My Wig History

I have been wearing wigs since I was 16 years old I thought I would talk you through each one so you might learn from my experience.

My first wig was an off the peg synthetic wig from a really old fashioned wig salon.  Even the man who fitted it looked like he was out of the 1970's!  I cried when he fitted it as it was just so awful… they kept bringing out more styles for me to choose from but each one was worse than the one before.   I went home with the wig in a bag and I never even wore it.

My mother and I then went to the hospital and I was given a prescription to take to A&A wigs in Edinburgh as I lived in Scotland at the time.  A&A were fantastic and the girl who did the fitting was really lovely, fashionable and young.  She fitted me with a wonderful human hair custom made wig that was so comfortable.  It was really long and the dark brown colour was gorgeous.  It took me a while to actually wear it out in public… I started just wearing it to the shops and walking the dog and finally I wore it to a party and I got so many compliments!  Ever since then I have not looked back and just got more interested in wigs.

I wore A&A wigs for a few years but then I moved to Manchester to go to University.  I was worried that I would have to keep traveling back to scotland for my wigs but I was put in touch with Hudsons who are part of the brand Trendco.  Although I did not find Hudsons until my current wig was on its last legs, so my once dark brown hair had lightened beyond recognition to an unsightly orange colour and had lots of things wrong with it!  My wig from them was the most eagerly awaited wig ever!  Unfortunately the NHS system in Manchester was not the same as in Scotland so I did not get a prescription and had to pay a whopping £2000 per wig.  I was a struggling student though so my family helped me out.  One wig tended to last 2 years if looked after well.  So once you divided it up over time it was about £80 a month… the same as what most women pay every 4-6 weeks to have their hair  cut and coloured.

I wore wigs from Hudsons for years!  I have such a petite head size that I could not buy off the peg wigs.  I needed the ones that were custom made to measure.  Every year I would order the same style, colour and length.  I daren't try anything too new or different as if I did not like the style it was a very costly mistake.  

I learnt that if I ordered the hair colour to be too light that by the time the following year came round the hair had lightened so much I was nearly blonde!  So I would always order my hair colour to be very dark brown so it just lightened naturally over the year and was much cheaper to maintain.  

I decided to try something new from a wig company called NU Hair Technology and that was just a disaster.  The whole base of the wig was made with PU and my head just got so hot that after wearing for half and hour it was sliding all over the place.  The way they knotted the hair into the PU at the base made the hair look a mess in seconds.  For expert wig makers I was just so disappointed in the wig and felt like I could have done a better job!  They would not even give me my £2000 back and just made me another one which still had the same problems as the first.  They were based in New York and I just kept calling them and eventually I found the whole thing so upsetting I gave up and wrote it off as a mistake that I would never make again!  

Once I set up Alopecia Beauty Tips and went on GMTV and was in the Daily Mail I had a few wig salons that gave me some made to measure wigs.  There was Optima hair in Birmingham… They were great but I felt I still preferred my Hudsons wigs but they were free so I tried to wear them as long as I could.  Then I had an offer to wear a wig from Hairoom in Leeds as they were developing a new wig they they wanted my feed back on.  This too was ok but still no where near as nice as my wigs from Husdons.

When I appeared in Marie Claire Trendco Provided an off the peg wig that Trevor Sorbie styled for me… it was so exciting as I decided to go for a short style as I wanted something different to my usual long hair.  It was fantastic.  I was just about to get married and was going on Honeymoon to lots of different places all over the world and this off the peg synthetic wig was so easy to look after.  It meant I just washed my hair quickly and it was dry and styled in minutes.  Perfect holiday hair. 

The next year I moved to a different area just outside manchester that provided real hair wigs on the NHS!  I was so excited and I was given a prescription that I could take with me to Hudsons.  I found it funny that all those years I purchased my wigs from them thinking there was probably something even better out there I should try… I tried loads of different things and found that what I had been wearing all along was the best.

Although I feel I have found the best I am still on the look out for an off the peg option.  My dream is to have a wig wardrobe with blonde, brunette, long, short, curly straight!  I would really like to find a company that can provide a perfect fit for my tiny head off the peg so I can have some fun with my hair.

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

I have my down days too...

