The cornerstone of our work at BGDL has always been meet-ups and lunches. After realizing that women had a hard time opening up in formal alopecia support groups, but would feel more comfortable chatting over lunch, Thea sat out on her own tour across the country to meet with women diagnosed with this condition. She did this for years until—you guessed it—the pandemic.
Of course, everyone had to social distance during the pandemic for their own safety. However, because alopecia is an autoimmune condition, our community had to be even more careful.
We slowly resumed meet-ups and lunches in spring 2023 and look forward to bringing you many more events in the future. Please join the email list to be notified. We can’t wait to meet you in person!
What is it like to meet other women with alopecia areata?
Read about Joyce Abate’s experience:
“Bald Girls Do Lunch is an extraordinary program for women affected by alopecia. I’ve attended two luncheons hosted by founder Thea Chassin, and they’ve been rich experiences—both in the information shared and in the simple social power of being among women who understand.
It’s hard to put into words the despair that comes with this disease. Women love their hair; it feels innate to who we are. When alopecia takes it, the emotional toll is staggering. In a world that prizes beauty, many of us lose our sense of identity and stop feeling beautiful for a long time.
These lunches help us find ourselves again. They remind us that beauty doesn’t lie in having hair—it’s found within our hearts. Women come together, discover a shared experience, and realize they can overcome the loss precisely because they’re facing it together. We’re pressed on all sides but not crushed, knocked down but able to get back up.
That’s what these luncheons give me: a haven of sharing and caring with women who truly understand. I leave feeling beautiful because of who I am inside, not because of my hair. I can take my wig off and feel true freedom—the best feeling in the world.”
Read more of Joyce’s story here on our blog.
Voices from Our Community:
“The difference between reading about alopecia online and talking to other people in person at a BGDL meet-up is that you get to speak to people that have similar experiences as you. You realize that you are not the only one struggling.”
— Susie, New Jersey
“I have such fond memories of my first BGDL lunch. I can recall every wonderful moment. I want the same thing for all women who live with AA.”
— Mavis J., TX
“Keep up the good work. Those lunches do miracles!”
— Patti B., PA
A Look Back at Past Events
Our events are a lot of fun and you will feel at ease and surrounded by women who understand your thoughts and feelings. And no—you don’t have to be bald to join us! We accept anyone on their alopecia journey: with hair, without or somewhere in between.
