In Alexa And Katie Did They Actually Shave Their Heads
Okay, real talk for a second. We’ve all been there, right? You’re binge-watching Alexa & Katie, probably on your couch with some questionable snacks, and a big moment hits. For this particular show, that moment involved a dramatic haircut. Or should I say, a lack of haircut?
Let’s get into it. The whole premise of Alexa & Katie, at its heart, is about two best friends facing challenges together. And one of the biggest challenges they tackle early on is Alexa’s battle with cancer. A huge part of that journey, in the real world, is hair loss. So, naturally, in the show, the girls decide to shave their heads in solidarity. It’s supposed to be this super emotional, powerful scene. And it is! But there’s just one little thing that’s always bugged me. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say I’m not alone in this. This might be my most unpopular opinion about this beloved show, but here we go.
Did they actually shave their heads? I’m just asking the questions that the universe needs answered. Because, and hear me out, their hair looked… suspiciously good. Like, really good. Almost too good to be true. When they first do the big reveal, and they’re both sporting these super short, sleek bobs, it looks amazing. Like, “I just walked out of the coolest salon in Los Angeles” amazing. And while I appreciate a good wig or some clever styling, this felt different.
Think about it. Shaving your head is a pretty intense experience. It’s often associated with a vulnerability, a raw honesty. And while the actresses, Paris Berelc (Alexa) and Isabelle Amaral (Katie), are talented and gorgeous, their post-shave look felt… polished. It’s like they went from having long hair to a perfectly sculpted pixie cut overnight. There wasn’t that messy, awkward in-between phase that usually comes with such a drastic change. You know, the slightly spiky bits, the uneven patches, the general feeling of “what have I done?” That’s what I expected to see. That’s what feels real.
Now, I'm not trying to take away from the show's message. The heart of Alexa & Katie is about friendship and strength. And the scenes where they decide to shave their heads are incredibly moving. The bond between Alexa and Katie is what we all love about them. That moment of shared commitment is powerful. But my little brain just can't get past the visual. It’s like watching a movie where someone gets shot and then immediately walks off like nothing happened. You know it’s not realistic.
My theory? And again, this is just me, a casual observer with too much time on my hands, is that they used some seriously advanced wig technology. Or maybe they had those special effects makeup artists who can make anything look effortless. I’m picturing them having these perfectly fitted, incredibly realistic bald caps applied. And then, just before filming the scene, they put on these perfectly styled, short wigs. It’s a feat of engineering, I’ll give them that! It made the scene look clean and dramatic, which is great for TV. But it sacrificed a tiny bit of the gritty authenticity that a real head shave might bring.
Imagine the alternative. Imagine if they had actually buzzed their heads. Would they have been as comfortable filming? Would the producers have been as keen to have them out and about in that look for an extended period? Probably not. This is a Nickelodeon show, after all. They’re catering to a younger audience. A slightly more polished presentation might have been deemed necessary. And honestly, it’s hard to fault them for that. They wanted to keep the momentum of the show going, and perhaps a drastically different appearance might have been too much of a visual shift for some viewers at that stage.
But still. The mystery lingers. Every time I rewatch those episodes, I find myself squinting at the screen, trying to spot a tell-tale seam on a bald cap, or a slightly unnatural sheen to their scalp. I’m looking for the imperfections, the signs that this was a genuine, slightly terrifying, but ultimately liberating act. Instead, I see two beautiful young women rocking incredibly chic, albeit suspiciously flawless, short hairstyles.
It’s a testament to their dedication as actresses, perhaps, that they can pull off any look. But I just wish, for a fleeting moment, we could have seen a little more of the real struggle, the real vulnerability that comes with such a brave decision.
So, Alexa & Katie fans, am I crazy? Am I the only one who’s been obsessing over this? Or do you, deep down, suspect that those iconic shaved heads were more of a Hollywood magic trick than a genuine buzz? I’m not asking for confessionals from the set. I’m just asking for solidarity in my slightly silly, yet undeniably persistent, doubt. Because while the show delivered on emotion and friendship, my inner skeptic is still wondering about the hair. And that, my friends, is a story that continues to be told, one rewatch at a time. It’s a fun little mental exercise, and it doesn’t take away from the heart of the show. It just adds a layer of, dare I say, wig-based intrigue. And sometimes, a little bit of intrigue is just what a good show needs, even if it’s just for us armchair detectives.