A bearded woman who regularly receives stares in public and insults online is responding to trolls by embracing her beard. Khosi Nkanyezi Buthelezi has been aware of his excessive body hair since he was a teenager, especially its growth on his face, chest, back, arms, and legs.
Now 42, she says she didn't consider it a concern growing up because other female members of the family were also hairier than usual. But late last year, curious to know the answer from an expert, she went to see a doctor. “I grew up used to hairy women like my aunt being considered lucky, strong, and strict. So I think that's something I inherited.
"She said she never felt the need to see a doctor about her hair because she had no physical problems. But when she finally saw her doctor, he recommended hormone testing to check for fertility and PCOS. She continued, "However, both tested negative.
I can have children if I want and don't need hormone treatment; everything seems to be fine." However, the doctor told Khosi that she may be suffering from hirsutism, a condition that causes excessive hair growth on certain parts of the body, mainly affecting women.
“I had never heard of it before, but it makes sense,” she said. I remember talking to family members about it; they warned me that shaving would make you gain more weight, but I thought that was just a myth."
She tried many different hair removal techniques because the nature of her job required her to be presentable. But nothing worked. She said, "The more I shave, the more it grows. I tried waxing, but it proved to be both expensive and painful."
Khosi decided to try laser hair removal and it worked for a while, but the hair quickly grew back. She said: “After 10 sessions, my hair was smoother and my skin was smoother. I was convinced that it worked. However, after a year off, my hair started to grow back and I had to start shaving again with a razor."
Instead of fighting her facial hair, Khosi decided to embrace it. She said, "I stopped shaving and started loving myself. I learned that self-acceptance is an important aspect of self-care. It is the foundation for confidence and self-esteem.
I have to remind myself that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms, and I've included body hair in the beauty equation. However, the journey has not been easy as people have shared unwanted comments publicly and online. She said: "People in public have reacted with shock, amusement, disgust, and disapproval of my beard, but I am actively working to not need to perceive external validation.
Unfortunately, people can be judgmental and cruel toward someone who looks different in some way.", so it's important to remember that their opinions and comments do not determine my worth."
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