So that is pretty much a title that makes no sense, on the surface… but if you watch my video below it will. I am trying to get back into the swing of things, and when I mean in the swing of things, I mean into working on my site here, communicating with everyone (to the best of my ability) and helping in any way I can.
My main goal, since starting The Women’s Hair Loss Project, has always been to make sure no other woman ever feels she is alone in this journey. I know hair loss. Intimately. I know what it is to deal with hair loss at a young age, since I started to loose my hair at 21… I’m 37 now, and I hope no one has to ever struggle alone, the way I did.
Once I started wearing wigs and found Follea in 2012, it ultimately, for me was how I was able to accept my hair loss. I really wanted women to know that there is life after hair loss, even in the worse case scenario. I know not everyone can accept wearing wigs, it’s not perfect, it’s not our hair… but it can still be pretty awesome, it’s been a journey to say the least.. and if you read my last post, you will know this journey still continues for me.
Over the years I have received emails with the question of why do I wear sunglasses in my videos and photos. I want to answer, and answer why I am now taking them off.
Hair loss for me, was by far the most crippling thing that has ever happened to me. I lost over a decade of my life to it. I surrendered, I gave up. When I started writing / blogging here, it was and is anonymous… I felt I could never share all of my true self, and the pain that came with dealing with this in all it’s disgusting and anguishing glory, if I wasn’t anonymous. Who wants to be googled for their name ( in this day and age) and have their site come up with all the personal details and struggles of their life? This blog was my diary. If you go back to the beginning of the posts in 2007, you will see this. Anonymity was the key to be being free, to be honest in my dealing with hair loss as a young girl.
I have shared as much of myself here as I can over the years, and after I found Follea 3 years ago, I found myself again, and it was so important for me to be able to show other women that wearing wigs was a viable option. They weren’t reserved for little old grey hair ladies in rocking chairs, they were for all of us. Whether or not you wear Follea, or some other brand, doesn’t matter.. I wanted to show this as a real and viable option. It’s okay, it’s acceptable. I struggled with my anonymity and I am a super private person in general. My happy medium was wearing sunglasses, as I felt this afforded me some type of protected visual anonymity. Though, in reality I was probably like a cat hiding in the grass, and you standing on the steps, looking at your cat saying “I see you.” LOL. Even so, it was my comfort level. We all can only do so much right?
Now, I am opening up myself to everyone.. a little more. So the sunglasses are off. 🙂 With that said, here is a little video for all of you.
Much Love Always,
Y
(click to play video)
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Y!
You look gorgeous! Thanks for putting yourself out here and sharing your journey with us. When I first found out about this website I was on here for hours a day digging around, looking for answers, info, testimonies, you name it! Thank you for providing this site for us who are in the same boat as you. It has literally helped me in more ways than I can ever explain. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a cure for this! Until that day comes, wigs will have to work. I don’t know why we do not have 5k’s for this sort of thing but maybe that is something that can help funding for a cure. Just a thought! Thanks again and I look forward to more of your awesome videos.
Hey Lady!
Haven’t posted here in a while. I too have been having my own struggles. That said, I really need to say something. You were well within yo ur rights to wear shades or a hat or whatever. It’s hard enough to lose your hair without having to share that with the world. As I see it, you found a way to help others -and yourself, while maintaining some level of privacy. After all, we are all entitled to some privacy in our lives. I would imagine that even reality tv personalities don’t tell the world everything. As a fellow “lossee”, I have only shared my wig wearing and hair issues with my close friends. I never discuss my hair loss or wig wearing with anyone else (except my hubby). Reason being, hair lists is very hard and can feel sad and frankly a bit embarrassing. At least it has been for me. As a result, I simply am not at the place where I feel comfortable discussing it with the public. Maybe one day I will, but all of this is a process and we are all doing the best that we can. I can say, and I told my therapist the other day, that I don’t know what I would have done without this site, because I felt so sad, alone , confused, angry and without direction. So for me I didn’t care if you wore shades or a lamp snap on top of your head, I was just glad you were there. Congrats on being able to reveal your beautiful face in your own time. I have learned a lot from you and perhaps this is the next lesson. Perhaps you have entered into the realm of being free to say “I have hair loss, I wear wigs, now pass the salt”. I’m not there yet, but I’m here for the teaching. I know thus is long, but I felt compelled to give you support, thanks, compassion and kudos.
