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Permalink Reply by Minter on April 13, 2018 at 8:54am

I've had my brows microbladed (Oct '17) and between the redhead gene and FFA skin my poor technician had a job for sure! She explained because of my bad skin & the red hair my brows will fade more then usual and I will need more touch ups- to be honest if I wasn't on this forum I would've thought it was BS! But knowing that part of FFA is having not great skin it all makes sense :-/ although there is now NO WAY I will go back to not having brows!

The shiny scalp, ohhhhhhh the bane of my morning rituals!  I hate the shiny scalp! I use a face primer and face powder and then a contour powder (all Bare Minerals products) & blend it all into my hairline and along my forehead, for the most part it works- I also sometimes use hair powder, either Boost n' Blend or Revolution Hair Powder and blend that in the hairline on it's own or along with any of the other products- I really hate the shine!  Sounds like a lot of stuff and work but it isn't really, takes about a minute and, as far as I know and hope! blends in really well and is not noticeable - Oh and one more thing- I sometimes I use a little fake tan and it helps to dim the shiny bright white stripe that is also thanks to FFA,  I don't use it all over my face, just on my forehead/hairline- again, hopefully not noticeable or orange! 

I also have patchy & scraggly hairloss in front of my ears, I do the same as above and have long "sideburn pieces" cut into my "good hair" that I pull forward and use either a bit of hairspray or hair product to keep in place, it has worked pretty well for the couple months that I have had it- between the powder and having the sides "stuck in place" I don't panic when the wind blows, well maybe a little, can't help it! My microblading technician actually does work with alopecia & cancer clients and has been trained to microblade/tattoo areas of hairloss- so it is a thing that is being done, we talked about it- but don't think it is for me.  If you decide to do it look for one that has been trained in the technique-

I haven't really looked into dermabrasion or anything for my skin, I get a facial now and again and that helps a bit for a little while, I also get botox about once a year and that helps a LOT for a Long While!

Hope all this helps :-) 

Permalink Reply by illustr8r on April 14, 2018 at 11:15pm

Wow Minter! Thank you for all of the detail of what works for you!!! :)

Permalink Reply by Minter on April 15, 2018 at 8:19am

Haha thank you, I'm afraid it might have been Too Much Detail though! 

Permalink Reply by AnnieMay on April 15, 2018 at 11:01am

Thank you Minter! Never too much detail!!!

I'm very happy I had microblading done too. Mine looks a little "blurry" and more gray now so it's probably time to go back for a touch up. I don't love the process but it's sooo worth it.

I use toppix on my ever wider part but I'll try the other products you mentioned along on my hairline and shiny forehead. I'm also looking into a different haircut?

This all has a tendency to make me feel "exposed" especially when the wind blows! I was just on vacation and I definitely don't feel comfortable getting my hair wet when I go swimming anymore. I do think I'm going to get some fun glasses too. I'm trying very hard to start to accept that this is who I am. I don't want to obsess over this everyday. I'm 61 and life is short!

Permalink Reply by illustr8r on April 15, 2018 at 4:22pm

@AnnieMay I had a chin length bob for years. As this mystery illness took hold and I couldn’t figure out why my hair felt like straw and wouldn’t lay right-i kept getting it cut shorter. I now have a short pixie. My hairstylist said yesterday that my hair is the healthiest she’s seen it in some time-and I have thicker hair along the sides and widows peak so that it can be cut to hide my temples better. Castor oil?!? I don’t know, but it’s the thing I’m doing now consistently. A new haircut is something to consider. This stupid disease makes you adapt and right now *knock wood* my haircut looks intentional.

Going to the dermatologist tomorrow. First time since I was diagnosed. Since I’m not doing drugs there wasn’t much need for a follow up but I have to get some pre cancerous spots frozen-ugh. Guess all that sunscreen in my make up all these years has done a terrific job...! Oh wait. Ugh!!!

Permalink Reply by Minter on April 16, 2018 at 9:00am

Good luck @illustr8r, hope all goes well at the dermo tomorrow, I hope all goes well- that is pretty much how I am now with my own- just going for my once a year skin check up. & good to hear your hair has thickened up!  

@AnnieMay, my brows also look blurry thanks to FFA and the number it does on my skin, yay. But, they still look a million times better then pre-microblading!

I did some googling after I first posted on shiny scalps and there are several products that men use for shiny scalps also saw several posts about using baby powder or talcum powder- 

Fun sunglasses and more is the way to go! As frustrating as FFA is, not going swimming or enjoying yourself on vacation or life in general is a sure way to let FFA win and rule your life :-/