Women Talk About Losing Their Hair

"I wasn't going to let this hair loss, this alopecia, dictate my life or my career."

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Tourists leaving super cruise ship

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group of cheerful young people men and women isolated on white background

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Cruise ship in caribbean sea

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Girl (8-9) standing in empty white room, looking at huge globe (digital enhancement)

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Lion

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VIDEO

Woman in airport is waiting for her flight, something looking at smartphone.

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Women receives an injection in the scalp.

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Doctor injects hyaluronic acid under the skin of head

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Upset woman looks at damaged hair

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Airplane Landing Los Angeles

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I got out of the shower and i went and i looked in the mirror and i was like i don't even recognize this person anymore, hello, everybody, i'm christy valdiserri. I am a professional dancer, a fitness instructor and a model um out in los angeles. California - and this is my hair loss, horror story. Three years ago i was in college. I went to penn state university, i'm from philly pennsylvania and i was in a sorority. I had long blonde hair. I was dating an athlete i really felt like i had it all during during college, and i knew myself as this like bright, bubbly blonde and then um june 1st 2016, so it was about three weeks after i graduated. I found one tiny little bald patch on the top of my head out of nowhere. I'Ve never had any, and i was really like this is nothing it's probably just from the sun or me pulling my hair back too tight. It'S nothing it'll go away, so i moved to new york city to pursue dance, and i was in my relationship at the time was falling apart and i was under a lot of stress and anxiety because of that and my hair is continuing to fall out and Fall out and fall out and i find a dermatologist in new york city and she is shocked by how much hair is falling out and i'm, like, i don't know care what it is. I just need to figure out what we can do to fix this, so she throws around the word alopecia and i'm like okay. Well, i've never heard of that. Never heard this word in my life. So alopecia is a autoimmune disease and originally it was. She thought it was areata, meaning in circular patches, but i don't really care what it is like. I, this is my story and i don't have hair now and i don't care like what it's called. I don't like to define myself with alopecia, so i got steroid injections all over my head, probably 30, all over my head because i was talked into it and i was like young and didn't know anything about this. This journey i was going on and i was hopeless and i wanted some sort of help or glimpse of light to be like this is going to be okay and your hair is going to grow back. My dream at the time was to dance on a cruise ship. My whole life i'd grown up going on cruises, with my family and watching these performers on stage on a cruise traveling around the world, making money. I was on cloud nine out of this world. I was so happy and grateful and appreciative and like felt like, i was exactly where i needed to be and thought the heartbreak and the hair loss was in the past, and this alopecia thing was behind me now, i'm going to on this cruise for eight months. I'M gon na take time to heal myself. It was so much fun on this ship. I had the best cast members we traveled all around and i felt like i was doing my job like above and beyond, and then one night after a show i had the we had the best show. All the cast was on such a high again and a guy in my cast the company manager and said i don't know how to tell you this, but they're firing you tomorrow and i was like. I literally had no words. I was completely speechless. This was one time in my life. I had nothing, not anything to say so. The next day i was kicked off the ship at 6 45 a.m. The only concrete answer i got was i mean i saw some emails said that i stood out and i pulled attention away and he wanted me removed from the ship and the only thing that i can like validate or understand as to why that happened was because Of my hair loss, so they were aware that i i had let them know that my hair was falling out and i needed a wig and they had, or they had told me that they had ordered a wig for me. So they were aware of the situation and i remember sitting on a hill in seattle, with my five suitcases and i watched my cast mates, my friends get in in their uber and i said bye to them. Never knowing when i was going to see them again and they were going back to live the life that i had loved living and i had no apartment to go back to. I had no job and just about no hair left. So, within three weeks of being fired, this was my new look, and this is what i looked like after three weeks, my hair had completely fallen out from the trauma and the stress well, i could get upset right now, but it was an insanely low point. In my life that i was on such a high, i knew myself as this blonde and now my look is being taken away from me. I went through a heartbreak and now my my job was taken away from me. So something in me was like kristy. You have to go to la. I was considering living at my parents and wait you're, seeing or moving back to new york and subletting someone's apartment, but something kept telling me you have to go to la. I got glue and glued a wig on glued a blonde wig on and booked the one-way flight to la like a week later and came to la again. I didn't have a job set up or an apartment, and i figured it out and i continued to hide under this blonde wig that i was trying to hold on to the girl that i used to know myself as and if someone were to find out about My hair loss or ask me if i was wearing a wig or extensions, i would say yeah i am, but please don't tell anybody that i am like this is so personal and private and i'm so scared for the world or anyone to know. So please keep it in between us, and i remember i met with my agent my dance agent and i felt like it was time for me to like tell her and like maybe get some feedback onto how i could spin this to make it like benefit me And i remember leaving that meeting not feeling the way i should have felt after leaving that meeting and she made a comment like there's: no need to get bold headshots done like. Let'S just keep to this look, and i can