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Original poster

Hair loss support thread

389 replies

Marasme · 17/11/2017 11:37

I did find an old 2012 thread and thought I'd post something new here.

After a shitty year or so at home and at work, I noticed that my scalp was showing more than usual along my parting. Further investigation using the selfie camera on my phone revealed an awful little bald patch at the top of my head, as if the parting was widening at this place.

Absolutely terrifying :( and not helping the fact that I suffer from some pretty bad health anxiety.

I now feel sucked by the entire "remedy" industry despite the strong belief that they are just snake oil peddlers.

Looking for anyone, from the old thread or not, to join in sharing positive stories...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
ilovecherries · 17/01/2018 09:40

All of it goes in, Hair. Although she did take a tail comb and ease out tiny wisps - hardly any at all - round my hairline just to soften the edges. It didn't look right because the hair colour wasn't a good match, but I could see how it's an option and I'm guessing when the ones I've ordered to try come in it will look better, because I went for as near my own colour as possible.

hairnightmare17 · 17/01/2018 14:34

Sounds good. Wigs are the least damaging option for retaining bio hair, especially if they don't have clips. Bringing out bio hair at the hair line helps toppers and therefore wigs look more natural if you don't have a fringe.

hairnightmare17 · 18/01/2018 11:02

I was watching Girlfriends last night and noticed that Miranda Richardson was probably wearing something hair wise. I googled her on images and there are loads of pics with her hair looking thick/thin or different somehow. She might not have hairloss just want more fabulous hair. I really like the thing below said by Trinny encouraging women to wear wigs if they don't have fabulous hair. I suspect Miranda is doing just that.

Anyhow, I thought her hair looked great and very natural and I suspect no one but someone like me who examines everyone's hair, would notice.

ilovecherries · 18/01/2018 11:30

I keep noticing it as well now. All these women who I always assumed just had amazing hair are wearing helper hair. It's really encouraging actually, because before I became hair obsessed I just though 'fab hair' and moved right on. So it really isn't obvious to a casual observer.

Original poster
Marasme · 18/01/2018 12:10

i agree - amazing how I notice people s hairline or partjng when i would probably have been oblivious before.
I have recently noticed very wide partings in a couple of students I teach, receeding hairlines in female colleagues- they all seem to deal with it well and do not seem bothered. Aspirational stuff.

One of the school mum has amazing blond hair, very thick, shiny, bobbed, which she wears with a thin scarf-like hairband. I am now convinced that this is helper hair. I would never have guessed or thought about it twice, before...

OP posts:
antimatter · 18/01/2018 16:23

she wears with a thin scarf-like hairband - I was wondering whether to look into something like that
I don't wear any make-up, dress sporty and our office is always "dress-down" and I want no fuss solution for myself or I will fail.

Original poster
Marasme · 18/01/2018 17:46

same here - i fail at grooming. Usually look fairly unpolished.
But her scarves always look great - i ve never seen similar online or on the high street... very 1960's cool and thin/narroe enough to look dainty.

OP posts:
antimatter · 18/01/2018 18:00

I think I would hope that the saloon will be able to help.with this kind of styling. We can't see ourselves how we look.

ilovecherries · 23/01/2018 14:37

Well, Parouche phoned me just now - my wigs have arrived. Not quite sure when I'm going to get to Glasgow to try them, but hopefully within the next week. Got a little tearful after the call that this is what it has come to, but I know it's the right time, if I leave it any longer I am going to look very strange when I transition as it's getting worse all the time. I have also been (largely unsuccessfully it has to be said!) trying some head wrapping. I don't feel secure enough to go out yet but I'd like to master it because it would be a good alternative if I want wig free days. I was feeling a bit funny about it, concerned it was perhaps cultural appropriation, but I had a very helpful chat with a friend who is an Orthodox Jew and who has wrapped every day since her wedding day, and her take on it was very reassuring.

CaraBosse1 · 23/01/2018 19:44

These two YouTube videos on hairloss, toppers and wigs are interesting and inspiring

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yM3-4SK9GGs

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1v-9Q5WYpxQ

antimatter · 23/01/2018 23:27

Those videos are giving me some hope @CaraBosse1

@ilovecherries you are my inspiration, I am.going to call them this week

raspberrysuicide · 24/01/2018 18:11

I haven't read the whole thread but I have alopecia universalis so I have no hair anywhere on my body including eyebrows and eyelashes as well as my head.
No leg hair or pubic hair or underarm hair either but I don't mind that!

