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Goodbye, yellow blonde hair
"You should just cut the rest of your long hair off. It'll be different, but you'll get used to it."
This is what my nine year old son told me this morning, and there is wisdom in his words. The remaining long strands serve little purpose (except to be pulled back to do the pony tail and ball cap thing on the weekends as a welcome break from Harriet the Wig), and now look just as ugly as my bald patches next to the regrowth that's anywhere between 1/4 - 3 inches in length. I am terribly sentimental at times, and cutting off the long strands will equate to tossing a treasured memento of my youth and feminimity in the trash can. Those strands also tell the tale of what my hair looked like before all hell broke loose (minoxidil has all hair on my body growing in darker and coarser, and the inflammation is causing waves); I hate to lose the comparison between old and new growth that I find fascinating. But my biggest hurdle is thinking that if I give in to the scissors I may be saying goodbye to long hair forever.
WHEN I do take that step, I will allow my son's words resonate in my head, becoming my mantra: no matter what happens, I WILL get used to it.
I will also remember to thank my darling and very practical son.
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Comment by Sunflower25 on October 5, 2012 at 1:04pm
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I felt way more beautiful after I cut those long hairs off. :)
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Comment by wise1 on October 5, 2012 at 10:03pm
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For me I just found that if I don't have a full head of hair the little wisps don't help me out :-). You do it when YOU are ready though...
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Comment by Alliegator on October 9, 2012 at 3:47pm
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Your son sounds wonderful & very supportive. I cut mine on a gradual basis. I kept cutting it shorter & shorter. Then, I bought clippers, and gave myself a buzz cut. Then, I started shaving it. I love the feeling of a shaved head. It sort of gives you a sense of liberation. My hair loss is no longer on my mind constantly. Just do it when YOU are ready. You could take baby steps. Cut it short, and then after a while, try the buzz cut.
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Comment by laura on October 10, 2012 at 8:07pm
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I cut my lovely long hair off when I realised there was no need for me to hold on to long strands which were a total contrast to the rest of my hair (or lack of it!)
It felt so much better! I went from long hair to a bob but eventually grabbed the clippers and shaved it all off. It was nice not having to see long strands of hair on my pillow every morning, which always used to upset me. In general, just far more practical, even wearing a wig was a lot easier as I didn't have to worry about tucking it all up.
You'll miss your long hair (as do I) but once it grows back you'll get so many compliments on your new short do that you'll forget you ever missed it. Good luck!
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It's kind of like swimming...some people just jump in off the dock and others, like me, wade in slowly and carefully, complaining the whole time.
I have slowly cut my hair shorter and shorter - that was the best way for me to cope mentally. It has also been good because during periods of regrowth it blends together better.
How grand that your son felt free to express his thought to you and you were open to hearing it! You sound like a strong person with a loving family, Tracey.
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Comment by Cindie on October 11, 2012 at 11:14am
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God bless you. Stay strong!
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Comment by Tracey on October 11, 2012 at 2:43pm
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Thanks for the support and suggestions, all. I think I'm mentally ready, but just realized that because my wig was custom dyed and cut to blend with my existing hair (I don't pin mine up under the wig, but rather set the wig atop my loose hair), my overall look (with wig) is going to be much thinner on the lower layer if I do chop my hair. I guess I still have some pondering to do! This disease is (and makes me feel) ridiculous!!
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