still i mean that was like what two years ago and i'm still holding on to that because i now i'm i'm at the point that i'm sharing my story and it took like it, took a lot of of People looking at me and telling me that they see my strengths and they see my personality and they see who i am not what i look like for the first time ever. I spoke about what i had been through that had led me to that point. I took my wig off in front of them. I wasn't gon na let this hair loss, this alopecia dictate my life or dictate my career, so it was extremely scary. It was so scary to like show such a vulnerable side when my whole life. I was known as this blonde girl and that's who i wanted to be that's why i i kind of still want that you know so. I wanted to heal myself and like physically, mentally and emotionally. I i had really had been going through it and i wanted to like just be free of it, like i felt like i kind of put my career and my life on hold, because i didn't care all i wanted was my hair to come back. That'S all. I wanted so i looked in the mirror and was like this is going to be my new look, you're going to stand back up and do it again and then i um a couple months later i submitted for sports illustrated swim and i was walking on the Beach and in the video and took my wig off and spoke about how much beauty is not about what you look like and next thing you know i was down in miami and i made it to the top 17 and got to walk on the runway with Sports illustrated swim and ripped my wig off at the end of the runway, and i can't even explain that moment that i felt it was like. I was finally being celebrated for what society media people my agent were telling me to hide and telling me was something to be ashamed of, and i was finally celebrated and free and like felt for the first time in like three years like myself for so long, I thought i can never have a dance career. I can never be a model, i can never live the life. I want to live with my hair falling out and i can gladly say sitting here, i'm living the life that i want to live because i just keep pushing forward and you can too, when there's a will, there's a way hi, i'm megan - and this is my Hair loss, horror story, so i've always had very long, very curly hair. I got it from my dad. My whole family is very curly and growing up that was kind of my identifier. People were like go talk to megan who's, megan she's, the one with the curly hair. Of course, growing up, i hated my curly hair uh. The grass was always greener on the other side and i wanted straight hair. So starting in college, i got it relaxed and i started straightening it and then i would straighten it and then curl it and i got bangs and then i had front bangs and for years that's how people knew me was straight, but curled, hair and front bangs. I hated my hair basically up until i was 25.. I stopped being a morning show reporter for the news and i didn't have to have a certain look and i came and i started working at buzzfeed and really felt inspired to be more comfortable with myself. And so one day i was like. I don't want to spend the rest of my life being afraid of water and having it curl up publicly. You know i felt like i wanted to put in the effort to love myself the way that my hair grew out, naturally from my head and so that halloween in 2015, i wore my hair curly and i was a lion and it was like my foray into Loving my hair, i started making a ton of curly hair content and got really interested in it. Ironically enough, i even made a video where i wore a bald cap for a day just to test my sense of femininity and identity without my curly hair. The last video i made before i was diagnosed with colon cancer was a curly hair, routine um and i would soon lose all of the curly hair that i was teaching you all to take care of. So in 2018 i was diagnosed with colon cancer. I'M all good. Now things are chill, so i got that cancer diagnosis and unfortunately like with most cancers, it's never just cancer. It comes with a million other things and ways that you have to prepare your body for chemo, even before chemo started. I noticed that my hair was falling out, so my hair was falling out a lot once i started chemo and i started to feel self-conscious about it and felt, like other people might start to notice. So i went to see the dermatologist to talk about it and she basically said that i had telogen effluvium telogen effluvium normally happens two to three months after, like a traumatic or stressful event, uh and the hair that falls out. That'S normally replaced with new hair. Your body is like in shock and trying to fix other things, so it just doesn't grow your hair back for you. So i remember one day in particular, i was going to buy a new car and i took a shower and i washed my hair and that day in particular, i had a lot come out and i got out of the shower and i went and i looked In the mirror - and i was like i - don't even recognize this person anymore - acknowledging that your body isn't doing something that feels so basic feels bad and that took me a long time to come to terms with so that night. I went home to my then boyfriend and i said, shave my head because i was ready to take control of a situation that had been taking control of me. I thought i looked really good and for the first time in like five months i felt like myself again and i felt truly beautiful, and that was a really powerful turning point in my hair loss journey and as you can see, i mean this isn't a wig. I'M lucky enough that my hair did end up growing back, which is what normally happens with telogen effluvium. After enough time has passed between the trauma your hair starts growing. Back again, i had a shaved head for a couple months before you could see noticeable hair growth and i'm kind of embarrassed to say that i was embarrassed to go outside and i was nervous because i didn't want to look like a cancer patient, though being a Cancer patient is like the most badass thing. You can be there's like no stronger person so now. Looking back, i would be proud to walk around bald. Now i have a small wig collection of like eight wigs and i have like purple wigs and blue wigs straight wigs, curly wigs, and i'm really glad that i've like embraced that side of things your hair loss is out of your control and the sooner i let Go of the things that were out of my control and started doing things that were in my control, like shaving, my head and choosing wigs and makeup and finding ways to make me feel like myself again, i started to heal. So that's like the best piece of advice i can give people is like mourn. Your hair loss feel sorry for yourself. It sucks it's like really hard to deal with, but then take control of the things that you do have control of you.

