Blue ribbons, brave hearts

The official Kaalkopkjint© – an initiative promoting alopecia awareness, acceptance and the powerful message that hair does not define who you are.

Rustenburg stands with alopecia community

Platinum Weekly newspaper | Rustenburg – A simple blue ribbon carried an important message across Rustenburg on Friday, 31 July 2026, as local schools, businesses, organisations and individuals showed their support ahead of World Alopecia Day, officially observed on 1 August.

Among those taking part were learners from Laerskool Rustenburg, who wore blue ribbons around their wrists to help raise awareness and show solidarity with people living with alopecia.

The awareness drive was encouraged by Kaalkopkjint©, an initiative inspired by eight-year-old Kqiara Ava Russell, who lives with alopecia and has been bald since she was about three or four years old.

Rather than hosting one central event, Kqiara’s mother, Theresa Russell, encouraged people across South Africa to wear blue on the Friday, when schools and workplaces could reach more people and spark conversations about the condition.

“Our message to the community is simple: Alopecia is more than hair loss,” Theresa said. “It is an autoimmune condition that can affect confidence, mental health and daily life. A little understanding, kindness and inclusion can make a world of difference,” Theresa said.

Alopecia is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles, resulting in varying degrees of hair loss. It can affect children and adults and is not contagious.

Some people experience small patches of hair loss, while others may lose all the hair on their scalp or body. There is currently no guaranteed cure, although treatments may help stimulate regrowth or manage symptoms in some people.

Through Kaalkopkjint©, Kqiara and her family hope to challenge misconceptions and remind others that hair does not determine a person’s worth, abilities or potential.

Their message is one worth remembering long after the blue ribbons come off: confidence, courage, kindness and character are what truly define a person.