Saving the world, one #bald person at a time!

What many of you probably won't know is that I did a Geography Degree at University and whilst I don't do anything relating to geography in my work life, I am still a Geography Geek at heart and certainly in my spare time! That's why when I came across this geographical statement which related to bald heads, I absolutely had to share it with you all :-)

Going Bald reduces your carbon footprint and offsets Artic Ice Loss.

The original article states that in a leaked IPCC document (Intergovernmental Policy on Climate Change) they advocate bald heads as a key factor in reducing climate change! How can that be I hear you ask, well let me explain...!

Taking human impact out of the equation, the planet regulates its own temperature through a number of nifty manoeuvres, including one called The Albedo Effect. Now it's quite a complex theory, but in simple terms the sun shines down on the planet and some areas absorb the heat waves (dark areas like rainforest) and other areas reflect it straight back into space (light areas like Ice). This is based on the understanding that dark things absorb heat and light things don't; (think about light summer clothes and getting in a dark car). Now there are lots of other factors at play, however this process helps regulate the natural temperature of the earth.

Add humans into the mix and unfortunately they upset the balance. Not only are we causing ACTUAL warming of the earth by running cars, having central heating and manufacturing lots and lots of products, but we are also causing secondary warming by melting the ice caps. In simple terms, we warm the earth, the ice melts; the ice melts, the sun warms the earth more and it all gets hotter! The warmer it gets, the faster it gets warmer!

Now you must be wondering what on earth that has to do with Bald people, however there are several environmental benefits that being bald has:

1) We don't wash our hair or if we have wigs we wash them much less; less warm water, less time in the shower, less shampoo etc. etc.

2) We don't visit the hairdressers which means less petrol, electricity, water, shampoo etc. etc.

3) We use less products which means less to recycle or less materials used in the first place.

In the grand scheme of things, these benefits are pretty small and unless you are a Green Geek, probably have little impact in reality, but this is where the little gem came into the report...

It stated that being bald will 'reduce planetary heating by increasing one's albedo'. Unfortunately this would only apply to people with light skin tones, but what it means is that having a bald head will help reflect the sun's rays back in to space and have much the same effect as the ice mentioned earlier!

Great I thought... Even if only a little bit, being bald is helping me save the planet! Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a bald movement to help stop climate change! We'd be the pioneers and everyone would be jealous of our effortless shiny craniums! Alas, it was not to be! The report I read turned out to simply be an April Fools joke, but maybe just maybe there was a little grain of truth and I really am helping reduce climate change :-)

For anyone interested in finding out more about The Albedo Effect, trusty Wikipedia sets it out quite clearly.

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

How do you store your Wig / Alternative Hair?

If you only own or wear a single wig then storage is pretty straightforward! A head or wig stand available from most places will suffice and shouldn't take up too much room. I on the other hand own twelve different styles (with a desire for more), which I switch regularly and match to my outfit. Short, long, curly, straight, synthetic and human hair, I've got it covered; but with all of those wigs, just where do I store them?

When I lived with my parents and had plenty of my own space, my wigs were everywhere; you'd find wig stands, heads, probably one over a lampshade* and one on the banister knob*! Then, I moved into my boyfriend's one bedroom flat where things were a lot less spacious! T is very supportive of me; my alopecia doesn't bother him and he still tells me I'm beautiful. He also won't stand in the way of me having wigs - as many as I want - but he drew the line at having twelve heads around his flat to store them. Apparantly it just isn't his kind of decor 😉 Anyway, when I moved in, I had to find a neat, compact and stable method for storing my wigs and one which kept them safe and secure! I puzzled and pondered but no matter how long I thought about it, I couldn't come up with a solution! Then I searched online for neat storage and came across a store fitting shop which offered gridwall in all sorts of formats, along with millinery hooks to support hats or similar items! As I couldn't drill holes to add gridwall to the walls, I opted for a freestanding metal unit; it has a wide foot and can support racks on both sides. I've bought millinery hooks (usually used for hats) and these fit nicely into the cap of the wig. Eh voila!

I can adjust the height and distance apart and adapt it exactly to my wigs! T and my landlord were happy and my wigs are accessible! Thankfully, we've bought our own house together and things are a little less cramped, so I'm looking at some more stylish storage solutions, but if you're looking for an affordable, compact and accessible storage solution, gridwall can be great!

