Why Do YOU Shave Your Head? - Alopecia World2024-03-28T11:29:15Zhttps://alopeciaworld.com/forum/topics/why-do-you-shave-your-head?groupUrl=sisterhoodofwomenwhoshavedtheirheads&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHave you spoken to any women…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2013-09-10:2022678:Comment:10916132013-09-10T19:17:47.687Zwombat123https://alopeciaworld.com/profile/wombat123
<p>Have you spoken to any women who are bald by choice (voluntary alopecians) who go bald because they like it and want to do it and do not have any ailment?</p>
<p>Have you spoken to any women who are bald by choice (voluntary alopecians) who go bald because they like it and want to do it and do not have any ailment?</p> Seedraiser,
Please see the a…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2011-01-27:2022678:Comment:5477192011-01-27T17:24:09.766ZPam Fitroshttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/PamFitros
Seedraiser,<br />
<br />
Please see the apology for my late response above...<br />
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I think the anger you speak of is pretty universal in the process of grieving hair loss and a forced change of just about any type. Not everyone is willing to be so openly brave about expressing it, and some feel the grieving anger to greater or lesser degrees. I had my moments of anger as well...but it was more at the inconvenience of having to deal with the change rather than the bald itself. In a way I was fortunate to have…
Seedraiser,<br />
<br />
Please see the apology for my late response above...<br />
<br />
I think the anger you speak of is pretty universal in the process of grieving hair loss and a forced change of just about any type. Not everyone is willing to be so openly brave about expressing it, and some feel the grieving anger to greater or lesser degrees. I had my moments of anger as well...but it was more at the inconvenience of having to deal with the change rather than the bald itself. In a way I was fortunate to have universalis. It all fell out over a short period of time and I only had to shave once to get rid of the strays before they fell out too.<br />
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Right now, however, my head is covered with short coarse colorless stubble around significant spots of still baby butt smooth skin. I even had one long black hair growing out of my chin that sent me in a panic to the medicine cabinet looking for the tweezer I hadn't used in three years! Yuck! Pulled that sucker out in two seconds flat.<br />
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I have no idea if this is just because it's winter, though nothing like it happened the past two years, or because I've been on so many antibiotics and steroids to get past being really sick that I've somehow temporarily foiled the mechanism that tells my hair not to grow. Whatever it is, I miss my smooth head and feel really strange having colorless fuzz on my head. Makes me look dusty.<br />
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As for moving on from anger but not coming to acceptance yet....you're right on schedule. Acceptance is the last part of grieving the loss. And you'll get there when and if you are ready. Whenever it is, it will be right on time for you. There are as many different ways of grieving this loss as there are people who have to deal with it. And it takes however long it takes and that's okay.<br />
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My children are grown now, and I don't have to think about what choice I would have made had they been little. But I do have a three and a half year old grandchild in preschool and I'm not worried about kids reactions to me. They are so open in asking questions and so I go into my spiel about alopecia and let them feel my head and answer what they ask. Once they understand and are okay with it, there's never a problem again. But then three year olds are more accepting than older kids who worry about their own image and find putting others down a way to feel better about themselves.<br />
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Even so, there are ways to deal with that too. Kids can write reports on alopecia and bring mom to school for show and tell or even an all school assembly - so many people have been amazed at the acceptance and support garnered through open acceptance of alopecia. Not to mention the courage other women suffering silently with alopecia in various degrees in your children's school might receive.<br />
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Still, you are where you are and where you are is right where you need to be at this point in time.<br />
I love your spunk and honesty.<br />
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Seedraiser is an interesting screen name. Do you garden or are you into collecting organic or rare seeds?<br />
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Thanks for sharing your story.<br />
Pam Sue,
I apologize for the dela…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2011-01-27:2022678:Comment:5478732011-01-27T16:41:05.096ZPam Fitroshttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/PamFitros
Sue,<br />
I apologize for the delay in responding to you. I had what the doc called a 'serial virus' that led to pneumonia which triggered an asthma attack that left me hospitalized between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've been laying low ever since. But am now recovering and returning to the task of completing Boldly Bald Women.<br />
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I love your statement about wearing a wig makes it easier for you to look at me. And I know from personal experience that is true. It is also true that some folks ask that…
Sue,<br />