I always try my best to be a positive role model for anyone coping with Alopecia.  Helping others with my Alopecia Beauty Tips website has been the driving force behind my own acceptance.  The response I get from so many people on a daily bases really motivates me to continue creating positive awareness, but it also helps me when I experience any negative feelings about my own Alopecia. 

For the majority of the time I am very accepting of my Alopecia, but sometimes I can go a bit quiet on my blog, Facebook or tweets… this is mainly due to being a busy working mummy, but recently this has also been to do with experiencing a few negative feelings.  I feel that I need to stay positive for everyone else, but to be positive when I am feeling down myself is hard.  I have recently come to the conclusion that many of you would love to hear that I too have my down days.  

I am a very positive and sunny person.  So when I am a bit down my Husband, Family and Friends naturally worry.  I don't like to worry people so sometimes I keep my feelings to myself. But this is no good as keeping feelings bottled up inside over a period of time makes everything worse.

The most important things in my life are my Family, Friends and my Hair!  I don't like to admit that but it is true.  It just feels so vain but it is important to me.  When my wig is looking its best I am at my most confident, but when my wig is not right I feel everything else suffers.   


I took a trip down memory lane and was looking back on the most positive points of my life so far and the wig I was wearing at the time... I realised that my wigs were not always the best and had their issues, but I was happy and didn't care.  


So I have come to realise it is not always my hair that is getting me down, but my Alopecia is first on my list to blame.  I think from now on when I get down about my wig or my Alopecia I am going to try and take a step back and ask myself is my Alopecia really to blame here?

I am sure anyone with a body image insecurity can relate to this.  I am not able to change how I feel but I know it is only natural to have these feelings.   The supportive e-mails that I get from all my followers has been so amazing over the past 5 years and I am sure I would have a lot more down days without you all by my side.



Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Being a new Mummy with Alopecia

I cannot put into words how much I love my baby girl.  She is amazing.  Yet, having her turned my whole world as I knew it upside down. Everyone warns you and you know life will change but nothing quite prepares you for it!!    I love love love being a mummy but I have had to learn how to live my life with only a spare moment here and there for myself.

I had always spent a great deal of time and effort to look my best as it made me feel more confident and it was also my way of dealing with Alopecia.  I used to have my hair looking perfect, full face of make up and false eye lashes every day!  As I got older I grew to be more excepting of my Alopecia and I have relaxed slightly with my morning beauty routine.  However, I could still spend ages getting ready!   I am very much your typical girly girl in that sense.   If I did not have the time to look my best my confidence would really suffer and I would not be Aimee. So it has always been a priority for me to have that time to myself.

In preparation for the birth of my baby girl I got myself a short style wig that my little babies clingy hands could not pull at and I also had my permanent make up... In the end the shorter wig style did not massively help as my baby girl was still pulling handfuls of it out.  All I can say is that this is a benefit of wearing a wig... my other mum friends inform me that this is rather painful!  Also, to be quicker in the morning I have not been applying wig tape and I kept on having visions of my hair being pulled off my head while sitting in cafe!

Worrying about silly little things is something that I have always done... I could have so many little concerns running through my head that sometimes I could not sleep!  I find talking them through with friends (or anyone who will listen to me!!) and writing lists have been my way of coping with this.  Since having my baby I have found that so many of the concerns about myself have gone out the window, only to be replaced with new ones for my baby mind you!  But still, I am so much less caught up in my self and my Alopecia.  Now I just want to make her proud of her Mummy and do the right thing by her.

Lots of people ask if I am worried about my baby girl developing Alopecia...  When she was born she had a very full head of hair and I was delighted! However,  I am not that worried as it is not a hereditary condition in mine or my husbands family.  If she were to develop Alopecia I would be a great role model for her and help her in a way that no one else ever could.

My ambition is to work with wigs and become a permanent make up artist to help other women with Alopecia.  This is my dream, but I am going to have to work hard to get there with a young baby in tow.  But for now I just want to enjoy my life with my husband and my baby.  Life is for living and not wishing it away to future aspirations, places and circumstances.

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Alopecia Hitting The Headlines Again!!

It has been an exciting week in the media for Alopecia I am delighted to see!

Not only did we have a fantastic children's program by the BBC called  "My Life Without Hair" which was about 2 inspirational kids Kim and Dan, who are both growing up without hair... It shows how they both find it difficult but they both realise that life really can be ok without hair.

