Trichotillomania and Wigs: Carolyn’s Wig-Wearing Journey
What's In This Article
Carolyn has lived with trichotillomania and hair loss since childhood. In this personal story, she shares what eventually led her to consider wearing a wig, her experience of choosing one with Simply Wigs and how finding the right style changed the way she felt about her hair loss.
Hi, I’m Carolyn and I developed trichotillomania when I was a small child as a response to severe abuse. This then led to alopecia which in turn resulted in further trauma from bullying at school. By the time I was 12 I was completely bald and had a nervous breakdown. Back in the early 1970’s there was no support available for children with hair loss and certainly nothing available to help me, as a developing young woman, to come to terms with the things I’d experienced (which were the root cause of my hair loss). In fact, everything was ‘swept under the carpet’ and I lived my entire adult life feeling shame and guilt and hiding the fact that I had to wear a wig.
This year I turned 60 and decided to treat myself to a ‘high quality’ wig rather than make do with an NHS prescription.
Choosing My Wig: My Experience With Simply Wigs
I ordered Raquel Welch Scene Stealer but sadly the colour was not ‘me’ and I contacted Simply Wigs customer service for advice. They were absolutely wonderful and gave me a link to a YouTube channel to check out real-life wig colours to help me make a better choice for a replacement item. I returned the RW wig and decided on Jon Renau Sarah in Salted Caramel and can honestly say I feel a million times more confident than I ever have in my whole adult life.
Talking to Simply Wigs staff and receiving such genuine compassion and kindness has completely changed my outlook on my ‘illness’.
Accepting My Hair Loss and Feeling Confident in a Wig
I have finally come to terms with the fact that abuse was not my fault and I have nothing to be guilty about. Wig-wearing is not a shameful thing or something that needs to be hidden but it can actually be quite liberating! Twelve months ago I would never have discussed my story with even close friends but the help and support I’ve received from Simply Wigs has given me the confidence to publicly share my experience.
I hope that everyone going through their own hair-loss journey can find some comfort from my story, you are not alone. There is help out there and more importantly, there are people who truly understand and will not judge. You are important, you are worthy, and you deserve to feel beautiful.
Love, Carolyn x
If you’d like to understand more about trichotillomania, including what it is and how it can affect hair growth, read our guide to trichotillomania.
Our friendly experts within the Customer Service Team are full of knowledge, who are happy to assist you on different wig brands, styles and colours. Buying a wig for the first time can be daunting as there are so many options to choose from, so be reassured that our knowledgeable Customer Service Team are here to help. There are a few different ways to get in touch:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01484 844557
Book A Shop Appointment: 01484 840100
FAQs
- What Is Trichotillomania?
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Trichotillomania is a mental health condition that causes a person to experience recurring, often difficult-to-resist urges to pull out their hair. This can include hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other areas of the body.
Hair pulling can sometimes happen in response to stress, anxiety or other emotional triggers. For some people, however, it can become an automatic behaviour that happens without them consciously thinking about it. The exact causes of trichotillomania are not fully understood and can vary from person to person.
- What Is An NHS Wig Prescription?
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You can get an NHS wig prescription if you experience medical hair loss from conditions. Ask your GP, hospital consultant, or specialist nurse for a prescription form to see if you are eligible. This can then result in a range of different types of prescriptions such as 1-2 wigs per year, a wig budget or a certain amount of money off your wig purchase.
- Are Jon Renau Wigs Good Quality?
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Yes, Jon Renau are known for their luxury cap designs and high-quality fibres. Their wigs are available in a wide range of synthetic, heat-friendly and human hair and natural-looking colours.
- How Do I Book A Shop Appointment With Simply Wigs?
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To book an appointment with us, you can either email us through [email protected] or call us on 01484 840100. We have 50-60 of our best-selling wigs on show which you can view, or you can let us know of something you have in mind you wish to try!
Comments (3)
Caroline, you look absolutely beautiful in your stunning wig. I am sorry you”ve had such a traumatic time, but look at you now! Not many ladies of your age can carry off such a style, but you certainly can. And how!
Very well expressed, Caroline! You’re looking great. Well done for reaching out to others in similar situation. The support available nowadays is amazing ?.
Bless you Caroline, what a brave lady. I can’t begin to imagine what growing up was like for you. It is very humbling to read your story – I thought losing my hair in my 30s was bad enough but childhood hair loss must have been awful, so very different to the way things are looked upon nowadays. Good luck for the future.
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