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Is vacuum wig wearing a good idea with patchy alopecia?
Hello!
I've been a member of this site for a couple of months now but this is the first time I've ever posted a question. I was hoping for some vacuum wig advice from fellow alopecia areata sufferers. I have already had some advice from a couple of lovely people on this site (thank you again, you were so helpful!) and am hoping to get a broader perspective, specifically from people with patchy hairloss but not enough hair to want to grow it back yet (like me!)
I've had AA since I was 15. The first time round I had patches for about 2ish years and then my hair slowly all grew back (I didn't wear a wig the first time as I managed to hide it, despite losing a significant amount of hair). I was then alopecia free for a good 7ish years until it started falling out again in March of last year, which really sucked as I had just grown my hair very long! It got bad enough that by October I buzzed it short and I have been wearing a wig since. I don't love wig wearing but I have to say I'm a lot happier since I buzzed my hair and am no longer stressing about what's falling out/growing back quite so much. However I'm not completely happy with the wig I've got at the moment: it looks pretty good but it's not comfortable for long periods of time and has had various problems already such as hair loss and sizing issues. As it doesn't look like my hair is going to grow back completely any time soon I am seriously considering getting a vacuum wig, as I've read so many good things about them. My only concern is that I haven't lost all of my hair - it's about 50/50 at the moment. It has started to grow back in some places, but then I've also lost hair in new places as well so it now seems that the patches are just starting to move around. It's really frustrating and I just want to get a great wig and not think about it for a while. Ideally I'd like to get a vacuum wig for a year and just forget about whether or not my hair is growing or falling out as I'm really tired of thinking about it all the time. It can be very emotionally draining wondering what will happen next all the time and I'm really trying not to be a mope about this.
What I'd like to know is if there is anyone on this site with alopecia areata, who hasn't lost all of their hair, but who shaves it in order to wear a vacuum wig? How easy do you find it to maintain a shaven head? Does it take long to shave daily? And has your skin been bothered at all by the process? Have you had any other issues with wearing a vacuum wig and do you think it's a good/bad idea to get one if you still have some hair growth?
Any advice would be so much appreciated!
Sara xx
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Krahn on
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Hi there,
When I bought my first Freedom Wig I was AU and didn't have a speck of hair on my body. Since then...four years later I have regrowth on the majority of the back of my head and some spots on the top. I simply shave my head in the shower daily with a Mach 3 razor and still wear my Freedom without compromise to the security and fit. In order for you to wear a Freedom piece you would have to commit to shaving your head (likely daily like myself) which is a big step and committment to make. The longer you let your hair grow the more the suction of the wig is compromised.
For myself, the shaving honestly takes less than 5 minutes and has become routine. There is another lady on this site who just posted a picture of herself (she looks amazing!) and said she has to shave to wear the hairpiece as well. You may want to check in with her as well.
Many of my clients use an electric shaver (philishave) to help as well without much aggrevation to their skin. I have eczema and haven't had any side affects from shaving.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Happy New Year to you!
Jenn
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Permalink Reply by Lexi on
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They are surely beautiful wigs. However, I would not want to be shaving my head.
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Hi Lexi,
I do agree that shaving one's head is a big decision and not one to be done for everyone. Hope you are well.
Jenn
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Permalink Reply by SaraVictoria on
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Thanks so much for your helpful reply Jenn :) It's good to know that you're able to shave your head daily and it is quick and easy and hasn't bothered your skin or anything! That was basically what I was hoping to hear! It's great to hear from other people who are in a similar position to me and find out what their own experiences are with this type of wig. It's hard to decide what to do, it sounds strange and I hope I don't upset anyone by saying this but sometimes I really do wish that my hair would completely fall out so that the decision about whether or not to get a freedom wig was easier to make - when it's patchy I keep hoping it might grow back in, and so I keep waiting a little longer and wearing a wig that's I'm not all that happy with just in case it starts to improve. The thing is even if my hair did suddenly all grow back in now I think I'd still feel scared about growing back in case it all falls out again as it seems like this is probably something I will have to deal with on and off throughout my life. I really hate the uncertainty of it. I just want to feel good (and secure) in how I look which is hard when your hair is constantly changing and you can't rely on it to stay put!