Allison Hunter: Its illegal to be fired or terminated from a job due to illness or injury, the woman who worked on the cruise ship should sue the company and PUT THEIR BUSINESS AND HOW THEY TREATED HER ON BLAST! I would 1000%.

Anakena Tejada Swan: The first lady looks REALLY cool with her wig off though.

Eileen Fedarb: Megan's story made me feel so much better, when her video came out I'd just been diagnosed with cancer and to hear how she handled it made me feel like I could. I'm currently in the stage of hair regrowth that looks a bit like an outgrown mullet which is a bit weird but it is growing back so I'm very lucky.

Zombiejocelyn: I have noticed that my hair has been falling out and I’m worried about it. When this video notification appeared I could click fast enough. Hearing the first story made me very emotional but I feel inspired. I know I have to take care of myself and am looking to making an appointment with a dermatologist.

Gracie to the Max: I wanna know this cruise line that fired that beautiful woman for her “standing out” because of her hair loss. I want to know so I never give them my business!

mocha: This made me realise how much confidence I get from the things I actually like about myself...

Karalyn Viszoki: Thank you for this. I am 17 and last summer I was diagnosed with alopecia. It was terrifying for me, and I kept saying “teenage girls don’t go bald”. It’s nice to know I’m not alone

Beezy: I work for a cruise line. She can sue them for wrongful termination!!! Seriously cruise ships hide behind bogus rules and regulations to shunt people with different hair situations. It's ridiculous. I'm so sorry this happened to you dear.

Lelliepop: I lost over half my hair due to PCOS. I guess I’m lucky because I didn’t get any bald patches, it just thinned everywhere so badly. I felt like I lost a lot of my femininity, as I got a load of other symptoms. It was so hard, but I’m coming to terms with it and this video has made me feel a lot better so thanks :)

Victoria Horner: I lost my hair to cancer when I was 11. I’m now losing it to alopecia at 21. Hair loss is cruel.

Grace’s Space: I have a skin condition on my scalp (that doctors can’t seem to make up their mind what exactly it is) I have lost chunks of my hair, I’ve been lucky and it’s grown back (mostly), but I appreciate you talking so openly about it

Georgina Kither: I cried so much watching this, I have alopecia and have lost over half of my hair. I feel so incomplete and useless and I’ve never been so unhappy. I was struggling with anxiety before the hair loss but now I’m just a mess. It is actually awful and I wish it on nobody.

KaysieDaniels: I have PCOS and this really helps. I used to have the thickest hair in my family, and now it’s thinnest. It was extremely traumatizing, and this makes me feel a little more content in my journey

itadorkyy: i'm only fourteen, but i have a scalp condition. i've lost half of my hair.. and for something that used to be what i put my pride in, it's now one of my greatest insecurities. i used to get compliments on my hair; it was thick, silky and long. it's not really long anymore since i cut it because of my hair loss, and it's just not the same. my scalp condition has infected the left side (thank god the right side got better) and its got flakes all over. i can't have certain hairstyles i used have, and i can't be confident about it anymore. i've finally been referred to a dermatologist, but i have to wait until quarantine is over. and it's just getting worse, and i'm scared because you can't get rid of this condition. you can only try to reduce it, and i've used countless of hair products. it just has no effect. edit: i finally got treatment and im a lot better!! i cut my hair a little more than shoulder length and im using treatments 2-3 times a week. flakes, scales n hair loss has really reduced and although im still pessimistic about it, im happy that it's gotten better. thank you guys.

Annie Monik Isabelle 🦋: Who else had no idea the first girl was wearing a wig? She’s stunning

felis catus: When I was 13, I watched my mom lose all of her hair due to cancer. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever encountered and even without her hair she was so confident and radiant that ever since then, I kind of associate baldness with bravery and being strong. So whenever I see one of you ladies on the street, I can’t help but feel only the greatest love and respect towards you. Living and being different in a society that values woman mostly for their looks, it takes courage to love your “imperfections,, and it makes you all the more admireable in my eyes❤️

Real Mexican Food Shouldn't Give You Diarrhea: This is so sad. I’ve lost a lot of hair over the years. It’s getting a bit better though. Every remedy, product, technique, trust me I’ve tried. I blamed it on stress. I used to have hair so full and thick and long people would stop my mom and ask about my hair. I look at my childhood pictures and almost cry because my hair looks so beautiful. It’s hard, because part of me says it’s just hair but the other part can’t help but stare at the mirror and see all the patches.

