Helen’s Story

by Y on September 25, 2007

After years of driving myself crazy, using all sorts of products, including polysorbate 80, on my hair, I got a wig. The woman was wonderful, she put me at my ease and came in with styles and wigs that she felt would work. I kept with my natural hair color, very dark brown. It was 1987 and I was 49. Some of my hair showed at the sides of my face and under the back of the wig. That added to the natural look. About five years later, I was fully coloring my hair, my problem was on top, and decided to try a wiglet. I had a beautician cut my hair to fit and she showed me how to use it. Wiglets are lighter than wigs and you feel better because more of your hair is uncovered. The color of my dye and the color of their dye matched perfectly.

Now I am 69 and almost a year ago decided to stop coloring, even tho I knew getting a match would be difficult. After several mistakes, one too dark, one too light, to be put away for the future, I have found something that is fairly close. When I went for a haircut today, the girl did not know I had a wiglet on until I began taking it off. She was nice enough to cut my wiglet to match my haircut.

Sure I would like to feel the wind in my hair, tho I don’t swim anymore. But I have gotten used to wearing it, you do not notice it, for the most part, during the day. If a stiff wind comes up, like so many other women, I just hold on to the top of my head. Haven’t lost one yet!

It was difficult when I became a widow and had to tell the new man in my life about my hair, but it fazed him not one whit. And if it would have, then it would have been good riddance to bad rubbish.

You don’t need to go out bald, cover it up. It is something we use, just like a bra. Think of being my age and going braless with my DD cup!

If you can afford it, get a human hair wig. It can be cut, styled, colored as you wish. It will move in the wind, and, surprisingly you will feel it. Your head becomes sensitive, and while it is not like your own, it is a heck of a lot better than nothing.

Helen

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Helen, Thank you so much for sharing a little of your story. I found it very inspirational and so positive, I loved it!

If you also would like to share your story, send it to: women@womenshairlossproject.com

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Mira September 27, 2007 at 12:32 am

Helen, you story is inspirational and has given me the confidence to go out there and buy myself a wig! As you say, people go to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance ( cosmetic surgery etc) so I don’t see why I should think twice about getting some great fake/real hair to make myself look better. Also, living in an African country has made me realise how common it is for women to wear wigs, weaves etc. Thanks for sharing your story!

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admin September 27, 2007 at 11:03 am

GOOD FOR YOU MIRA!!!! I’m so happy you feel confident to go out there and get yourself a wig and I’m so pleased to hear that Helen’s story inspired you. That’s so wonderful!

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Elizabeth April 20, 2008 at 7:29 am

Helen, I absolutely loved your story. It’s so great to hear a “voice of experience” saying it’ll be OK, life goes on, that we can deal with it. Thank you for sharing it.

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Phyllis October 7, 2011 at 6:32 pm

I am 46 yrs old and have been losing my hair for 25 yrs or so. I have been using dark brown eye shadow and Toppix to cover and shade in the thinning areas. Getting up at 4 am every work day to start my morning ritual was just getting old. I would lie awake in bed most nights worrying about how I was going to look the next day. I did a good job of hiding my problem. Even my husband of ten years didn’t know the extent of my hair loss. I finally got enough courage to call a hairdresser that I found on the Internet who is involved with “Hello Gorgeous” which helps cancer patients with wigs . I put my shame and embarrassment to the side and went for a consultation. I wasn’t planning on coming home with anything as I didn’t want my hair all messed up. She told me she would try them on so I could see how they looked. She put one on that was my color exactly and was too cute. She talked me into trying it on and before I knew it I was ripping those things off Nd ready to try on the next one. We were having a ball! I ended up buying and wearing home the cute wig. It took about a week to become really comfortable with it and now I just love it! My co-workers just thought I got a new hair style and still don’t know it’s not mine . I can’t believe all those years spent in agony and depression over this. I can sleep until 6am now and with clothes, make-up and hair I am out the door in half an hour and look great. The people I have shared this with are so supportive and understanding. No one cares and so many people wear them. I guess I look at it like women who don’t have nice fingernails can go buy some. If you have small breasts , go buy bigger ones and if you have no hair, go buy some. We all have something as no one is perfect. Please consider this option, it has changed my life. I now have a couple of wigs on order. I am going with some highlights and some rooted colors. Heck ! who knows. Today brunette, tomorrow blonde. Lol.

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Fay July 20, 2013 at 5:37 am

I so appreciate everyone’s comments. Have to add, as I recently started wearing a synthetic topper to cover thinning on the top and sides, this option looks vastly better than my own hair. I realized I have no problem with contact lenses, natural looking individual eyelashes, porcelain tooth caps, you name it, so what’s the big deal with a little prosthetic hair?! I’ve been “going bionic,” for years, the topper is just the most recent and most helpful addition! PLEASE don’t turn your back on realistic fake hair, if you’re suffering as I did for so long before discovering it. Much love and prayers to all my courageous sisters of the scalp.

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Judy April 27, 2019 at 11:51 am

Fay, my hair has been thinning for two years. I have androgenic Alopecia. I have tired every treatment. I even had PRP injections. My last one was in February and my hair is still getting thinner and thinner especially on the crown and sides. It has been so devastating! I wake up thinking about it and go to bed thinking about it. Those thoughts never leave me. I cry every day and I feel so sad all the time. What am I going to look like tomorrow, next month or next year. My question is where can I find a topper like you have. I don’t know where to start. Please help me.

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