My gridwall:

I'll keep you posted if I find or opt for anything different in the near future! 

Victoria x

*P.S. these aren't recommended wig storage methods 😉

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

Why you SHOULD be using sulphate / sulfate-free shampoos in your wig routine

In the last five years, sulphate / sulfate-free shampoos have grown in popularity, with many products overtly highlighting this property on their packaging, particularly in America. This comes despite the fact that there are few scientific studies that indisputably quantify or even confirm what the risks are, or even why we should be avoiding them! Here at Pretty Bald, we decided we'd take a look at what sulfates are, whether you should worry about them and ultimately why you should pick a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner for your wig care...

What are sulphates / sulfates?

Sulfates are mineral salts which occur naturally, but can also be man-made. They can be used as 'surfactants', 'emulsifiers' and 'detergents'; in simple terms, a chemical which helps clean. In fact, they are found in everything from toothpaste to shampoo and scalp treatments, to the industrial products used to clean oil rigs!! Now just because they are used to help clean possibly one of the greasiest places in the world, doesn't inherently make them a bad thing, so this is where we need to dig a little bit deeper...

Basically, when a droplet of water forms, it has something called 'surface-tension', which keeps the droplet intact - that's how raindrops fall from the sky in one drop until they hit the ground! When you wash your hair, the droplets from the shower will stay whole and will simply glide off the hair without washing it, particularly if it's covered in grease and dirt. What shampoos do, particularly effectively when they contain sulfates, is to break this surface-tension and enable the water to stick to the hair, helping remove the dirt and grease. The sulfate in particular makes the shampoo lather up and produce the nice foam that we all too often associate with it's cleaning power.

One key sulfate in many cosmetics and cleaning products is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which goes by a number of different names. SLS occurs naturally in coconuts, however by the time it reaches the products we use, it has been combined and contaminated with other chemicals like 1,4 dioxane; making the most of the natural properties, but maximising them with additions. It is these chemicals that deepen the problem with sulfates and which have been proven to be carcinogenic. Sulfates are incredibly efficient and cheap, which is the key reason they are used in many cosmetics; other sulfate examples include sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) which is yellow and very foamy, and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) which is also used for it's foaming properties. All three are classified as 'moderate hazards', safe for use in small quantities.

So should you worry? 

According to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews, research studies on SLS have shown links to:

• Irritation of the skin and eyes

• Organ toxicity

• Developmental/reproductive toxicity

• Neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, and biochemical or cellular changes

• Possible mutations and cancers

• Lower chemicals overall, which is considered healthier - subject of course to the other ingredients listed

• Cleaner, softer hair

• Curls stay curlier!?!? Can't comment on this one

• Longer-lasting colour if you have dyed hair

• Less irritation, particularly if you suffer from excema, dry skin, psoriasis etc.

• Improved moisture retention in the hair

• Improved hair quality as it becomes less brittle

• A higher price tag - unfortunately, although I'd like to tell you otherwise, they do have a slightly higher price tag because at the moment they aren't popular enough to be produced by the major high-street brands (the exception being L'oreal) 

• Less availability - again, because the major brands don't stock them, you'll have to search a little longer and probably order them online, although some health-food stores do carry them! Don't worry though - we'll soon be stocking them, not-for-profit at Pretty Bald so you can place orders easily, whilst raising money for Alopecia UK. We'll be reviewing them too!

• Wigs do not have a fixed colour, but are usually treated and dyed. Using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner will help maintain the artificial colourings and therefore prolong the life of your wig, making it cheaper in the long-run. Seriously, depending on the wig, sulfate-free products can increase the life of the wig by months!

• It'll nourish the fibres and help ensure they feel softer, more supple and most importantly more natural. This will help the wig feel more natural on your head (particularly synthetic) and will make it look that way too! In fact, sulfate-free products will help keep your wig the very best it can be!

• If you need to wear a wig, then ultimately you'll probably have little or no hair (except for fashion purposes) and the wig will be in direct contact with your scalp. This means it's far more likely your skin will be susceptible to chemicals and irritants, making wig-wearing far less comfortable! 

While these sound pretty scary, none of the studies have been particularly definitive and nor have they been quantified in terms of how much is actually harmful and what happens when they mix with different chemicals. That said however, a switch to sulfate-free products have the following purported benefits:

Taking all that into account, what negatives can you expect from sulfate-free shampoos & conditioners...?