I loved this programme and brought back so many memories for me as a child.  However the support network out there now is just amazing and I would have found life so much easier if this support existed 15 years ago.

Yesterday Joanna Rowell won gold at the cycling world cup, millions of TV viewers watched as she threw off her helmet and stood proudly on the podium to collect her medal. With her bald head uncovered, the 23-year-old Olympic hopeful had no idea she would become an overnight ‘poster girl’ for alopecia sufferers.  Indeed, after losing her long auburn locks aged just ten, she spent years covering her hair loss under hats and wigs.  But after finding her confidence through top-level cycling, she now feels at ease with her condition. In fact, she credits the alopecia for creating the determined and tough young woman she is today.

Joanna is such an inspirational lady... I love how she mentions that having Alopecia has made her more determined to succeed.  I know having Alopecia has made me the strong person I am today... I have taken a lot of mean comments and had my fair few strange looks over the years and now I just don't care.

It takes a while to come to terms with Alopecia and each person finds their own way to deal with it.  My way was to look and feel the best I could do by wearing the best wigs and having Permanent Make Up applied.  This is why I set up my website and this blog to help anyone else out there who is new to having Alopecia.

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how I have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Stamp Me Fabulous

It has been a while since I have been THIS excited about a product that could help us girls with our Alopecia!

Firstly, I was excited because a lady with Alopecia I very much admire called lady Georgia Van Cuylenburg contacted me about this product when I reached out about great products on Twitter. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6bT8FIbPI8 


Secondly, I was excited because I could instantly see how this product could help so many women who have lost their eyebrows and are not hugely confident about drawing them back in with pencil themselves.


Before I launch into why else I think this product is so fabulous I will tell you a little more about it.

The product is called Stamp Me Fabulous. It is a kit that comes with an eyebrow shaped stamp and some long wear ink and a few other tools too easily create natural, beautiful looking brows.

Although I have always been happy to draw in my brows, every now and then I would have an off day where I could not get my brows to look right!  This product would take away all of that as it applies beautiful looking brows every time!


I think this product would be perfect for...

• Anyone thinking about having their brows tattooed... I found going from no brows to full on tattooed brows quite a shock!  I think if i had been using this product for a while beforehand the transition would have been far easier.

• Children.  Children should not have permanent make up till they are 16 at the very youngest.  If you have a brow tattooed in when you are too young they could become the wrong shape for you in the future.  These are a fantastic substitute until you are older. 

• Anyone who wants permanent make up but can not afford it... Permanent make up although fantastic, is costly and worth saving up for.  But this is the next best thing!

• If you have only just lost your brows and you think that they could grow back as they so often do.  This is something you can use to make life easier...  

Watch this how to video!

Go to the website http://www.stampmefabulous.com/home.shtml for more information.


Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Review On Synthetic Heat Resistant Wig

So six months ago I got my hands on a Synthetic Heat Resistant wig.  It is called many different things by many retailers... but the description is the same. Last two Blog posts on this were called... http://alopeciabeautytips.blogspot.com/2010/11/diary-of-my-new-wig_27.html and the one before that was... http://alopeciabeautytips.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-wig.html

So you might want to read up on them before you read this to get all the details!

Right where was I?  Oh yes so six months later after having this wig and by popular demand I thought I would give you my review on it.

This is the Heat Resistant Synthetic
Wig the day I picked it up.

Now where to start? 
Definitely start with the positives as in my opinion this wig has been really fantastic!

• Looks and feels like real hair
• Colour does not fade
• So quick and easy to look after as you wash leave to dry and it looks great.
• You can use a hot brush on it to get rid of any frizz to the ends of the hair.
• It does not get greasy!?
• It is really light weight
• I would wash it once a week but you could probably go longer than this! It just does not seem to get dirty!?
• If it gets wet in the rain it just dries and looks fab.

Now it would not be a real review with some negatives would it!?

• I found that it tangled easily and did not feel as silky smooth as really good quality human hair.
• I was told that you could curl it and do all sorts but it really just lay flat as a pancake and I could not get much volume in it.  This was fine for me as that is how I wear it anyway
• After 6 months I am now having to use a hot brush on it every day to get the fizzes out so i would not say that this hair lasts as long as I thought.  Real hair lasts 2 years.

