Driving home tonight from work, something struck me. For the first time since I was first diagnosed with alopecia at the tender age of 8(28 years ago) I can actually feel the emotional scars fading. No longer do I feel restricted or ashamed of having alopecia. Yes the scars will always remain but fading they are. From all the years that I hid having alopecia, from the shame and embarrassment I felt, the lack of feeling "normal" or even "beautiful" and feeling totally alone. Of doing the…

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I just wanted to start off by saying I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Looking back on the year pass, I amaze myself by how genuinely happy I have been. Yes I still have bad days but dont we all? And yes I still have hair memories. But how can you not when you see commercial after commercial with hair flipping all over the place. We definitely need to see some fabulous bald ladies in commercials. But during those moments I just rub my smooth head and I feel better.…

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I have trichotillomania, and god I wish I could just pretend that I didnt.

It hurts so badly to finally admit that rather then this being done to you, its you doing it to yourself. and that there is nothing worse then losing friends over this.



I'm married, I love my husband and my one year old daughter. but its not enough, I want friends. but I'm alone.

I have to wear wigs, and I finally put myself in debt and decided to go to a hair restoration clinic to try and help me.… Continue

If you spend quality time in Alopecia World, you will meet scores of the most fascinating and engaging people in the world today.

They are musicians, artists, painters, scientists, world travelers, teachers, rabbis, models, comedians, college students, athletes, writers, actresses, photographers, film makers, beauty queens, and community activists.

And that's just for starters!

Each day brings new faces, new stories, and new opportunities to learn how to not only survive…

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A friend just sent this to me, and I thought it could help us get a reality check on what is more important to our loved ones than our hair. This is especially important for those of us who are older, or who have children and grandchildren.



A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.



Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an… Continue

We all have a freedom of choice who we "accept" as friends on here, to whose opinions we respond, how we change our profile words, headings or photos, and what we wear on our heads. For me, I tend to stay away from trouble once I see that my words will have no impact for change or peace, or when I sense someone who has never even had a discussion with me suddenly wants to snoop at my personal conversation history or photos, and is very persistent about it only after seeing a certain photo in… Continue

I've been away for a while. Busy, with all of those things and stuff, but thought I'd pop in and beam an update into the yonder.



I attended HairExpo2011 this long weekend with the lovely ladies (and men) of the Australian Alopecia Areata Foundation - I've been calling it the AAAF (pronounced "arf" :P ). It was fantastic! I met some of the nicest people, got to spread the good word about alopecia, and hugged some total strangers. A little exhausting, but awesome. It was also the first… Continue

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone had a great summer!

With the changing of seasons, I find myself with harmony.

Many of us went to Indianapolis in June for the annual NAAF Conference and had our chance to get together with old friends and meet new ones. It was exillerating!!!

Tonight we had our local NAAF Support Group Meeting and it was so nice to get back together with fellow alopecians. It always feels so good for me!

It's been quite the journey. Good days with a few bad… Continue

This morning I was admiring my hair and how well I've managed to disguise the large bald spot on the back of my head by wearing my hair kinda wavy and messy.....when I spotted a new area on the crown of my head. It's about the size of a quarter right now and growing. :( I have been experiencing pain in the site for a while but couldn't figure out why. Now I know that it's related to losing hair. This really stinks! I will have to get really creative to cover this one.



Alopecia is… Continue

There are a million stories out there about parents who contributed to angst, but I would like to hear what are the BEST things your parents did for you as a young person with alopecia, aside from medical appointments and wig purchases. How did your folks secretly get you out of a funk about hair loss?



Mine let me quit piano lessons and enroll in a special summer drawing class (I am really a visual artist) at Cranbrook Institute. They let me go to all the summer camps and weekend… Continue

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because you get to be with family and friends and eat good food, drink and be merry. It is great to just give to each other you time and your self. No stress of shopping for gifts to exchange like the next holiday approaching! I hope everyone can find something in their life to give thanks for. Thanksgiving is such a great holiday!

Hello Friends,



It has been a wonderful year indeed. Unexpected and unpredictable.



It was an unusually warm and clear summer night in San Francisco. A night full of laughter and celebration with friends. It was July 4th 2007.



After the smoke and embers cleared I awoke and went off to work. But there was a suprise waiting for me. Something different. A small circle on my head appeared before me. I thought what is this? Had an ember of my Independence fallen upon… Continue

wow it's been forever since i've been on here. sorry. well there's no way in hell i could describe what happened with tommy because it's kinda pathetic and im still hurting over it. to make a long story short, we started drifting and with each passing day of silence my depression deepened. we're not friends anymore, i haven't talked to him since his birthday when i said "happy birthday" and that was april 2nd. i really got depressed, not even kidding. i got into some stuff that i shouldn't have… Continue

Hey guys!

Today is one of those tough days when my confidence and acceptance of my hair loss is slipping. I'm not burst-into-tears-so-unhappy miserable or anything, but I'm more like "eh." I'm thinking my head shave will be taking place sooner rather than later. When I comb my hair after my shower I keep losing clumps. There are only so many months I can keep losing clumps before my hair is too thin to be pretty! So I'm a little shaken by that. I'm thinking it'll be an experience that's… Continue

I've had a few rough days, actually a few rough months....Non alopecia related.



Leo's mother Helen is 83 and suffering from dementia.

She was living independently until last September. Her mental capacity has declined rather rapidly. We moved her to a Residential Assisted Living Facility but it didn't work out as she required more care.

We have since just moved her again to a small board and care home which is really nice. She is having a hard time ajusting to the change… Continue

Cheryl and I were visiting friends several days ago when the husband sat down at his family’s computer and started watching this video of Cheryl trying on wigs.

When his wife saw Cheryl in the video, she immediately blurted out, “Wow, Cheryl! Is that you? Girl, have you ever thought about wearing wigs all the time!”

The husband and I were taken aback and immediately called his wife’s attention…

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well i'll be the first one to admit that when it comes to meeting new people, i am horrible. well i met this girl online and then i met her in person the other day, and today was the second time we hung out, and she is amazing, and i got to meet some of her friends who act crazy fun. its nice to be around people who are not always about there image. having alopecia i have always been the one with the shyness about my hair "the little that i do have" and tonight i got to break free from the mold… Continue