My Hair Loss Journey: Navigating Challenges and Discovering Confidence

29 June

Hey there, thanks for stopping by again! I’d love to share a bit about my hair loss journey and how I navigated through it all.

I’m Karen, and I work full-time as a nurse in a busy Emergency Department in Sydney. I’ve got two beautiful rescue dogs—Stevie, a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel who spent her first four years in a cage at a breeding facility, and Hicky, a cheeky Maltese x Shih Tzu with a bit of a mysterious past. They’re both doing fabulously well now, bringing constant fun and keeping me active with lots of walks.

My gorgeous, nearly 22-year-old daughter has just moved out to “find her feet.” She’s pretty independent and insists she needs no advice or guidance (though I’m always here if she does!). This has been quite the adjustment for me.

Will My Hair Loss Journey Resonate with You? Read on...

I have Androgenic Alopecia, also known as Female Pattern Hair Loss. I’ve been living with it for over 37 years and have finally found peace with the person staring back at me in the mirror.

Research shows that FPHL has a strong genetic link and can come from either parent. I noticed my mother had identical hair loss when she was in her mid-30s.

In the early stages, I noticed a gradual widening of my part line and, years later, diffuse thinning over my crown.

Back when I was diagnosed with FPHL, I spent countless hours at the local library (no Google back then!), researching alopecia and potential treatments, hoping for a miracle cure. It consumed me day and night!

Losing my hair felt like a thief, taking away my self-esteem, social life, identity, and making me feel vulnerable in ways I never imagined. I constantly checked myself in the mirror to ensure my heavily hairsprayed hair concealed my thinning spots perfectly. Any stray strand sent me rushing to the bathroom, armed with more hairspray.

My Journey Through Treatments

Over the years, I tried every hair growth vitamin and restoration treatment available, including Rogaine (Minoxidil) combined with Spironolactone. While Minoxidil was messy and gave my hair a “crunchy” feel, Spironolactone had side effects like irregular periods, breast tenderness, and dizziness, so I stopped using it. You can read more about Spironolactone’s benefits for hair loss [here]

A dermatologist diagnosed me with a genetic form of alopecia and a scalp fungal infection. Ketoconazole shampoo cleared the infection but didn’t help the androgenic alopecia.

Finally, I gave up on miracle treatments and focused on self-acceptance and self-love. I thought I’d be stuck wearing wigs forever until I discovered human hair toppers. Struggling to find the right one, I ended up designing beautiful, ultra-realistic human hair pieces that are quick to apply (think extra snooze time) and look fantastic. They boosted my self-confidence and transformed me from "meh" to "yeah" in seconds.

Finding Confidence and Inspiration

I hope my story gives you inspiration, knowledge, and the power to take the next step in your hair-wearing journey. Check out our [FAQ](https://www.frankiehairtoppers.com/pages/faqs) for more on toppers, and here’s an interesting [journal article](https://academic.oup.com/ced/article/47/11/1951/6966079) about Minoxidil.

I’d love to hear about your hair loss journey. Please get in touch with me via email or Instagram.

Till next time,

Karen