So in conclusion you can see the positives out weigh the negatives... I am looking forward to going back to a real hair wig after my 6 month trial but I will miss the time I saved washing/styling the heat resistant synthetic wig.

If you have any questions please fire away!

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Lets start at the very beginning!

Hi just in case you have not seen my blog or website before i wanted to introduce myself!

My name is Aimee and I have had Alopecia Universalis for the past 15 years.  Over the past 3 years I have been offering help and advise to women who have lost their hair from alopecia by running my own website and Blog on how to look and feel great if you too have lost your hair to Alopecia. 

The reason I am so passionate about helping other women is because when I was a young girl growing up I felt like I was the only one with Alopecia.  The information available was purely medical, very depressing to read and left me with little hope.   So I decided to create a positive place for other young girls/women with alopecia to realise they are not alone.

My website is packed full of useful tips on how to look good and feel great.  Today the help and support that is out there is so much better than it was 15 years ago but often women do not know where to go to find it...  I just like to keep an eye on what is going on so I can let you know about great places to get wigs, make up and useful products and just keep you generally informed.  

My way of doing this is trying everything and giving you my point of view on it...  I want to encourage you to go out and try everything too!  Have fun with it and you will then find what works best for you.  There is no one right or wrong solution as we all have our many many differences.  So don’t be shy and try!!! :o)

I am huge fan of Semi Permanent Make Up as I truly believe this paired with a fantastic wig can really transform the way you look and give you back your confidence.  My confidence has improved dramatically in the last 3 years from helping other women with Alopecia... I feel this has helped me come to terms with my own condition and has made me really proud of who I am.  I still want to wear the best wigs and have the best Semi Permanent Make Up but I am not hiding behind these things.  I just like to look fabulous and be proud of who I am. 

I am currently training to become a Semi Permanent Make Up artist with the famous Karen Betts.  I would like to continue supporting women who have lost their hair by focusing my work on recreating eyebrows and eyeliner to bring back features that are lost when your eyebrows/eyelashes really thin out or like me completely fall out.  

It will be fantastic to get out and meet other women with Alopecia and to be able to offer such a life changing treatment.

I have been having the treatment done for years and I am always shocked by the price of it.   Semi Permanent Make Up and the cost of a good wig can really set you back.   I would like to help women by offering a really great price for my Semi Permanent Make Up.

Over the next couple of months I would like to tell you more about my training with Karen Betts so you will feel confident that you are in good hands if you choose to have treatment.

Please find below my website details and a short film on the training that I will have with Karen Betts and when i chatted to Lorraine Kelly on the sofa!

 

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Alopecia Hair Growth While Pregnant

Over the past few years I have heard many woman with Alopecia have found their hair grows back while pregnant...

"The apparent link between hormonal fluctuations and Alopecia Areata has been recognized for some time (Sabouraud 1896, Sabouraud 1913). Most notable are the cases of Alopecia onset during late stage pregnancy. Women who already have Alopecia Areata can find that they have complete but temporary hair regrowth around the time of childbirth (Walker 1950). Puberty and menopause have also been suggested as a time of potential Alopecia Areata onset or remission". (http://www.belgraviacentre.com/alopecia/)

I always joked that I should give it a try :o)    But now after being married for just over a year and a half my Husband and I are pleased to announce we expecting our 1st baby!   I have not noticed any change to my hair yet but it is still early days so I will be keeping a close eye and I will let you know as my pregnancy progresses.

I recently talked to Prima Baby Magazine about my Alopecia....  Of course I do have a little worry at the back of my head that my baby will inherit my Alopecia, but there is nothing I can do so I try not to think about it.  I have since heard that a friend who has extreme Alopecia similar to me had her baby last month and the baby had a head full of hair!

The wig that I am wearing in this picture is from www.hairoom.co.uk Andrea Holden is based in Leeds.  She is the most wonderful woman and so talented.  Please read all about her on this link.  http://www.hairoom.co.uk/wigs/hair-loss-news-in-the-press

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Diary of my new wig...

I am helping the hair loss experts at www.hairoom.co.uk  to develop a new kind of wig.  I have mentioned this before in my Blogs, but I finally got my hands on it yesterday!  I am going to keep you up to date with how I get on....  Getting used to a new wig takes a while so I did not want to write one blog saying it's the best wig in the world just yet... With all wigs I am sure it will have its positives, negatives and new lessons to be learnt... So here goes!


