My Journey

A Story of Female Alopecia and Confidence…

I can say that my story began when I realised that there was something wrong with my hair when I was 21 (I am in my forties now)… but, in fact, it wasn’t me who realised it… One day at work, after lunch, I was sitting in the sun with my colleagues when someone asked, “What’s that on your head?” At that time, I had no idea what they were talking about, and before I could even respond, the conversation moved on. But I didn’t. That moment stayed with me—a nagging feeling that something was wrong.

As soon as I could, I found a mirror. At first, I couldn’t see anything unusual. Days passed, and then it happened. I caught myself in the mirror in bright daylight, and the sun reflected off my head, revealing something I never expected to see: my scalp shining through near my forehead. It was subtle but undeniable.

I panicked. I started using special shampoos immediately, but I couldn’t let go of my beloved hair dyes and straighteners. I adored my red hair—it felt like me. As time went on, the hair loss worsened. I became so insecure, convinced people were silently judging me. I imagined their thoughts: Can’t she see it? How can she go out like that? It ate away at my confidence.

I sought help from a therapist and started using minoxidil. But I still couldn’t give up the chemicals—dyes and straighteners felt tied to my identity. Ironically, I was already losing myself. I’d gone from being confident and outgoing to feeling insecure and even depressed.

For years, I told no one about how I felt. I didn’t want to seem dramatic or shallow. After all, I’d think, There are people battling cancer and serious illnesses. Hair loss isn’t a big deal, right? I should be grateful for my health. That guilt silenced me.

By the time I was 29, my hair loss became aggressive, and my strands were so thin I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I sought out specialists, spent a fortune on advanced treatments, and even considered a transplant. Back then, though, I struggled to find a doctor who would perform the procedure on women. They told me it wasn’t as effective as for men—something about how the surrounding hair would fall out, leaving no real improvement. (I’d love to hear if that’s still the case today!)

I’ll never forget the day a doctor scanned my scalp. He took photos, used a magnifying lens to examine it, and gave me the diagnosis: genetically inherited alopecia. He compared my scalp to a ‘normal’ one, and what I saw scared me. My hair loss was much worse than I’d thought. I broke down in tears.

But that day wasn’t all bad. The doctor taught me something life-changing: while my hair might never be voluminous, and it could thin further with age, there were ways to feel confident and beautiful. He told me, “No one leaves here crying,” and dusted brown hair fibres over my scalp. In an instant, the bald spots disappeared. I laughed through my tears, amazed by the transformation.

That moment sparked a turning point. Since then, I’ve embraced strategies to manage alopecia while building my self-esteem. I’ve used products that add volume, hair fibres that camouflage bald spots, and hair extensions that help me feel like me again.

And that’s why I’m here. To share my story with women who feel like they’re going through this alone. You’re not. I want to tell you about the treatments that have worked for me and how we don’t need to spend a fortune to feel beautiful and confident.

Dealing with hair loss, with alopecia… is a journey! One of challenges, discoveries, and reinvention. Together, we can navigate The Hairpath and remind ourselves that beauty isn’t just about hair. It’s about how we adapt, create, and rediscover our confidence along the way.

Lots of love,
Kelly