Soph: You all are so freakin strong. Ty for Sharing y’all’s stories.

Valentina Vargas: I feel like this video was published at the right time, right now I'm on birth control and my hair is starting to fall out. I cried alot last week and this week because my hair used to be like Megan's hair before chemo, very curly and alot of it, and now I can see my scalp, I can grab all my hair with my two hands and it's just thin boring and sad, and every time I brush it, wash it or even pass my fingers through it, it falls alot of hair. I felt really weak, sad and helpless, but than I thought "it's just hair" it doesn't represent me or the way I am. now after seeing this video ( and Megan's video about her chemo story) I feel encouraged that I'll get through this, and by the end of the day its just hair, and I think anyone who's having the same or a similar experience should not feel bad about it. But of course, we are human beings and it's okay to cry and feel sad,especially about things that can't be manageable or that aren't in our control , maybe you don't see it that way now, but in a near future maybe you will. Lastly, I'm stopping birth control and I'm getting all my hair cut off next week after my birthday (kinda thinking like a Bob or something like that), taking more vitamins and just going day by day. I feel very inspired by your stories, thank you so much.

Mandi: I actually have a disorder called Trichotillomania and I think it’s so sad that people like myself hide and don’t want to talk about BFRBs but it is something that needs to be discussed. Thank you for making this video

valarie.elisabeth: these ladies are so strong

Angie Sandoval: I was recently diagnosed with alopecia and when she started getting emotional I really felt that. Having it makes you feel so . . .not yourself. And it's really scary but it's crazy how common it is and I have heard of so many people who also have the same condition. I am really glad that she was able to share her story ❤

Marissa Reisinger: When the second girl shaved her head the transformation was incredible. She's gorgeous in every look: her hair, wigs or shaved.

Claudia Julia: I’m 19 and I’ve been having problems with hair loss for a while now. This video really helped me to not lose hope and to be confident in whatever way it may turn out in the end. Our hair is not something that defines us even if we feel like it does sometimes!

elena: less than a month ago, i had a mental breakdown and impulsively shaved my head. i regreted it and struggled to feel confident... this helped sm

Christine Fossaceca: Wow I feel like she should sue for being fired over a medical condition. That is so messed up.

Stephanie Moore: I've experienced hair loss due to stress, poor diet, medication, depression etc... I'm thankful I didn't lose all my hair, but it was still a terrifying experience. These two ladies are beautiful and very inspiring!

Boss Queen: I went to a hair school in DC, and a girl burned my flexi rods off. She literally sprayed a whole bottle of Spritz in my hair, and sat me under the dryer. My hair was 16 inches around the crown, 3 inches in the middle!

Lexi Zager: It was illegal for them to fire you.

Lauren Sellers: The first gal looks tough as nails with no hair. I get P!nk vibes from her. She looks like a total badass

Sara Miljkovic: This is so inspiring and beautiful I truly feel so insecure sometimes but I haven't thought what a lot of people are going through. These ladies are so strong and smart and soooo beautiful

Paws is a Cat: I started losing my hair in the 7th and after seeing several doctors I was misdiagnosed which put more stress on me, it took forever for me to convince my mom to let me get a pixie cut but even then it would still fall out. I live in a small town so everyone knew me simply because of my lack of hair. When I was in eleventh grade I had finally had enough and shaved my head. I’m 19 now and I still have trouble with my hair, for the longest I thought I was the only one who had to go though this. I’m still learning how to love myself since I’ve never seen myself as pretty or beautiful but hearing these stories gives me hope that one day I feel comfortable in my own skin.

Kelsey Amos: i have alopecia too, i thankfully haven’t lost all of my hair since i was a child but i lose patches of hair constantly. it gets worse with stress especially as a college student but i’ve learned to accept it. these girls stories are so inspiring!

Denise Creagh: I have suffered from alopecia too and it damaged my personality. My family doesn't know how to handle this and I don't date anymore because of this. I used to shave my head, I was bald for 4 years. I still haven't had it come back exactly. I feel a bit better seeing these wonderfully beautiful and strong women. Thank you so much. God Bless you all.