Day One
Drove to Leeds to pick up my new hair...  My old wig was ready for the bin, it had holes in the base and the hair was so dry it just looked disgusting! So to say I was excited was an understatement.


Andrea Holden from Hairoom is such a wonderful women and I always enjoy visiting her.  She really listens to you and she is so passionate about her job that she has been doing for many many years.  I have learnt so many sneaky little tips from her over the past few months.  She is a world of knowledge!  


Andrea uses a razor to cut the wig to the style I like... scissors are a big no in her book when cutting a wig as you get a much better result with a razor.  She gave me some lovely layers and was super careful when cutting my fringe.  

As I have said before the hair is synthetic but it is heat resistant and looks just like real hair.  It is much easier to look after than real hair as it is much lighter in weight and has a lovely bounce to it.  After washing it remembers the style that you put it in originally and hair is beautifully smooth.


What i have found is that It needs a little help to get it back into the style you want after washing but no where near as much as when I had real hair.  You can use low heat hair appliances to do this. I have not worn many synthetic wigs in the past so I am learning how to look after it...  looks so like real hair I keep forgetting it is not real hair!?


I have bought hair straighteners that have a low temperature of 80 degrees to help style it.  http://www.boots.com/en/Toni-Guy-Mascolo-Digital-Straightener_1000236/ 
Another good tool she told me is a air brush styler to give it some body or some soft curls...
http://www.boots.com/en/Remington-Amaze-Airstyler-AS1201_1120483/


The base is totally breathable.. it has a small bit of silicone in certain areas around the base that clings to your head but I feel that I still need a little wig tape to keep me feeling confident.  It also has a lace front and looks fantastic... It looks like hair growing from my scalp!

Photo does not do this justice!!

As the hair is not real hair I need to look after it with wig shampoo and wig conditioner.  I also need to spray it with fabric oil every day to help with any friction that may happen.  Best thing is that if friction does occur you can use straighteners on a low heat to smooth it out again!

So far I am in love with this wig but it is early days!  I will keep you up to date with how my new wig and I get on so stay tuned!


Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Exfoliation... I never knew!?

In all the years I have had Alopecia, I never realised just how important exfoliation was until I spoke to a very knowledgeable lady in the hairloss industry called Andrea Holden.

Me Looking Shocked!! :o)

You need to keep your head exfoliated daily with a gentle facial scrub to remove any dead skin cells.  If any hair does want to grow exfoliating means the hairs will not have to get through anything and will have more change of growth.  Also, while you are massaging the facial wash into your head you get blood circulating to the surface of the skin which boosts your hair follicles!


Another good reason to exfoliate your head is that it makes wig tape work better as your head will be squeaky clean and wig tape will cling to this.  If you wear a wig that is designed to cling to your head this will also make it cling so much more.  


My head has always had a slight greasy feel about it after a few hours after washing, which makes my wig slip!  So after I heard this I just wanted to run home and give my scalp a good deep exfoliation treatment! 


A great exfoliation product is from Lush called Mask of Magnaminty.  This used once a week will have your head in tip top condition! This is great for all skin types as it is really gentle...

This was recommended to me by Andrea Holden.  She is an expert in the hair replacement industry at the Hairoom salon. (www.hairoom.co.uk)

An interesting article I have found says below...


"A properly done scalp massage can increase blood circulation to the hair follicles, increase relaxation, decrease stress, condition the scalp, and boost the strength of the hair roots. The kneading pressure applied by massage warms the skin and opens up blood vessels to increase flow and boost circulation. Increased circulation means that the cells of the hair follicle will receive more of the nutrients necessary to optimal hair growth function. The rubbing motion promotes relaxation and feels good, thus increasing the production of "feel good" chemicals that work to lower levels of stress hormone in the body. Lower stress levels allow your organs to function more efficiently, thus boosting your hair follicle's ability to grow hair." (www.hairlossexpert.com)


To read more click this link http://www.hairlossexpert.co.uk/Can-scalp-massage-stimulate-hair-growth.html


Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the Little Princess Trust Charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Dermatologist Appointment

Today I went for an appointment with the dermatologist, first appointment that I have had in over 5 years... 

