When I was in 8th grade (either 14 or 15) I started loosing my hair. Doctor first gave me some cream to rub on it, didn't help. Went to the dermotologist, he gave me some stronger cream, still didnt help so they did a biopsy and found out that I have Alopecia Areata... I took it rather well for a teenager, my mom took it worse than I did. She cried over it countless times cause I had long, thick, brown hair. But me, I never once cried over it. I never did anything with my hair anyways, it was either down or up in a ponytail so it didnt bother me but I still didn't care for people to see. Wigs were uncomfortable for me so I got it okayed with the principal for me to wear a bandana. Even when i went out of the house, i wore a bandana. Only time it came off was at home. I did that up until summer after my freshman year. I saw this saying: "Say what you want and do what you feel cause those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" - Dr.Seuss said that and I live by it. It's a waste of time caring what people think about you, especially the ones that don't matter. And those that do care about you, dont care what you do anyways.
So I stopped wearing a bandana and just went bald and started joking with people and my friends about how long it takes me to do my hair (by then i was completely bald on my head) its fun to joke about it, besides if those people that dont matter see that it doesnt bother you then they wont make fun of you. i still joke about it to this day. I actually prefer to be bald, you dont have to take time doing your hair, sort of. See, mine is different, i could try to grow my hair but once it gets to a certain length it starts to get patchy again so i just keep shaving it. I have fun with my bald head. I paint it whenever i go to shows. Wrestling shows and concerts I'll paint their logos on my head, I've had some people sign it too, i do it for the reaction. people are gonna remember that. I even went to see larry the cable guy and i painted my head camo and put 'Git-er-done' on it. too bad he didnt see it, didnt have good enough seats. I am very open about alopecia, i get stares from people and i dont let it bother me, i sometimes hear people behind me talk about my head and in all honesty, they could ask me and id be more than happy to explain it. I never let it get me down. i made the best out of it. Personally: I'm glad I lost my hair. I used to be very closed and closeted, didn't talk to anybody but my friends and i was so shy. Since I lost my hair; I'm outgoing, I'll do crazy things in public, it made me who i am today. You have so much more fun in life if you don't care what people think about you and just do what you want, believe me, I'm living it :D
-Donna