Blessings,
TT
I meant shades or a lamp shade! Oops!
Wow You look Terrific!
I think many of us would sure feel blessed if we could look the way you do.I also started with Hair loss in my middle 20’s and am now 51.
I live my life very limited as I have yet to trust in a wig maker I can find enough to wear one.I sy at home as often as possible adn have become a bit of a recluse and I am actually pretty outgoing by nature.People think I am brave and forward but have yet to realize how little of me they actually see.Id have my Freedom back if I looked like you.Watching your work with others makes me smile…wish we could have a national conference to meet and help each other in Person!
Y- you’re the bomb! You are rocking this whole opening yourself up to all of us thing and I know, for me, it helps tremendously. Continue doing what you’re doing. Sharing your struggles and triumphs does give us all hope and I know it ain’t easy. Playing pink during the mantage was also another solid move. Love her! xo
Participating in a small part of your journey has been a huge privilege for me Ms. Y. What you have done for your community is of inestimable value. And I know that they appreciate it immensely and receive solace from your counsel. And for your contribution to my own learning curve I am deeply indebted to you. I hope you carry on doing what you do. Thank you. Best. Michael.
Thank you for sharing your journey, and yourself, with all of us. It’s truly inspiring and I hope I will eventually be as brave as you. Also, you look truly fantastic!
LOVED this article 🙂 How lovely it is to see your beautiful face also! You are so lovely both inside and out. Thank you for helping all of us SO MUCH on our journeys too. Many hugs, much love and God’s blessings to you on your continuing journey as well xoxoxo
Thank you.. Thank you for the amazing comments, the support, and letting me know what this site has meant to you. It really means so much to me.
Our journey continues… together!
XOXO
Thank you for telling your story. There are so many of us that suffer in silence. Your are a brave woman to do this.
I don’t know how I stumbled upon your website today, I think I googled how to pick out a wig. Wow! What a great site through your journey, it seems like you have touched many lives by sharing yours! It is very comforting to see so many who share the same hurts, hair loss is very traumatic and lonely, and I don’t think anyone can understand until they personally go through it. You have inspired me to go to get a follea wig! Yours looks so pretty and natural! Thank you for being so open and sharing!
Dear Y, I have missed you. For me you are the only person
who gives me courage to go on. Lately I am so depressed and my doctor is very concerned. I have been taking 100mg. aldactone for seven years, I also
take vitamins and I eat healthy but it has not helped any. I have stopped going to parties and functions and my husband is very upset. I live in Australia and in my town there is no place that I can buy a Folea wig. The wig that you are waring today is fantastic, you look so good.
Again Thank you for posting.
Y, I just want to say thank you. I was wondering if you were alright as you had not posted anything. I totally get everything you say and you are right that people who have their own hair don’t understand what we are going through. You are just great though and I wish you all the happiness in the world for what you are doing to help other sufferers. xx
Thanks for this post!! I kinda missed it! I have been suffering from hair loss to for about 2 years it has been severe and I lost half of my hair. I have curly hair so finding a wig is a bit difficult and right now i am hoping that i could fix it and my hair will stop shedding hopefully. I have a question regarding prp how much is a prp session in the states. As i am living in Europe and it is very expensive here.
