Below you will find the story of my friend, Melissa, who also has Alopecia. Her experiences are different than mine, which is why I thought they were perfect to share! Best of all, she has her eyebrows tattooed, which has been a hot topic lately that I have no experience with! She was kind enough to be so open, and has said she will answer any questions you may have on the Kayla's Corner Facebook Page! Just be sure to tag @Melissa Palmieri!
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When I was in the sixth grade I noticed that I didn’t have any eyelashes. I didn’t think much about it at the time because I didn’t know any better if it was normal or not to not have them. By my freshman year in high school my eyelashes had grown back. One day during tennis practice I had pulled my hair back and my friend asked me why I had a bald spot, I said “I have no idea”. That night I went home and showed my mom. She then scheduled a doctor’s appointment at a well-known dermatologist in New York where I got diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. The doctor prescribed me Protopic cream that I applied twice a day to the bald spot. It grew back within a couple of months. I went 7 years without my Alopecia acting up. It wasn’t until January of 2011 when my Alopecia was triggered from Lymes Disease. I had completely lost all of my hair by the summer time including eyebrows and eyelashes as well.
I now have had Alopecia Universalis for over a year. Since last March I have invested in a ton of wigs; both synthetic and human hair. I purchased my human hair wigs from Hair in a Pinch located in Edison, New Jersey. I have nothing but great reviews for them. They provide one-on-one assistance to help you find the perfect wig for you. They also do wig alterations so that your wig is the perfect fit for whatever size and shape head you may have. I also have synthetic wigs as well which are great to have because some are heat friendly and are very affordable. I buy all of my synthetic wigs from a cosmetic store called Merle Norman. Again, another great place especially if you are looking for something more affordable because human hair wigs tend to be more expensive.
I recently just got my eyebrows tattooed since I do not have any eyebrows as well. Prior to tattooing my eyebrows I was using temporary eyebrow tattoos that I would purchase online from Headcovers.com, however putting them on everyday got tiresome after a year because they would only last for the day. While I was getting my nails done at Christie’s Nails; a local nail salon located in Manayunk (a small town in Philadelphia) she noticed how I didn’t have any eyebrows and told me how she tattoos eyebrows, eyeliner, lip-liner etc. She showed me pictures of prior clients she tattooed which all looked amazing. Christie, who is the owner of the nail salon and who tattooed my eyebrows discussed different shapes that would look well and then once we decided she then drew outlines of them with lip liner and then proceeded to tattoo them. To draw the outline of the eyebrows took about 30-45 minutes. Since they are permanent she wanted to make sure they were even and perfect. The tattooing then took about an hour and a half to 2 hours. I have to say it didn’t hurt for the first hour but after a while since I have sensitive skin it did start to burn because my skin was irritated. It was $350 which includes the first touch up as well which you get anywhere from 4-8 weeks after you first get them done. The healing process is just like any regular tattoo where they will scab after a few days and peel. After the first touch up they can last several years until another touch up is needed. I highly recommend Christie if you are interested in the tattooing route. I couldn’t be happier with my eyebrows. It is so nice to wake up in the mornings and not have to put them on everyday now. Above are pictures of myself with my tattooed eyebrows. I will post an updated picture once I get my first touch up so everyone can see the true color that they will be.
I never thought how hard it could be to not have any hair and how something so little such as your eyebrows and eyelashes could make such a difference in appearance. Each day that has gone by has gotten easier for me. Without the support and dedication from my amazing family, friends, and boyfriend I wouldn’t be as confident as I am today.
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I love how much we actually have in common! Don't forget to visit the group Facebook page and post any questions you have for Melissa. She is the sweetest person with such a terrific outlook!
See you next week!
-Kayla
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