Emma’s Story
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Emma, I’m 21 and I’m from Cortona, a small town in Tuscany. I moved to Bologna when I started University where I study social work. In the meantime, I decided to work in order to not completely burden my parents financially. I love reading often. Especially as a child, I spent most of my free time reading books. I still try to carve out some time for myself.
Do you have any plans for the future?
My main focus is definitely to become a social worker. But before I start this job, I want to take a sabbatical, right after graduation, to travel and volunteer around the world.
Can you describe a typical day for you?
I’ve never liked habit, and as frequently as I can, I try to diversify my days as much as possible. Luckily, my job is very flexible so I don’t have to necessarily get back into a routine. Clearly my main commitments are study and work.
When did you begin to lose your hair? Did it happen quickly or was it gradual?
The first time I lost my hair was when I was 2 years old…but soon after it grew back and until the age of 10 I had hair like “normal” children. When I was 10, my hair started falling out again, very gradually, until I lost almost all of it at 13 years old.
How did you experience the initial stages of alopecia?
I have no memory of the first phase of alopecia, since I was only 2 years old. But that first experience made me aware of this disease, so that when my hair really did start to fall out again, I was not so surprised. Another plus point was growing up in a small village where everyone knew me and was aware of my illness.
This created a much more understanding environment around me, as you can imagine. That being said, it is also true that there were not easy moments; accepting the fact that the situation was degenerating slowly, but also quite definitively, made me very sensitive and fragile to other people’s comments, making me much more insecure about myself.
When and how did you first have the idea of using a wig? Was it difficult to get one?
At the age of 13, when I had very little hair left, my parents and I decided to buy my first wig. It was not difficult to get one, although I recognize that I am fortunate because my family has never had any major financial problems, considering that there are no great economic advantages in their field.
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 vividly remember the first day I wore a wig. It was very weird because from one day to the next I went from being almost completely bald to having a big head of hair. Due to the environment in which I grew up, I spent the first day getting over the anxiety of the “first time”. From then on, it was much easier. I got used to the wig almost immediately, considering it was a new accessory.
How do you deal with everyday life activities such as going to class or work, going out with friends, practicing your favorite sports, etc.?
As I try to give my best in every situation (in study, work and friendships), I’ve always been one who expects a lot from myself.
Do you always wear a wig? Even when you’re at home?
Since I bought the first wig, I have never left home without it. While at home, I’ve never had any problems being without it, even now living with two of my friends in Bologna. In the early years, I thought it was impossible to think of a life without my wig, to be seen without it by others (outside of my family and my closest friends).
How do you feel when you wear the wig? Do you feel comfortable? Or more confident? Do you like yourself?
Wearing the wig is my new normal. I feel completely comfortable wearing it. But aside from that, I do like myself more. I always say that even if my hair were to grow back, I would have a hard time taking the wig off, as I can’t imagine myself with other hair, because this is me now.
Do you think the wig helps you to live more serenely in relationships with others?
It certainly does. My fear has always been that people could, especially with superficial acquaintances or during a first encounter, see my illness before me. Not that I deny alopecia or refuse to talk about it, on the contrary, I always prefer that people around me are aware of it because it is a normal and a fundamental aspect of who I am. I like to explain to people what alopecia is and how wearing a wig allows me to decide when and how I choose to present myself.
Do you like to go out with friends or go dancing? Do you let yourself go or are you constantly thinking about your wig’s stability, or whether anyone notices it?
I really like company, going out with my friends and even going dancing. The fact that I wear a wig doesn’t limit me in any way. I never cared if others noticed it because, as I mentioned before, I always prefer others to know.
Have you ever felt skin irritation? Do you ever have any irritation? Or excessive perspiration?
I have never experienced any major discomfort or irritation. As for sweating when it’s hot, wearing a wig makes all the difference, but whatever the situation may be, it’s never anything excessive or unbearable.
How many years have you been wearing fair fashion wigs? Compared to wigs you wore before, how would you describe our wigs made of natural hair?
I bought my first wig from Fair Fashion in 2018 after looking at the website online. I immediately noticed the quality of the hair of your Natural Line wigs, which intertwine much less. The wig I wear now, the Ginevra model (color 8), is not at all annoying, it fits perfectly with any and every situation in my life. Thanks to its natural look, I feel completely comfortable!
The shell of the lory model is made with silicone inserts. Have you ever used adhesive to fix your other wigs?
The wigs I used before always needed adhesive to stay stable, but with Fair Fashion wigs I never needed it.
Who else in your situation would you recommend wear a wig? Do you think it would help regain a more serene relationship with one’s image?
I think that every person who experiences this illness does it in a completely subjective and particular way, depending on the moment when the hair loss occurs and the environment around them. Surely, at first the wig helps to not excessively perceive the sense of diversity that is felt and to defend oneself from possible prejudices, but I think it is important that the decision to wear a wig does not come from a rejection of the disease. It is only after the acceptance of alopecia that a person who has this disease can accept and love themselves.
Do you think you could go without wearing the wig today? Can you imagine not using it for a week or a month?
Right now, I don’t think I can go without it for such a long time, but I am still struggling to achieve that type of goal.