15 years ago when I first developed Alopecia I went to the doctors and tried every cream they suggested to help my hair re-grow, but after nothing worked I decided to concentrate on looking the best I could with wigs and make up.  I gave up with the doctors as I felt they could do nothing for me.

With 1 in every 100 people developing Alopecia at some stage in their life,  I wanted to go through the experience again so that I know what others are experiencing when going to their GP or Dermatologist.   That way I can still understand the upset, frustrations and awkward situations we all have to go through. 

I had my 1st appointment with my GP mid September.  We talked about my Alopecia and she thought it was best that I was referred to a Dermatologist.  2 months later I got my appointment.... Today! 

It was a stressful start... I got there nice and early and could I find a parking space!? No.  Illegally parked I ran into my appointment.  Take a tip from me and turn up mega early for an appointment and have plenty of change on for your pay and display.  Seems a bit silly to mention this but it added stress to an already difficult situation.

I got called into my appointment and sat and discussed my Alopecia with the dermatologist about how I had no hair all over my body... No eyelashes, eyebrows, arms legs... Yes all over my body do we really need to go on!?  I always find that part rather humiliating. 

Next part was for me to discuss what I wanted him to do for me.  I explained that I was not really interested in any treatments as I had tried everything unless there was some new cure?  He said there was nothing new but he thought that in the next 5 years time there might be something new to try. I wont hold my breath!

I told him my visit today was because I wanted to know what I was entitled to in the wig department?  I also wanted to know if I could have a repeat wig prescription so that I would not have to keep coming back to the hospital every year.   After 15 years of having Alopecia i did not see it growing back anytime soon.

As my Alopecia is very severe, Alopecia Universalis, he told me he could offer me 2 wigs a year and that the Orthotics department would arrange this for me.  This is the department that arrange for you to get your wig and will provide you with information on where to go and what you are entitled to etc.

I explained to him that as I had long term hair loss I needed real hair as this lasts much longer.  I also explained that as my head was very small off the peg wigs did not fit me and that in the past i had paid to have made to measure wigs.    He added this to my prescription but said he was not sure if I could have this but would put it on the prescription anyway to help.

As for the repeat prescription he explained that this was not possible... This is a policy across the board.  If doctors gave a repeat prescriptions to everyone then some "not so nice people" would take advantage of this and sell the on drugs for example if they did not need them anymore.  This has happened in the past, so for this reason patients need to come back every year to collect the prescription. 

What he did do for me was book me an appointment for the following year so that I did not need to go through the whole ordeal of going to see my GP first to get referred again.

Then I was sent to the Orthotic department to find out where I was to get my 2 wigs from and how much the prescription charge would be.  I was told that I needed to contact one of 3 wig companies and provided a list and the prescription charge would be £60 for one wig so £120 for both... the man only mentioned synthetic hair and not real hair.  I was worried that now meant I was not entitled to real hair....  

I was pleased to see that one of the wig companies on the list was one that I knew.  I took all the details from the Orthotics Department and rang the wig company straight away.  She told me that the guy I saw was new and did not know the the system fully.  If I rang back and spoke to the woman on the department and told her that I had always worn real hair she would be able to offer better advice. 

I contacted her and as it said real hair on my prescription I could now go the the wig supplier and order 2 real hair wigs.  Only thing was that now the prescription charge had gone up to £230 per wig... £460.  But that is a lot less than the £4000 that it would have cost if I bought them myself!

Unfortunately what I have been offered is not the same across the country and it can be a postcode lottery as to what others might be entitled to. 

Please click on the below websites that have up to date information that you can follow.  I hope that by telling you my experience this will help you whether you are about to go for an appointment yourself and are now more informed or like me you have not bothered with the NHS for some years... It may be worth a shot!


http://www.hairflairdesigns.co.uk/nhswigs.html

http://www.cancerhaircare.com/department/visit_your_local_nhs_wig_supplier/

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Top 5 Tips on Applying False Eyelashes

I used to wear false eyelashes everyday, but once I got my Semi Permanent Make Up (eyebrows and eyeliner) I was a lot more confident and felt I did not need to wear them anymore.  After a break from wearing them I could not get back into the habit of fiddling about with them again every morning.  So when I found out that some people attached their eyelashes with a strong glue that lasts an entire week I just had to give it a try! 

