In this video, Emily Alice Smith opens up about her journey with alopecia and shares valuable insights that she wishes she knew when first diagnosed! Watch the video or read her top tips that she wishes she had known.
Insights from Emily Alice Smith
“When you first get diagnosed with alopecia, I understand it’s a daunting thing. It’s not natural. And to lose all your hair is really, really impacting on your life.
Here are some things I wish I knew before I got alopecia that will help you and to help you process life with alopecia.”
1. Doctors don’t know as much as you think they do.
“Doctors have so much to learn as they train as a doctor. And hair loss is probably only a fragment of what they need to know as a doctor. Therefore, when you go and see a GP, they may say to you things like, your hair is going to grow back. Don’t worry, stress less. And I can’t stress enough to you how much you’ve just got to take what they say with a pinch of salt and rather trust experts such as myself who have gone through it, as opposed to the doctor. Your hair might not grow back and that’s unfortunately just a subject of alopecia, but it also might. So just be careful and just take everything that they say on the chin because you never know with alopecia what your body will do.”
2. Please remember that you’re not alone with alopecia.
“There are so many people like myself that are going through it and have gone through it, and you’re really not alone. I was on board a cruise ship when I started my alopecia journey. And when I came off the cruise ship, I was brought into the world of people that are going through it. Men, women, children of all ages are going through what you’re going through today.”
3. Wig brands want to help you find confidence and the best wig for you.
“For instance, Joseph wigs have got a range of wigs that will really help to make your confidence come back. And, if you buy a wig and it’s not the right fit, it’s too long, it doesn’t look natural. Most of the wig brands will be happy for you to send that wig back and you can buy a new one to make sure it’s right for you.”
4. People don’t notice as much as you think.
“I know at the beginning of my journey, and you’re probably feeling the same way, is that everyone knows that you’ve got alopecia, everyone knows what you’re going through, and everyone knows that you haven’t got any hair on your head. The truth is, everyone’s got something going on in their life and they’re just selfish and just getting on with their own life. So please remember that they really don’t care. They’ve got their own stuff going on and just live your life and adjust your life with alopecia.”
5. You’re not going to know everything about alopecia at the start of your journey (and that’s ok).
“I’m five years on in my journey with alopecia and I’m still learning things today. I’m learning different wig brands are coming up. I’m learning what styles I like. I’m learning different ways of putting my makeup and my brows on. There is so much to learn. So don’t fret when you first get diagnosed with alopecia that you need to know it all now. And you need to perfect styling that wig and putting that wig on because it’s simply not the case. And there is so much out there that can help you improve your day-to-day life with alopecia.”
Speak to us!
“If you’re just starting your alopecia journey and you need help, please contact us. Either contact myself (Emily) or Joseph Wigs because we’re here to help and really want the best for you.”
Connect with Emily on social media:
Instagram & TikTok: @alopeciadiaries_
