Hair Peace

This Spotlight Menopause Monday, I want to introduce you to a stunning woman named Jamie.  I am letting her share her story from her website below.  I call it Hair Peace- Jamie defines finding Peace in every step of her journey and is living proof that hair is not our only crown and glory, but bald is beautiful too!  For more info visit www.alopeciasupport.org

My name is Jamie, and I have been a licensed hairstylist of 20 years.image

Styling hair is my passion. I believe styling is a way to enhance a person’s natural beauty, which I enjoy very much. 16 years ago after a life threatening, stressful situation with my daughter, I encountered something that would affect my own personal beauty—a condition called alopecia.

Alopecia Aerata is considered an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped structures from which hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.

I first noticed my hair was shedding in 1994 after the birth of my daughter. In 1998, I found the first bald spot at the nape of my neck which would consistently “grow in and fall out”. My hair loss would move to different areas of my head and scalp. In 2000, I began to lose more hair and to find bigger bald spots throughout my head. From 2000 to 2003, my hair began to fall out even more.  I would wake up and look at my head and it looked like someone took an eraser and erased the hair off my scalp.  My hair appeared to be clean shaven sporadically throughout my head. Even my eyebrows had bald spots as well. I was in shock and devastated! I was diagnosed with alopecia in 2004.

I was very uncomfortable going places for the most part; I stayed at home and tried to stay away from large crowds. One day, I can remember going to church and wanting to sit in the back. I didn’t want anybody sitting behind me because I was afraid they might be looking at my hair. Out in the public I would think that people were staring and looking at my bald spots. I would constantly look into my pocket mirror to make sure that I hadn’t accidentally wiped-off my “drawn on” eyebrows.  I always felt nervous, ashamed and unattractive.

When I would get dressed in the morning I would put my makeup on while keeping my headscarf on my head, so I would not have to look at myself or the bald patches in my head that would freak me out. Some nights I would cry myself to sleep and pray that while I was sleeping my head scarf would not fall off of my head.   I didn’t want my daughter to come into my room and see my head. I would walk around the house “day in and day out” feeling like a prisoner in my own home. Even my family and clients did not know what I was going through – my own masquerade. All the wigs, scarves and hats were very uncomfortable for me to wear. I would say to my self, “Jamie you are a hairstylist and you can’t even fix yourself.”

For years I slipped in and out of depression and anxiety-induced panic attacks. The doctors put me on an antidepressant medicine resulting in both episodes of weight gain and weight loss. I had no peace on the inside of me so I asked God what is the purpose of me going through this because my hair is my glory.

I remember doing an interpretive dance at a wedding and praying that my wig would not fall off my head.

I shied away from men saying to myself “no man would want a bald headed woman.” My biggest fear came true.  I met a guy who I went out with on a few dates.   During those times, he would always compliment me on how nice my hair looked. So one day, I said to him “this is not my hair.”  He looked at me as if he had seen a ghost. He said, “What do you mean?”  I have a condition called alopecia, and of course, he had never heard of it before. I explained to him the basics on the disease and that it was not contagious.  Consequently, he was unable to cope and we parted ways.

I was tired of hiding from my self and those who knew me. I figured out my identity and self worth was not in my hair. In June of 2006, I gained the courage to shave the remaining hair from my head. And now in confidence I am able to wear a completely bald head. Now I am able to embrace who I am and begin the journey on the long road to a personal and spiritual healing.

Currently  I am walking in freedom and fulfilling part of my purpose to “empower, support, and encourage individuals living with alopecia”.
 
 

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Comments

  • 10/24/2011 1:10 PM Paula Gill wrote:
    Paula Gill Wow, truly inspiration. To share her story will only encourage others to do the same. Its always so true we rise and learn so much from adversity. The lessons of life and not discovered so often in the sunnier days but in the cloudier ones.... Thank her so much for sharing her powerful story.
    Reply to this
  • 10/24/2011 1:15 PM Cassandra L Lewis wrote:
    You are not only beautiful, you are a very brave woman Jamie. Thank you for sharing such a powerful post.

    Tracie
    Reply to this
  • 10/24/2011 1:18 PM Tracie Mayer wrote:
    Fabulous post! Thank you for sharing your trials with such honesty Jamie. You are a beautiful woman!
    Reply to this
  • 10/26/2011 1:31 PM Steve Dorsey wrote:
    Thank you Jamie!
    Great story on the importance and security of loving the skin we're in.
    Fa'sho'
    Reply to this
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