From my years of practice before I started I made sure I had all the tools I needed...  Here are my top 5 tips on what you need!

1. Dressing table and seat with a good mirror and light – You need to be relaxed and comfortable and remember to practice a few times 1st before you plan to go anywhere in them! 

2. Strong Glue – this is the secret to eyelash application.  Some of the glues out there that come with your lashes are terrible!  Make life easier for yourself and get some super sticky glue.  I got mine from www.headcovers.com and it is called ultimate hold.  It can last up to a week!!

4. Small little scissors to trim lashes down – if you want your lashes to look natural you will probably need to trim them down so they are not too long.   Small scissors mean that you can be more delicate while trimming.  Try and cut at an angle to stop you getting a blunt edge and leave some of the lashes longer than others.

3. Eyelash applicator Tool  -  This tool is brilliant... It really helps with the positioning of the lash so you get it in the right place 1st time with out getting glue on your fingers.  I also got this from www.headcovers.com

5. Last but not least the lashes!  For a natural look get lashes with a natural growth pattern and no big gaps between the little hairs.  Here are the two that I have recently bought.  When they arrive they are quite long and I just trim them slightly at the sides and the length of the hairs.

If you wear the false lashes for a week you do need to be a little careful with them when sleeping and washing your face.  Don’t burrow your head into the pillow if you can help it and try not to get your eyes too wet.  I wash my face and leave my eyes and just use a cotton bud dipped in make up remover to clean away any make up.

Have fun practicing :o)

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Henna Pen

When I was in London last week at the Parliamentary Briefing I met a hair stylist who also works with wigs.  He said that lots of people with hair loss were using the “Henna Pen” and that it was the next best thing!  I thought I  just had to give it a try and let you know what I thought.  It arrived yesterday from (http://www.hennacosmetics.com/index.htm).   But i have just found it on Amazon for cheaper! (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Henna-Eyes-Temporary-Eyeliner-Make/dp/B000GAWBOW)

I have tried the Henna Pen twice now as I went home and wiped my make up off last night and tried it and then tried it out again this morning. 

On the back of my hand this product seemed like it was going to be brilliant as it really does not smudge.  However,  it is not as waterproof as it claims.  Also, it should be applied before eye shadow or any make up, I would normally apply eyeliner last and it should not be applied on the inside of the eye which I also like to do.

I don’t really think this product works so well for my eyes as I like to work my eyeliner into the waterline and do a bit of blending but the Henna Pen can not do that as it just disappears with the moisture from your eye and once it it dry you can not blend it.

If you wear false lashes and don’t need to draw into the water line then I think this product could work well as it is very delicate and would not disturb the lash too much.... 

What I do think it will work well for is eyebrows.  The little wispy brush on the end will make great little hair like strokes.  It is quite clever as it has a medium size felt tip end on one side and a wispy thin tip on the other end.  I have semi permanent make up on my eyebrows but when this starts to fade which it does this would be a perfect little pick me up for them until my next top up was due. 

I ordered the coco brown colour which is a great colour for my brows but I would have ordered the liquorish black if I were to use it as it as eyeliner.  To make the colour darker the product can be layered with a few coats which intensifies the colour.

For £12 plus postage and packing  (£14.50) I think I am going to stick to the Bobbi Brown Gel eyeliner at £15 as this lasts me for well over a year and I bet this henna pen would not last more than a few months before drying out.  But I do think it is a useful tool for my eyebrows.  I would like to try the black pen too but not sure if I want to spend another £14.50.

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

My New Hair Parlimentary Briefing

Yesterday I attended a parliamentary briefing with the charity My New Hair to raise awareness of hair loss issues for cancer and alopecia patients.

I met with many local MP’s, other My New Hair patients, hair professionals and nurses.  I found out more about the issues faced by other people who lose their hair through medical reasons or from cancer treatment.

The event took place at the House of Commons on October 27th and called for improvements in NHS wig services for men, women and children affected by medical hair loss. Services vary in quality and patient experience differs widely across the country.

Many of the MP’s Said...