Sagorika Roy: I was diagnosed with androgenic alopecia when I was 19. Women over 40 usually get this. It's basically when all the hairs start thinning without a particular pattern. I have no idea what caused telogen effluvium as I didn't suffer any traumatic experience but within few months I lost soo much hairs. I stopped going to college, I stopped looking at myself in the mirror and cried almost every night. Since I suffered from both AA and TE my hair is very slow and I don't think I'll get all my hair back. What helped me to get through is instagram hairloss community (kimdubs, hairlossboss etc). I just leaned to deal with it now, I accept my hair loss and it's quite freeing tbh. I know it's going to get worst for me but well atleast we're in a time when there's awesome hair toppers and wigs available. It was a humbling experience and what I learned is you should not stop living your life because of hairloss.

Marissa Pulido: i had alopecia! i’m happy that someone is able to use their platform to talk about it!!!

Mawuena Benedicta Aborchie: Wow, when you need to feel less alone in a situation and you find solace in a YouTube video. The stories today have given me so much strength. Amazing people

Emily Schuessler: I was just diagnosed with AA and I hear every word the first woman had to say. I'm only 22 and losing your hair as a woman can be horrifying. I have been able to embrace it. If I feel confident that is all that matters. If having bald spots is a deal breaker for a guy that is interested in me, then he wasn't the one anyways!

Carmen Covarrubias: I'm losing my hair due to an allergies treatment and it is so damn frustrating to not be able to stop it, I always had a lot of hair, shining and strong but that ended when my allergies got worse and had to star my treatment. I just hope that when this is done, my hair goes back to what it was :( Thank you for this video.

Jess Higginbottom: I’m so incredibly proud & inspired by both of you. ♥️ Thank you for sharing.

Mandeep: Makes me put my finer than usual hair probs into perspective ><, you guys are brave to talk about your stories and how you work through it ✊

Sophia: Thank you for making this video. I have been battling hair loss for a few years. It's hard, you feel hopeless, you obsess about your hair all the time. Do people notice, what will my hair look like in a few months/years. Will this go away will I have to wear a wing. It is hard. Something that helps me is I have a few stages of planning. 1) hair topper 2) rogaine 3) microblading pigment, 4) surgery 5) shave it all off and tattoo a really pretty design maybe lace or henna pattern. 6) a lot of mermaid wings.

Caroline King: Wonderful stories. You helped a lot of people by telling your stories!

Dana Morin: Going through hair loss for a 2nd time with chemo. I appreciate this video so much, and I adore Megan ♥️

Brandi Munguia: You are so strong! I’ve been losing hair, little by little, since I had a hysterectomy in 2016. I still hate it and am super insecure about it. If this happened to me, I’d have been devastated but also very angry. I would have sued the cruise line for discrimination and for firing me for a medical condition and not for a performance issue.

Nana888: These woman are strong

jennTwaambo: You are Amazing and You are so beautiful ladies. I have Alopecia as well and its horrible in a time where as an African woman. Afros are being celebrated like the holy grail and my hair has been falling out. But i just have embraced that Beauty goes beyond our hair. It really does. I'm super proud to see women like you. Keep being strong❤❤❤

estelliiaa: a few months ago i damaged my hair and fried it to the point were it was just breaking out every day. i still have a lot of my hair and i'm very grateful. this video helped me a lot. coming to terms with hair loss is really really hard. but i think i can do it.

Lena Liberty D Lang: You are amazing and so beautiful and strong!! It is ok to feel like that and I'm so proud of you for sharing your stories. The kind of people that inspire me♥️

Spoonful of Suga: I’m lose all my hair at 19. I really appreciated these stories. Deciding when it’s time to shave it all off. I have lots of hair still but have tons of patches with no hair.

vhjbhbhj: Christie, you’re sooo pretty!! after hearing your story, it’s clear that you have a beautiful, strong, and humble personality. Tbh though, if I saw you on the street without your wig and without knowing anything about your story, I’d still think you were so physically gorgeous! I love the way your look combines an objective attractiveness with a unique attractiveness (if that makes sense). Your shots without your wig are perfect, way sexier than most of what we see in media. Thank you so much for sharing

Muriel Alexandra Reyes: Thank you for posting this seriously I’m going through hair loss right now and you don’t even know how much hearing these two stories help. I’m 22 and got diagnosed with lupus last week and after pretty much a year of being sick all the time and not knowing why I ended up at the hospital thinking that maybe I had contracted Covid but instead I was told probably the last thing I was hoping to hear. I now have to go through chemo as well and my relationship with my hair is very similar to the one Megan had with hers. I had been seeing my hair fall a lot more prior to going into the hospital but now with the chemotherapy I know I will end up losing it all eventually I was planning on shaving it as soon as possible mostly just so I can get used to seeing myself that way and also so I could see what other options I have in case I don’t like it I was planning on using turbans or hair wraps only because I feel like wearing a wig would just show that I need hair to look good and I don’t want that ( but that’s just my opinion). I hope this period of my life is just another chapter and I’ll eventually be able to look and feel like myself again but even if things don’t go back to “normal” I hope my new normal will be as healthy and happy as it can be and will be able to live a long life even if I have to share it with lupus. Again thank you for posting this video and sharing your stories ♥️

