Women Find A Winning Solution In Dealing With Hair Loss

“When I first started dealing with my hair loss, I wore wigs. However, it took me a lot to get comfortable with wearing wigs, because they could come off. In the beginning, I did experience a few embarrassing moments when my wig came off unexpectedly,” she said.

After dealing with alopecia for three years, Anderson is currently having injections that are causing her to see some hair regrowth.

Ferrell who tends to experience hair loss during the Spring of year has learned some work around to cover her baldness.

“Fortunately my hair is long enough that when I am in an outbreak, I can pull my hair back in a ponytail. However, I recently took a leap of faith and cut my hair into a shoulder length bob cut. This allows me to style it in a way that the hair loss isn’t obvious,” said Ferrell.

Tiyiesha Morgan, a hair loss practitioner, services clients in California and Texas. With over 6.8 million Americans dealing with hair loss, Morgan believes that hair loss is a silent epidemic.

“The main difference is that hair loss is unlike some other conditions, it affects your outer appearance. Women can go into depression and experience anxiety after dealing with the effects of hair loss,” said Morgan.

Morgan also believes that there should be more research done on the impact of hair loss in African American Women. She supports recent efforts like those of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who has alopecia, advocating for Medicare to cover the cost of wigs for those who have lost their hair from disease and treatment.

After dealing with alopecia, Ferrell admits that she has had her own personal awakening, “I used to think that my hair was my best quality. I now realize that you are not defined by your hair.”

Although there is no cure for alopecia, some forms of the condition can be reversible. Dr. Amerson recommends that women seek help as soon as they notice hair loss so that they can have the best possible outcome from the condition.

“Don’t call your girlfriends or don’t go to YouTube University. You need to go to someone with board certified credentials,” stresses Dr. Amerson, adding that some of the warning signs that something is going on with your hair are: strains of hair on your vanity, substantial amounts of hair in your brush or strains of hair in the shower.

For so many, hair loss is no laughing matter.