I apologize for the delay in responding to you. I had what the doc called a 'serial virus' that led to pneumonia which triggered an asthma attack that left me hospitalized between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've been laying low ever since. But am now recovering and returning to the task of completing Boldly Bald Women.<br />
<br />
I love your statement about wearing a wig makes it easier for you to look at me. And I know from personal experience that is true. It is also true that some folks ask that question because they are concerned about you getting hurt as people stare from curiosity or misconception or just plain ignorance. I live in Michigan and have lots of hats too. I wear them to bed because my husband and I like to sleep in a cool room, but the hats always slip off during the night. We need somebody out there to invent a stay-on-all-night-cap, lol!<br />
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Wow. Moose and deer hunting. I've had deer meat and love it when cooked with skill. Never had moose meat. Is it good?<br />
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Pam Thank you all so much for sha…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2011-01-21:2022678:Comment:5451382011-01-21T23:50:20.466ZMhttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/MarieKeough
Thank you all so much for sharing your amazing stories. It gives me so much strength. All my life I've been told how beautiful or striking I was and you know what, I really didn't get it. Now that I'm going bald I hope that I can be as beautiful as you all are. When you speak of the freedom you feel going bald I can almost feel it and feel excited. Something just dawned on me, women who are bald are much more noticable in a crowd and that could be a very positive thing in many ways.<br />
Big, Big…
Thank you all so much for sharing your amazing stories. It gives me so much strength. All my life I've been told how beautiful or striking I was and you know what, I really didn't get it. Now that I'm going bald I hope that I can be as beautiful as you all are. When you speak of the freedom you feel going bald I can almost feel it and feel excited. Something just dawned on me, women who are bald are much more noticable in a crowd and that could be a very positive thing in many ways.<br />
Big, Big Hugs to all of you and thank you all again for sharing your experiences, strengths and hopes with us all. God Bless<br />
Marie Hi Pam, I'd be glad to share…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2010-11-19:2022678:Comment:5151922010-11-19T16:28:15.695ZSusan P aka DGADBShttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/SusanPeters
Hi Pam, I'd be glad to share why I choose to go bald. I've only been completely bald since this April, but I never had a wig and never considered wearing a wig, I just don't want to wear one or take care of one. I also have to say I don't like this new look, at all, but I have people who love me and they love me the way I am.<br />
This is what I say to all the other people when they question me why "I don't just get a wig?" I reply "Wearing a wig only makes it easier for you to look at me, if you…
Hi Pam, I'd be glad to share why I choose to go bald. I've only been completely bald since this April, but I never had a wig and never considered wearing a wig, I just don't want to wear one or take care of one. I also have to say I don't like this new look, at all, but I have people who love me and they love me the way I am.<br />
This is what I say to all the other people when they question me why "I don't just get a wig?" I reply "Wearing a wig only makes it easier for you to look at me, if you can't except the way I look then that's your problem". It may sound like a slap in the face but it's true, I can't worry about what others think of me or my looks, this is my disease and I try to cope with it the best I can and that means not spending an hour in the morning getting my head/face on. I tried false eyelashes once and got so frustrated that I ended up beating up my stove! It's really hard facing the world bald, it takes a big set of balls to do it, but right from the first day on I've managed to hold my head high and just put one foot in front of the other. My first winter bald is going to be a challenge, I find it extremely cold already having finished the last month moose and deer hunting. Sitting still for hours in the cold I found if my head wasn't warm then the rest of me wouldn't stay warm, then when I did have to walk any distance my head would sweat buckets! so I carried two hats at all times. This is all a new experience for me and I thank this site for getting me through the tough spots. Sue Oh, Cheryl, I've thought of R…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2010-11-17:2022678:Comment:5144582010-11-17T17:57:56.259ZPam Fitroshttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/PamFitros
Oh, Cheryl, I've thought of Rosa Parks so many times since I said no to hiding. She took a personal stand the day she chose not to give up her seat on the bus simply because of the color of her skin. At the moment she made her choice it was one small action of courageous resistance in the continuum of All-Things-Done in the world. She could not have foreseen the ramifications of her individual act would change the awareness level of an entire nation and send unending ripples throughout the…
Oh, Cheryl, I've thought of Rosa Parks so many times since I said no to hiding. She took a personal stand the day she chose not to give up her seat on the bus simply because of the color of her skin. At the moment she made her choice it was one small action of courageous resistance in the continuum of All-Things-Done in the world. She could not have foreseen the ramifications of her individual act would change the awareness level of an entire nation and send unending ripples throughout the global community. She could not have known that she would become a heroine to women of all colors sizes and shapes because she got tired of giving in and did the next right thing for her to do, any more than you did.<br/>
