Hi Debs - you look great in your wigs and you're right; nobody could think that you're wearing supplemental hair.
I too wear a lace front hairpiece and can honestly say that it looks as if it's my own hairline. (If I get brave I might post a photo of myself in it - but I'm a good deal older than you are and the camera isn't really my friend nowadays!)
I'd say to anyone thinking of getting a wig to go to a good wig shop, get professional advice and just give it a try.
Your eyebrow tattoos and the eyeliner are very successful too.

Yes, I just need the confidence to take the plunge! Kath, how do you attach your hairpiece? Is it a front hairpiece or a full wig? Have you tried the stick on method?

Hi Pam - My hairpiece is like a little cap and mixes in with my own hair at the back and sides. It has three patches at the front (one in the middle of my forehead and one each side) which I use wig tape on and there are three little clips at the back which clip into my own hair. It's very secure and comfortable to wear once you get used to the idea. My own hair is cut in a short bob with a fringe which I brush back when I put on the hairpiece and which I can still brush forward so I can wear a headband or scarf if I want a rest from the hairpiece.
My hairpiece is from the Ellen Wille 'Hair Society' acrylic range and the piece is called 'Close'. My own hair is sort of mouse with some grey and some highlights and the hairpiece really matches in very well at the back and sides.
Don't be scared to give your wig a go - even just around the house. Think of it as a new beauty aid! Good luck with it. Hope this helps.

Hi Jules - No I don't sleep in my hairpiece. The clips at the back would make it uncomfortable and I'm not sure if acrylic hair would stand up to being rubbed on a pillow all night. I believe there are wigs you can sleep in though. Maybe if you ask wigsupport they could advise you.

UK ladies - please check your mail - I am trying to get us together again for lunch and to solve this problem we have - it will only take us a couple of hours................
Suggesting these dates

2,3,4, 9.10.11 October - if you let me know which of these dates you are free then I will try to make a plan to accommodate all. Looking forward to seeing you again ! x

Hi all,Its hard to keep track of details I know I've read along the way but those ladies that have purchased wigs,what brands did you feel were of very good quality or do they all have high & low end quality.Thanks.

Rita, I also use the wigsupport website for all of my wig info. You do need to buy name brand wigs, the ones that Carol has listed, there are some very cheap wigs on the market but I think if a wig costs the same as a pizza it will probably only last as long!... You don't need to spend a fortune on a wig for it to look natural. My preference is synthetics because they bizarrely look less 'wiggy' than human hair wigs. They are not too thick and you don't have to style them. Mine cost Ignite, Jon Renau brand £99 - Julia, Jon Renau brand £145, Stream, Ellen Wille brand £120 - Techno Cut, Gisela mayer brand £140, I have a human hair wig from Raquel Welch that was about £500 that I never wear because it is so difficult to style.

If you want to check out a good range of wigs look at

www.voguewigs.com
www.wigs.com

these online wig stores are in the USA and carry a huge line of wigs. NOTE you don't have to purchase from these sites as you may well find the same wigs cheaper somewhere else, I just suggest looking at the sites to see just how many lovely wigs are on the market.

Carol & Debs, Thank you so much, I will do my research with all your info, have printed it out to carry w/me.

Hi Celia would love to meet up and I'm free all those dates except the 2nd of October. I have already met up with Julie and Terry at the Trafford Centre on the days of appointments with Dr H and it was very good to talk and discuss medications! Sammi x

Thank you Sammi for your response. Will keep posting as I get replies then I will post my e mail here so you can contact me to give directions - don't want to post directions on the forum ! x

Thank you Kath for passing on information about your hairpiece - I am very grateful.

Hello - regarding our get together....my suggested dates were - 2,3,4,9,10,11th October - so far :-

Julie 3,9,10
Sammi 3,4,9,10
Paula 9, but best for her are Fridays - ie 4,11th
Polly 2,4,9
So at the moment the best date looks to be the 9th unless anyone has a better idea ? I hope that we can make this work. I don't know how to contact Heidi as she doesn't log on very often but hope to hear from Liz and Debs.
Best wishes !

Hope also to hear from Caro ! Trying not to get in a muddle with this ! x

Hello Celia, thanks very much for organising us UK ladies again. I can do the 9th Oct the other dates are OK for me too.

I could do Oct 2nd, 3rd, and possibly the following week too, but will let you decide a date and then see if I can make arrangements to join you.

Hello Celia. Thanks so much for the invitiation. Yes the 9th October is good for me as well. In fact it's perfect as I am not working that week! Really looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Thank you for messages re our get together. My e mail address is celiareeve@hotsmail.com for those of you needing directions. If you e mail me then I will send info, rather than here. Hope that's OK. So - the 9th October is the date and I hope that Paula can make that one ! So we are Julie, Sammi, Paula, Polly, Caroline, Pam, Debs and hopefully Heidi if she gets a message. Have a good rest of the weekend ! x

I have had an e mail from mobrsb - I haven't opened it - was not sure if it is from one of you or a spoof....if anyone emails me please refer to the get together in the title then I will know it is safe to open it - thanks !

Hi Terry, thank you very much for your info. I have never had much hair on my arms of legs, I have never needed to get my legs waxed for instance and use to just shave them once a week to keep them completely smooth. My eyebrows just fell out about 3 years ago - that said, I do have some eyebrow hair just not enough to look groomed.

At my age, 50 years, I have found that in the past 2 years I have only been menstruating about once every 6 months. However since July I have found I am back to menstruating once a month!!! There are 2 possible causes; I started juicing back in July and using Dr Weil's anti-inflammatory diet, I started plaquenil in March. I have also found that the skin on my body (arms/legs) is not dry any more and my hands look 'younger'. I think my improved diet is most likely the reason but maybe some other ladies have these symptoms that are using plaquenil.... whatever the cause I am quite happy with it. XXXX

Hi Terry - are you close to London and if so perhaps able to join us for a get together on 9th October. e mail celiareeve@hotmail.com for directions if you think this might be possible. Best wishes !

