To Wear or Not to Wear: Wigs and Head Coverings

Growing up with alopecia, wigs were always a huge part of my life. I remember going to get my first wig – a short, brown synthetic piece that was unbelievably itchy. From that point on, I wore a wig every day of my life for many years. Wigs helped me to feel safe. They helped me blend in with everyone else. They were also pretty inconvenient at times – like when I was too scared to ride a rollercoaster growing up because I thought my wig would fly off or when I opted out of swimming or other fun activities out of fear. Looking back, I can’t help but wish that I could’ve let myself experience more and let myself be free of judgement from others. Easier said than done.

I think wigs and other hair pieces can, without a doubt, be life saving. Not everyone is ready to be out as a bald person in public. Wigs can save us from uncomfortable questions or staring from others. Wigs are also incredibly fun! You can easily switch up your look with wigs and express yourself in new and unique ways. There are also so many options when it comes to hair pieces – from full medical cap wigs that’ll stick on your head no matter what you’re doing to hat fall wigs that are meant to be worn with a hat or scarf. Whether you have the budget for a full human hair lace front wig or if you’re on a budget and want to get a synthetic wig to try out, there are endless options for wigs now, which is a long way from where we started!

About 10 years ago, I started to transition away from wigs to scarves. I found that head scarves were a great way for me to still find personal expression, but without feeling like I was “hiding” my baldness. As someone with alopecia areata, I’m mostly bald, but still have patches of hair on my head, making it more comfortable for me to still wear something on my head. That’s just my personal preference, but I’ve found that scarves have been an amazing solution for me. They’re much more affordable than wigs and I get to let my unique alopecian beauty shine! Now, I can still wear a wig when I want to, but most of the time you’ll find me in a scarf.

Whether you choose to wear a wig, wear a scarf, a hat, or to just go completely bald, it’s up to you to decide what makes you feel the most comfortable and the most like yourself. What you feel best in might change depending on the day and that’s okay! You have no obligation to pick one thing and stick with it. You might be like me and start off wearing wigs and then, as you become more comfortable with yourself, transition to something else. Wearing a wig or a head covering doesn’t have to mean you’re hiding, it’s about how you feel on the inside that matters. You’re the one living your own life and it’s up to you how you choose to express yourself!

If you want more information about wigs or head coverings, I offer specialized sessions to talk about this exact topic. Feel free to reach out to me at sarah@embraceyoucoaching.com!