Finding it hard coping with hair loss. How to adapt to wearing wigs full-time and how to tell people about hair loss!

I am having trouble coping with my hairloss. I have lost 50% of my hair with my hair very thin all over. I have hair on most of my head it is just extremely thin and see through and curly.

I am having trouble coping with my hairfall and at the point where I am not sure if I should shave it short and wear a wig full time.I do own wigs and have worn them in my free time around some people

My problem is coping with telling people about my hairloss and explaining my transition to wigs and shaving.

I still have hair ...but as I say it is at the extremely thin stage, where I can't do anything with it. If I go out in any sort of a breeze my hair is soooo flyaway and thin and I am concious of people looking at me.

Also I am working part-time at a childcate centre and have just started training to become an Early Childhood Teacher. When I work at the centre I wear a thick headband to try and conceal my hairloss. If I do decide to shave and or wear wigs full time I am unsure of how to explain it to people. Should I actively tell people about it or when they ask what should I say?

I am sure they will notice I am wearing a wig. I am also unsure of what to tell the little children if they happen to ask about my change in hair.

Any ideas of how I can cope with the transition or what I should do...I am so freaking out!!!! It is so hard :(

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Permalink Reply by Georgia Kay Jarman on March 2, 2013 at 6:42pm

Hello, I am Georgia and I totally understand everything you are saying. First of all, you do not owe an explanation to anyone. I recently went in a store and purschased an item. The clerk looked at me and said, were you in here earlier today? I said no. He said, I know I've seen you. I simply said, I come in here a lot. I had my wig on and I looked 10 years younger. He didn't recognize me. Your close family and friends are easy to confide in. I don't mind wearing the wig around them. But because they don't have the problem, they don't understand why I'm uncomfortable to go out around the places in town and be around the acquaintences I see all the time.--like at the restraunt I frequent. I don't understand why it bothers me myself. I think it's because I didn't start wearing a wig soon enough so the change was not gradual looking. People are use to seeing me with a hair problem. I guess, on my part, it's a part of me feeling like I'm not being myself when I put on the wig. I'm a genuine person. But the fact is, it's practical to have a wig; or accept the baldness. (I prefer to get adjusted to a wig)
I can't do my own hair with so much bald area and it is silly to keep spending money to try to have it done a the beauty shop. The children at the daycare should be the easiest. Tell them you changed your hairstyle. Keep it simple. My grandchildren are very accepting. I have had alopecia (a particular rare disorder) for years and just have accepted it as it was. But now it's just not working. I would suggest doing things in stages. I haven't shaved my head yet but am working up to it. Just take one step at a time and only go by what you are comfortable with. And again-- truly, we owe no one explanations for doing what we have to do to be happy. Hope to hear from you soon. Good Luck. I'm sure you are a beautiful person inside and out. I have requested your friendship for private messages if you prefer.

Permalink Reply by alamogirl/ aka Judy on March 4, 2013 at 9:37pm

Hi Jenna. You are where I was about a year ago. I decided that, with friends, I would be very direct and tell without emotion. Then I decided that humor was my best coping method with others. This puts us all at ease. When someone is very upset about something and says they feel like pulling their hair out I laugh and tell them not a problem for me. We all laugh and I feel so much better.And I did find wigs that really mimicked my own hair. Now I just rock a few different styles and don't feel any need to explain. If you are casual around others they will forget about your hair. Blessings.

Permalink Reply by stephani on March 31, 2013 at 6:44pm

Remember to breathe, it may seem like these are going to be the worst imaginable but remember there are lots of understanding people out there. Also remember that if you remain calm and not seem to rattled by what is happening to you and treat it as a transition and that you are the same person, others will understand and treat you the same. It is the same way for someone with cancer, they loose their hair but not everyone treats them differently. Have faith that people will be more understanding and If your afraid about working around children, they often are the most understanding out of all the people I have had to explain hair loss to.

Permalink Reply by Dianna 845 on February 5, 2016 at 12:38pm
I too am having the same issue. I'm having a very hard time. I can only afford 2 wigs. One synthetic, one human hair. I'm freaking because I Dont know how to style. Honestly I'm having great deal of trouble coping with having to wear a wig. I'm concerned about summer. Not having enough wigs,the discomfort. This is truly challenging. Making me so unhappy. Hair shed rapidly. To piint I must wear wig. Oh how I wish I had my baby fine hair back! Also to wig wearers out there. Do you glue it down? How do you descretly hide?
Permalink Reply by Georgia Kay Jarman on February 5, 2016 at 3:26pm

Hi

Permalink Reply by Dianna 845 on February 5, 2016 at 3:28pm
Hello
Permalink Reply by AnnS on February 14, 2016 at 5:23pm

First, the kids will not even bat an eye. My kindergarten son told one of his two teachers within minutes of me meeting her that "my mom has no hair and she wears a wig!" Does not seem to bother children. Second, I did get a few odd glances from clients when I went from the extremely thin hair (headbands,etc.) to a full wig. Most were men and no guy is going to comment on a vendor/colleague's hair. One or two said "hey, your hair looks great!" and I said "thanks!" My first round with alopecia, I had a work wig and a weekend wig and they were very different. A client saw me the very next day after a work meeting (it was saturday) and I simply laughed and explained that I had alopecia and we moved on. Honestly, it never interfered with our relationship and may have made it stronger - although he's not my client any longer (my business partner and I split up and she got his account.)  I still see him at the pool or library (our kids are the same age.) He knows I wear a wig (my second round of Alopecia.)

Just be bold, go with the transition. Most people will just think you got an awesome new hairdo. Say thanks when they complement you. 

Permalink Reply by Ana74 on February 20, 2016 at 8:22pm
I totally understand what you are going through. I too have curly hair and am at the stage where my hair is thinning all over and I get paranoid when I go outside especially if it's windy. It's at the stage where it's extremely fragile and unmanageable! If I may ask what wigs/falls do you have? I've been having a difficult time finding a wig due to my texture since it's curly. In response to your concern about the children noticing a different hair cut just tell them that you decided to change the style. I wish that I had better advice for you but I too am relatively new to hair loss and am trying to find solutions and acceptance.

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