I have Androgenetic Alopecia which has developed slowly over the years. I started wearing wigs about two years ago, during the first lockdown, after having more time to examine my receding hairline in the mirror. I now enjoy wearing wigs all the time, I have cut my remaining bio hair as short as I can get it.
I’m just back from an active holiday in Finnish Lapland. I had been before, but not as a wig-wearer, and I was quite anxious about how I would cope. I knew, for instance, that warm hats would be essential, and there might be issues with taking helmets on and off. I was desperate to go, having had such a lovely time in that region previously, but had a deep fear of being ‘exposed’ publicly, and I wasn’t sure how I would deal with it. It wasn’t really the fact that I am a wig-wearer that concerned me (I tell everyone, normally), but that people would see my unadorned head, and/or think I was a bit odd for doing this kind of holiday in a wig at all.
On the first day, I had to prepare for a snowmobiling expedition. This involved wearing a balaclava under a helmet, and the helmet had to be fitted in an equipment store in front of a large group of other hotel guests. I decided to go to the store wearing my own balaclava without a wig, so the helmet was just fitted on my head over it. I paid for that decision later, as my balaclava didn’t cover my whole face like the provided ones, and speeding along at -29 C, I actually got frostbite on my face! I realised later that I could have kept my wig on and worn the hotel’s balaclava on top.
So, I learnt from that, and from then on, I wore a wig under a hat for various other activities. Husky sledging, snowshoe trekking, late-night aurora camps and a reindeer farm visit – I did them all in wigs. Nobody had a clue, as far as I could tell.
It was the most magical holiday, and I hardly needed to give a thought to my hair/wig issues after that first day. I would have missed out on so much if I’d given in to my anxiety. On reflection now, I doubt whether anyone would have given much thought to it anyway; I am not, it turns out, the centre of the universe!
TOP TIP: On a practical note, I had brought an old wig and a new one, so I used the old one under hats, while the new one was for mealtimes etc in the hotel. The wig style was well-suited to the situation – I wore Raquel Welch’s Voltage. A neater, more sleek style might have seemed a bit incongruous in the circumstances, perhaps, as no one had very tidy hair.
‘It was the most magical holiday, and I hardly needed to give a thought to my hair/wig issues after that first day.
I would have missed out on so much if I’d given in to my anxiety. On reflection now, I doubt whether anyone would have given much thought to it anyway; I am not, it turns out, the centre of the universe!
Lot’s of love,
Maggie
x
Dear all,
Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments. It is really reassuring to know that there are other people out there with the same or similar issues, and to hear from those of you who have learnt to enjoy an active life in wigs. And you are all very kind with your compliments!
To answer a couple of questions: Gillian, I learnt that my head got quite itchy when I still had longer bio hair, so when I realised that I would be wearing wigs forever more, it made sense to keep my hair ultra-short (I don’t shave it, just keep cutting it). I haven’t yet been on a holiday in a really hot place, but in the rare hot days we’ve had in the UK I haven’t noticed feeling uncomfortably hot under the wig. However, I have purchased a fringe hairpiece that I thought I could wear under a sunhat if / when we do finally go anywhere hotter then home! (Phyllis – this might be something for you to think about too?).
Thanks again everybody.
M xxx
I love your post, it took me a while to learn to manage how to live my life in a wig and still do everything I want to do.
Like you, I’ve adapted, I swim, cycle, wear hats, wearing a wig doesn’t stop me from doing anything which is a far cry from the early years of trying to hide a receeding hairline. I really thought I would become a hermit, but now, like you I actually enjoy wearing my wig.
You look beautiful and confident by the way.
Gone are the days when I felt I had to tell everyone nervously that I wear a wig, like you I learned that nobody really notices.
Hi you look lovely. I’m glad I have seen your story as I lost all of my hair just before the first lock down.
I have been worrying about going on holiday this year and thinking about what I’m going to do sitting on the beach in the heat.
But now like you I don’t think anybody will notice.
Thank you this has really helped.
I too have androgentic alopecia. I have been wearing wigs now for about 8 years. I keep my few wisps of hair long just so I can tie it up in summer under a hat. My head gets so hot in the heat with a wig and I have tried the sweat absorbers but I think those would work better with a bald head. Do you think having short hair is better than having it long? I am scared to try.
You look lovely in your wigs and completely natural. Never a bad hair day with a wig.
You look great, Maggie and what an amazing holiday, don’t let the wigs ever slow you down! Like you selecting for the activity, I keep one for running and another for swimming, then choose short bobs for work and keep the longer length for weekends and special occasions. And it doesn’t matter who knows, its all about how you rock them, because when you are comfortable with your wig, everyone notices you for the right reasons! Stay fabulous and adventurous x
Wow…what a fabulous piece of writing…thank you so much for sharing…I wear Voltage too..you look stunning…Great idea to choose a messy style too..
I wish you well..
Kind regards….
You look absolutely beautiful , well done . I hope you enjoy many more holidays in your lovely wig .GO GIRL ! P