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Should I Shave?
I have been pondering shaving my head for quite some time. I have chronic telogen effluvium and have been shedding excessively for the past year. At first, I believed the dermatologist, the OB and the endocrinologist when they said my hair would stop shedding. They said it was from the 'hormonal shock' to my system from stopping birth control pills 3 months before this started. It sounded good and I found research to support them, so I waited. However, my hair didn't stop shedding after the normal 3-6 months. It just kept on going. To make matters worse, the doctors started tellling me it must be from stress since the 'shock' was over. So now, I'm upset that I've lost 50% of my hair density, my temples look like my husband's (nonexistent), my hairline requires Dermmatch from ear to ear and they made me feel responsible. I'm sorry, but who wouldn't be a little stressed after watching their hair fall out for a year? Those damn doctors!!! I still feel that this might end one day if my system ever rebalances (I have other symptoms of hormonal imbalance) but what I know now is that I am tired of experiencing hairloss. I have been telling my close friends and family for months that I am thinking of shaving my head. I wish I could say they understood. All of their initial reactions (including my Mom and husband) were laughter. They thought I was crazy. However, once I explained to them that they were seeing the situation through their own eyes, ones that take their hair for granted and expect it to be there tomorrow, they started to come around. My husband now fully supports the decision (he actually wants to shave it for me!). He is as frustrated by this situation as I am. We both see all of the porcupine regrowth in my scalp, but we also see the 200-300 strands that come out every day. And there is nothing I can do to make it stop, except SHAVE IT OFF. My friends still don't understand. They feel that I have some obligation to keep my hair if I am able to make it look presentable. But hairloss simply doesn't fit my lifestyle. I hate the morning routine of covering my hairloss. It almost feels shameful and I want to be done with it. It also takes too much time.
So sorry for the long post, but what do you think? And for those that did shave when your hairloss really wasn't too apparent, what kind of reactions did you get? Thank you so much for your guidance through a difficult decision!
So sorry for the long post, but what do you think? And for those that did shave when your hairloss really wasn't too apparent, what kind of reactions did you get? Thank you so much for your guidance through a difficult decision!
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Comment by Nicole on January 21, 2009 at 2:30pm
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Hey laurie - Your story sounds similar to mine. It is very stressful to face hairloss and it is hard to face when the ones close to you don't understand the situation. When I tried explaining alopecia to my fiance, he had the nerve to tell me that I need to drink more orange juice to boost my immune system. All I could do was laugh at him. I wish it was that easy. I have been to so many doctors and that was just a waste of money. I just recently went to the endocrinologist for him to tell me we have a major problem. He told me something I already knew. The bad part about this appointment is that when all my test results came back it showed that nothing was me and I was told my hair may come back soon when I relieve my stress. I decided to just stay far away from the doctors about my alopecia. Anyway, my fiance shaved my head a few years ago and it did feel good, but at the same time I was sad. It was a relief though because I had no more hair falling out all over the place. Now I am trying to get used to wearing a lace wigs.
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Comment by GINA on January 22, 2009 at 1:29am
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Hi Laurie, when I couldnt look in the mirror anymore, I shaved it off, I bawled for a bit but my head looked so much better. Good Luck. PS The bits that are still growing will grow back so if you dont like it better grow it back!
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Comment by Eileen Simpson on January 24, 2009 at 5:42pm
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My story, was pretty much the same as yours. Sooner or later I knew it would happen then one day I knew it was time. It wasn't easy I did it alone without anyone else around. I needed the time to adjust, yes it was hard but I got out the scissors and cut away at what was left I put a towel in the sink and let it fall. Then tried a electric razor on the rest, finally I got out the shave cream and shaved it over the sink. Not to easy so I got smart and did it in the shower the next time. It hurt because I'd never shaved my head before, but it has become much easier now. Feelings of control and tears started to go away, I didn't see all the hair everywhere anymore and that in itself gave me a feeling of its' done final now. Then for a few weeks I wore a scarf or many different ones that I recieved and bought. I looked at wigs online forever before going to a shop in Spokane, that was a huge mistake. The gal owner of the shop had old dusty wigs it was really awful. I was so afraid to take off my scarf that I cried for hours about it. I then ordered a wig from TLC it came I tried it on in front of myself and a mirror :) it was ok then I was alone and no one could see me. I liked it and wore it for a bit, then I ordered another wig from them more like that was I use to wear my hair. No one can tell and it works for me.
It is a long journey and one that you have to ready for, yes it's just hair but it's your hair and it's important for you to be ready.
I wish you the very best and listen to no one but yourself.
Hugs
Eileen
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Comment by jennifer on February 18, 2009 at 3:39pm
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hey laurie, i just read this and thought i wanted to share with you my experience. when i was losing my hair, i couldn't stand watching it come out all over my pillow, on the floor, in the shower....so one day i shaved it....for some reason, shaving my head made it a reality that i wasn't going to have hair and it was even more difficult until i finally accepted it. i think for me, it sped up the acceptance process/healing....have you considered getting a really short, trendy type haircut? that might be a middle step for you?
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