NienitaO: They both look beautiful with no hair. They are strong women. Thank you for sharing your stories and I wish you both the best

Amunua Atta: Your stories are so powerful. Beauty to me can't be increased or decreased its just ar times nore obvious to ppl because its what they expect yiur beauty to look like. But in truth it's about our essence. Nothing can take our essence away - so no one can take our beauty away too. It took me a while to realise that.

Dava Claire Vela: This video hit very hard to me. A couple years ago I lost a patch of my hair and I went to a dermatologist on my birthday to figure out what it was and she said it was alopecia. I didn’t know what it was because I was so young but I still cried when I got home. I was afraid I was gonna lose all my hair. I’ve always had long brunette hair and that’s what I was known for.I thought I didn’t have a future. I don’t have alopecia but I think it was just stress from everything going on. I still don’t know exactly what it was. My bald spot grew back! I’m a model, a tumbler, and a cheerleader. If I could get through it at so young, you can get through anything!

Somer Flowers: Gorgeous!! Both of you! I’m grateful for my chronic illness and lost my hair and couldn’t tolerate wearing makeup of any kind, and feeling beautiful when we as women are taught that we need long hair and makeup to be feminine. Just silliness! I felt so beautiful for the first time in my life, and that was so powerful for me. I saw so many women who had Alopecia when I was a hair dresser, and needs to be talked about more! Any and all stories about women and hair loss should! It’s normal for men, yet we need to hide it as women. Meh. Thankful you both shared! ❤️❤️

Hamida Abdul: I had painful bloody pus filled boils in my scalp when I was younger and never saw a doctor or tried treatment until I was 19 or twenty. Then rapidly one year I lost half the hair on my head and I think it’s still spreading. This has gutted me and left me feeling like a monster. I’m currently 25 and finally seeking treatment and this video has really helped me, thank you..

karbear26: My daughters eye brows kept falling out one at a time and couldn’t figure out why went to dermatologist and they couldn’t figure it out why. It’s stopped but did it for years.

Tt Plays: I didn't even realize she was wearing a wig and shes so pretty and I feel ur pain and hopefully u have recovered! and GOD BLESS EVERYONE READING THIS!

Zoë: I'm so in awe of their courage and strength. Amazing human beings ❤

Julissa DC: One never truly know oneself until you shave your hair, or go bald at least once, when I cut all my hair off to start my curly hair journey and left the straight hair behind was when I realized how much of your identity people put on their hair, it was a wake up call for me to love myself no matter what my exterior showed, totaly was more confident after that. Does somebody else have a story? I would love to hear it.

dulce luna: Due to vitamin deficiencies and endocrine problems, half of my hair just broke off around two years ago. It literally just broke off and I was left with a short, thin hair, not able to imagine how I could feel feminine again. It was recently that I started to wear the hijab- an Islamic headcover- as I converted to Islam a few years ago, that I realized I do not have to prove I am beautiful to anyone, for no one in this world is deserving of my beauty in the first place and of the pain that a woman has to endure to meet the unrealistic beauty standards. I am much happier and healthier now that I stopped caring about pleasing everyone else, struggling to be someone pretty to look at. It is enough to be beautiful for my God and for my own self. I'd like all women to know that we are not obliged to look a certain way, we do not have to please anyone's eyes, to prove something to someone, it is completely enough to have a beautiful soul. Beauty is temporary, but love and kindness is not. Praise be to God and may God bless you all. ❤️

Izzy R: you are both absolutely stunning never ever let anyone put you down because of something you cant control

Suhaani: This makes me feel so much better and inspired. I recently shaved my head bc of hairloss. I always used to cry when i washed my hair because of the amount of hair that used to fall. Now i feel better but its growing out again and the bald patches have started to become visible. Going to shave it permanently after i finish high school I am 16 btw and my hair loss is genetic i think

Morefine: I am currently losing my hair due to PCOS. It's such a depressing time. I have a wig that I wear on days where I can't comb or brush my hair in a way that hides the patches. Sometimes I embrace my hair loss, sometimes it wins.

MutterStutter Podcast: We had a lovely young female on to speak about her alopecia - it was a very enlightening conversation and she was so open and honest :) I learned so much about it!

