Hallmark's Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe Tearfully Shaves Head amid Cancer Treatment: ‘I Refuse to Look Like Gollum’

Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe is letting go of her hair on her own terms as continues her breast cancer treatment. On Monday, Oct. 27, the Hallmark actress, 44, posted an emotional Instagram video shaving her head after dealing with hair loss since her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. In the clip, she demonstrates how her hair has been falling out by just the slightest pull. She then sits in the chair in tears as her head is shaved bald. “Well ladies and gentlemen,..I did a thing,” she wrote in the caption. “Waking up to clumps of hair falling out was traumatic. Hiding it was the worst! But doing this… this made me feel like I was in the driver's seat.” “Sharing my head with you all…..scary but I really want anyone who’s going through this to see that I’m ok. And you will be too,” she continued. “Also, I still cried a lot. But after it all…felt so strong. Side note- surround yourself with people that tell you how beautiful you are bald. That is the assignment. And if you don’t have anyone I will tell you!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️” The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! In the comments section, fans and fellow stars praised Lowe for her courage and sent well wishes as she continues her journey. “You are so so brave…Beautiful Crystal. Thinking and praying for you on this journey,” wrote Tia Mowry. “Your light is your beauty and it is radiant,” Sharon Lawrence said. “I know the hair loss is hard but I also know it’s something you will adjust to and will feel freeing when you’re least expecting it. A great wig works wonders too… and some health plans cover them as a cranial prosthesis.” Nikki DeLoach added, “My heart. You are stunning. Breathtaking. And so brave.” Earlier this month, Lowe spoke to PEOPLE about her breast cancer diagnosis and admitted that losing her hair during chemotherapy has been a whirlwind of emotions. “My hair is falling out. Now that has been a trip,” she said. “I'll tell you the hair... I was not as upset to have a double mastectomy. In fact, I was like, ‘Cut them off. We're good. I'm done. I've breastfed both babies. I'm okay. What do I need these for?’ Also, I think with your chest, you could hide it. I'll just wear baggy clothes. That'll be my new jam.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Lowe explained that it’s harder to cope with hair loss because it’s so noticeable. “Not just will it alert other people, but it is a reminder to me that it's happening,” she admitted. “And so there's been a lot of tears about my hair. I am getting a wig. I found a great wig that I'm going to have. I'm going to have a hero wig and another wig.” “I refuse to look like Gollum,” she added, referring to the Lord of the Rings character who has sparse and stringy hair. "I would rather look like Demi Moore, when she was G.I. Jane.” The Signed, Sealed, Delivered star told PEOPLE at the time that she was “scared” about cutting her hair, but it wouldn’t be as “emotionally taxing” as if it were to fall out on its own. “I've cried. Oh, I've cried so much,” Lowe said. “It's such a huge part of my identity.”