Girl’s Dad Shaves His Head to Prove that there is Beauty and Love with Alopecia too

Riley’s dad, Dave, asks her why she feels bad about herself.

“How come you say things like that?” he asks her. “You shouldn’t say things like that, kiddo. You’re a very special girl. Do you know that? Do you know how special you are? … Hair doesn’t matter. I know you would like to have hair … but I love you the same no matter what. And so does Mommy. And so does everybody else.”

Dave asks Riley if she wants him to shave his head. She nods, smiling, and the two proceed to the bathroom to shave Dave’ head together.

“It’s just hair, kiddo. It doesn’t matter,” he tells her again.

Riley’s mom, Chelsea Sylvaria, posted the video on Facebook, and shared on the Love What Matters Facebook page:

“I am going to share one of the many reasons why I am so in love with my husband…

Yesterday, I was joking around with Riley and telling her everyone I love: ‘I love Riley, I love Gavin, I love Grayson’, etc. Riley then looked at me and went, ‘Do you love yourself?’ I immediately said, ‘Of course I do, you always have to love yourself! Do you love yourself?’ Riley responded very softly, ‘No.’

I was a bit taken aback and said, ‘What do you mean you don’t love yourself?’ To which she uttered my worst fear, ‘I don’t love myself because I don’t have hair.’ (Riley has Alopecia; and we hope to raise her to be strong, confident, and loved.)

Fast forward to later that night, when we got home. Dave wanted to talk to her about what she had said… this was the result. I LOVE this man with all my heart. (Riley is currently over being upset about having no hair, minor bump in the road of life!) We want her to know it’s ok to sometimes get upset, but that she is strong and beautiful—no matter what!”

Watch the Facebook video:

Facebook comments include:

“Riley is PERFECT just the way she is!! I’m shaving my head in about 10 minutes in her honor … I’m going to call the haircut ‘The Riley,'” one person writes.

“No hair, don’t care. My daughter and I periodically shave our hair off because we love the feel of no hair. Being shaved is awesome!” another adds.