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Cynthia Erivo has never been afraid to stand out — and that includes her signature bald look, which she says is now a big part of who she is.
In a new interview with Harper's Bazaar published on October 28, the Wicked star reflected on her beauty evolution and why she's not planning to grow her hair anytime soon. "This is what I want to look like," she said, describing her love for a bold head and a sharp style. For Cynthia, the clean-shaven look isn't just about fashion — it's about self-expression.
The actress, who first debuted the bald look when she was cast as Elphaba in Wicked back in 2021, explained that her appearance is one way of embracing all sides of herself. Over the years, she's experimented with braids, curls, and even short blonde styles, but shaving her head — and later her eyebrows — was the moment she felt most herself.
Maintaining the look takes effort, too. Cynthia shared that she shaves every few days and uses a hot towel and tea tree spray to keep her scalp clean. She also swears by Beyoncé's Cécred Hair Oil to keep everything moisturized and healthy.
While her bald look has become iconic, it's also deeply personal. Cynthia revealed that she first tried to shave her head early in her career but walked away from the salon with only half the cut she wanted. She said she had allowed her stylist's hesitation to influence her decision — something she's since learned never to do again.
Eventually, she found the right stylist and went through with the full shave, a decision that helped her realize her confidence came from within, not from her hair. "My beauty doesn't stem from how I do my hair," she reflected in a past interview.
For Cynthia, self-love and authenticity go hand in hand. "Being powerful is finding the most authentic version of yourself each day and sticking with it," she said. "How you feel about yourself — that's what's powerful."