I would love to be able to meet up with someone, anyone who has FFA. I'm on such a bundle of medication just now and feeling quite isolated. But I don't suppose there is anyone up here in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. I hope you all have a productive and supportive get- together. Please post anything interesting that is shared. xxxx

Dee, I sometimes come up to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen... If you are in/near any of those cities we can meet up for a coffee and chat. xx

Debs,Carol- I went out to look at synthetic wigs & the store really liked and promoted the Jon Reneau synthetic. I tried to find more info on wig support but came up empty on what I was looking for and that is the way the wig is made. she mentioned something about hand .... and what would you suggest for the construction of the wig, please & thanks?

Polly, There is a product available here that we can purchase from 'Sallys', called 'Toppik' which are fibers that you sprinkle over the roots and comes in a few colors.Then a little hairspray to secure it in place. There is another brand called 'Illusion' which is the same type of product.The 2 websites are:
www.toppik.com
www.illusionhairfibers.com

Rita a name brand wig like Jon Renau is good quality. Hand-tied, monofilament, lace-front, fully wefted are expressions you will see... I could explain the meaning on here but it will be easier for you to just look at www.voguewigs.com and www.wigs.com websites are they will have full explanations on there with diagrams. My personal preference is synthetic hair (because it is light density and you don't need to style it), lace front (because it means I don't have to hide my front hairline because it looks like hair is growing out of my scalp). A monofilament top also looks very natural but is not absolutely necessary.

I suggest you go back to the store. Look for a style that you like and that you feel comfortable looking back at you in the mirror. If you find a style that you can 'recognise yourself in' if that makes any sense then consider getting that one. If a wig looks like you that is more important than the 'construction' which as I say will be of a good quality with any type of name brand wig.

Has anyone here tried spearmint tea? I've been doing ome reaerch and it seems to have antiandrognic properties, similar to Avodart and spironolactone. I grew new hair on the top of my head while on the spiro, but had to stop it because my BP was too low. I've been offered Avo, but was afraid to take it. I'm thinking spearmint tea might be worth a shot. It's also supposed to help face breakouts, which I've had problems with recently. Any thoughts?

Debs, Thanks again- the wig site www.wigs.com is very helpful in describing the different aspects of buying a wig. You're quite correct though in that one has to feel that in the end,you look like you. I remember the wigs of the 80's and how we'd buy these fake looking masses/ plop them on our heads and think nothing of it when wearing to an evening event or wedding. The pictures are really quite funny.

Hello All - looking forward to seeing you on the 9th - hopefully...... Julie, Sammi, Paula, Polly, Caroline, Debs, Pam so far - please leave a message on my profile if you need directions.
Sammi, Terry - Sammi .......I will send you directions this evening for both train and car. Perhaps you could all confirm next Monday, please - that would be good. Thanks, Celia X

Thanks Celia Sammi x

I meant to say that if I have forgotten anybody - sorry - please let me know !

100 ladies are now in the group.

In the summer of 2012 I felt totally alone with this condition, I found this group that Celia had just created and our numbers have grown. This is a lifeline for us all. Thank you to everyone for your support and advice. Thanks to Celia for setting the group up last year.

Hi Debs - what a journey we have all been on ! I think you saying the word 'lifeline' about sums it up really.
I look forward to next Wednesday and hope that Heidi and Liz will also be able to make it here.
Best wishes to all ! x

Hi Kath - I tried to send you a message but it didn't work - hope that all is well, Celia x

Hi everyone
Briefly, I was diagnosed with FFA about 18 months ago and have no bodily hair except eye lashes. I was kidding myself that my hairline was not receding any further and the inflammation was improving; however, having seem my specialist a few weeks ago, I've gone from three centimeters to four and a half centimeters over the last six months and the FFA is still active. I was initially really upset but then decided that I had to take back some control and having read comments on this website, took myself off to Belinda Hayle to get my eyebrows tattooed. It was almost 80 miles round trip and cost £450 but I'm delighted with the result - worth every penny (and mile). They look so natural and I don't have to worry about accidentally rubbing they off. It sounds dramatic but I feel so different about the whole FFA situation. In fact, I'm also visiting a Chinese herbalist tomorrow to see if anything can be done about my autoimmune system (I also have arthritis and psoriasis)and if he comes up with anything magical, I'll report back to the group.
Huge thanks to everyone for all the helpful suggestions and support
Very best wishes
Jean

Hi All, I have a follow-up appointment with my derm next week. I've been taking Plaquenil for 3.5 months now. I started with 1 per day for two weeks, and have been taking it 2 x daily for 3 months. I'm also using Clobatesol at night when my tender scalp can tolerate it. I have a question for those who have been taking Plaquenil for a while now. Should I be seeing results yet? My doctor said it would take about two months, but I honestly can't tell if it's helping. My shedding is about the same, and I still have days when my scalp is extremely tender & itchy. It seems that every doctor seems to have a different idea of how long before the Plaquenil starts to work, ranging from 1 month to 6 months. Can anyone share their experience? I don't want to stop taking it too early, but I don't want to waste time before moving on to a different treatment if the current one isn't working. I think my biggest fear is that he'll tell me that there's nothing more he can do for me, and send me home with no options.

Annie I started taking plaquenil in March, my hair is still receeding but it is slower, my derm in the UK (Dr Harries) wants checked my scalp after 3 months and is going to see me again in November... It is like Pam says please don't give up yet it does take several months to kick in and even then there can still be hair loss but not as much as there would be without it.