Elsebeth’s Story About Making Peace with Hair Loss

My name is Elsebeth, and I have alopecia. This means that I have lost all my hair several times throughout my life. Most recently in 2017, when over the course of a summer I lost all my light curls. Even though I have been through it several times, it is always accompanied by a sense of grief over not looking like myself. It takes time before I make peace with finding myself in “wig land” again. A big part of this process is made much easier by Toftild, who are skilled at advising and helping me find the right solution. I feel safe here.

When I first had to choose which hair I wanted to wear, I tried several different options. Today, I have some favourite synthetic wigs that I return to. They are characterised by being light in colour, with a soft wave, and easy to work with. For me, it works well to have several wigs to switch between. Some days I wear wigs with length so I can put them up. It’s a great solution when, for example, I’m going for a walk, spending time in nature, at the beach, or going into town. When I put my hair up, I can move around naturally no matter the weather or wind conditions. The hair simply sits 100% securely on my head. If I’m going to work or attending a party, I have other wigs with a bit more “bounce” and volume.

I have previously been very private about my use of wigs. I wanted to appear as I did with my natural hair, and I didn’t want others to know about my “handicap.” But today I am more open. In fact, I would say that I have started to see it as an advantage in many situations. For example, I never have a bad hair day. I can change my look from day to day if I want to. I can try out new styles and drop them again before I’ve even taken out my wallet. I can be blonde, brunette, red-haired, curly, straight, long-haired, short-haired, and so on. And I have received countless compliments on my beautiful hair without people knowing it wasn’t my natural hair. So even though alopecia is not necessarily a welcome guest, I have found joy in the opportunities it also gives me and my appearance. It no longer limits me – quite the opposite.

Elsebeth, living with alopecia and wig wearer