Ayanna Pressley Bald due to Alopecia

[wanderingback]

Powerful story and video

theglowup.theroot.com/exclusive-rep-ayanna-pressley-reveals-beautiful-bald-1841039847

[WOT?*]

I was just watching this. The story and video are powerful. (and she is stunning but that's beside the point.)

[Dumbledork]

I saw this earlier, but hadn’t watched it yet so thanks for the reminder.

She is so relatable and the video was beautiful. There were so many moments that I thought ‘yes, been there’ and I’m not a black woman and don’t have Alopecia. But I am someone who has at various points looked in the mirror day after day and not recognized the person looking back.

I loved that she pointed out that she is still working towards accepting this journey. Again, so relatable, especially for women, especially for those struggling with mental health and depression.

I’m glad she’s showing another version of what it means to be a strong woman.

[mrsukyankee]

There's a really crappy reality show over here called Made in Chelsea. One of the people has alopecia and they did an entire storyline with her doing photography with other women who have it and how to grow to love yourself without hair. It was one of the better things I've seen on reality tv. I'm glad more and more people are coming out about it and are becoming more confident and happy with themselves. It sounds like a tough journey.

[meltoine]

A family of women I grew up with all have alopecia. They went public with it several years ago and founded a charity that celebrates overcoming challenges like this awarding scholarships to high school students who have.

Congresswoman Pressley is beautiful inside and out. I really appreciated hearing her speak about how she felt a responsibility to young black women once they started identifying with her and her twists, which made it that much harder when she lost her hair. What a tough thing to have to navigate. She's incredible.

[Dumbledork]

I keep coming back to this.

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There’s something about her seeing herself in the little girls that admire her. I think it’s about becoming a role model in this career, with that hair that she wished she‘d had as a kid, and then having to take away a piece of that image and pride.

She must be hurting so much. To share the loss and the pain with the whole world so soon after it happened, when she’s definitely still learning to accept it, is so vulnerable. I’m in awe that she shared it.

We just spent a week talking about how shit the media/world treats Meghan simply because she’s black, and Ayanna saw that and still opened herself up to us.

She’s amazing.

[aspentosh]

"I'm trying to find my way here" made me cry so hard.

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I agree with meltoine and Dumbledork. To see how much it hurts her because of how it will impact little girls that look up to her breaks my heart. To feel (know) that you're carrying that burden yet still show the grace that she does. Gah. She is class personified.

[Jalapeñomel]

She is amazing. Her strength, her intelligence, her success. We are so lucky she was willing to share.

[mbcdefg]

Oh gosh <3

[Patsy Baloney]

My husband has struggled with alopecia areata - patchy hairless spots on his scalp - for about a year and a half now. He has responded somewhat to various treatment options (mainly shots into his scalp, ahhh!) but it has been very hard for him. I know he's embarrassed and self-conscious. His started shortly after his brother passed away, along with various other major stressors, which his doctor said could be the culprit for setting off the immune response.

It's such a tough condition and the strength she has to reveal it fully and give voice to it is incredible.

[jigsy]

I read this and I love her for it.

Ricki Lake recently did an instagram post "coming out" about her hair loss issues as well. I struggle with my hair. I have fine, thin hair. My mom is nearly bald and I fear that fate awaits me too. I appreciate these women in the public eye being honest about their journey because sometimes it feels like you are alone in your struggle, even when you know that isn't the case. For me, I appreciate the ways that I can mimic having the hair I want. As TLC once said 'You can buy your hair if it won't grow" lol. But, even with that, there is still a level of shame and embarrassment. Like, I can go out and wear a hair topper and feel and look amazing, but when I think about what that means for my dating life, I go back to being embarrassed. Even though I know that any man who would have an issue with it isn't a man worth having, its still a hard thing to think about. 

Here is Ricki's post. There is some @@ content in her post here:

SPOILER: Click to show

http://instagram.com/p/B6yeeG-Jnx-

[tessalb]

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One of the things I hope Rep. Pressley is able to realize and embrace as she processes is that her openness about alopecia is giving lots of other little girls (and boys) representation. I completely feel for her in losing her twists and what that meant for so many people in our country. She is allowed the time and space to grieve that loss because it’s a loss. She is amazing and so strong.

[abs]

Hair issues are so, so hard.

I have alopecia. I've had it for 20 years but it really got bad in the last 3-4 years. It's been extremely hard to watch my self esteem literally go drown the drain. I am responding to scalp injections somewhat but I will never have a full head of shiny hair. I get hair envy often.

It's very brave of these women to come forward and share.

[thebulldog]

I just posted this to my FB page....this took some courage to do...what a video!!!

[penguingrrl]

Wow, her strength in going public with this while it’s still new to get is amazing. I wasn’t aware that alopecia was as common as it is. Thanks for sharing. She is such an amazing woman.

[GilliC]

My grandmother had alopecia universalis, so I grew up with it but never knew of any other examples. I’ve always donated my hair to an alopecia support organization to honor her, but when I tell people that, most have never heard of alopecia at all! I’m so happy she has the strength and confidence to bring more awareness. I think my upcoming donation will list two honorees this time.

[definitelyO]

My mom has alopecia - she lost all her hair 3 times now over a period of 3 years. and at this point she's not doing any treatments. They were painful (scalp shots, acid washes, horrible drugs with side effects, steroids) and expensive (experimental drugs not covered by insurance). It took a long time for her to come to terms with this and she still is coming to terms and has up and down days. Some days she'll wear a wig out, other times a hat and she's just now starting to feel more secure in going out bald.