I’ll be honest, this is one of the few insecurities I have left but my friend @DoTheHotPants reminded why I needed to speak about this.
I remember when the surgeons shaved my head for the first time since I was a baby. I was 11 and it happened 3 times over the course of 3 months.
I begged and pleaded with them to make sure they didn’t leave me looking like a “freak”.
That was my priority.
Not the brain tumour they were removing.
I negotiated it down to the point where they agreed to leave a layer of hair to cover it.
Only then would I agree to the surgery.
I now have 3 of these bald patches on my head. This is one
At 19, after one of my surgeries, my hair was falling out in clumps from the anaesthetic and my mind jumped back to these bald patches. It was right before a night out that I finally burst into tears and revealed this fear to my friends… and they did the best thing they could’ve done in that moment.
Pulled the hair out of my hand, wiped my tears, tidied up my makeup, insisted I was beautiful with or without hair and made sure I didn’t let this ruin our girls night. They made me feel normal again.
People have noticed. Boys I’ve dated have asked questions but I always dismissed it until a month ago. I had a conversation about it with a guy I was seeing – he even touched it and that experience undid a lot of the shame I’ve held onto around it.
Hair is so much a part of your identity.
I get it.
It just doesn’t have to be.
Hair loss is emotional. Have a cry about it, but then know you are beautiful with or without hair. Thank you to @DoTheHotPantswho was so brave in her hair loss experience and helped me feel empowered in mine by speaking to me about it! ❤ #ScarredNotScared
PS Love that I’m repping the Hong Kong proud. HK Pride will always live within me