Now hopefully, this post has given you an insight into the properties of sulphates and why you might want to consider avoiding them. However it'll ultimately be down to you; if you google it, you'll find many more articles on the subject including a number of scientific insights... 

Why then SHOULD you use sulphate-free shampoos for your wigs?

This one isn't a hard one... 

Unlike natural hair, wigs don't rejuvenate (obviously) so they don't care for themselves by growing, producing natural oils or generally maintaining their own condition. That simply means that chemicals have a significantly more detrimental effect on either a synthetic or human hair wig, than they ever will on natural hair! Without a doubt, you should therefore use sulfate-free products because...

We can't force you to choose sulfate-free, but it's definitely something we encourage to help prolong the life of your wig and improve your experience! 

Got an opinion or want to recommend a product you use. Please email us at info@prettybald.co.uk and we'll take a look! In the coming weeks we'll also be putting a number of these products to the test and will be adding the best ones to our online shop the raise money for Alopecia UK!

Happy washing!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk

Twitter: @PrettyBald

Loving the #ThisGirlCan campaign from Sport England...

At the moment, a national campaign from Sport England is gracing our screens and billboards, encouraging women to 'wiggle, jiggle, move and prove' our way to fitness, regardless of our size, shape or abilities. With phenomenal slogans like 'I jiggle therefore I am' and 'Damn right I look hot' the campaign does a fantastic job of celebrating how amazing we all are and empowering women to get out! What an awesome caption too #ThisGirlCan...

Watch it for yourself here...

Thinking about this campaign some more, I personally think this is exactly what we should live our lives by, not just our exercise regimes! The only people holding us back is ourselves and actually, regardless of the fact I'm bald and definitely not a supermodel, nothing can stop me! I can safely say #ThisGirlCan...!

Own it ladies & gents

Victoria x

P.S. The comments beneath the YouTube video and not everyone agrees that this video is empowering...

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

Eyelashes!

When i lost my hair i was told that would be it. Shortly after i lost my eyebrows and again told that would be it. Then my eyelashes fell out. At this point i didn't bother wondering if that was it or not.

I was devastated when i lost my hair. And my eyebrows for that matter. I had to learn how to draw them on and after never using an eyebrow pencil and having nothing to work with it was tough but i got there and after two years got them tattooed on.

But losing my eyelashes crushed me. I had really long eyelashes that, with mascara on, could really stand out. They defined me.
I had never worn false ones and didn't know where to begin.
At the beginning of my alopecia i was really really conscious of keeping the same as always and this meant having eyelashes. I would wear false ones every day lining my eyes so you couldn't tell. Only problem is that most falsies are for nights out or are really dramatic and long. Day to day wear they looked a little too much on me.
After a while i calmed down and just lined my eyes and that was that. I would wear falsies now and again but i took time to find natural looking ones (illamasqua and benefit are great and kiss lashes are great if you're on a budget) and settled with that.

Then just after Christmas last year i noticed one or two little ones and thought nothing of it. I now and again get little tiny bits of regrowth that usually fall out. Over the next few weeks they began getting fuller and longer and now i have full eyelashes on both eyes that are a pretty good length.

So there is hope! I know i may never get my hair back but even the little things are a huge blessing.

Jenny x

Rocking the #bald on a spa day? #hairloss #cancer #alopecia...

Most of the time, us Baldies have a choice about how to appear in public, be that a scarf, turban, wig or nothing at all; but there are some occasions where things get a little more difficult! Theme parks can be a challenge (that's why you might want to think about the Alopecia UK Alton Towers Trip in April) and going for a swim can be difficult! So too however can a spa day...

Since losing my hair, I've been on several spa days (lucky me) and enjoyed them as anyone should! The first time I went on one, I wore a human hair wig so that it would survive the heat, and to prevent damage in steam rooms, particularly as I hadn't quite come to terms with having a baby smooth scalp! When I first lost my hair, I spent a while wracked with guilt, angry with myself that I was upset when others have to contend with serious illnesses. At the time, I was worried about being mistaken for a cancer patient and that somehow, it would be disrespectful if I was! Funny what you go through when losing your hair! As a result, I spent a rather sticky, sweaty and uncomfortable day at the spa. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad, but the combination of the stress, heat and PVC cap made for a rather uncomfortable scalp! It didn't do much for the wig either and took a lot of conditioner to get it back to it's high quality self!

