Thinning hair

You are spot on GSM. I would have had to find a way as I have a family.

I can understand exactly why Kate feels the way she does despite her wonderful hair system, Poppy. She pays less than I did when I had my highlights done regularly (I have now accepted the grey). I’m sure she knows exactly how she would feel if she couldn’t afford it (I suspect she would no longer be here) so that was rather unnecessary. In her position I have no doubt that I would make huge sacrifices in order to afford it if I had to.

I'll try to post one Poppy. Yes it's expensive. I pay £83 every 6 weeks to have it taken off and conditioned and my scalp conditioned (which is what I would probably pay a hairdresser anyway) and then £1800 every 18 months for replacement systems. I save monthly for it. Yes I'm lucky I can afford it.

Sorry posted too soon. Imagine how you would feel if you couldn’t afford this system. I’m sure there are thousands of women out there who would love to be able to afford it. Me being one of them!

Kate would you mind posting a picture of your hair again? I haven’t seen it and find it very hard to understand why you still feel the way you do although you now have a ‘system’ which by all accounts works brilliantly (although very expensive, £3000 plus yearly?).

Whitewavemark2

I do appreciate that losing one’s hair is something that most people would find very difficult.

But what I find difficult to understand is that one’s hair defines one as an individual.

Surely you are so much more than your hair?

You find it difficult to understand because it hasn't happened to you.

I'm not particularly vain (nothing to be vain about, frankly!) and would have said I would just wear wigs - pink ones, purple bobs, dreadlocks, black, long silken ones.

The reality now is that just some plain old mousey hair would be lovely for me.

Whitewavemark2

I do appreciate that losing one’s hair is something that most people would find very difficult.

But what I find difficult to understand is that one’s hair defines one as an individual.

Surely you are so much more than your hair?

People are so much more than their legs, their breasts.
They are are a sum of parts, but almost without fail, women, when told they bneed chemo will ask "Will I lose my hair?".

(Cue someone popping up to say they most certainly didn't care about their hair)

Yes, I remember it, too.
Plus Kate herself has great skin and looks youthful.

I absolutely get it. I doubt there are many women to whom their hair isn’t important. I remember Kate posting a picture of herself and her hair is really fabulous. Whatever she pays for it, it’s worth every penny.

I do appreciate that losing one’s hair is something that most people would find very difficult.

But what I find difficult to understand is that one’s hair defines one as an individual.

Surely you are so much more than your hair?

Kate thank you.My topper is ready for collection and I have been putting off collecting it.
After reading your post I have just messaged to arrange collection on Thursday.

Yes MissA. A woman, who had a thick mop of hair, said to me once 'For goodness sake it's only hair'. I thought 'Tell me that if it happens to you'.

People say to me "Your hair was always fine, though", as if I should be ok with the frizzy strands I have left, along with the threadbare scalp.

My hair has always been thin but it’s almost non existent on top now. It does make me miserable and I wear hats or headbands all of the time. I do have a couple of wigs but I’ve never worn them as they make me hot and itchy. I’d have it cut short but my hairdresser charges me the same for a trim as she does for people with lots of hair and short hair means more regular trips to the hairdresser. Minoxidil did seem to stop it getting worse for many years but I stopped using it for a while ( it’s so expensive) and it did fall out unfortunately.

It particularly was done to females.... sigh...I suppose dentures were seen as the new "must have", at one time.

PinkCosmos

MissAdventure

I think the repercussions of removing all of someone's teeth weren't considered years ago.

I have even heard of parents going along with it as a 'treat' for their children/teens.

A work friend of mine had all her teeth taken out as as 21st birthday present - to herself!! She would be 76 now.

I think it was quite common back in the 1950's-60's.

It was. They told us that on a visit to Beamish. It made women more desirable for marriage as prospective husbands wouldn’t have to worry about having to pay for dental treatment.

MissAdventure

I think the repercussions of removing all of someone's teeth weren't considered years ago.

I have even heard of parents going along with it as a 'treat' for their children/teens.

A work friend of mine had all her teeth taken out as as 21st birthday present - to herself!! She would be 76 now.

I think it was quite common back in the 1950's-60's.

Oh Susan. I'm sorry you are going through this. I am guilty of self pity and 'poor me' thinking I'm the only one. I think you will be surprised how good the topper looks and feels. When I was told that my hair system was ready for fitting, I was afraid to go for fear of what it would look like. I even went on holiday to Venice with my horrible balding head while my system sat in the salon. I was so wrong. I would challenge anyone to know it's not my own hair. I hope this thread has helped you in some way and I wish you luck.

Yes, honestly, Kate.
I suppose the nearest equivalent today would be paying for a teen to have veneers done.

I worked as a dental nurse when I left school, and my boss (the dentist) told me this, so I researched it.

Kate I am so sorry for what you have been through.You have my total sympathy 💐
I am at the start of hair loss and it is never far from my thoughts.It is ruling my emotions at the moment.
It started with a medical error which caused the initial hair loss.Dr said I needed to see a consultant but 3 year wait on NHS so I paid to see a consultant.Now need biopsies from my head.Could be something sinister but may not be🤷‍♀️hoping to get the biopsies done back on the NHS if not will have to pay.
I have had an appointment to be fitted for a topper which I honestly don’t know what I will feel about when I get it but will have a nasty looking head after the biopsies.
Depending on the results of the biopsies the consultant will know if he can prevent the hair loss getting worse or not.The hair loss won’t grow back due to scarring.
Sorry for the long post.The first time I have said what is going on to anyone outside family and close friends.
Kate and Whitewave in different ways you will both inspire and help me to deal with this horrible situation.Thank you.

Really?!!!

I think the repercussions of removing all of someone's teeth weren't considered years ago.

I have even heard of parents going along with it as a 'treat' for their children/teens.

Why indeed crazyH. I had two rotted teeth (parental neglect). The dentist told her it would be better if he took them all out. She always did what medical people told her to do. I believe I was an experiment or something for that dentist.

I agree there are worse things - far worse obviously but this was a final straw for me after many, many straws.

Kate49 - just curious and appalled - why would your mother do that - have all your teeth taken out !! Perhaps the trauma of that, led to your hair-loss .
MissA - hair loss can’t be much fun