#100HairFreeDays - The Silver Lining Game

When I first lost my hair, I didn't know ANYONE who had been through this, and I struggled to cope with the emotional and psychological impacts of hairloss. How do you handle losing something which seems so much a part of your identity and helps define who you are?

In fact, many days I didn't cope; many days I thought I'd never get through it and I'd always be sad, every day for the rest of my life! For me, my turning point was the day I took back control, handed my mum a pair of scissors and urged her to snip off the remaining straggly locks! From that point on, I determined I'd be positive and started playing what I then dubbed 'The Silver-Lining Game' - a challenge to myself to come up with at least one benefit of losing my hair every single day! It wasn't always easy (and sometimes became very obscure), but I managed it and it became a big part of my acceptance of my alopecia.

Now, inspired by the #100HappyDays trend, I'm going to be running my #100HairFreeDays from tomorrow. I'll be putting one out on Twitter each day (follow us here) and doing a round-up on the blog each weekend! They'll start off fairly normal, but I have no idea if I'll be able to think of 100 so they may become pretty odd or tangential! Also, if you want to chip in, feel free and we'll make sure we name-check you!

Watch out for the first post tomorrow...

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

What a difference a wig can make...

Just because I love them, doesn't mean I wear wigs all the time, nor do I feel that everyone has to wear them. Nope; instead I believe that 'looking on the bright side' of alopecia, it gives a great deal of flexibility! I go bald as often as not, have wooly hats for winter and cotton headwear for summer, own 12 different wig styles (all in chocolate brown) and generally mix and match as the mood takes me!

One thing I have learned about wigs is that just like natural hair, different styles can change your mood, but it can also affect your choice of outfit...

Last year, I headed out with my best friend for a night of retro tunes at a local night club. I stood in front of the wardrobe and selected a dress I hadn't got round to wearing yet; a grey and black fitted number with block panelling. On it goes with my favourite pair of heels in a silvery bronze colour, then in walks my boyfriend. 'What do you think?' I ask. 'It's alright I suppose, but you've looked better!' he replies. Now I know many of you will have audibly gasped at that but one thing about my boyfriend is he is always 100% honest! Sometimes it drives me bonkers but actually it means when he compliments me (which he does often) he actually means it. Anyway, back to the story and I said 'give me a minute to finish getting ready and then if you still don't like it, I'll change'. Off I pop into the bathroom and I stand in front of my wig collection and pick out the Spicy from Jon Renau HD Smartlace Collection. It's long, curly and very glamourous and looks really sophisticated. On it goes with a pearl necklace and back I go to my boyfriend. 'Wow he says! You look absolutely stunning!' Phew!

Now as I said, I'm all for going bald, but sometimes, you just need hair to pull off an outfit. I have different outfits which go with different hair and some dresses do not suit some styles! All I can say is 'what a difference a wig makes' and isn't it nice to have the flexibility!

A bald move...

Rocking the spicy...

Excuse the sticker on the mirror

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald