My hair loss journey started slowly, my hairdresser first found loss at the back of my neck when I was looking for a change of hairstyle many years ago. Although I should have maybe realised something was wrong, because when I had to call a plumber out for a blocked shower he told me it was full of a ball of hair… Anyway, over the years I gradually lost hair around the edge of my scalp (alopecia marginalis apparently). I started wearing a baseball cap to conceal my loss, but that restricted what I wore to casual clothes all the time, you can’t wear anything smart with a baseball cap now can you?
To cut a long story short over many years of wearing scarves and hats, I eventually ended up with no choice but to wear a wig.
Of course I was daunted and scared I would look ‘wiggy’ and old, and afraid it would blow off in the wind. Eventually I realised that wig wearing was for most of the time really easy, I could still play tennis and badminton which were my passions, and lead a totally normal life. In fact the wig never had a ‘bad hair day’ and the style I had chosen (which my fine hair would never have been like) did not grow out, get scruffy between cuts, or need colouring or dyeing.
Gradually my alopecia got worse and I lost all my hair, it became alopeica totalis. The upside of this is I don’t need to wax or shave my legs and armpits, they stay smooth and hairless all the time, which is a bit weird after a lifetime of trying various hair removal schemes. My skin is super smooth as it is now totally hairless, very silky to the touch. I can honestly say not having eyebrows is just annoying, no more. I buy Simply Wigs Eye Power semi permanent makeup and paint them on every day. No plucking or waxing, no growth in the centre of my brows which I had before.
I guess in total honesty the only one thing which does upset me is my lack of eyelashes. I have yet to find any falsies that I find comfortable, so day to day I just wear an eye crayon which from a distance I don’t think anyone would notice anything was amiss.
Of course I wish I had my hair back, who wouldn’t.
On the scale of things alopecia is not a life threatening illness and it isn’t that bad, most of it is a state of mind. I try not to ever let my hair loss get in the way of life as normal and I can honestly say when I am out and about I totally forget I am a wig wearer.
I am glad I found Simply Wigs a long time ago now after some unsuccessful previous online shopping, they are now my go-to company for a reliable wig service. As the years have gone by I have needed to downgrade my strongly dark hair colour to a more flattering shade and have been able to order a couple to try out in the safe knowledge that I can return what doesn’t suit me. This has given me confidence to experiment, although I feel I am at 64 years old too young yet to try a grey wig yet!
To anyone embarking on a hair loss journey I would say don’t be afraid, there are many ups on this road and as always life is what you make of it. Mourn your hair loss and hide away and you may feel sad, celebrate the fact you can try new styles and looks and live a full life with a wig and you will find it uplifting.
Lots of love, Jan x
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