Monday, July 30, 2018

Hair Transplants: Six Months Progress


Back in January of 2017, when I was out but still stuck wearing wigs because of my hairline I wrote: "Wigs are awful monstrosities that were knitted by Satan's most horrid demon underlings." At the time I was super frustrated. I hated wigs. But now, even though I still have two wigs sitting on foam heads on my dresser, I am out of the woods. Wigs, for me, are no longer a necessity. They are something I can choose to wear when I want a nice fashion accessory. Yes, Faith DaBrooke is officially wig free! 

It's been a long journey. Right after I got my hair transplants back in February I was told that I could not wear wigs as they would interfere with my hair's healing. So I went with a headband. It was something I had already been doing when I worked out as wigs just don't work for the gym. Headbands, of course, weren't ideal. For one thing I didn't ever feel pretty in them. It felt like some quick and dirty way to cover up my male pattern baldness wracked hairline and nothing more. It was fine. I even rationalized that why should I bother looking my best for my coworkers or for running errands?

So for the last few months I've rocked the headband daily. It works well enough. Except that one time I bought new bands that would creep up over time and come off without my realizing it. That was potentially embarrassing. On more than one occasion I have had to run to the drug store or grocery and try to find another headband to cover my baldy head. Also when I recently rode Kingda Ka at 6 Flags Great Adventure, the 128mph acceleration knocked my headband right off. Luckily I had brought a spare.


But, I've not been happy with headbands. As I'm sure you can imagine. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's way more comfortable than wigs. And unless the wind gets up to world's second fastest roller coaster levels, headbands are way better in a breeze than a wig. And on hot, humid days they are infinitely nicer than wearing a tight, constricting wig. Gosh, I remember coming home from a long day of work. And the first thing I would do when I got home is rip off that wig. So, you trade beauty for comfort. It's worked, though it's not been too ideal. It's a good stopgap measure.


The other option of course is hats. In the past few months I've done quite a bit of the ol' ponytail through the back of the baseball hat with sunglasses looks. Honestly I like this look. I think it makes me look like an undercover celebrity. And we get a lot of undercover celebs in my area. 



There's also sunhats which I have been known to wear to shield my delicate pale skin from the sun's harmful radiation. Sunhats are good but my hat isn't big enough to wear with a ponytail, so I don't wear it too often. Luckily I do have a parasol to help block the sun when I don't wear a hat. And yes, sunscreen every day. Radiation can still get through clouds. 



My transplanted hair is growing out. It's nowhere near the length of the rest of my hair and it's not quite long enough for bangs yet. But it's growing. In fact, it's gotten to the point where, if I style it just right, I can start going without either headbands or hats. 


It's been most helpful when swimming, although I still made sure to not get my hair too wet. Still, it's a lot easier than wearing a wig at the beach.



In fact, I've even started being able to go to work with just my own hair. Above is a picture I took on my first wigless, headbandless day at the office. It's been a little tough being relaxed though with just my hair. After ages of never going out without the wig, hat, or headband, it's kind of nerve wracking to have my plain old, regular head on display for the world. But, as my hair grows out (at the rate of half an inch a month) it starts getting easier and easier. 

Yesterday I dyed my hair red. Because, let's face it, I've always been a redhead (at least on the inside). The last time I dyed my hair it didn't work that well so this time I asked Kath to help me. And it came out a lot better. Instead of doing a ponytail I decided, on a whim, to do a top bun. 




I've always wanted to do a top bun (at least since it became a fashion trend). It's a style you can't do in wig. Throughout my day I would see pretty girls with their top buns and get super jealous. My gender dysphoria would boil up inside me. I longed for the day that I could have my own top bun. And to my surprise I was able to pull my hair up into a top bun! 


Oh my gosh, I have never in my life felt cuter. I couldn't to throw on my glasses so I could have the perfect pretty hipster girl look. Sure, it was a little bit of a messy bun. But dang I felt so cute. It was my own hair! And it was a top bun! And I was a redhead. Oh my gosh, I seriously felt so cute. When Kath and I went out for a drink every time I caught myself into a mirror I was completely blown away. I was a real cute girl with my own hair! It was amazing. I loved it. I was super, insanely happy. So naturally, I had to get lots of pics. 









Then Kath told me about the fact that they make a product specifically to help bulk up buns. It's a little light plastic donut thing that you wrap your hair around to help bulk it up. I was super excited to show up for work rocking an nice big top bun.  
 
 



It's a little messy, but I still love it and I'm still super happy. It's amazing to be able to look in a mirror and see me and realize that it's my actual hair. Oh my gosh. I've really never felt cuter in my life. 

2 comments:

  1. looking beautiful
    love your sweet blog

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  2. So you've never felt cuter












    Faith, Sometimes things work out right. You were feeling really cute because you*are* really cute. Your feeling was coming through strongly in these pictures. You're adorable. The new definition of cute, in all its best meanings. Oh, and I'm so happy for you about your hair. I'm a redhead too and I understand the compulsion of it and the feeling of fulfillment. Anyway, you look smashing.


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