Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on August 24, 2012 at 3:31am

Hi Karma

It is like a minefield when you are first trying to understand your own needs around alopecia and wig choices.

I think it very important for you to first work out your own needs. What are the important things you may want a wig to do for you. What type of hair do you want? Do you understand what different types of hair (processed/unprocessed) will mean to a hairpiece. Is the way it looks important? Is security important? Is it important to do activities (swimming, windy days, roller coasters)?

When I first started looking for hair for my daughter I wrote a list of my needs and matched it to the hairpiece that ticked the most boxes. My daughter has never looked back with her choice and how it has worked for her in her life. Feel free to pop in to my page and have a wee looksee if it helps.

Good luck with everything and if I can help with any information feel free to ask.

Hugs

Rosy

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Permalink Reply by Alliegator on August 24, 2012 at 4:51pm

That doesn't sound crazy. If you are ready to shave, then I say it is a good idea. I shave my head, and I love the way it feels. It helps you feel like you are in control of your hair loss. It helped me a lot. Wigs helped me gain back my confidence. Before you purchase one, do research to see what you want. There are a ton of options! You could spend $50 or up to $1,000. I like to purchase ones that are around $100. A big question is if you would want human hair or synthetic. Each kind has its pros and cons. Each person has to find what they prefer.

In regards to a support group... you could do a search for Boston on here, and see if anything comes up. Then, you could go to the NAAF website, look on the calendar to see if anything is listed. Or, contact NAAF to find out if they have a rep for the Boston area, and that person would know if there is a group. Keep coming back to this website. It has helped me a lot!

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Permalink Reply by Spenser on August 25, 2012 at 12:39am

I check Bald Girls Do Lunch when they are meeting in an area I'm visiting. I can go stand by or get airline buddy passes (family in the airline industry is a plus if you're flexible). They are progressive and "full service" about alopecia.You will always learn something new and make good connections. I have many times.

The organization has Boston/Rhode Island coming up in November and 4 days in four mid-Atlantic states from September 12-15, 2012.Go to their website to get updates and view the calendar.

If I can help with more info, just send me a message.

You are sure to meet fabulous women of all ages. I love the BGDL network which is available by email, newsletter and meetings beauty workshops

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Permalink Reply by Bald and Fabulous AKA Terri on August 31, 2012 at 11:41am

Hi. Absolutely your feelings are not crazy. In fact there are very common by everyone. For myself, I always felt I was alone in this alopecian journey til I joined this site. And like you I feel as at a cross roads, before I got a wig and decided to shave my head. I had lost all my hair at 8 years old and it did grow back about a year later. At 35 I was facing having to make a decision as to whether to shave yet again. This was a very tough decision for me, since I was bullied and teased for being bald and wearing a wig the first time. In my mind there was nothing worse than being bald yet again. After purchasing a wig and feeling comfortable in it, I ended up shaving my head. And I will say this.....It was the best decision I had made. For the first time I felt in control of my alopecia. No longer was it going to control my life. If my hair started to grow back, it was going to be MY decision if I wanted it to, or not. It felt as if it was MY choice as to whether I would wear a wig, hat, or scarf or nothing at all. What you are feeling is totally natural and I wish you are the best and much support in any of the decision you decide. Ultimately it will be your decision and you have to be comfortable with it.
http://www.alopeciaworld.com/profiles/blogs/the-day-i-shaved-my-head

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Permalink Reply by ASRN on August 31, 2012 at 8:58pm

Do you still have some hair? I know when mine became very thin I shave what was left (I was starting to look like Gollum - Lord of the Rings Movie!) I felt a million times better when I shaved off the scraggly stuff :) It was more comfortable too. I have also done permanent eyebrows and wear at the least liduid eyeliner but I also usually wear false lashes. Where I live there is no support group just supportive people! haha - you can be an inspiration to others though - I have women come up to me all the time thanking me for being brave enough to "go bald". They probably think i have cancer ..... I have AU. I have had 2 wigs. One I got through a salon - wasn't v happy with that purchase. THe second I bought on-line with the help of my hair dresser and that was better. I think the good thing about a wig shop (in boston I am sure you have more choices than we have in SD!) is that you can learn about wig construction and figure out what works with every day life. A few tips? Bangs are nice b/c they cover up the hairline and the "lace fronts" are v. itchy! This is why I usually just go without these days. Took me 4 months to get there though. I had AA for 4 years and it went to AU 8 months ago

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Permalink Reply by karma on September 1, 2012 at 12:25pm

I just want to thank everyone for the support and the advise....I have androgentic type alopecia with naturally curly hair that allows me to be able to style it s that I can still get away with it, but I have to use products like toppiks and I'm sick of the effort involved to always be disappointed. I still live in the cty I grew up in and it terrifies me to shave my head ( boyfriends, people from high scool that have nothing better to do than gossip)....I need to get out of that mind set of course but as weird as it sounds I wish I had AA only because for I think that's the bald smooth look is actually sexy, but if I shave my head I'll be able to see the damage, the spacey growth, the areas that have thinned unevenly, the flaky, inflammed scalp, the bumps where sebum caused scarring....I guess I'm afraid in my case I'll shave my head to find a more horrifying situation then ill be left with the straggles that no longer grow....I know that's a decision only I can make and I'll know when I'm ready, but I guess I'm just so anxious to have my back up plan in action ( wig) and I'm trying to find a plan that is actually better than what I deal with now but I feel like so many people hate wigs and it scares me to succumb to wearing one, shave my head, end up hating the wig then be stuck in debt from a wig I can't wear and left with a bald head that's in bad condition

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Permalink Reply by ASRN on September 1, 2012 at 5:18pm

I'm so sorry - this is a very sucky situation to be in. In your profile picture you look adorable. I understand out the hometown feeling. I have an ex-husband here and always hope if I am out that I never ever see him ... so far so good. I braved the bald when I was out of town and wanted to snorkel - wasn't going to skip something I love just b/c of the baldness. As for a wig .... you might feel more confident with it - people are ALWAYS shocked when I tell them my wigs are wigs. I have to say the ones I have worn aren't super comfy BUT i also didn't go all out on the cost. I'm so sorry have to deal with scalp issues and hair loss - that isn't very fair. Before I bought I read a million reviews of specific wigs that I liked pictures of to see what people thought were pros and cons. Not being "shiny" and comfortable seem to be a hug pro's. Neither of mine were shiny and I would see they were OK priced. Good luck!

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