A Personal Story About Patchy Hair Loss, Alopecia and Hope

My name is Louise, I am 55 years old and I have Alopecia. Alopecia (Alopecia Areata) is an autoimmune condition in which the hair follicles on the scalp "go dormant." I have had the condition since I was a teenager, and for many years my hair was able to cover the bare patches. In my mid-20s, the hair loss became extensive, and by the time I was around 30, I had about one third of my hair left. At that point, I chose to shave off the sad remaining strands and suddenly found myself completely bald. My hairstyle had looked strange for several years due to bald spots and patches, but becoming completely bald was incredibly difficult. I also struggled a lot with the thought of wearing a wig because in the late 1990s and early 2000s, wigs were associated with cancer and chemotherapy treatment, or with elderly women wearing very unflattering steel-grey “plastic” wigs in public (at least in my eyes). I could not identify with any of those people.

The Hair Loss Progresses: From Bald Patches to Alopecia Universalis

After a couple of years, I lost my eyelashes, eyebrows and all body hair – my Alopecia Areata had progressed to Alopecia Universalis. I chose to wear glasses instead of contact lenses so it would be less noticeable and to add some “expression” and “character” to my face.

Then one day something truly wonderful happened. Through an acquaintance, I met another woman who also had Alopecia. She was actually the very first person with the same condition I had ever spoken to. She lent me one of her wigs, but it was several weeks before I finally locked myself in the bathroom to try it on. And suddenly, right there in the mirror, I saw myself! For the first time in many years, I recognized my reflection again.

Choosing a Wig: From Fear to Freedom

It has now been about 25 years since I got my first wig. I started with Hair for Life® by Toftild, a wig made from a cast of my head and bonded to my scalp, meaning it could not be removed. I simply could not come to terms with the idea of taking my hair off and on – how would I even do it, and when? After a few years, fate would have it that I was no longer granted a municipal subsidy for Hair for Life®, and since I could not afford to pay the full amount myself, I switched to a ready-made wig.

The beginning with a ready-made wig was a bit difficult, because I was afraid that people would see me without it. Fortunately, over time I became more relaxed about the situation and adopted the attitude that in my own home and in my own garden, I look the way I choose. I therefore very rarely wear my wig at home. In fact, I have come so far that I now go swimming and work out without my wig, and my wig stays behind in the hotel room when we are in “The Warm Countries” (I always wear a sun hat due to migraines anyway, and it is simply too hot to wear a wig in 30-degree heat). People may think whatever they like, and they are more than welcome to ask about it, because I am happy to explain that I do NOT have cancer, that it does NOT hurt physically, and that I am NOT to be pitied.

Creating Alignment Between Appearance and Identity

It has been a very long and very difficult journey for me, from the first small bald patch to a completely bare head with a wig, because so much identity is connected to hair and hairstyle. It is not only your own sense of identity – or lack of it – but very much the identity the outside world associates with you. There needs to be alignment between your hairstyle and who you are as a person. I experienced many misunderstandings, rumors, and myths about me – mostly because I personally struggled to come to terms with my hair loss, and unfortunately I did not learn from those closest to me to be open about my challenges. For far too many years, I fought not to let my “strange” hair define me – neither in the eyes of others nor in my own. But that is a losing battle when it is the first thing everyone sees and what I saw myself in the mirror. There was simply no alignment between my appearance and my true self, and that had a very negative impact on my self-understanding.

When a Wig Makes Life Easier – and Identity Clearer

Getting a wig changed so much for me. Yes, it took me a long time to feel at home wearing it, but it is “me” now – it is my hair – and believe it or not, my greatest wish is NO longer to get my own hair back. For me, wearing a wig has come with many unexpected benefits. I could never have had such stylish hairstyles with my own fine, mouse-colored hair, and I love that my wig almost always sits perfectly. I also save an enormous amount of time in the morning – a true gift in a busy everyday life.

Most importantly: since I have Alopecia, and since it is not going away, it gives me great freedom no longer to be “the one with the strange hair.” Instead, I can simply be Louise. If I want attention, I can always choose it through colorful or unique clothing – not through my hair.

It has taken time to get here, but today the wig is not just a solution. It has become a natural part of my identity and an important reason why I can live my life with peace, security, and confidence.

Here is a before and after image of a young woman with alopecia areata, which has caused her patchy hair loss.

Alopecia – Involuntary Hair Loss

Learn more about alopecia. What is it? Who is affected by alopecia and why? Hair loss can begin suddenly and typically appears as patchy hair loss, also known as Alopecia Areata. Toftild has extensive experience with hair loss solutions and helps women, men, and children alike.

A Personal Story About Patchy Hair Loss, Alopecia and Hope

The Hair Loss Progresses: From Bald Patches to Alopecia Universalis

Choosing a Wig: From Fear to Freedom

Creating Alignment Between Appearance and Identity

When a Wig Makes Life Easier – and Identity Clearer

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