When The Great British Bake Off announced this year’s winner, Jasmine Mitchell, many viewers celebrated her impressive skill and creativity in the kitchen. But for millions of women watching, her victory meant something even more profound. Jasmine, who has lived with alopecia since childhood, has chosen to live and thrive without wearing a wig, sharing openly how the experience has reshaped her perception of beauty.
At The Salon at 10 Newbury, we found her story deeply moving. Every day, we meet women who come to us navigating their own unique relationship with hair loss, whether due to alopecia, hormonal changes, or medical treatment. Jasmine’s openness is more than inspiring; it’s helping to expand the conversation about what beauty, femininity, and self-acceptance truly mean.
“Alopecia Has Changed My Perception of Beauty”
In the BBC interview, Jasmine reflected:
“Being authentically yourself, the way you were made to be, is so much more beautiful than trying to look like everyone else around you.”
That sentiment resonates deeply with so many of our clients. Hair is often tied to identity and self-expression and losing it, suddenly or gradually, can feel like losing a part of yourself. What’s powerful about Jasmine’s perspective is that it reframes the narrative: hair loss doesn’t have to mean loss of beauty. It can mark the start of a new kind of confidence, one rooted in authenticity and personal strength.
At The Salon at 10 Newbury, we see this transformation often. Some women rediscover confidence through beautifully crafted wigs or hairpieces; others, like Jasmine, choose to embrace their natural look without one. Both paths are valid, personal, and beautiful.
Understanding Alopecia and Its Many Forms
As Jasmine’s story highlights, alopecia is not one single condition. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), there are several forms of the condition, including alopecia areata (patchy hair loss on the scalp or body), alopecia totalis (complete loss of scalp hair), and alopecia universalis (total loss of scalp and body hair).
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles, disrupting the natural growth cycle. For many women, alopecia can come and go unpredictably; hair may regrow, only to fall out again months or years later. That uncertainty can make it emotionally challenging, but it also underscores the importance of individualized care and support.
Confidence Comes in Many Forms
One of the most meaningful aspects of Jasmine’s story is her decision to stop wearing a wig after years of relying on one to feel “normal.” For many of our clients, the choice to wear or not to wear a wig can be deeply personal. There’s no right or wrong approach, only what makes someone feel most like themselves.
Our role at The Salon at 10 Newbury is to support each client wherever they are in that journey. For some, that means helping them find a lightweight, natural-looking wig or topper that restores volume and confidence. For others, it means focusing on scalp health and wellness treatments that nurture the skin beneath and encourage healthy regrowth when possible.
Through our Cesare Ragazzi Laboratories Tricotest consultation process, we evaluate the scalp’s condition by assessing follicle health, pH, and sebum levels to provide a clear understanding of what’s happening beneath the surface. Based on those results, we can recommend targeted CRLab Trichology treatments to rebalance and soothe the scalp or design customized hair replacement options for those who prefer additional coverage.
Whether someone chooses to wear a wig, enhance their natural hair, or embrace a bare scalp, our focus is always the same: to help them feel confident, comfortable, and authentically themselves.
Representation Matters
Seeing someone like Jasmine on a major television platform thriving, creating, and celebrating her success has a real impact. Visibility helps normalize hair loss and encourages open conversations about appearance, confidence, and self-image. It tells women and girls with alopecia that they are not alone, that beauty is not limited by hair, and confidence begins with feeling comfortable in their own skin.
We’ve long believed that one of the most powerful parts of our work is helping to shift how women see themselves. The beauty industry has come a long way in embracing diversity, but stories like Jasmine’s remind us that true inclusion also means celebrating those who look different and recognizing that every form of beauty deserves to be seen.
A Gentle Reminder for Anyone Experiencing Hair Loss
If you’re living with alopecia or another cause of hair thinning, know that you have options and you have support. There’s no single “right” way to navigate hair loss, only the way that feels right for you.
At The Salon at 10 Newbury, we’re here to provide compassionate guidance, education, and solutions tailored to your unique needs. From in-depth scalp evaluations to custom hair replacement systems and trichological treatments, our team of specialists is dedicated to helping every client feel confident in their own reflection.
In Celebration of Confidence, Courage, and Authenticity
Jasmine Mitchell’s journey redefines beauty as something personal, powerful, and deeply individual. Her courage in stepping into the public eye without a wig and succeeding on one of television’s most beloved shows sends an uplifting message to anyone who’s ever struggled with self-image or hair loss.
We celebrate her not just for her baking skills, but for her bravery, authenticity, and the example she sets for others who may still be learning to embrace their own journey.
To read the full BBC article that inspired this post, visit
“Alopecia changed my perception of beauty,” says Bake Off winner
About The Salon at 10 Newbury
The Salon at 10 Newbury is Boston’s leading destination for women experiencing hair loss due to medical, hormonal, or genetic factors. Our specialists provide private consultations, scalp evaluations using the Cesare Ragazzi Laboratories Tricotest, and customized CRLab Trichology treatments to restore scalp balance and support healthy hair growth.