As time went on however, I became more and more comfortable with having a hair-free scalp! In fact, in many ways I am a #HairNudist or perhaps that is a #Baldist, whipping off my wig in the office, the car, on dog walks, and definitely in the house. It's a gorgeous relief sometimes and very comfortable although the postie got a shock the first time!

Anyway, I digress! Back to the spa days! As time went on, I grew in confidence about being bald. I realised that actually, most people are incredibly kind and understanding and those who aren't, aren't worth much anyway! As I came to terms with it and got more used to whipping my wig off, my days at the spa started to change; and one particular Saturday spa with my mum was no exception! 

We arrived at about 10am and there were already lots of women milling around in the changing rooms, some changing under a towel while there were the inevitable few standing proud and nude for anyone to see! I changed, grabbed the obligatory bath robe, and trotted out into the main spa area. Initially, I started off with a cup of tea before moving through to the sun loungers, still wearing my favourite wig - the Codi! After a quiet half hour, it was time to get bald, and enter the Japanese Salt Steam Room. Off came the wig and I hung it roughly on a peg with my dressing gown; at least there wasn't a risk of someone pinching my gown! From this point on, here is where the spa got interesting...! 

I am and always have been a people watcher; I love indulging in this particular pastime and if it were an Olympic Sport I'd win hands down! From the moment I took my wig off, right up to lunchtime, I walked around proud and bald, carrying my wig like some sort of security blanket - a talisman I no longer need or rely on, yet one I can't help keeping close. As I stopped at each treatment space, down it went, on this chair, that table, hooks and at one point in a pocket. My mum even started referring to it 'affectionately' as a dead rat causing quite a giggle!

Now the interesting part of this story is not me and my experience, but more, the reactions of others. They don't particularly bother me, but it's fair to say reactions and facial expressions are a varied and in-exact science. There were the ones who considered me unwell and extended me a sympathetic smile; those who glanced briefly before carrying on their day regardless; a few who I could feel assessing me thoroughly, trying to work out if I was at ease in my own skin, the same way they might any other person; and one or two men who you could see considering whether I was still attractive or not. Well, it might sound a bit morose and disheartening, but in fact, it was quite a nice feeling. It helps connect you to people in some small way and gives you a talking point to strike up a conversation should you choose. It can help break the ice and in the grand scheme of things, nobody treated me differently to anyone else! It's a great feeling and the only thing it made me realise is that in 99% of cases, people don't have a clue what it is or what it means. 

I spent a long time pondering those reactions and whilst it didn't change how I felt, it did help me draw a couple of conclusions:

1. The reaction of each person seems to depend largely on age; the golden oldies don't miss a beat; the 40-50s extend a sympathetic smile; the 30s start to ponder what it must be like; and those younger who's reactions are pretty much unpredictable.
2. It's about education; most of the 'bad' feelings me and my fellow alopecians feel are often our own imaginings. We base our own approach on how we expect others to react, when actually with an upfront attitude and a bit of education 99.9% of people will take it in their stride!

Now, I can only speak for myself and my own experience, and of course I know many others who've been treated poorly, but my general feeling is a good one and I feel it's important to have a positive attitude. How does everyone else feel?

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

#PrettyBald News - Do you want us to bring @mondobaldo t-shirts to the UK...?

Hello lovely Pretty Bald readers...

We have some exciting news for you (at least we think it is)! There is an opportunity for Pretty Bald to bring the awesome #MondoBaldo apparel brand to the UK, saving you shipping costs from the US and also raising money for Alopecia UK at the same time!

We know many of you are already fans of the Mondo Baldo brand, but before we commit to producing and holding stock, we want to make sure there will be demand! If there isn't, then we'll spend our money on other things that will raise money for AlopeciaUK!

For those of you who haven't come across the brand before, you can check out the brand here...

In the meantime, to help us decide whether or not the demand exists to bring it to the UK, we'd love you to please complete our poll...

If you're not bothered about buying these t-shirts (which we don't think will be the case), then please email us here and let us know what you would like us to stock! Remember, we'll sell the products you love, at their recommended retail price, but then donate the profits to Alopecia UK! What could be better?

We'd love to hear what you think!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

This month, you might spot me in Cosmopolitan...

