The Voice of the AHLC some answers. This woman pulled me away from the edge I teetered on and she gave me answers. She gave me options!
OPTIONS: A BEAUTIFUL WORD! Option 1: Toppers These are basically like mini-wigs that are used to cover up patchy or thinning hair- i thought they were very similar to extensions. Joanie was kind enough to let me try on a human-hair topper. You’d never know i was missing patches of hair and the topper itself was so realistic. It was completely undetectable. This option is my #1 because it felt nice and cozy on my head, and it made me feel pretty. It also was very affordable. Option 2: Wigs The idea of wigs originally freaked me out, but these did not look like any wig I’d ever seen. Most of them were created from real human hair and they looked so real. Joanie suggested I try the wigs and look at the inside caps. She calmed my nerves and should I lose all of my hair, i won’t be so afraid to try a few on and have some fun, especially with Joanie and Ferrari by my side.
Clarisse, delighted with all her new hair options
CLARISSE’S STORY FROM HER BLOG, COURAGEOUSLYCLARISSE.COM I have alopecia. I was referred to Joanie by a friend. Joanie is a stylist at a salon in Buffalo, NY that specializes in hair replacement solutions. After jumping from doctor to doctor and receiving no answers, I walked into her salon feeling doubtful and hopeless. The negative feelings soon dissipated though when I walked through the door. I was greeted by a tiny Yorkie who waddled up to me and pawed at my foot. I kneeled down to pet the dog and took notice of my surroundings: the pink dog tag with “Ferrari”, the Buffalo 716 area code pillows, the jars of cookies, the Keurig with the plethora of k-cups and then, the wigs.
WHOAH... THE WIGS! Needless to say, I was a little more than wigged-out (pun totally intended) right before I reeled into full-blown
panic, a beautiful blond-haired, blue eyed woman walked into the room and swept me up into a hug and introduced herself as Joanie. Joanie’s salon was comforting, it made me think of my older cousin’s home with the exception of the mannequin heads covered in wigs. She explained how she wanted her customers to feel at home, despite what they may be experiencing. I followed Joanie & Ferrari into a private room where we all sat together, the Yorkie in my lap, surrounded by mannequin heads & wigs and we shared our stories. Joanie sat patiently as I stumbled through my recollection of the past three months. She gifted me with words of comfort and support while I cried tears onto Ferrari who snuggled against the crook of my arm and, by some miracle, Joanie gave me
Option 3: Non-surgical hair replacement This procedure was a bit complicated. Joanie described it as a thin membrane put on the scalp which acts as a second layer of skin. This membrane is implanted with human hair, customized to create a match with the patient’s hair. Pretty wild stuff. After talking with Joanie, learning her story and hearing my options, I breathed the first sigh of relief I’ve had in three months. I could literally hear three words ringing in my mind, “you’re not alone.” She reminded me that beauty truly comes from the inside. She took loving care of my mind and my self-esteem. She provided support and options. She built a safety net for me. She listened. Joanie’s pure resiliency and her passion is a gift that she attributes to her faith- her work is not just a job, it is her vocation, her mission is to help people with their self image. Issue 22, Summer 2017
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