September is Alopecia Awareness Month, and every year I read other people’s stories. Some sound familiar. Others are completely different from mine. That’s one of the reasons I want to share my own: there is no single way to experience hair loss, and no one should have to feel alone in it.
I’m Amanda. I run Hair to Ware, but my connection to alopecia began long before the salon did.
Everything changed when I was 14
Thirty years ago, I went into hospital for what should have been minor keyhole surgery. I had a severe anaphylactic reaction to the anaesthetic and became critically ill. I spent time in intensive care. Within two weeks, I had lost all the hair on my head and body, including my eyebrows and eyelashes.
I was 14. One moment I recognised the girl in the mirror; the next, I didn’t.
People said things they probably thought would help: “It’s only hair.” “You’re lucky to be alive.” “I wish I could wear wigs every day.” I knew I was lucky to be alive. I was also devastated by what had happened to my hair. Both things could be true.
And the practical side of losing body hair rarely came up in those conversations. Without the hair inside my nose, my nose would run constantly. Swimming, which I loved, became painful when water got into my ears. Thirty years later, I’ve found some brilliant earplugs. At 14, I was still trying to understand what had happened.
Why my mum and I started Hair to Ware
My mum, Pat, and I went from wig shop to wig shop looking for help. I remember how exposed I felt. Other customers might be trying wigs on for fun while I was frightened and trying to recognise myself again. I needed privacy, time and someone who understood why this was such a big deal to me.
Pat wanted to make that experience better for me and for other people facing hair loss. That’s how Hair to Ware began. Twenty-five years later, the reason we do this work hasn’t changed.
I wanted a place where you could walk in without having to explain why losing your hair matters. A place where nobody stares. Where you can ask a question, change your mind, take your time or admit that you have no idea where to start.
What 30 years with alopecia has looked like for me
For roughly the first ten years, I lived with alopecia totalis. Today I live with alopecia areata. My hair can grow back in patches and then disappear again. My eyebrows and eyelashes can change too.
I’ve tried different wigs, makeup, ways of doing my eyebrows and eyelashes, and ways of feeling like myself again. These days I use semi-permanent makeup and wear wigs and toppers. Once in a blue moon, when my own hair allows it, I can even wear extensions.
None of that means I’ve found one perfect answer. What works for me has changed over time. What works for someone else may be completely different.
I know the fear of walking into a salon for the first time. I know the worry that someone might notice the edge of a wig. I also know what it feels like to look in the mirror and see yourself again. Those experiences shape the way I listen to people at Hair to Ware.
There is room for your own way through this
Some people want a wig that looks as close as possible to their own hair. Others want a topper, a hair system or help working out what options exist. Some aren’t ready to choose anything yet. That’s all right.
At Hair to Ware, we help people explore comfortable, natural-looking cosmetic hair options at their own pace. We listen to what has changed, what matters to you, and how you want to feel. We offer hair-loss solutions and support; we don’t diagnose or treat the medical cause of hair loss. If your hair loss is sudden, unexplained or worrying, please speak to your GP or an appropriate specialist.
Why I’m sharing my story this September
Alopecia UK’s 2026 Raise & Shine campaign asks people to start conversations and show what life with alopecia can really feel like. I think those conversations matter. When someone says “it’s only hair,” they may have no idea about the change to your identity, the everyday practical problems or how lonely it can feel.
You don’t have to share your story publicly to be part of this month. Listening without dismissing someone else’s experience is a good place to start. So is letting a person decide for themselves what they need.
I am proud that something my mum and I began during one of the hardest times of my life has grown into a place where my family and our team can support others. If you are at the beginning of your own hair-loss journey, please know that you don’t need to have the answers before you ask for help. Bring your questions and your worries. We’ll take it from there, at your pace.
With love,
Amanda x
