I joined extracurriculars, felt beautiful at my sister’s wedding, and started to step into my own confidence. That brief window gave me the clarity and strength to later shave my head and take full ownership of who I am.

CI: You shaved your head a decade ago and made a statement with it. What did that transformation mean for you?

NS: Shaving my head was the moment I reclaimed power over my narrative. I was done letting alopecia dictate how I lived my life. It allowed me to stop hiding—to stop chasing a version of beauty that wasn’t mine. For the first time, I wasn’t constantly wishing I looked different—I just wanted to be myself. That shift gave me mental clarity and an inner confidence that’s stayed with me ever since.

CI: Your wedding photos made headlines—not just because they were stunning, but because they broke beauty norms. How did it feel to see them go viral?

NS: It was surreal. Within days, our wedding photos were everywhere—featured on platforms and in publications across the world. My phone was blowing up with messages from friends and family who’d seen us on their feeds, their TVs, even in news headlines. But what meant the most was the narrative that emerged. Most outlets didn’t focus on what I looked like without hair—they focused on how confidently I showed up as myself. That meant everything.

CI: What’s one myth about weddings, womanhood, or “looking like a bride” that you’re happy to never follow?

NS: Besides the outdated idea that hair equals beauty, I’m also glad I never bought into the myth of the “shy, demure” bride. I was joyful and completely in love that entire weekend, and I wasn’t afraid to show it. We danced, laughed, and partied— we were fully ourselves.

CI: What do you wish more Indian women knew about confidence, control, and cutting away expectations?

NS: I wish more women knew that confidence doesn’t come from fitting into expectations—it comes from deciding which ones to let go of. It’s incredible to have a strong support system, but ultimately, the most important relationship you have is with yourself. When you learn to love yourself as you are, everything else starts to fall into place.

CI: Alopecia is still widely misunderstood. What do you wish more people knew about the condition—and about the people who live with it?

NS: Alopecia is primarily a hair-loss condition. It can take a huge emotional toll—especially when you’re constantly navigating beauty standards that don’t include you. There’s no one-size-fits-all cure or treatment. And honestly, the treatments can be exhausting. If someone decides not to pursue them, that’s okay. There’s no “right” way to live with alopecia—whether you wear a wig, go bald, or land somewhere in between, it’s all valid.

CI: In what ways has living with alopecia changed your perspective on beauty, fashion?

NS: I no longer view beauty as a checklist— it’s about energy, authenticity, and self-expression. When it comes to fashion, I’ve loved giving myself permission to explore styles that reflect how I feel. I can feel feminine in something soft and flowy, or in something bold and androgynous. It’s less about the outfit and more about how it makes me feel.

CI: You’ve become a beacon of confidence for others with visible differences. What does it mean to you to be seen as a role model?

NS: It’s one of the most meaningful parts of what I do. I never set out to be a role model—I just wanted to live honestly. But if my story helps even one person feel less alone, more confident, or more seen, then I’ve done something right. Everything I share is for little Neehar—and for all the girls out there learning to love who they are.

Photography: Ujjwal Vanvar

This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's July-August 2025 print edition. 

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