I'm using Watermans Grow Me shampoo and conditioner as well as the food supplement and elixr at the moment.

hairnightmare17 · 25/01/2018 07:46

Raspberry were you advised to use those products? Have you had much professional input?

I am a member of some international Facebook hairloss groups and I notice that in some countries people with AA and AU are prescribed 'allegra'. I don't know what it is called over here but i do know it is an anti-histamine/allergy medication. Some people are having good results, as apparently it is as if they are allergy to their hair?

raspberrysuicide · 25/01/2018 16:32

I only went to the doctors when my hair actually fell out completely and I was just referred to get a wig. I've never been offered any treatment at all.

hairnightmare17 · 26/01/2018 07:43

Raspberry really surprised you weren't referred to a dermatologist. AU and AA is normally treated with steroid injections, from what I can see. At risk of sounding like I am basing all my evidence on Facebook (I am), I am always seeing people in groups I am in showing pictures of their regrowth journey as a result of steroids.

Some report it falls out after they stop, others don't. I suppose it depends on why it fell out in the first place eg. If it was stress and the stress improved.

raspberrysuicide · 27/01/2018 18:16

Hi yes I agree with you, i should have been offered something. In fact I have some hair growth on my head at the moment so it might be a good idea to start doing something to help.
I always thought A U was an autoimmune condition. I do have other autoimmune things too.

ilovecherries · 27/01/2018 18:39

I have hair. From this to this.

Hair loss support thread
Hair loss support thread
CaraBosse1 · 27/01/2018 18:59

Wow! You look great. Are you happy?

ilovecherries · 27/01/2018 19:08

I look like me again, so yes, I guess I am. Quite emotional and obviously wish it wasn’t necessary but this wig is almost an exact dupe for my bio hair a couple of years ago.

PurpleBoot · 27/01/2018 20:39

Hi - I’m a wig wearer too. I’m completely bald on top of my head to near the rear of head, with no hair on the sides either until near the back! I’ve got frontal fibrosing alopecia, an auto-immune condition (they think) which makes the follicles inflamed and then scarred, the hair falls out and can’t regrow. No eyebrows or arm/leg hair either. It started about 18 years ago, and progressed quite slowly.

I’ve been wearing a wig for about three years. Most people don’t realise, but I can spot one quite easily! It’s a pain when very hot weather, when doing sport etc. It’s blown off a couple of times!! You have to laugh, I guess ...

PurpleBoot · 27/01/2018 20:52

Your wig looks great ilovecherries. I was completely paranoid about people noticing, which people I knew well obviously did, but people now never seem to realise. My wig looks so much better than my own hair, which was frizzy and hard to control.

hairnightmare17 · 27/01/2018 23:18

It looks a lovely rich colour.

How does it feel on?

ilovecherries · 27/01/2018 23:30

It's really comfortable. It's a bit warmer toned than I'd have liked but there doesn't seem to be a lot of cool toned wigs unless you want to go towards platinums, which I didn't. I wore it for about 4 hours today and it didn't move (no tape or glue, just a wig cap). I still feel a bit tears looking at my hair on a wighead on the dressing table, rather than on my own head, but that's life. I'm going to enjoy the freedom of lovely hair that I can pop on my head, rather than spending hours fretting about covering bald bits.

raspberrysuicide · 28/01/2018 15:24

That's a lovely wig, where is it from please?

I need a new every day one mine is getting a bit worn out.

ilovecherries · 28/01/2018 16:18

raspberry, it's a Jon Renau Elizabeth in Caramel Syrup. Cost £250 after the VAT exemption. I got it in store in Parruche in Glasgow, but places like SimplyWigs sell it. It's got a lace front, hand tied and can be parted either side. It's growing on me - sadly not literally but we went out for coffee today and for the first time in a long time it was lovely not to be constantly rearranging strands of hair. My DH says it takes years off me. It's very near my own colour and the style is similar to mine maybe two years ago when I still had just about enough hair. I'd lost a LOT even then and I had never totally recovered my hairline after a bout of alopacia totalis in my 20s, but with careful styling and colouring I could manage it.