Initially, when we first started organising the calendar, we asked Alopecia UK Communications Manager Amy to be involved! First she said yes, then she heard about the nudity and said no, then with a bit of peer pressure and the promise of gin, she said yes again! On the day, it's fair to say she didn't totally enjoy herself, although Champagne, G&Ts and Pimms did numb the edges a bit!

Anyway, what does this have to do with Cosmopolitan I hear you say! Well... just two weeks after the calendar photoshoot when we'd all spent the day in our dressing gowns with no knickers, Amy got approached with a request for an Alopecian to take part in one of their #BodyConfidence articles! It isn't a normal article either, this one too was nude and involved a day in London at the shoot! I think Amy took one look at it and thought #revenge! Only Joking, but understandably she thought of me and put me forward!

So it's finally arrived, nine month's after I had my photos taken, the article is in the magazine! I'm in the March issue, out first week in February and you'll find me on the #BodyConfidence page. There's also a version of the article online at http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/body/news/a33154/my-amazing-body-alopecia/

Next month, once the next issue of the magazine is out, I'll share some of the other images of that Cosmopolitan took! It's the first time I've ever felt more beautiful without hair than with! #Amazing!


In the meantime, here's a diary post of the photoshoot day!

My morning started bright and early with a 7am alarm beeping in my ear; in truth, I barely slept a wink and definitely saw 3am, just because of the excitement I was feeling! To put that in perspective, I sleep through anything; loud noises, stress, excitement - nothing normally gets between me and my sleep! Anyway I digress...

Up I get at 7am to shower, make myself look glam and make some sandwiches (not so glam)! I toddle off to the train station and begin a really exciting journey to London Paddington! Why I hear you ask? Well today, I have the privelege and excitement of participating in a photoshoot for Cosmopolitan Magazine! I cannot wait!

I know my day is just going to get better and better - as I picked up my pre-paid train tickets, the man at the counter (who was old enough to have hearing aids) said 'I hope you don't mind me saying but you look absolutely gorgeous'! I'm trying not to let it go to my head, but that's not too shabby for a day without makeup and a synthetic wig with a touch of friction burn! 

Starting my journey...

On the train to London Paddington:

Arriving at Paddington...

My train pulls in 7 minutes late and I've already had two text messages to let me know my Chaffeur Driven car is outside! I scurry through the station looking for the taxi rank next to platform 12 and try not to feel apprehensive! The car is there and waiting, just where they said it would be, and I'm on my way! I could get used to this I think!

It's supposed to take 20 minutes to get to the studio, but unfortunately the traffic is horrendous. Even at 10.30 it's crawling and the driver is riding the clutch waiting for his moment to inch forward! It takes a full 45 minutes to get to the studio and the Picture Editor in charge has begun to get worried; she texts me, but luckily I'm just around the corner! 'Sorry!' I say as the car pulls up; 'don't worry about it' she says. She escorts me through a gorgeous studio space which has quirky urban features (sorry I forgot to take a picture) and introduces me to the photographer and two assistants - all male! Now that might not sound like too much of an issue, but what I might not have told you is that it's nude! Yes really! I start to worry what I've let myself in for, but they're really friendly and the studio is discreet!

I'm whisked upstairs to make up and this bit is my favourite! For the first time ever I have make up applied using an airbrush and it does a great job of disguising the bags! I start to relax and enjoy myself - a full 40 minutes of being pampered. I felt a bit bad because the hairdresser had nothing to do, but still!

After the make up, I go downstairs to a blank canvas in a gorgeous turquoise with lighting board either side - it's just me and the photographer. I take off the dress and throw myself into it! It's what I'm here for so I convince myself I'm wearing a gorgeous dress rather than standing there with no clothes on. The photographer encourages me into various different poses which keep me covered; he offers pointers to improve my posture and takes picture after picture. I start to go a little blind from the flash and my cheeks hurt from smiling but once I get into it, I start to feel fantastic! 

It's over before I know it and the shots look alright! The photographer said 'wow' so much I think he lost his voice - he'd done it to the girl before too so it's just a platitude to encourage you! That's it; it's over and I'm back in the car, back to the station and back on the train. All that remains is for me to complete my interview and wait for it to come about in print! Eeeek!

What a day!

An airbrush base later:

(Only half an eyebrow)

With my eyes done:

Fully made-up:

The studio: birds-eye view

Back in the car:

And finally back on the train:

They photoshoot was to help raise awareness of Alopecia and AlopeciaUK - hopefully I've done a good job!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk

Twitter: @PrettyBald

#Propolis from #Beehives may hold answer to #hairloss cure...

