The New 'Do

Every decade or so I do something brave.  Last week, I did it!  It was time.  It was past time, and it was for all the right reasons.  I have a friend (and a mom) who suffers from alopecia.  About 4 years ago, my friend Felicia's hair began falling out and within months she was completely bald.  It was difficult navigating all the changes in her body, emotions, and appearance.  She has struggled through this disease, and remains strong despite the hardships.  

I recently heard that real hair wigs are not covered under most insurance plans for Alopecia patients, though they are covered for cancer patients.  Real hair wigs are significantly superior to normal synthetic hair pieces, and are outrageously expensive.  Felicia was given one for modeling and promoting it.  Were she to have paid for it, it would have cost her $1500.  Yes, that's one thousand five hundred US dollars for hair! Back to this in just a moment.

I've only had short hair twice in my life.  The first time I cut my hair short was in 5th grade.  It was bad. It went from hair reaching my lower back, to neck-short hair with feathered sides (I am a child of the 80s!). Of course the cute boy in the school had to tell me I looked like a boy.  Ouch!

The second time I cut my hair short was when I moved to Fresno.  It was a longer short cut.  Cute?  Yes, but I don't spend time on my hair and it needed some time and TLC!  Since then, I've been allowing this mane to do its thing and grow with a basic trim from time to time.  Last year I was really ready to cut it short.  However, I was pregnant and carrying an additional 45 pounds or so, and my wise husband encouraged my to wait until my face thinned back out so that I would like it. 

So here we are, summer of '09.  I've been looking for months for the perfect, cute short cut.  I found it back in May in a magazine and I knew the moment I saw it that it would be the one!  Was I ready?  Would I love it?  What about my long pretty hair (again reaching my lower back)?  Would I look like a boy?  What would my husband say?  What would my friends think?  You know how it goes!

Felicia had told me that National Bald Out day was going to be July 19th.  NBO day is for women and their friends who suffer from alopecia to join together and encourage one another to be who they are, feel supported, beautiful and dignified in their baldness.  It was also meant to raise awareness about the injustice of the insurance issue.  If I needed any more encouragement to be brave and get a new 'do, this was it!  On July 22nd I cut my hair, SHORT!  I donated it to Felicia, so that she can benefit from it in the future without having to pay an outrageous amount.  I loved every minute of it!  I'm still lovin' it.  Thanks, Kristi for the great cut, Suzanne for holding my hand and taking these pics, and Felicia for being strong, courageous and beautiful.