My story as a bald girl

Growing up with alopecia and embracing my own uniqueness

Hello friends! It’s been awhile. Over the past few months, I’ve been working to start a coaching business surrounding supporting those with alopecia and hair loss, so I thought it would only be appropriate to share my story. Being a bald girl doesn’t define me, but it’s a part of me and I can confidently say now that I’m confident and empowered because of it. Enjoy my story!

As someone who developed Alopecia at a young age, it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t a part of my life. Some of my earliest childhood memories involved my Alopecia and the difficulties that came along with being different. At around 6 years old, I began losing my hair. The exact trigger was unknown, however, I have my suspicions that the stress of coming from a family of divorce could have played a role. Whatever the reason, my hair was thinning rapidly, chunks of it coming out every time I took a bath or shower. By the time I turned 7, I was almost completely bald. At some point, hiding it with thick headbands and bandanas wasn’t an option anymore and I got my first wig.

Wigs back then were not as comfortable or realistic as they are now, but having the option to wear a wig was life saving for me. I was able to blend in and find some amount of comfort in the fact that I could have hair just like everyone else. Although, wearing a wig as an elementary school student wasn’t always easy. I had a few instances of it flying off in gym class and sometimes I’d even come home with it completely backwards. Fortunately, it seems like wigs for children are a lot more manageable and secure these days than they were back in 2002.

Around that same time, I went to my first National Alopecia Areata Foundation conference and got to meet a lot of other kids who didn’t have hair just like me! It was so inspiring to meet other kids my age who didn’t need to wear wigs to school and who felt confident and happy with themselves. While I looked up to these other children and wished I could be like them, something in me was always holding me back from being comfortable in my own skin the way they were. During events at the conference, I’d often hide away in the corner or stick by my family instead of joining in on the fun. My naturally shy and timid nature as a child made it difficult for me to embrace myself fully.

As time went on, I continued to wear wigs all throughout middle school and high school, trying to hide my Alopecia the best that I could. While wig quality greatly improved and became more comfortable, I became increasingly less comfortable with myself. Only my closest friends knew about my hair loss and I put a lot of energy into not putting myself in situations where people might find out. Looking back now, I can see how distressing it was for me to never fully accept who I was.

It wasn’t until I was in my early 20’s that I began to face my Alopecia. While going through a lot of life changes, I began to work on myself and start the process of healing my relationship with myself. I realized the harm that I was putting myself through by hiding all of those years and being ashamed of myself. It took a lot of work to reframe my thought patterns and begin the journey towards true self love and acceptance. Part of that process, for me, was stepping away from wigs and embracing wearing scarves. Over time, I began to become more and more comfortable with myself without hair and started to love my own unique beauty.

Now, I’m at a place in my life where I can have fun with my Alopecia – some days I wear a scarf and some days I wear a wig. I have found the joy in being able to express myself within Alopecia and, instead of shame, I feel joy and pride in who I am. Alopecia doesn’t define me, but it’s a part of me and it has shaped so much of my life up until this point. The journey to acceptance of myself and my Alopecia has been a decades long process, but it has been so worth it. Now, part of my mission in life is to walk alongside others through their own Alopecia and hair loss journeys, to provide the tools and resources for everyone to know their own unique beauty both inside and out.

love, sarah

---

Other notes:

• As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m starting a business around supporting others with alopecia and hair loss, so feel free to follow my new instagram page/check out my website!

• Currently reading: I just finished Poverty, by America, which I found to be incredibly informative regarding the state of poverty in America as well as actionable steps that our government can take to decrease it. I’m also almost done with the second Fourth Wing book, Iron Flame, which I’m enjoying about as much as the first one. It’s dragons and love triangles, what more can I say?

• Shows I’m loving: I watched all of Hacks recently, which was an absolute treat! I can’t wait for season 5! The humor, the drama, the WOMEN, yes to everything about it!