Ricki Lake is full of gratitude – and rocking fabulous hair.
The talk show host, 53, posted side-by-side photos revealing her hair’s transformation since she shaved it in 2019 — and the results have stunned fans.
Lake showed a photo of herself with a shaved head in December 2019 and another photo with thick, full gray hair in January 2021, writing: “For those of you who don’t know or remember my personal journey. These side by side show the dramatic success I have had using @harklinikken products.”
The star, who is a brand representative for Harklinikken hair care and has suffered from hair loss for decades, said she has “followed their simple and easy protocol for over 2 years now,” including the individually tailored “Extract” product from the label ($88), which tackles thinning hair.
“I couldn’t be happier with my results and to finally be at peace with my battle with hair loss,” she wrote, adding three confetti emojis.
Fans praised her for speaking out about her hair, writing comments like, “I always appreciate your authenticity. So happy to see results” and “Wonderful! Thank you for being brave enough to share your journey!”
In 2020, Lake went public with her issues after having “suffered largely in silence for nearly 30 years.”
She added that she was “not sick” or “going through a nervous breakdown,” the TV star posted a photo of herself with a shaved head, revealing that she had been dealing with hair loss for decades and was “so done with to hide”.
Calling the experience “debilitating, embarrassing, painful, scary, depressing, lonely, everything,” Lake admitted she’d had suicidal thoughts because of the situation.
“I buzzed my hair out and it feels so good!” she said. “For 2020 and beyond, I want to be real.”
In January 2021, the “Hairspray” actress posted another Instagram update, this time featuring a fuller head of gray hair swept back in a chic, short ‘do.
She wrote that “it’s been just over a year since I decided to take matters into my own hands and shave my head,” said the star – who took the photo just weeks before getting engaged to her now-husband, Ross Burningham. – “was” I love to share with the world what I used to make my hair healthy again once.”
Admitting she had been “skeptical” and that she had “never publicly endorsed a product,” Lake said hair care guru Lars Skjoth’s products had changed her life.
“I hope I can help others who are struggling, like I have for far too long,” she wrote. “This trip was such a gift to me. I finally really love my hair, and more importantly, love myself unconditionally from the inside out.”
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).