Wearing a Wig to School
Wearing a wig to school is a reality for many people around the world. Losing hair can be extremely challenging and unsettling for anybody, but especially for young people. Steph is a member of our Wig Whisperer community, and she’s bravely shared her experience of wearing a wig to school and university.
I’m going to be brutally honest. Wearing a wig to school was not a fun time for me. But losing your hair as a child wasn’t particularly easy anyway. Hopefully, this blog post will provide some comfort for young people who are wearing a wig to school, college or university.
I Wore a Wig to School
As I have alopecia and it goes through stages of regrowth, I remember when my hair had grown back and fallen out for the second time. I was losing my hair, and enough was enough; I took the plunge and decided that it was time that I wore a wig to school.
Helpful Resource: Alopecia UK have released story booklets about children with alopecia attending their first day of school.
I decided to go wig shopping over the summer. I wore a wig to school the following year and somehow fooled most people that I had professional miracle extensions! However, it didn’t stay that way for long. After a few hiccups along the way rumours started to spread and, although I like to think I was bigger and better than that, children can be cruel.
I’ll always remember one incident before I decided to get a wig. My hair had grown back, it was still very short, and it began to thin very quickly at the crown of my head. One of the popular boys, who spent most of his time stood outside the door of the classroom, came over to me and poked the newly formed bald patch at the top of my head. No one else said a word, even my friends just stood and watched as this cruel child humiliated me for a problem which I had no control over. I don’t blame my friends for not saying anything, they were young and naïve, and I probably had to grow up a lot faster than them because of my health problems.
Wearing a Wig to University
Uni, on the other hand, was a completely different experience for me. Don’t get me wrong; I was nervous as hell and probably for different reasons than the other teens starting at the same time as me. But, by this time, I had a newfound confidence, and I was comfortable swapping between two wigs; a shorter one for day to day and a lovely long wavy one for my first student nights out.
I think I settled in quite well with the girls that lived in my student accommodation, and a couple of people from my course. I 100% made friends for life, and some of those girls were the first people I confided in at uni about my hair. I think the fact that we were older and more mature helped a lot and most young girls can sympathise with the thought of losing your hair; my friends were very supportive. I didn’t want wearing a wig to affect any of my student experiences, and why should it? I joined the cheerleading squad, I joined in with fashion shows, I met boys and went out on dates. I did everything I would have done if I had a full head of hair.
I can’t sit here and tell you that for you or your child or anyone who suffers from hair loss that it’s going to be easy going through school or college wearing a wig, but it will make you a stronger person and, like everything, it gets easier. It’s kind of like the saying; practice makes perfect. The longer you wear a wig and suffer from hair loss, the easier it becomes, and the more confident you get. I know more now about wigs and my self-confidence than I ever have, but I wouldn’t know that without having gone through what I did at school and uni. At the end of the day, you should be proud to say ‘I wore a wig to school’.
Tips for Wearing a Wig to School
If you or your loved one is nervous for wearing a wig to school, college or university, here are some tips to consider:
01.
Confidence
Feeling secure and comfortable while wearing a wig is crucial for all wig wearers, but especially for young people. A top tip is to use bobby pins and wig tape to keep your wig extra-secure all day. For a comprehensive guide to using wig tape like a pro, check out Simply Wigs’ blog post.
02.
Choices
You could also wear a headband from ear to ear if that’s your style.If you have to go outside, for example for a sporting event or class trip, pop on a cap for extra security and comfort.
03.
Your hair
Unfortunately, if you’re wearing a wig to school, it wouldn’t be very surprising if a school peer asked you about your wig and your hair. They may be trying to look ‘cool’ in front of their friends and ask you to single you out. Or, they may genuinely want to know and haven’t realised it’s a very personal question. If this happens to you, it’s understandable if it makes you feel uncomfortable or intimidated. You can try responding with a question. Ask them why they want to know or why it matters to them? This may encourage them to rethink what they’ve said to you. Or, if someone asks you ‘is that really your hair?’, feel free to respond YES! Just because it didn’t grow from your head, it doesn’t mean that it’s not your hair.
04.
Talk
Speak to teachers about wearing a wig to school. Teachers should support you at school and, if they know about your wig, they can be both subtle and accommodating to ensure you feel comfortable. For example, if you don’t want to swim in your wig during a PE lesson, they should be able to excuse you.
05.
Suppoprt
Stay connected with our Wig Whisperer community and up-to-date with our blog posts for advice, support and reassurance for all things wig-related. You may not know of anyone else at school, college or uni who wears wigs or has experienced hair loss, so staying connected with people who understand you is comforting and helpful.
If you’re wearing a wig to school, college or university, or have done so in the past, please share any advice you have in the comments below!
Simply Wigs offers a selection of comfortable children’s headwear for children with hair loss. We’ve produced an in-depth guide to these headwear pieces, many of which can be worn alone or styled comfortably with a children’s wig.
My daughter is in 3 grade and she got attacked by a Pitbull that tore off her scalp she still has hair everywhere else but scalp. She never wants to wear a wig to school or at home we have had to wait for over 2years and still waiting for surgery because of COVID. She also said she didn’t like how it felt. And would it be better for her to wear a wig at school or not too?
I am in fourth grade and have Alopecia, I wear wigs. Other people don’t really say anything any more but I wanna try going bald but I have no clue what to do. My mom said it did not matter what other people thought of me I don’t think that’s true.
My My so Brave. I am African American and I lose all my Hair in Front and both side after I had my last child at 32. Didn’t have a Clue I had Had Hair Lupus. Tried Wigs but I didn’t like the look on Me. So with God Mighty Grace I have long hair in the BACK from Ear to Ear. I do slick it up from back to front around my Ears add Human Hair Wet And WAVY by Milky way. And Creat a Bun Still on top. My Hair Color Matches Perfect.. I Love the Strong Ways you have about you and YOUR Wigs keep it Up. God is Good. And he Has Us.
Awwww Steph ….I was bought to tears by that …even if you said it has made you a stronger person. You are an exceptional young lady ….and I really admire you. I never knew you wore a wig …I just thought you were like those Jon Renau models …. we know they have all got lucious locks underneath ….and I thought that with you ….and of course ….quite a few of those wigs look absolutely stunning. Dint think for a second you had suffered hair loss young (like myself) well yes it has made you a stronger person …an amazing person. Thank you for being you. xxxxx