Today I shaved my head in preparation for the Freedom Wig and to take control of my life

Hi friends,

Today I finally shaved my whole head. It had been a rough few months or I should say 12 years. I got sick of stressing about my hair falling out and trying to keep my top piece on my head. I decided I needed something that would replace my hair and help me take back my life. I felt these past months like my alopecia was in control of me and I still do. I decided on the freedom wig, and in order to create my mold I had to shave my head. So today that was done by my rep. It felt scary at first, in fact the few days before were the worst. Now, I am sort of numb and not sure how it feels. Hoping to wake up happier. I actually like being bald, but I am a professional dancer so I have to wear a wig. i will be wearing a transition wig until my freedom is made. I posted picture below of my new bald head. Feels so free! SO much better than watching clumps of hair fall out.

I just wanted to share my story and hope I can help or speak with others who are going through the shaving/bald steps

love, katie

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Permalink Reply by karma on August 1, 2013 at 8:23pm
I think that's awesome!!....did you go short or long....please sned pics and let me know how it feels, hos it stays on, if its something you can sleep in or run your fingers through etc....and in your opinion how is the hair line?...would I need bangs??
Permalink Reply by reesespieces5678 on August 2, 2013 at 3:16am

I got a transition piece by pierre..called Diane in chocolate brown to wear for 5 months before my freedom wig comes in. Looks tragic straight out of box. I got it cut ..longer layers..its about 14inch length..and I got a blunt bang..(pretty much my normal style) Now I really like it. Washing it made a difference too.

I have not got my freedom wig yet, that takes months to create. Today I went to yoga without my wig!! felt great

Permalink Reply by Emily on August 2, 2013 at 1:45pm

Thank you so much for posting. You don't even know how much strength and courage you have passed on to me, Katie. I know what it's like to "watch the clumps fall out" and to have a "rough 12 years." You are so brave. And so beautiful. Thank you again.

I am so going to look at the Pierre wig line. I honestly don't even know where to start. The Follea I tried on a few weeks ago was stunning, but it was so expensive - $3500. I feel like a transition wig (a wig before a full vacuum) shouldn't have to cost that much.

Did your stylist specialize in wigs? And it looks like you were actually wearing it as it was being styled. Is that right?

Keep up the yoga. Keep up the dancing. Keep up everything that makes your spirit light. You go girl.

Permalink Reply by reesespieces5678 on August 2, 2013 at 5:17pm

Emily, the picture I attached has my pierre wig.. about $530 and it's human hair handtied. Remy hair, so it is processed...but I think I may have gotten lucky because it drys naturally wavy..so I havent had to apply heat. My normal stylist cut it...she is someone I trust. She doesn't usually deal with wigs..but she cut it while it was on my head like a normal person! I just wore it to dance class, stayed on and I felt great!

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Permalink Reply by Emily on August 3, 2013 at 12:39am

Wow. It looks really pretty. Seriously looks like your own hair, Katie. You found a great wig for this transition time. I can't wait to see the Freedom Wig!!! Well, you are off the charts brave - a real warrior. Keep it up.

Permalink Reply by reesespieces5678 on August 2, 2013 at 10:17pm

Hi Aimee,

Before I shaved my head I was wearing a top piece blended with the hair I had left. I do not tell people about my alopecia because I do not want it to affect my career nor people to judge me based off my hair. Now I wear my transition wig. Which is just a regular hand tied human hair wig. I got baby hair cut all around the seam of it so when I pull it up it looks more real. It's only been two days, I am sure I will run into some sort of problem. At yoga I went bald... this I haven't figured out..I rather wear some sort of hair, it just gets SOOO hot and I don't want to wash my hair more than 2 times a week. I call it "transition" because it is the wig I am wearing while they are making my freedom wig. It's kinda comfortable..stays on without tape actually but I put tape for when I dance.

Permalink Reply by Lexi on August 3, 2013 at 10:34pm

The Pierre wig....is it extremely dense? Did you have to thin it? What does the hairline look like? Texture of hair..?? I have so many questions, sorry! Is it very very hot? You will I am sure love your Freedom. Can't wait to see pictures of it. You are very pretty!!!

Permalink Reply by reesespieces5678 on August 4, 2013 at 2:44am

Hi Lexi,

It's pretty think..I got it cut..long layers to thin it out also to make it look more natural and not so "wiggy" . I also got bangs cut to frame my face and help the hairline. The hairline is alright, I had the stylist cut some baby hairs along the hair line so that its not just skin to wig. The texture is nice. It's remy hair and human hair..so it's not AS nice as european hair but for the price I think it's great. I love it because I don't have to curl or straighten it. There is a natural wave to it. When I wash it, I braid it then condition it and then unbraid it after to prevent it from knotting. I went to rehearsal tonight and no one even said anything or noticed because I got the same hair cut as I had with my top piece. The very top of the wig is mono. So with my shaved head, my scalp kind of shows through. It's hand tied too. I got petite size so it fits veryyyy SNUG. It stays on well...I do lots of hair "choreography" and head whipping when I dance and it stays in place. It is kind of hot...but nothing I can't bare.

Hope this helps =) i added another photo

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Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on August 4, 2013 at 6:19pm

Hello

I understand how you may be feeling. When my daughter was fitted for her Freedom Wig she also had to decide to take away the last of her hair (for her it was about 20%of what use to grow). I remember looking at her and feeling overwhelmed with the choice. My daughter was 12 at the time and it was a decision we made with her as a family.

Looking back on it now it was the best choice we ever made. Her Freedom Wig has given her the opportunity to get on with life. It's not perfect, but it is very good. (perfect would be her growing her hair back and it staying).

After her hair was taken away my daughter become very empowered around the whole process of getting her new hair. She took on board what a Freedom Wig could and couldn't do, she became very involved in the process and the reality of having alopecia. She didn't have hair she could control...so for her taking her hair away was a form of control. She also didn't want alopecia to control her, she wanted to control her outcomes the best way she could. For her, part of that strategy was to have a Freedom Wig. It gave her choice on how she wanted to present herself (it didn't give her hair that would do, it gave her hair that she really loved). Her Freedom Hair didn't take away her hairloss, what it gave her though was a sense of choice, that was calming and empowering.

I'm feel sure your decision will do the same thing. It can be overwhelming to make this choice but I know through my own experience that you will be supported and cared for by your Independent Agent. You will work with her to get the hair that helps you feel comfortable and you again.

hugs

Rosy

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