Why One Small Alopecia Patch Can Feel Like So Much More

What #OneSmallPatch is really about?

We invited our Simply Wigs community to share photographs of their hair loss.

Not a carefully positioned photograph, a wig or the finished look, but the patch itself. You trusted us with those photographs, and we are so grateful that you did. Every photograph was different. Some patches were tiny and others much larger. Some showed the first signs of regrowth, while others had only just appeared.

For some people, one small patch marked the beginning of a longer journey with alopecia areata.

Behind every image is a real person with their own feelings, questions and story.

When you first notice a patch...

If you have experienced patchy hair loss, you may remember exactly when you first noticed it. Perhaps there was more hair than usual in the shower, your hairdresser spotted something, or you caught sight of your scalp in the mirror and wondered what was happening.

A small area of hair loss can very quickly begin to take up a surprisingly large space in your thoughts. You might check it again the next morning, move the hair around it, take photographs to compare or wonder whether the person standing behind you can see it. These are the quiet things people often do without telling anybody.

theN THE question that can feel hardest of all:

will I lose more hair?

Somebody says 'but it is only a small patch'...

People sometimes judge hair loss by how much hair has gone.
After nearly twenty years of listening to people experiencing hair loss, we know it does not work like that. A small bald patch can have a huge effect on confidence because it isn’t only about the size of the patch – it’s about how it makes you feel.

You may start changing the way you part your hair, avoiding windy days, checking mirrors or feeling uncomfortable when somebody stands behind you. So we would never tell somebody that their patch isn’t significant enough to matter. If it matters to you, it matters to us.

Every patch has a story.

Share your alopecia patch.

For some people, that first patch marks the moment their hair loss journey began. For others, a photograph might represent a difficult time, a turning point, acceptance, regrowth or simply a part of themselves they’ve learned to live with. You don’t need to include your face if you’d rather not. Your photo can simply show the area of hair loss you’re comfortable sharing.

By adding your photograph to the Simply Wigs community, you’ll be helping us show just how different alopecia can look from one person to another. More importantly, your photo may be seen by someone who has just discovered their own first patch and is searching for reassurance that they’re not alone.

One small patch can be the beginning of a very big story. We’d be honoured to share yours.

Share your alopecia patch here

These are real photographs from our community

These photographs have not come from a stock image library. They were shared by real people in the Simply Wigs community who wanted somebody else experiencing hair loss to see what alopecia can look like in everyday life.

#OneSmallPatch

Spend a little time looking through them and you will see that alopecia does not have one appearance. It may be a smooth circular patch, several areas of hair loss, thinning around the hairline or hair that disappears and then begins to return. Every experience is different, and so is the way each person feels about it.

Hair loss can happen to women and men, younger people and older people, people who feel confident talking about it and people who are frightened by what is happening. These photographs show something that matters deeply to us at Simply Wigs: hair loss happens to ordinary people, to families and to people just like us.

Why sharing these photographs matters

Somewhere today, somebody will discover their first patch of hair loss and search online to find out what it might mean. Among the clinical explanations and medical photographs, we want them to find real people too – people who have stood in front of the bathroom mirror, moved their hair aside and stared at a patch just like theirs.

We hope they will see that other people have worried too. Some covered their patch, while others chose not to. Some watched their hair return and others went on to lose more. A wig or hairpiece feels right for some people and is not needed by others. There is no single way to live with hair loss, and there is no wrong way to feel about it.

From our family to yours

Simply Wigs began because hair loss touched our own family. We felt that people experiencing hair loss deserved better support, clearer information and genuine kindness, so that is what we set out to provide. It still guides everything we do today.

To every person who sent us a photograph for #OneSmallPatch, thank you. You may feel that you shared a picture of a small area of scalp, but you also showed somebody else that they are not the only one going through this. For a person who has just discovered their first patch, that quiet reassurance can mean so much.

Your patch may be small,

but what you are feeling is not. You do not have to face it alone.

#OneSmallPatch

What can an alopecia patch look like?: Alopecia areata often causes one or more smooth, round or oval patches of hair loss, but it does not look exactly the same on everybody. The real photographs shared for #OneSmallPatch show some of the different ways patchy hair loss may appear. If you notice new or unexplained hair loss, please speak to your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional rather than trying to diagnose it from a photograph.
Can alopecia start with one small patch?: Yes, alopecia areata can begin with one small patch of hair loss, although what happens next varies from person to person. For many people, the uncertainty can be as difficult as the patch itself. That is one reason we wanted to share real experiences through #OneSmallPatch: so the first person you find online does not have to be a stranger in a medical photograph.
Can hair grow back after alopecia areata?: Hair can regrow after alopecia areata, but regrowth is unpredictable and everybody’s experience is different. Some people see their hair return, while others have further or recurring hair loss. A healthcare professional can help with diagnosis, advice and possible treatment options.
How can I cover a small alopecia patch?: Sometimes a small patch can be disguised by changing your parting or hairstyle. Depending on where the hair loss is, a hair topper may provide localised coverage, while some people prefer to explore our wigs for alopecia. There is no right answer and no need to rush. The choice has to feel comfortable and right for you.
What should I do if I suddenly find a bald patch?: Try not to diagnose the cause by comparing your hair with photographs online. Sudden or unexplained patchy hair loss can have different causes, so speaking to your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional is a sensible first step. For the emotional and practical side, hearing from people who have experienced hair loss themselves can also help you feel less alone.

Sudden or unexplained patchy hair loss can have several causes, so speaking to your GP is a sensible first step. You can also read the NHS guidance about hair loss.