Living with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Hannah Prince on Wig Guilt
You grew up on an island and loved swimming, yet you avoided the beach for years because of your wig. What other parts of life did alopecia quietly take from you back then?
"I think the biggest thing alopecia took from me was the freedom to just be a kid without overthinking everything. Growing up in Jersey, you’re surrounded by beautiful beaches, and I absolutely loved swimming, but there was always that worry about my wig. Would it come off? Would someone notice? Would I look different? And I wouldn’t DREAM of taking it off back then so it was either ruin the wig or go without the fun.
It wasn’t just swimming either. Things like sleepovers, windy days, going on rides or even getting ready with friends were things I would ALWAYS overthink. Things that probably wouldn’t cross most people’s minds.
Looking back, I realize how much time I spent worrying about my hair when I should’ve just been enjoying myself. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing my journey now.
I don’t want other little girls growing up with alopecia to feel like they have to miss out on anything because of their hair, because I feel I missed out on so much."
You've been honest that you still get moments of "wig guilt." How do you balance embracing your natural self and the love of wearing wigs?
"This is something I’ve really had to learn over the years. I’ve worn wigs for practically my entire life, since I was 5, so they’ve always been a huge part of who I am.
I absolutely LOVE wigs, I love being able to change my hair, experiment with different styles and feel beautiful, but this has taken a lot of growth. I’ve also had moments (and still do, growth isn’t linear) where I’ve felt guilty, almost like wearing a wig means I’m not fully embracing my alopecia, or that I’m ‘ungrateful’ for the hair I have.
Something I’ve come to realize is that the two can exist together, I can love myself without my hair and still love wearing wigs. One doesn’t cancel out the other.
I don’t wear wigs because I’m ashamed of my natural self. I wear them because I genuinely enjoy them and they make me feel ME, and I think there’s something really empowering about having that choice.
I’ve spent so much of my life worrying about how other people perceive me, and now I’m learning that I don’t owe anyone a certain version of myself. Wig or no wig, I’m still me!"
Since frontal fibrosing alopecia affects the hairline so directly, what have you learned to look for in a wig or topper to make that front edge look as seamless as possible? How did finding that change the way you felt walking out the door?
"For me, the hairline is EVERYTHING! Because of my alopecia, I’ve always been really conscious of how natural the front of my wigs looks, especially as I’d always dreamed of having my own hairline.
I look for a really good lace front and something that doesn’t look too thick or bulky around the front. I also love wigs that don’t require loads of glue or styling to make them look realistic! Silky human hair & a HYPER realistic hairline, because you deserve no less!!
The last thing you should worry about is paying a fortune for a wig for it to not have basic things a real head of hair would.
And I’ve learnt that sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference. Things like the density, how the hair falls around your face and finding a wig that actually suits YOU.
When I was younger, I used to worry constantly about whether people could tell I was wearing a wig so finding wigs that look and feel natural has made such a difference to my confidence.
And there’s something so lovely about being able to put a wig on, feel comfortable and just get on with your day without constantly checking if it’s sitting right!"
As a young woman, what was getting your FFA diagnosis like? Have you been able to connect with others your age who have the same form of alopecia?
"Having alopecia from such a young age has definitely shaped who I am. Hair loss is something I’ve always known, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s always been easy.
One of the hardest parts about having alopecia as a young woman is feeling like you’re the only person your age going through it.
Especially when we’re surrounded by social media and so much emphasis is placed on hair being your femininity, as you can imagine this wasn’t great for my self esteem. And frontal fibrosing alopecia is also something you tend to hear about more in older women, so it can feel quite isolating being so young.
Since sharing my journey online, I’ve connected with so many incredible women and girls experiencing different forms of alopecia. It’s honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of putting myself out there. When I was 15, I couldn’t even sit in my own garden for embarrassment, and now I can sit in front of a camera. I’ve come so far!
Even if someone doesn’t have exactly the same type of alopecia as me, we can still relate to so many of the same feelings and experiences. But I’ve also had alopecia universalis & areata, the FFA is just the outcome for me now after years of trauma to my hair follicles.
I wish I’d had a community like this growing up to feel less isolated, which is exactly why I want to create that space for other people now. Nobody should feel like they’re going through it alopecia alone."