Azzurra’s Story
Can you tell us something about yourself?
My name is Azzurra, I’m 21 years old and I’ve been living in Modena for three years. I’m a university student, I attend the Food Chemistry course in Parma. I love to do sport even if it’s been a year now that I can’t apply myself as I would like because of my studies, but as soon as I can I try to be in the open air in the middle of nature, to walk, run, clear my mind.
Do you have plans for the future?
I really hope to graduate, find a job that satisfies me and have a family tomorrow.
Can you tell us about your typical day?
My day starts early. I prepare myself carefully, put on “my hair” and go out. In the morning I go to class and in the afternoon to study in the library. During the weekend I almost always go out with my friends for drinks or dinner.
When did you start losing your hair? Did it happen quickly or was it gradual?
I lost my hair a long time ago, exactly 19 years ago, I was about two and a half years old. I only remember a few scenes from that time. But I remember one scene very well: I was sleeping at my grandmother’s, when I woke up in the morning I saw more than half of my hair on the pillow. For a certain period my hair grew back and then it fell out, until my mum shaved it all off at the beach, and it was good because that way I understood what my life would have been like.
How did you experience the initial stages of alopecia?
I lived the initial stages well, very well indeed: I was too young to understand what was happening and to suffer the loss of something I didn’t know. Until I was 11 years old I wore a bandana. It was one of the hardest times because in those years I started to understand the importance that hair has in this society. Later I started wearing my first wigs.
How did you feel when you wore your first wig? Did you feel comfortable right away or was it hard to get used to wearing it?
I’ve never felt uncomfortable wearing wigs, my head fits any type of wig, bandana or scarf. The first time I wore one was a nice change because, not knowing what it feels like to have hair, I liked it right away!
How do you face the “things” of everyday life like going to class, going out with friends, practicing your favourite sport?
I’m honest, after 19 years without hair and almost 11 years with the wig I forget I have something on my mind. I can be careful when combing it so as not to show that it is a wig, but I no longer let the fact of wearing a wig condition my life.
Do you always wear a wig? Even when you’re at home?
I wear it almost always. Obviously not when I’m at home with my family or alone.
What are the feelings you feel when wearing it? Do you feel comfortable? Or more confident? Do you like yourself?
I know I am different from others, so without the wig I would feel uncomfortable, all my confidence would slip away. The wig helps me, avoid the prying eyes, the jokes or the pity I didn’t want and don’t want to have. Yes, I like me with my wig. I like her, in fact!
Do you like going out with friends or going dancing? Do you let yourself go or are you always thinking about your wig, its stability, the fact that nobody notices it?
I often go out with friends and honestly I don’t think about it. Sometimes I fix my figure or go to the bathroom to see if everything is okay. A bit like a “normal” girl, also because very few people understand that I wear a wig.
Do you wear your hair loose or do you pick it up? What are your favourite hairstyles?
I love long, wavy and bulky hair, tied or loose. I treat my wig as if it were real hair, as if it were really my own. Sometimes I do soft tails, other times I pick them up by dropping a few locks on the sides. Nobody notices anything!
Can you wash your wig? How often? Do you adopt any particular shrewdness? Tell us how you take care of it!
I often wash it in the shower with your products and then comb it, hold it in place and rinse it again. I comb it and dry it with the hairdryer and the brush to make waves. When I feel like it I use the cone to create curls.
Have you ever felt skin irritation? Have you ever had irritations? Or excessive perspiration?
No, I’ve never had irritations or anything. Obviously in summer if it’s 40 degrees and I’m sunbathing I sweat too, but nothing excessive.
How many years have you been wearing fair fashion wigs? How did you meet us, did someone refer you to us?
She found you my mom on the internet 7 years ago, I haven’t abandoned you anymore and there is a reason. Now we are the ones who address other people to you.
Compared to the wigs you wore before, how could you describe fair fashion natural line wigs in natural hair?
Zero sweating and maximum comfort! The hair is very soft and has beautiful, very natural colors.
What do you like best about your wig?
I have been wearing the Lory color 2 model for some time, I really like the color and length. And also the fact that nobody would say it’s a wig! It’s very natural. Other people say I have beautiful hair!
When you wear it do you feel free to move around? Do you ever feel it slipping away?
No, my wig is nice and firm.
Whoever is in your situation would you advise to wear a wig? Do you think it would help to regain a more serene relationship with your image?
The wig certainly helps against the ignorance, malice and curiosity of many people. It helps to increase self-esteem. But the first thing to do when you live a condition like mine is to feel beautiful with and without a wig, to accept the fact that you are not “normal” people, we are “different”. It’s often difficult to accept the different, but if we can do it ourselves, accepting ourselves as we are, then other people’s opinions won’t matter anymore.
Do you think you can do without the wig today? Can you imagine not using it for a week or a month, for example?
No, I wouldn’t be able to go without it because it’s difficult to manage the eyes of others. One thing is clear to me: people cannot fall in love with my appearance but with the person they really are and when it happens it means that they are really in love. In my opinion this is really a good fortune!