Welcome Lori! This website is so great and full of information and experiences, I'm glad you found it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I've had alopecia for a long time. Most importantly though, never stop smiling! :)

Hi Lori,
How are you today?
If you want some nice synthetic wigs, go to www.wigsalon.com. They have great discounts. My favorite wigs that really look natural, are Rene of Paris Designer Series.
If you are looking for human hair, best to go to a professional wig person who can get them for you, and if you want a custom made one, who can take your head measurements. Since you still have hair, you might want to get a human hair wig that is wefted -- they are cool (as in aerated) and you can incorporate your own hair. Also, the wefted ones are cheaper.
You can find out a lot of good stuff in my book, too -- check it out on my page.
I just wanted to say hello!
LeslieAnn

Hi Lorie,
I just read your intro and want to congratulate you for your familly!! I've been blessed twice with adoption.... from China too!! :) The wait for your little princess must have been hard and now, the alopecia... These are a lot of adjustments....

I 've became AU while waiting for my first daugther.. .this take me back to May 2002.... If you need to talk, do not hesite, I'm here!

Diane

Hi Lori,

Welcome to the Group. You will meet lots of nice people here who are very supportive.

It sounds like this product I know of might work for you. I used it for several months and swear by it. www.xfusionhair.info/

Jeff

Hi Lori, I wanted to welcome you to Alopecia World. I can honestly say that we are a great community here and I hope you enjoy the time you spend with us. Cheryl, co-founder

Ahhhh you guys are sooooo nice!!!! I feel so welcomed! What an awesome group of people.....

Human hair wigs that are cut by a skilled professional look totally natural! Most HH wigs you get need to be styled, and there aren't a lot of people out there who can do that well. I'm really lucky to have someone here in Portland style my HH wigs.
Did you check out wigsalon.com and the Rene of Paris Mono top series? There are some that look very natural, and not "big" (I know what you mean!) I'll bet you can find something you like.
Good luck and let me know what you come up with!

Hey Lori, I'm excited that you are going to get my book! Please let me know how you like it, okay?
A hug!

You can order it at any book store. Easiest way is to get it online, from Amazon.com or my author web site (there's a link on my page). xo

Bonjour Lori,
Both my daugthers are from the Gansu Province, one is from Wuwei SWI and the other is from Zhanghye SWI. We both met them in Lanzhou. Elise, my youngest, is now 4 and Clémence is 6 yo. We adopted them in 2005 and 2003. It seems it was yesterday!! Enjoy the precious moments with your little one: kids grow up too fast!
I've never tought either that I'll meet someone who adopted from China AND have alopecia... I tought I was unique... ;-) this makes us 2 lucky mummy with no hairs ;-))
OK, got to go: sitting at my PC more than 2 minutes is an impossible thing with the kids...
Diane

Hey Lori, I am certain you will look just as radiant.

As for wigs, keep looking there are lots that do not look like "Big hair".

I believe that struggle with alopecia is actually an internal struggle. Deal with the internal and the rest will fall into place whether you grow your hair back or not.

Hi Lori,

Yes the stuff is great. Xfusion is hair fibers you sprinkle on and spray with hair spray. It will last all day until you either lie down on your head or shower. So long as you have some hair it should work great. You can get it at most upscale hair salons.

Let me know.

Jeff

What bone structure? LOL! But thanks for the compliment anyways. And you know I am only going to post the good pictures... I have some of those ones that truly if I posted them, you wouldn't be saying what you are saying! LOL!

LOL....I don't think you take a bad picture... Now me I have my mother's hooded eyes and my father's jaw...LOL.....Now my sister would be gorgeous bald...She got all the good traits in the family. Like I said should I go completely bald I so am going to do the nose job! LOL.......

Seriously all the women on here are beautiful. I don't know if your features become more noticeable but really this site is wonderful to show that women can be beautiful without hair. I may be the one to break that mould though....LOL... We shall see! I keep trying on one of those wig stockings to see what I would look like...

Hey Lori,

It comes in all different colors.
See if you can find it locally and see if they think it is a product beneficial to you.

Jeff

Kids are sleeping now... I have more time: I've added a comment to your questions about steroids and now, I have time to write something back...even had time to lost what I first wrote and do it again :)

Even after 2 adoptions, I wish too I could adopt again.... but soooo many things have changed in China....I'm grieving this last kid :-( but as a friend once told me: focus on what you have, not on what you wish you have (well, something like this... it was said in French...)

My daugthers were 10.5 months and 9.5 months when we adopted them. They both have some bonding issues during the 1st year I'd say (just as exemple: my 1st one rejected me... took her about 6 months to lie her head on my shoulder and felt asleep in my arms). Are you on maternity leave presently? Give your daugther and yourself time.... she went through a lot but you did too in order to become her mother.

