Opening up about my hair loss at my foreign internship/school

Opening up about your hair loss is a difficult thing. How are people going to react to it? Will they be awkward, supportive or weird? It’s something that is scary. So, how did I open up?

First off all, as I am writing this, there is one week of this amazing journey left. I honestly cannot believe how fast time went by; I mean 3 months? More like 3 weeks. At the moment there is a fair here and it makes me realise I am going to miss this city, but above all, I will miss my internship and my colleagues. Okay, back to what this blog post is actually about.

I knew from the start that I wanted to be open about my hair loss. I am always open about it, because I want to be able to talk about it when something is bothering me, regarding to my hair loss. For example, when I feel bad about it, I want to be able to explain what is happening. The other thing is, that if someone would notice that I wear a wig, things could get awkward. I make things awkward enough on my own, so no need to add to that haha. Though, I can already tell all of you, nobody noticed that I wear a wig and they were actually surprised when I told them.

There works a Dutch girl at my internship, who was actually in the same school as me and started to work there after she finished school. Because she is Dutch, I was able to easily open up about my hair loss to her, which was great.

I was really scared, but I took my wig off in the first week (note: I had to wear a safety helmet and my wig does not appreciate that). I am going to say it again, it was scary. Even though not even a lot (if even others besides my Dutch colleague) saw it.

I went to school with one of my colleagues and got his number to talk about where we would meet and at which time. During the chat, I changed my WhatsApp profile to a bald picture, as I am just random like that haha. However, I did not realise that he obviously did not know that I wear a wig + that I am not sick. So, when I needed to go to the post office with him the next day, I told him; well you have probably seen my profile picture, so I will explain. I told him I don’t have cancer, but that I have a hair condition that makes my hair fall out and that I therefore wear a wig sometimes. He told me I looked good with or without a wig and that was that. No big problems were made and it was never an awkward subject! Note: my German was not great then, so it was quite a struggle to explain my hair loss in a foreign language haha.

But I was struggling, struggling to find the right time, the right German words and the right approach. So, one day during lunch break, one colleague from my department and a colleague from another department were there. I asked them about their hobbies and when they asked about mine, I told them that I started this Instagram and blog to help others with hair loss. Then I explained that I have lost my hair myself and therefore wear a wig. The first thing they said, was that they respect me for that! Then, when I showed a picture without my wig on, they said that I look great without one and that if I did not want to wear my wig, that I should not! Another sweet responds to this difficult subject.

But, in all honestly, I still felt scared to go without my wig.

After a few weeks, I dared to take it off. It was a warm day and I get headaches when it is warm. Random fact; this week it will be 37 degrees Celsius here, so I am not happy about that haha. Anyway, it was lunch break and I asked a few of my colleagues if they minded that I would take my wig off. They all said no, of course not. It was liberating to take my wig off and an experience I HAVE to share with all of you.

Everyone and I mean EVERYONE was so sweet and supportive and NEVER was there a moment that it was awkward. I was NEVER treated differently. I got so many sweet compliments that I look great without my wig and even when they saw me bald for weeks, they still complimented me on that. They made me feel so comfortable and welcome and I can only thank them for that.

Why do you even have your wig with you? Just leave it at home!

I obviously had to explain that I have alopecia and the right words just appeared. Someone asked (in a sweet and funny way) what I had done when he saw me without my wig and told me not to worry about it when I explained. Another colleague literally said “Why do you even have your wig with you? Just leave it at home!”. They got used to me being bald and I don’t even think they really noticed it after a few weeks. I can openly talk about my baldness and wigs, without it being an awkward topic. A few colleagues said; men also walk around bald, why would it be a problem if you do too?

School

As I mentioned, I also went to school here. As a part of the EBBD certificate for my education, I needed to go to school for 40 hours. My colleague obviously knew I was bald, the rest did not. Then, a classmate followed me on my (personal) Instagram and obviously also saw that I was bald, so I mentioned it to him as well. But, I knew the weather was getting warmer and that would mean that a wig would be too uncomfortable. So, during lunch break (what is it with me and opening up in lunch breaks lol) I said “Well I have to tell all of you something, but it will sound a bit weird”. So, I explained that I don’t have hair, I wear a wig and that when the weather is warm, I would probably show up bald. They certainly did not expect that haha. I showed them a picture without my hair and explained that I have alopecia.

What do you think? They were all supportive, they told me I look beautiful without my wig and that there is no need to worry. When I showed up without my wig the next time, they were supportive. They were interested in my account and one of the girls follows me on here (if you read this, THANK YOU for making me feel so welcome at school, it is truly appreciated). After I posted in my story if I should go bald to school, she sent me a dm and said that I looked good that day. Besides that my classmates were supportive, my teachers were as well.

On the last school day, we went to visit a company. I began that day with a wig and when we got to the company I took it off, as it was warm that day. I was talking to the girls from my class when they said; should we stand in the shadows, so you don’t burn your head? I found that so sweet, I just had to include it in here.

What I want to show all of you with these examples, is that we make it this use problem in our heads, we think people will be so awkward about it and don’t think people will accept it and find normality in it, when in reality, they do. Now, I cannot talk about all experiences of course. I realise I am incredibly lucky with such colleagues and classmates, but I think most people will react like this. The more we will show our beautiful bald, strong, selves, the more people will find it normal.

I hope all of you will have the same experience and remember, if you have any questions about this topic, you can always DM me, always (@AlopecianGirlboss)

A HUGE thank you to my internship for teaching me so much, for welcoming me into the company and to give me the best experience possible. I will repeat this forever, but I was lucky to be an intern there. Every single intern should be grateful to get the opportunity to do their internship there, as you truly learn a lot.