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Rosa Parks is a heroine. And so are you. And so am I. And so is every woman who gets tired of the dichotomy of a bald head in a hair infatuated society and says no to being split in two. Sandra,
Liberating was the w…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2010-11-17:2022678:Comment:5144532010-11-17T17:32:44.665ZPam Fitroshttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/PamFitros
Sandra,<br />
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Liberating was the word for me as well. Just the freedom to be me - as I am - without pretense. It was such a relief. Wow..."GI Jane"...I WISH! I look more like Buddha, lol. And humor has so helped. Not the defensive deflective kind, but the I-know-and-it's-okay-for-you-to-notice kind. I have found being bald to be a great way to start discussions with folks I meet during the course of a day. I even had one guy come up to me with envy written all over his face. "Who's your barber?" He…
Sandra,<br />
<br />
Liberating was the word for me as well. Just the freedom to be me - as I am - without pretense. It was such a relief. Wow..."GI Jane"...I WISH! I look more like Buddha, lol. And humor has so helped. Not the defensive deflective kind, but the I-know-and-it's-okay-for-you-to-notice kind. I have found being bald to be a great way to start discussions with folks I meet during the course of a day. I even had one guy come up to me with envy written all over his face. "Who's your barber?" He asked reaching out to touch my smooth head. " Al Lopecia," I respnded and we had a companionable discussion about baldness over the salad bar in Old Country Buffet, as we moved along making our selections. We smiled at each other in passing for the rest of the evening. That never would have happened if I'd had hair. I also find it interesting th…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2010-11-17:2022678:Comment:5143172010-11-17T06:28:54.868ZCheryl, Co-founderhttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/cherylcarvery
I also find it interesting that what I did "for myself" not to inspire or do anything courageous, basically just to be comfortably me, has put me into the position of being an inspiration to others. Something I was really not comfortable with at first. In a lot of ways, I am an introvert. I am not one to be on stage, don’t particularly try to find the lime light. Do not believe I have that “big” stage presence.<br></br>
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I know this is <b>by no mean, I mean no means</b>, the same thing, but I…
I also find it interesting that what I did "for myself" not to inspire or do anything courageous, basically just to be comfortably me, has put me into the position of being an inspiration to others. Something I was really not comfortable with at first. In a lot of ways, I am an introvert. I am not one to be on stage, don’t particularly try to find the lime light. Do not believe I have that “big” stage presence.<br/>
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I know this is <b>by no mean, I mean no means</b>, the same thing, but I often think of Rosa Parks. Her husband, Raymond was a member of the NAACP, she later became the volunteer secretary. But she was chosen to be the one to change history. Sometimes we end up in a position that we were not necessarily going after, but one that needs to be fulfilled regardless. I often need to remind myself that I do not have to be “Oprah” to be used or to be effective. Just do “your” thing and be willing to share it.<br/>
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Rosa Parks once said <i>“People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in…”</i><br/>
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I think I felt something similar with my alopecia when I made the decision to live my life as a bald woman. I was just tired of giving in to who I no longer felt reflected me in the mirror. thank you so much x :'] i wil…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2010-10-05:2022678:Comment:4964922010-10-05T19:19:45.561ZDanielahttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/Daniela
thank you so much x :'] i will watch the video :]:]:]
thank you so much x :'] i will watch the video :]:]:] Daniela,
Oh, sweet heart, you…tag:alopeciaworld.com,2010-10-05:2022678:Comment:4964282010-10-05T14:13:59.625ZPam Fitroshttps://alopeciaworld.com/profile/PamFitros
Daniela,<br />
Oh, sweet heart, you aren't ruined...you're just getting started! Check out this video of Olivia Rusk, a girl just your age who has found her place in life as a result of having alopecia. She is amazing. I met her at the last NAAF conference in Indiana this summer (NAAF is the National Alopecia Areata Foundation). She is smart and fun and funny and serious about using her difference to inspire others. I'm sure that once you see her video you will want to get in touch with her. She has…
Daniela,<br />
Oh, sweet heart, you aren't ruined...you're just getting started! Check out this video of Olivia Rusk, a girl just your age who has found her place in life as a result of having alopecia. She is amazing. I met her at the last NAAF conference in Indiana this summer (NAAF is the National Alopecia Areata Foundation). She is smart and fun and funny and serious about using her difference to inspire others. I'm sure that once you see her video you will want to get in touch with her. She has a lot to offer. And, Daniela, so do you! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXnDfRgh_nU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXnDfRgh_nU</a><br />
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Never underestimate the power of <i>you!</i>