Lexi, I get where you're coming from but I'm just really tired of wondering what my hair is going to do next all the time and getting upset and disappointed when I lose more. I've been dealing with it coming out in spots for almost a year now this time around and as I already buzzed it super short last October (and have been doing so regularly since) I don't see much point in trying to cling on to what I've got unless it all starts growing back in as it's not like I can grow it out again now as I haven't got enough coverage at the moment. I'm not too bothered about the idea of shaving my head, my only concern really is that it would irritate my skin or be difficult to do on a daily basis. In terms of how I would look at home with a shaved head, I really don't care.
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Hi SaraVictoria,
I totally understand the frustration of the patchiness. I didn't expect any regrowth on my head at all and now with this patchiness that is growing, it does come with it a thread of hope that my hair will return...completely unexpected.
Shaving is a HUGE step to take and you do really need to ponder this decision. I also understand why you want to shave as it does allow you to take back some control and like myself "What is the point of keeping my hair when it is only growing back in certain places and I don't feel comfortable wearing it out in public."
Continue your research and do what you feel is best for you and going to allow you to move forward.
You are beautiful.
All the best with your search.
Jenn
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Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on
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Hi Sara
We have been chatting a little behind the scenes and I know you already understand about Libby (my daughter) and how she copes with her alopecia. I thought I would drop you a message here as well. Libby has been patchy with 97% regrowth on a couple of occasions in the last 10 years. I understand where you are at and know this is a very difficult decision but I think it also important to understand that alopecia will do what it will do and at some point it is important for you to take back ownership of your body. Whether that be to shave or not isn't the full issue, it is about being empowered with the choice you make.
In my experience, the choice of my daughter shaving her head and wearing a Freedom Wig has been nothing but empowering. It was like she took her life back and started to live again. Wig wearing can be a very negative thing if you aren't prepared for the challenges that wearing a wig can cause. Psychologically the choice to shave her head was great, then to move on and have beautiful hair again, made dealing with her alopecia a positive thing.
If you do decide to make this choice you will not be on your own, the support is ongoing and for as long as you need it. :) Remember Freedom Wigs are a specialist company focused on those dealing with alopecia. Only those with alopecia or other forms of long term extensive hairlosss can wear this type of wig....they understand and know how to help.
Rosy
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Thanks for your reply Rosy. I hate the unpredictability of alopecia, it's something I'm really struggling with at the moment as I just feel like I'm in purgatory. Because I still have some of my hair left I think it gives me false hope that my hair may well grow back in soon but I've actually been losing a bit more lately and it's got me really down. I wish I could just know how long this will go on for and whether it will get better or not this year, or next year, or whenever! I keep thinking about pixie haircuts and how good it would be to be able to just grow my hair back in but it doesn't look like it'll be happening anytime soon and I want to be able to accept that and move on. Some days I do have really good days where I hardly think about it at all, or when I'm out with my friends or at work it hardly crosses my mind, but then other days, when I'm at home and not wearing my wig, if I focus on my hair and how it's changed recently it can make me feel very sad.
The first time I buzzed my hair off last Autumn it definitely was empowering and the right thing to do. My alopecia got worse after I did it so I know I made the right choice and don't regret it as it's much easier to lose very short hair than it is to lose long and having a wig to wear every day means I don't stress out so much about what's coming out. I am very grateful for the wig I have now, the hair is great and I'm happy with it as a first wig, but I think it does look wiggy some days and it's just not that comfortable.
I wish I could just make my mind up about the Freedom wig. If I knew for sure that my hair would not all grow back this year then I would happily shave it daily and not look back. But because I still have a small amount of hope that it might get better soon I'm finding it hard to make a decision and stick with it.
Thanks for all the input to everyone… I will let you know as and when I do make a decision, which will hopefully be soon!
Sorry for all the rambling!
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Permalink Reply by Emily on
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I am in a similar situation as Sara... I have lost 80% of my hair but have patchy spots of regrowth. I know it takes about 4 months for the custom Freedom Wig to be made. Would I have to shave my head for the measurement of my head? I am ok with shaving it once I have the wig, but don't like the idea of being bald for 4+ months while waiting for the wig.
They are so expensive but seem beautiful.
I have a human hair wig now. It was $1500 and looks great. But I don't feel secure with it and it's too hot to wear to the gym so I exercise at home now and resent it. Plus I don't feel like I can run with my dog now (something else I miss). It's a stressful time...thanks all,
Emily
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