Hi fellow alopecia and hairloss knowers

I am so happy to be who I am.

This year I started my university days at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, studying my passion. At this time I was still uncomfortable to be seen without my wig (I have Alopecia Universalis)- with only close friends and family having ever seen me with my untanned head.
I wanted to be brave, to shake off the cloak that societal beauty standards insisted on wrapping around my adolescent body, but it is incredibly hard to do so. An opportunity was handed to me when the residence I currently call my home did a trust exercise with all the 1st years where a safe space was created to share anything that may be weighing on you. I decided to fuck my comfort zone and took off my wig in front of my peers. It was a now or never decision, and I will be forever proud of myself for doing that- it has changed me.

After that, I never wore my wig in res, but still wore it to class and if I went out. My boyfriend and friends gently nudged me to stop caring and not wear my wig at all. One night whilst out in town, they made it quite firm that they believed I was more beautiful without my wig than with it, because without my wig I was the real me. They insisted that if I still wanted to wear my wig, by all means i should, but they knew I was capable of taking it off for good.

Again, on impulse (and perhaps with a bit of persuasion from a little bit of alcohol, I took it off in full view of a bunch of party goers.

It was the most liberating experience I have ever had. I was finally me in front of everyone.

Looking back, I have grown so much from my first three months (the time period of the above mentioned events) and continue to do so everyday.

I do still struggle at times to accept that I will be looked at, not because I am beautiful to society's normal standards, but for my lack of hair, but rarely. I have come to terms with AU, and have embraced it; let it become part of me.

My head is a bit more tanned now, and I get at least two compliments a day about my bold baldiness. I enjoy being different, I savour my quirkiness, and I have the perk of never, ever having to worry about shaving :)

Peace out