Have you read some stuff about attachments issues? some are pretty scary arent' they?... but I've found that the 'tricks' given to promote attachment really work... and you might want to explain to your daughter that hugging is just for mum and dad. At about 2 yo, kids understand a lot more than we think... anyways, just my 2 cents...

LOL, I love the "big hair" reference, your daughter is beautiful. Those are my little grand girls in the pic. I have a pic of wig that is short and tri colored, I will send it to you when I get home. You can get it razor cut to look like your hair in your pics. Take care and remember you are truly blessed!

Your grand girls are adorable. I can't wait to see the pics of your wig!!! There is hope I don't have to look like a mophead.....LOL

Hi Lori,
I see you've added new pictures... your girl is soo cute... enjoy those precious moments with her.... kids grow up too fast!
Diane

Hey Diane! We are having a reunion this Labour-Day week-end up at my trailer with my travel group 252 to China. Haven't see some of the kids in 6 months so should be amazing the changes. Will post some pics of the kids.......Lauren is changing but man I can't wait until we have "real" communication. She is 21 months on the 10th of Sept. I find my parental leave is going fast for sure!

Enjoy your weekend! we used to go camping over this week end with our adoption travel group too before the girls all started school... now, we met over the Thanksgiving week-end in October and in February, for the Chinese New Year...

Tell me, what is happening with your derm appointment? did they phoned you or are you still waiting?

ho no!! waking up vey early in town instead of waking up late in the country... not the same!!

You are absolutly right about the importance of keeping in touch with others adoptive families, especially the ones from the travel group... my 1st daugther once explain to a friend that these others girls have known her for a very long time...even before mom and dad!

Plus when I was at the NAAF conference, I felt so good being surrounded by people that look like me... it was the 1st time I've met others alopecian, although I have had alopecia for almost all my life. It made me realized the importance of exposing my kids to others Asian-look people. An other positive thing about this conference!

Keep on phoning your dermatologist to get an appointment. Insists on the secretary and if you have time, you might even go in person.... it's easier to say no over the phone than face to face.... ;-)

Hi Lori!!

Thanks for your comments :) It's funny, everytime I sit down to write, I'm not exactly sure what to say!!! I'm sure you can relate. Thank goodness for this group!! Without it, i would feel completely isolated!! Even my hubby said today how happy (relatively speeking) he was that I am here and have people I can share with. Truth be told, I'd have MUCH rather met all of you on better/different terms :)

As I sit here, I am having an internal debate on whether or not to just go upstairs, grab my husbands clippers and shave this pittyful shit off my head!! In less than two weeks, I have have lost 75%!!!?? UNREAL!! So, I can't deal with myself...so, I'm going to help you :)

Your daughter is BEAUTIFUL!!! Children are an absolute blessing!! Enjoy every minute!! Cause as they say, It goes SOOOOOO fast!! Somehow my "babies" are now 8 & 4!

Don't stress too much about what you're going to do when you go back to work ... You still have time!! I am a COWARD!! I can't do the scarf thing in public ... Hell,I can't hardly do it in private ;) So, I prefer the wig. Dropped a small fortune on one yesterday!! I LOVE it .. yet, I sit and stew about the fact that it's FAKE .. No one knows but me ... But until I come to terms with this ... that's MY burden!! Ya know. Last round of this, NO ONE knew!! I can't tell you how many times I was complemented! How many gals actually INVIED me and my hair ... HA! I'll tell ya where to go buy it for yourself!! That's what I WANTED to say!! But, I am gracious and just said, Thank You!! SOOOOOOOOOOO...my point ... MOST will NEVER ever notice you have a wig!! It's a battle with YOU and ony YOU that you'll have to be willing to challenge and eventually overcome! Find your STRENGTH!! WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN OUR HAIR!! Download india Arie's song "I am Not My Hair" Cause WE Are!! Yes!! We are!! Keep telling yourself that!! Start confiding in your friends! Hug your daughter when you feel like losing it! She could care less if you have hair ... right!! Your hubby! He LOVES you too! 19 years!! That's something to CELEBRATE!! Have more sex! I mean this!! Seriously!! It does WONDERS! ;) Keep a journal or blog!! RELEASE all the garbage!! Just let it OUT!!

Hang in there Babe!! Know that YOU are NOT alone!! Oh, you are NOT alone!!

Hang in there!! Brighter days are a commin!!
C

All I have time for right now to say is that....drum roll PLEASE!!! I shaved the shit off!!!!!!!!!! A Xanax, a few beers and Prince and all is D-O-N-E!!! Time to move forward!!!