Yolanda’s Alopecia Journey

Yolanda has written to us to share her Alopecia hair loss journey in the hopes of inspiring other women and men leading up to Alopecia Awareness Month. Yolanda’s native language is Spanish so we have provided a google translate version for you. We hope you find inspiration in Yolanda’s new found confidence living with Alopecia and loving life and her wigs. Here is Yolanda’s Alopecia Journey.

In Yolanda own words…..

Todos sabemos que perder el cabello no es fácil. 

Se sufre mucho por ello y es un momento verdaderamente duro, pero con ayuda, se supera. Yo tengo alopecia areata universal, desde hace 6 años, y hablándote de mi experiencia. Primero empecé perdiendo mis cejas, no entendía que pasaba, y poco a poco tuve huecos en la frente cada vez más grandes.

Hasta que el dermatólogo me dio el diagnóstico pasaron dos meses. Y fueron dos meses de incertidumbre y nervios, no sabia que pasaba. Siempre viví muy apegada a mi cabello, incluso estudié peluquería.

Mi pelo para mi era muy importante, me preocupaba tanto por el que me condicionaba a la hora de salir, de disfrutar con plenitud de la vida. Nunca mojaba mi pelo en la playa o en la piscina, y pasaba mucho calor por ello. Cuando perdí mi pelo empecé a disfrutar, voy a esos sitios sin peluca, nado y sumerjo mi cabeza y disfruto como nunca lo había hecho.

Cambio de look cuando quiero, y no me preocupo de nada más. Un día tengo el pelo rubio y al otro día moreno, largo o corto. Pruebo tendencias y soy feliz. Las pelucas son un accesorio más en mi vida. Se puede hacer de una situación dura algo divertido.

Cuando veas caer tu pelo en la almohada, créeme que se el dolor que sientes, pero pasará, centra tu atención en todo lo bonito que te rodea. No permitas que perder el cabello, te haga parar de vivir.

With the use of Google translate….

We all know that losing hair is not easy. You suffer a lot for it and it is a really hard time. But with help, you can overcome it. I have Alopecia universalis and I hope you feel better after reading to my story. I started losing my eyebrows first, I did not understand what was happening to me. Little by little, I developed bigger patches near my forehead.

Two months passed before the dermatologist gave me the diagnosis, and told me I had alopecia. It was two months of uncertainty and nerves, and I did not know what was going to happen. I was always very attached to my hair, I even studied hairdressing so my hair was very important to me. I found it hard to go out and fully enjoy life.

Eventually, I started to enjoy myself. When I first lost my hair I never let my hair get wet at the beach, and the wig made me very hot! Now, I go places without a wig, I swim and even submerge my head in water. I change my look when I want, and I don’t worry about anything else. One day I have blonde hair, the next day dark, long or short. I love trying out now trends!

Wigs are one more accessory in my life. This was a tough situation fo me, and I have turned it into something fun. When you see your hair fall on the pillow, believe me I know the pain you feel, but it will pass. Focus your attention on everything beautiful around you. Don’t let losing your hair make you stop living.

Here are some of Yolanda’s recent looks.

We hope that you are inspired by Yolanda’s Alopecia Journey. You can continue to follow Yolanda’s story here on instagram @chikiyilla.

September is Alopecia Awareness month, and we will be showcasing many inspirational journeys here on HairWeHaveOn. Stay tuned to Everything Alopecia for new posts.