CurlyDisneyChild: Megan you and I have the same EXACT hair!!! Like you I HATED my curly hair since childhood because EVERYONE around me had straight straight STRAIGHT hair. It made me jealous so jealous. SO Senior Year I spent it doing highlights, blow-dry, iron, for EVERY EVENT possible. It destroyed my hair, and I destroyed it again when I turned 22 as I decided to do Keratin (again) when I turned 24 I did highlights again until my hair went Platinum Blonde (Like Elsa). After graduation in 2019, I decided to STOP messing with my hair and CUT EVERYTHING!!!! Today I am 26, and I finally get to see my NATURAL hair for the first time in 10 years. Dark brown and CURLY! I swear if I sent you a picture you'd think I made your hair into a wig. Let your Curls FLY

Chelsy G.: These women are so beautiful, inside and out! And these stories were so inspiring!

EliRaines: “I’m all good now, things are chill” the most relaxed way of explaining that you had cancer omg but it is so great that she is doing well now that is so good

Rita Lobo: Thank you so much for this video, only people who truly know, will know how much it hurts and how much shame we feel for something we cannot control and we did nothing to provoque...

Kim P.: Great video. I’m so glad that we have come so far when it comes to hair. Long or short…..have some or don’t…..I love it all!

LLL 08506: This was THE MOST INSPIRING AND AMAZING VIDEO I HAVE EVER SEEN. You are both gorgeous!

SunMoonStars 1983: I am so sorry people treated you like this. You are BEAUTIFUL! I’m sending you so much love! ✨ you are so brave, I’m so proud of your success! You deserve it for being genuine, real, and helping others by sharing. Thank you!

Almog Azoulay: I went through a pretty stressful time last year. I had end of semester exams that took such a toll on me mentally, went through a period of not eating due to stress, and then was nervous about being a month or so away from home... All of that resulted in a bunch of my hair falling out, and caused me to be even MORE stressesd then I already was. It wasn't apparent to others that I was loosing a good amount of hair, but I felt my hair getting thinner and thinner. Seeing the drain after I washed my hair was heart-aching, and combing my hair and seeing the comb loaded with my own hairs brought me to tears. In that short time period of loosing my hair I was a wreck. I felt emotionally drained, depressed, and not myself at all. My hair was a part of me which I was proud of, and I was not ready to let it go. But time spent with friends when I was away from home was what kept a smile on my face, and brought me back to who I was. I was worried less and less about my hair falling out, to a point I didn't even care. I didn't let that stress me anymore, and I am now back to myself. I didn't end up balding or having any patched of missing hair, but I did go to a bunch of doctors fearing the worst. It took time, but my hair loss is now at bay, and I'm back to loosing normal amounts of hair and trying to be less stressed (and not really succeeding actually). Just know that those tough times do come to an end, and if people who love you are there to support you, you can accomplish everything that you set your minds to :)

Yaria Samavan Carlan: The first story I can see she is still dealing with a lot of the hurt. Both looked gorgeous without the wigs, but I know it is a process and it can't be rushed.

Lauren Schlepp: Interesting that this video was uploaded at this exact time. Exactly one week ago I went to a hair loss / hair restoration specialist because I'm the same age as these ladies and I have feathery fine hair that was just thinning like crazy. And no amount of biotin or special shampoo is making it grow back so I knew there was something internally that was the problem. So I'm starting my hair regrowth Journey right now as well!

F Gmz: Omg I started losing a lot of hair on my sides. I went to the derm and got no real reason as to why it started happening. Glad to see I’m Not alone

Christine Lavallee: Both of the women are amazing! Proud of both of you for embracing it and using these stories as ways of strengthening others.

ZoëBell78☯️: I've losing my hair after covid-19 disiese, I've felt terrible, but this kind of stories makes me take control of my life again. Thank u so much, kisses from Mexico City ☺️☺️☺️

Julia Stelmaszek: As a fellow person with alopecia areata - I really related to everything that was being said in the video. I’ve recently decided to shave my head and I feel like something heavy has been lifted up from my chest... like I’ve regained freedom. decided to embrace who I am and that disease is not defying my worth as a person. And to every human out there also struggling with hair lose-try to remember that you are extremely beautiful with or without it. And it’s never gonna change. Trying to accept yourself and love yourself the way you are is gonna bring you far more advantages than hating yourself for things you can’t control. Don’t lose hope. You’re strong and you got this!

Anne Whipp: I lost the hair on top of my head in 2012. I managed to grow some of it back over the years. But every time I get stressed my eyebrows and hair falls out. As of 2019, I've lost so much hair again that if I put my hair up, if I turn to the side in any kind of lighting, you can see my scalp and I honestly hate it. I feel like less of a woman for it and I know I shouldn't. It makes me so sad and angry, but I'm sure this is just the start. I dare say I'll have a wig some day too. I just want to enjoy my natural hair while I've still got some of it left. It influences my work, and my personal life, I always feel very self conscious about it.

