My hair loss began,
about 10-15 years ago I noticed a change in my hair. and up until that point I had very thick wavy, coarse auburn hair which I struggled with all my life to smooth and de-frizz – and if it was raining my troubles were only just beginning! Every time I went to the hairdressers I asked for it to be thinned out, I even bought myself a pair of thinning scissors! I resented the time it took to tame my tresses by using every new product that came onto the market promising sleek, shiny, bouncy hair. They hardly ever worked or if they did it didn’t last very long.
Why didn’t I have ‘normal ‘ hair?
My hair needed a lot of maintenance? Whilst I didn’t want thin fine hair I just wanted less than I had. You know that phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ well it happened to me.
I now look back on photos of me when I was younger with thick wavy hair and wish I’d appreciated it at the time instead of fighting it, how I’d love that hair now!
I was getting older.
In my mid-40s I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and was prescribed a lot of strong medications of which many had side effects of hair loss. There was never a case of me not taking the medication as I was in severe pain, so I didn’t really give it much thought – after all I had plenty of hair!!
Over the next few years, I began to notice patches of hair loss at the front of my hairline, so I tried to hide it by changing my parting and hairstyle, filling in the thinning area with root touch-up products to mask the shiny scalp showing through, using tons of hairspray and praying that it wouldn’t be windy! You name it I tried it. At the same time as this, my mother in her 70s started to lose her hair to what I now know was the female pattern hair loss. I didn’t make the connection to me as I was on medication and thought it was just the side effects, plus I didn’t know that it could be hereditary. I think I was in denial.
Fast forward to now
Having been through menopause ( side effect: loss of hair density / thinning), medication and I have now been diagnosed by a dermatologist with Female pattern hair loss too, the triple whammy, I was feeling very down, self-conscious and insecure about my appearance ( shallow, I know!).
I knew there was no way it was going to get any better, only worse. My dermatologist recommended an over-the-counter medication that could help with hair loss but said it didn’t work for everyone and would take a long time to show results. In the meantime the effect of the thinning and hair loss on my self-esteem was massive, I had to do something about it.
Finding some help
So, I went online and trawled through several companies, mostly abroad and not very inspiring until I found Simply wigs, a British company offering hair enhancers and it sounded like just the solution I had been looking for. I read all the reviews, checked and rechecked the ‘360 views’, poured over all the lovely colours and gained confidence from the ‘Our Customers’ photos. I thought ‘ what if I just tried one to see’ knowing that I could always send it back for a refund if it wasn’t right. So, after plucking up the courage to speak to the friendly and ever-helpful customer service team to discuss colours I decided on the Medium Top Mono in Marble brown.
When it arrived I was thrilled with the colour and how natural it looked, I felt quite emotional realising what a difference it made to how I looked and how if hair loss hadn’t happened this would be ‘me’.I couldn’t stop looking at my reflection in the mirror, I went around every mirror in the house, checking different angles thrilled with what I saw. When my husband arrived home he did a double-take and said it was very natural. My grown-up son didn’t really notice until I told him, he just ‘thought I’d been to the hairdressers’.
My confidence grew
For a week or two, I wore it around the house and practised putting it on and taking it off becoming more confident with it before venturing outside into the real world. And when I did go out nobody was staring or giving a sly look thinking ‘what is she wearing?’
So, my confidence grew and I enjoy not having to ‘do’ my real hair all the time. I asked my hairdresser to trim it for me so it blended in with my natural hair and looked like my style and I’m thrilled with the result. I now feel so much more confident ( and dare I say it – glamorous) when I’m out for a special occasion or even just going into town for a bit of retail therapy!
I really appreciate the honest truth about embarrassing hair loss.
I’m 79 and like to keep myself looking and feeling
Good about myself.
Thank you ladies for helping me to make up my mind Bout purchasing a Topper for my rapidly thinning hair/ mainly from the crown ??
I had hair on my wedding day in 1968 but gradually over the next 5 years it came out. A slow process until I had lost every hair on my body. A lie, there is the odd wisp
I gave birth for the first time in 1978 quickly followed by number 2 a year later
A most undignified procedure so I lay there with no hair the obstetrician was taken aback. my one wish is eyelashes, but what the heck I don’t really care
My young friend ( early 40s has just undergone a mastectomy with all the Lymph Nodes
removed
What’s hair loss in comparison !!!
Wigs are so easy change styles colours
Life’s a dream – almost
Thanks for sharing Hilary. After a year of wearing them I now put on my wig as part of my morning routine and never really give it a second thought.
Eileen – I have FFA too and recognise your description of the flimsy fringe and shiny bald bits. Progess was slow for me – about 25 years before I started wearing wigs. I had very thick hair before it started so that may be why I got away with it for so long!
When I read these comments I’m constantly surprised at how many of us wig wearers there must be.
Thanks for sharing your story so honestly, Hilary. I always had fine hair but the compensation was that it was plentiful, so looked good with a short pixie cut. Having Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia with a receding hairline has changed all that and I have to wear it longer now. The least bit of wind on my flimsy fringe exposes all the shiny bald bits, leaving me feeling very self conscious. I know that a topper or a wig may have to be the next step for me so reading others’ experiences is a big help. x
I think you look lovely Hilary, then and now.
You would never want increasingly thin hair ( like mine with ichthyosis), but now it’s wigs all the way! And no shame now I’m 81. JILL xx
Hi – agree – I used to spend time de-fuzzing my legs – and wished I had smooth hairless legs – for the last 10-years – my legs have been hairless. You’ve guessed it – along with other more visible part of my body! Couldn’t operate without Simply Wigs ….
I just loved Hilary’s story, such a brave lady.
I can relate too much she said. As I have been regularly loosing my hair.
I am now completely bald and have to wear wigs all the time now.
I’m always looking to add to my wig collection.