Random fact you don't know about me, my dad keeps bees - five hives of them in fact, giving us delicious honey each year and plenty of it! He's been keeping them since I was about 10 and I've long been interested in the properties of honey, beeswax and other bee products! In fact, I take honey as a supplement to my hayfever medication, helping to introduce local pollens into my diet; I also use propolis moisturiser and lip balm if and when I need it and love the smell of beeswax candles!

That's why I'm fascinated by a new study which suggests propolis extracted from beeswax can help prompt faster hair growth and potentially has implications for treating hairloss conditions too! Previous studies have looked at the effects of propolis on other things, including the fact that use on burns and wounds makes them heal better and they are less likely to become infected if coated with a propolis cream, although this has not been widely confirmed. It is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties and also stimulates the production of keratinocytes which are vital for follicle shaft production, and it is this which is believed to support the reversal of hair growth. 

Using Brazilian bee propolis, the study led by Dr. Ken Kobayashi at Hokkaido University topically applied propolis extract cream to the fur of shaved mice. They found that the mice whose shaved fur was treated with the cream experienced hair growth twice as fast as those without! As yet, the study hasn't been expanded to include hairloss conditions, but the researchers are confident that the anti-inflammatory properties may lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of hairloss conditions! Interesting...

Could an everyday thrush cream help cure #baldness or help grow #LusciousLocks?

You think I'm joking with this title? Think again! An emerging trend in America is seeing women use an over-the-counter cream for yeast infections like thrush to help thicken hair and potentially even reverse hairloss! So does it work? Apparently the answer is POSSIBLY!

Before we get totally overexcited and all rush out to buy a tube of canesten, it's probably worth looking at the 'science' behind these claims...

The active ingredient in all these ointments and creams is an anti fungal treatment called miconazole nitrate - or in America it is anyway! It is an FDA approved ingredient found in over the counter medicenes for yeast infections and is therefore considered low risk to use, but how, if indeed it does, can it help with hairloss? 

Well first, it depends on the type of hairloss! In male and female pattern baldness, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone is responsible for rendering the hair follicles inactive and killing off the hair. Miconazole and other anti-fungal treatments like ketoconazole have properties which help block the hormone dihydrotestosterone; in fact, according to an article in the Huffington Post, several studies have found that ketoconazole in particular is an 'anti-androgen' which specifically combats the hormone. It is believed that this similarity between miconazole and ketoconazole could make the over-the-counter thrush treatments partially successful in helping with female and male pattern baldness.

Now, before all our readers dash out and buy a tube of the otherwise embarrassing cream, it is important to note that these findings have not actually been verified and there are no scientific studies available which verify this link! What's more it hasn't actually been tested for use on the scalp and possible side-effects are unknown! I for one am probably going to give trying this one a miss, but if anyone does take a punt, please let us know how it pans out!

Victoria x 

www.prettybald.co.uk

Twitter: @PrettyBald

It's officially February and that can mean only one thing #Charity #Calendar

Pinch and a punch, first of the month, no returns or white rabbits or whatever they say local to you!

True, I am officially a little bit late with this one as it is after midday, but today is the first of February! Duh! That can only mean one thing! It's time to change the page on possibly the #BestCalendarIntheWorld! Alright, so I might be exaggerating a little particularly if you are fans of someone like One Directon (yuck) but it is time to turn the page and gaze on one of my favourite pictures from the calendar! I mean come on, it includes a giant yellow rubber duck folks!

As an aside, it was pointed out to me today that we chose a bath-tub scene for February, the month of Valentine's Day, but I can honestly say that really wasn't deliberate!

Thanks folks

Victoria x

A scientific cure for #baldness and #hairloss? New Stem Cell research paves the way...

You may or may not have seen the breaking news which came out a few days ago, showcasing work by scientists to grow hair on bald rats using Stem Cell research...

Researchers in Orlando have successfully grown individual hairs, coaxing stem cells to become dermal papilla cells which are vital to follicle formation. These cells make up the top two layers of our skin and trigger nearby cells to produce hair follicles; if they stop working, it will lead to baldness. One of the challenges which has faced researchers previously is how to multiply dermal papilla cells, which lose their potency and ability to stimulate hair growth when multiplied; this has left every previous experiment with more, but less effective cells! Now, by using stem cells, scientists have been able to create an almost unlimited supply of these cells whilst still retaining their natural ability to stimulate healthy hair growth - a phenomenal breakthrough in hairloss research. 