Elise Storkamp: The first girl is so stunning with and without her wig. Beautiful woman ❤️

Julissa Gonzalez: Thank you for sharing! I'm losing all of my hair due to graves' disease and Felt super down. now on will be looking for other ways to be myself

maryavatar: When I had my first and third children, I had very short hair, and didn’t really notice much hair loss, but when I had my second child, I had waist length naturally curly red hair, and a couple weeks after giving birth around 20% of it slid off my head in the shower. This enormous chunk of hair seemed to crawl over my butt and down my leg. I was hysterical, because my grandmother had what looked like male pattern baldness after her third child and it never grew back. Fortunately it did for me - it’s still a bit thin on top, where most of it fell out, but I don’t let that stop me. In the last five years I’ve had waist length flame hair (red, orange and yellow), a scarlet bob, and right now I have a metallic purple pixie cut.

Leah Sauter: I’ve experienced telogen effluvium twice, both times were hugely traumatic for me, my ocd made it very difficult to deal with because I developed rituals around my hair.

Emma Brown: I have psoriasis, my hair was dying and falling out. When I was stressed I would pick my hair out. About a month ago I shaved all my hair of. I feel so much more confident now I'm not worried about my head. Maybe my hair will grow back stronger and healthier

Pamela Martinez: I myself was diagnosed with alopecia back in 2018 It took a whole year for them to figure out what was wrong with me. I thankfully didn’t loss my hair in big patches but I had absolutely no body hair and my actual hair was so very thin. I shaved my head and I became pregnant and it helped my hair grow back. I’m just very scared of having my little girl and my hair falls off once again. I absolutely love how all of y’all share your story.

Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation: These stories do so much for us all!

Cee Bee: I seriously send all my strength to anyone suffering from hair loss i have aga n lichen planopilaris and thankfully wigs and toppers give me some confidence back. You are inspiring

9melissal: There is no way it was legal for them to fire her for losing her hair! She definitely should have sued for wrongful termination.

Jenna C: Thank you, especially to Megan, going through Telogen Effluvium right now and it’s so awful. This gave me such hope, Thank you

Claire Annette: Chills! This video is so beautiful, just like you ladies!

Hi8us Now: I'm sorry you lost your hair, I have curly hair and I have girl mohawk by choice and having your hair short without being ready I know hurts. But short hair makes you look brave like you don't give damn what people think of you and thats so rock and roll. Be that brave person you are!

Milka - Americus: Thank you for this video. After surviving covid, I am going through telogenic alopecia.

Kate F: The guy I spent 8 years with was changing, our marriage crumbling, my credit score was in the toilet...it was such a hard time in my life and then I started to notice the hair loss. I went from it taking 2 weeks to have a brush fill with hair to the same results every single time I touched it with a brush. Before that, my hair was the only physical trait I wasn't self conscious about and it absolutely devestated me. I started healing myself and fixing my credit and my life after filing for divorce and it took probably 3 years for the hair to finally start coming back in. it's been 8 years since my life had started to crumble and I still notice spots that aren't completely grown in yet and I'm trying hard to not be so self conscious about it but sadly I don't always win that battle.

IckyVicky: I suffered from an eating disorder, and in recovery, I lost a lot of hair. I would clog shower drains, even with drain protectors because of how thin my hair is. Each time I brushed my hair, I had a rat sized ball of hair fall out. It made me want to quit recovery and was so self conscious. I decided to cut most of my hair off, and now I'm finally okay with recovery and all the other body changes that are happening

Aza liah: When I lost my hair, I didn't even know it haha. My friend was the one who noticed my bald patch. It's a bit better now. The bald patches are now growing again

Janine Pillay: I hope someone sees. My hair was falling like crazy. In clumps. I changed my diet and started to intermittently fast. I also started using a hair oil with coconut oil, jamaican black castor oil, argan oil and olive oil. I would massage my scalp and be extremely gentle with my hair. I used protective hairstyles and gave my hair a chance to breath. I also stopped using harsh shampoos and conditioners. I did everything possible to give my hair a chance to rejuvenate. My hair has stopped falling out and it's getting better every day! If you feel like your hair is what makes you then do what you can to save it. But it's not what makes you a woman. You're beautiful the way you are

Imane Belle: I suffered from hair loss for YEARS. Im not starting to see improvement after adopting my hair growth method! It's really hard as a woman to lose your hair, it can really ruin your self esteem :(

KJ Johnson: i currently have 1/8th of the hair that i used to and these stories give me hope ☺️

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