Thanks again for your support,I feel like I am not alone in this journey
I am SO happy you are back. I wondered what had happened to you, hoping you were doing ok. I found this site just a few months ago but have poured over pretty much every post and video you made. My hair loss began about 6 years ago (you and I are the same age). I got pregnant last year and enjoyed 9+ glorious months of no hair loss. I knew I would pay for it and have I ever. Normally, of course, postpartum women shed after having a baby. Mine has been out of control crazy and my little one is 12 months old now. My huge problem areas are all over thinness/ breaking off, and massive frontal receding/thinning. In July, I had enough. It was affecting me greatly and I felt terrible about myself. So, one day, I told my husband I was done and we were going wig shopping. He was such a trooper. Trying on wigs was overwhelming. When she first put one on me, I had tears of happiness. I mean, I had hair!! Hair like I’d never had in my life. But then I became sad, mad, pissed off that I am my age sitting in a wig shop. I constantly look at everyone’s hair. Always. And damn near every time I observe how they have great hair and do nothing to get it. Why has this happened to me??!! Anyway, I bought the wig (a really pretty Follea Aero 2) and I think, after about 7 weeks, I’m finally getting comfortable in it. It’s long and blonde and people say I look 10 years younger. And in those first few days, I watched all of your hair washing videos. Over and over! You really boosted my confidence when I came into completely foreign territory, so thank you! I’m just thrilled you are back. I have no one to talk to about all of this, so your story and your willingness to be so open and share yourself is invaluable to me. Please keep posting. I know we all appreciate you so much!
Y – you are amazing. Seriously, sharing your story, yourself, your fears, hopes, anxiety… So brave and so generous of you.
I have been suffering from hair loss for about 7 years. The slow painful type. You want to keep hoping, but it keeps slowly but surely slipping away down the drain. Every day. Eating away at your self confidence and belief. In some ways it would be better that it just disappeared overnight. But on the other hand, the slow process is a process, and a journey, of slow self acceptance.
I have been reading your blog for about 3 years. I hope you know what a difference you make to so many women’s lives. You certainly have assured me that I am not alone, and that makes a huge difference. I had been wondering why it had been so quiet from you – and now understand why. Hope you are getting back to full strength now 🙂 This is the first time I am posting a comment – but many times I have thought / planned / wanted to!
I feel like the most important message of your blog is the one of self acceptance. Sometimes you waver off this and go into trying to find a solution – but I keep coming back to the fact that there is no cure. For some people who suffer from hairloss there is a cure, but for those of us with the so horrible unsatisfying AA diagnosis – there is no cure. That’s it. Acceptance is the only way. As hard as it is. I love that you have found your way back there and are talking about that again. You are beautiful on the outside, and I am pretty sure from the way you present things through this blog that you a gorgeous on the inside too.
Anyway – thank you. Keep doing the great work that you do – with this website and with your own acceptance / living a full life journey.
Thank you.I have hair loss since I was 21 when I gave birth to my son. I am 55 and have tried to accept it but struggle with self esteem. Well meaning relatives tell me about products and what I should do instead of accepting I have very little hair. It bothers me more that others are bothered by it more than myself. However I am suddenly feeling emotional and am contemplating getting a wig but don’t want to look fake..
This video brought tears to my eyes. I’ve had alopecia since I was 17, I am now almost 50. The hair loss was on and off affecting the inside of my scalp mostly so I was able to cover it up.
Until it all went away.
I am totally bald.
You look amazing!!! I see that you have some of your own hair around the crown. What do you recommend for someone who is totally bald?
Thank you.
Maria
Thank you so much !!! I have hair loss since 3 1/2 years when I gave birth to my son. I don´t have andy bald spots but my hair is super thin. I tried a topper, but it was with indian hair and it looked so fake. I am so thankful that you mentioned follea – i just called them. I live in Germany and there have a studio here and it is so great that they just have 100 percent european hair. I really hope that this will be a solution…
Thank you so much !!! 🙂
Where do you purchase the heads you use to store your wigs? I’m interested in trying them out vs. the standard follea wig head.
Thank you so much!
I’m interested in ordering a wig. . Where can I get a price