Associate Professor at Sanford-Burnham who conducted some of the research said 'Our stem cell method provides an unlimited source of cells from the patient for transplantation and isn't limited by the availability of existing hair follicles. Our next step is to transplant human dermal papilla cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells back into human subjects.'

It is estimated that 1.5billion men and women suffer from hairloss worldwide and whilst not necessarily a cure, this breakthrough could be vital to understanding hairloss and could potentially pave the way for affordable, long-lasting hair transplants and more research. 

Speaking to Mark Blake, Trichologist he said “Scientists have taken the next step in unravelling the mystery of growing new hair. They have successfully grown hair on Nude mice using blank slate cells. The next step of the journey is to transplant human dermal papilla cells derived from stem cells back into humans. The final step of the journey could be just round the corner"

Mark Blake Trichology: http://www.markblake.co.uk

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

Meet Miss January #PrettyBald #Calendar #NudeAndBald

Before we run out of days in January, we should probably take a minute to introduce Miss January from our Calendar...

Miss January is a gorgeous Scottish lady called Hannah! Hannah is gorgeous in every sense of the word and is an absolute inspiration! She's a single mum of one and has Alopecia Areata!

For Hannah, Halloween is a key time for her as it is the first time she made the decision to shave her head! Now it's a regular part of her beauty regime and we think she carries it off brilliantly! #BaldHeadedBeauty #BaldBeauty

More can be read on Hannah here...

Here's Hannah's profile picture from the calendar and one of my favourite pictures of her...

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

The step up to wigs....

So I'm gonna talk wigs. Not so much what wig to buy or how to get one as that's a whole different area.

This is about my personal view on making the step up from headscarves and hats to wigs.

It's a huge one to make and i found it took me ages. When my hair fell out it was mid November so it was hat weather. I had a couple but remember the Monday after I'd shaved what little hair i had left off, I went to my local high street and went to Claires accessories and got a blue beret type hat ( to this day it's my favorite) . I then bought around 10 from primark. But i was still really paranoid people knew i had no hair. I then dabbled in headscarves that are designed for hairloss but after a few comments That they made me look like i had cancer which,  although i am more than confident to shake them off now, really upset me and i wasn't ready to go without a wig yet.

So a few weeks later i decided to get a wig. I live in East London and there are a good few afro carribean cosmetic places that sell wigs. Now they are synthetic hair and around 20-30 pounds but at that point i was happy with that.

I still remember standing in the shop with my fiancé (always take someone with you- moral support)  and not knowing where to start. When i lost my hair it was short but ended up with a long brown tumbling curls number which i adored. I remember having tears in my eyes as i tried it on. It felt like my hair.

I was petrified about going to pick my son up as couldn't face people's comments but i decided if i was going to wear it i had to own it. I didn't play with it or mention it and everyone mentioned how lovely it looked. After a while i got used to it and i bought several in different colours. I remember i graduated uni that year and had to keep changing my cap size beacause i kept changing my wig!.

Now i have around 4 or five all in the same style and no one ever says anything. I have one friend who forgets it's even a wig.
One way I've found to help me is to tell myself as long as it's on my head it's my hair. And be daring! Just think you can be any colour or style you've ever dreamed of and you get to change as you please! 

And remember,  it's your choice. It is a huge step to wear a wig. Make sure you feel comfortable. There are services around that offer consultations and have wigs in all sorts of styles. But do it when you are ready.

But whenever you do make the step i promise you you'll get there and no matter if you do or don't wear a wig you're still gorgeous!

Jenny x

Absolutely love this! Had to share! #RealityCheck #Disney #Hair

Yesterday, I discovered this article on Buzzfeed and absolutely HAD to share it! Awesome #RealityCheck and well done to the talented photoshoppers who made it happen!

If #Disney Princesses had normal #hair...

(Original article on Buzzfeed here...)

Ariel with actual wet hair:

Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios/Loryn Brantz/BuzzFeed

Belle’s hair getting all up in her lip gloss:

Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios/Loryn Brantz/BuzzFeed

Cinderella waking up with actual bed head:

Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios/Loryn Brantz/BuzzFeed

There's more images on the actual article!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk
Twitter: @PrettyBald