National Bald Is Beautiful Day
September 13
About National Bald Is Beautiful Day
National Bald Is Beautiful Day takes place every year on 13 September, falling on Sunday, 13 September in 2026. The day celebrates baldness in all its forms, whether shaved by choice, inherited through genetics, or the result of a medical condition, and encourages people to wear a bare head with confidence and pride.
How to Celebrate National Bald Is Beautiful Day
There are plenty of ways to mark the occasion, whether you are bald yourself or simply want to support someone who is. Here are eight ideas to get you started.
- Show off your shine – If you are bald, step out with your head held high. Skip the hat and let your scalp catch the light as a small act of everyday confidence.
- Give a bald friend a compliment – A genuine word about how good someone looks can shift how they feel about themselves for the rest of the day.
- Try the clean-shaven look – If you have been thinning on top, take the plunge and shave it all off. Many people find a fully bald head far more flattering than a comb-over.
- Support a hair-loss charity – Donate to or fundraise for an organisation that helps people coping with alopecia or hair loss from cancer treatment.
- Donate your locks – If you have long hair, consider cutting it for a charity that makes wigs for children and adults who have lost their hair to illness.
- Share the love online – Post a photo celebrating your bald head, or that of a friend or relative, and use the day to challenge outdated ideas about hair and beauty.
- Look after your scalp – Treat a bald head to a little care with sunscreen, moisturiser and a gentle polish. A healthy scalp is a happy scalp.
- Celebrate a bald role model – Raise a toast to the actors, athletes, musicians and leaders who have made the bald look iconic, from screen stars to sporting legends.
What is National Bald Is Beautiful Day?
National Bald Is Beautiful Day is an annual celebration that honours people without hair and challenges the stigma that hair loss can carry. It is a light-hearted day at heart, full of humour and warmth, but it carries a sincere message about self-acceptance and confidence. The day welcomes everyone who is bald, from those who shave their heads as a style choice to those who have lost their hair through male pattern baldness, alopecia or cancer treatment. At its core, it asks a simple question: why should a full head of hair be the measure of how someone looks?
When is National Bald Is Beautiful Day?
National Bald Is Beautiful Day is held on 13 September every year. In 2026 it falls on Sunday, 13 September. The date is fixed and does not move, so it is easy to mark in your diary each year. It sits close to the historic Bald-Headed Men of America convention, which traditionally gathered in North Carolina during the second weekend of September.
History of National Bald Is Beautiful Day
The roots of the day trace back to John T. Capps III of Morehead City, North Carolina. After being turned down for a bank job in part because his bald head did not fit the corporate image of the time, Capps decided to turn rejection into celebration. With encouragement from his father, he founded the Bald-Headed Men of America in 1972 as a support group and a tongue-in-cheek movement to promote the idea that bald is beautiful.
The organisation went on to host an annual convention in Morehead City, gathering each year around the second weekend of September. The event became a media favourite, with bald-headed attendees competing in playful contests for titles such as smoothest, prettiest and most kissable bald head. There was no formal agenda beyond celebration, with everyone invited on stage at some point to receive an award, a proclamation or simply a kiss on the head.
Over the decades the wider “bald is beautiful” message grew well beyond the convention itself. The phrase had already taken hold in the 1970s as a rallying cry, and 13 September gradually became recognised as a dedicated day to celebrate baldness as a confident and positive identity rather than something to hide.
Fun Facts About National Bald Is Beautiful Day
- Male pattern baldness is extremely common, affecting roughly half of men by the age of 50.
- John T. Capps III founded the Bald-Headed Men of America in 1972 after a job rejection linked to his appearance.
- The group’s annual convention handed out awards including “smoothest bald head” and “best bald-headed smile”.
- The convention traditionally took place in Morehead City, North Carolina, on the second weekend of September.
- The phrase “bald is beautiful” first gained traction in the 1970s as a confidence-boosting slogan.
- A bald head still needs sun protection, as the scalp is exposed and can burn easily without sunscreen.
Why National Bald Is Beautiful Day Matters
For all its good humour, the day addresses something real. Hair loss can knock a person’s confidence, and the pressure to look a certain way affects people of every age and gender. For those losing their hair to alopecia or to cancer treatment, the experience can feel deeply personal and isolating. A day that openly celebrates bald heads helps to normalise hair loss, ease that anxiety and remind everyone that beauty and self-worth have nothing to do with what grows on top of your head. If you appreciate days that champion self-acceptance, you might also enjoy Helen Keller Day, which celebrates resilience and the value of every individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Bald Is Beautiful Day?
It is an annual celebration of baldness that encourages confidence and self-acceptance, welcoming everyone from people who shave their heads by choice to those who have lost their hair through genetics, alopecia or illness.
When is National Bald Is Beautiful Day in 2026?
It takes place on Sunday, 13 September 2026. The date is fixed and is observed on 13 September every year.
How did National Bald Is Beautiful Day start?
It grew out of the Bald-Headed Men of America, founded by John T. Capps III in 1972 after he was passed over for a job due to his appearance. His celebration of baldness helped popularise the idea that bald is beautiful.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your proudest bald-head photos on social media with #BaldIsBeautifulDay and #BaldIsBeautifulDay2026. Tag a bald friend or relative, give them a compliment, and help challenge the idea that beauty depends on a full head of hair.
Related Awareness Days
- National Hair Loss Awareness Month – A month dedicated to understanding hair loss and supporting those affected by it.
- Helen Keller Day – A celebration of resilience and self-belief in the face of adversity.
- International Happy Goose Day – A cheerful, light-hearted day that, like this one, is all about embracing joy and good humour.
Links
Featured image: Photo by Les Taylor on Unsplash.
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