“I am saddened that many patients who suffer hair loss as a result of cancer treatment or other medical condition are still not receiving the support that they need from the NHS.  Hair loss causes significant distress to patients; the NHS must work harder to ensure that wig services are organised in the interest of the patient and include good quality wigs as well as appropriate emotional and practical support. By training hair professionals to understand the needs of patients and to help them to find a style that works for them, My New Hair is making a big difference to patients’ lives. “

My New Hair was founded by acclaimed hairdresser Trevor Sorbie M.B.E inspired by his own experience helping a family member during cancer treatment. Trevor now dedicates all of his salon time to offering advice and a wig customisation service to clients suffering medical hair loss.

Says Trevor “This is the beginning of what will be a challenging but exciting journey with the NHS – we have helped set the precedent and encourage the rest of the country to follow our lead. My New Hair has given me a whole new dimension to job satisfaction, using my skills to give something back to society and do something truly meaningful. It isn’t about hair, its psychological medicine for women who are suffering hair loss through illness.”

The charity provides services directly to people suffering medical hair loss and trains an independent national network of hairdressers to cut and style wigs making them more personal and natural looking.

I was really honored to be part of something that has effected me for the past 15 years and to feel like I have now played a part in helping to improve this NHS service.

I personally have not used the NHS for years.  My previous experience was having to wait for months to get a dermatologist appointment, then once I got the appointment I would just be given a voucher to get 2 synthetic wigs that I had to pay a £60 prescription charge for.

As I suffer from long term hairloss I like to wear a wig that has a very thin base that is more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time and I also I like to use real hair in my wig as this is more realistic and longer lasting.

In the past i have felt the NHS could not offer me any help with my long term hairloss.  Hopefully this is the start of great things to come!

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'

Top 5 eyeliner tips

I have been using gel eyeliner for a long time now and although I have tried many other kinds... pencil, liquid etc. Gel eyeliner is the best if you have no eyelashes and are trying to define your eye in a natural way.  Using this eyeliner also means that you can work into the water-line of your eye easily, which can really help to define your eyes that bit more.

My top 5 tips for gel eye-liners

1 Find a gel eyeliner that glides over the skin of your eyelid easily.  The eye is delicate and you don't want to pull or press too hard on the skin.  You can try a tester on the back of your hand just to see how it goes on.  Try doing a light wiggly line and imagine that it is your eye.  Avoid ones that are too dry.

2 Use the right kind of brush with a good length handle on it. Otherwise you are not going to create the best effect and it will make life difficult if you use some of the piddly brushes that just come free with your product.

3 Look after your brush that you use to put the eyeliner on.  As you are using it every day and putting it right inside your eye it needs to be clean.  I keep wet wipes with my beauty kit and clean brushes with these and once a week or so i use soap and water to thoroughly clean them.

4 When you're using your gel eyeliner make sure you always put the lid back on tightly.  You don't want it drying out.  If the eye liner is getting to the end of the pot and had dried out a bit and does not glide as easily then get the end of your make up brush and just stir the remains.

5  And finally my best of all the tips! I was rubbish when I first started wearing this kind of eyeliner.  I had such a wobbly hand!  My best tip is to just do what you can by putting the eyeliner on and then for your mistakes just get a cotton bud,  dip it into some eye-make up remover and just delicately edit away any mistakes.  Easy!

Two of my favourite Gel Eyeliners are... Elf Cream Eyeliner and Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner.

Elf is a new brand that you can buy online and is only about £4.  I think it is really good but I have to say I still love the Bobbi Brown version which is about £15.  As long as you look after the eyeliner it lasts ages!  It glides on really nicely and I find that it has a nice matt finish where as the Elf one has a shinyness to it. I also like the dark brown Bobbi Brown colour that I go for.  Whereas the Elf has black and then the next colour down for me is too light.  I also found that the Bobbi Brown eyeliner stays on for longer and the pigment of colour is much stronger.

Above you can see me before with only my Semi Permanent Eye Make Up on.  This is great on its own but I like to add eyeliner to this as it really intensifies the look. 

Here you can see how I have added eyeliner to the corners and the waterline of my eye by starting at the inner corner of my eye gradually getting thicker to the outer corner of my eye.

Please visit my website www.alopeciabeautytips.com where you can see how my story has been in the Daily Mail, GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, Marie Claire and how i have worked with the little princess trust charity and Trevor Sorbies Charity 'My New Hair'