A full head of hair, while it can be easy to take for granted, is a true blessing-in-disguise. The way our hair looks and feels is a crucial piece of our identity. It’s our DNA. So, as Hair Loss Awareness Month wraps up this August, it’s important that our efforts in uplifting the hair loss community press on. What better way to keep the support going then by commemorating Alopecia Areata (AA) Awareness Month this September! Let’s come together and show our support to not just our loved ones with AA, but any individual who might be fighting that battle.
To help us understand more about the effects and impact that AA can have on someone’s life, plus discuss the future of the alopecia areata community, we sat down with Helen and Jo Owens, founders of Her Secret Hair. Be sure to learn more about their life-changing mission in our Hair Loss Awareness Month article before you continue! Now, as AA Awareness month kicks off, it’s critical we fully understand:
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata (AA) is a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly targets healthy hair follicles, leading to hair loss.1 It typically shows up as small, round bald patches on the scalp, but can affect other areas like the eyebrows, eyelashes, and even facial hair. In some cases, it can progress to complete hair loss on the scalp (alopecia totalis) or across the entire body (alopecia universalis). At this time, the exact cause behind AA isn’t fully understood, but experts believe a mix of genetics and environmental triggers are the culprit.
AA affects everyone differently, with symptoms able to manifest at any age, from childhood to adulthood. Helen Owens, the hands behind the magic at Her Secret Hair, recalls how she first noticed her AA-related hair loss at only 11 years old.
Hair loss is frustrating, confusing, embarrassing and even heartbreaking at any age, but it might be less challenging the younger you’re affected by it, as Helen explains. “When you’re a child, you’ve had much more time to learn how to cope or work with your hair loss,” she says. Helen contrasts this with adult hair loss, adding: “Just imagine having a full head of hair your entire life, until one day, you wake up with these bald patches forming on your head.” The sudden, drastic change in an individual’s appearance can be excruciatingly jarring for them, making alopecia areata just as much a mental battle as it is physical.
Bonus!
Head over to Her Secret Hair’s official blog for tips on how YOU can empower someone experiencing hair loss.
If you or someone you know is battling hair loss due to alopecia areata, please know that you’re not alone. As we collectively grow more understanding and aware of one another as a society, the resources for those with AA are expanding, too. The most prevalent of them all being:
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF)
While someone’s battle with hair loss is profoundly intimate, having a community of individuals with similar experiences to lean on can make a world of difference. The NAAF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by AA, is providing just that. Some of the resources you can find through the NAAF are:
Support: Emotional and social support through local support groups, educational materials, and online resources can be found through the NAAF website. Between their youth mentor program or one-on-one phone support, the NAAF has help for people at any stage of their hair loss journey.
Advocacy: The NAAF advocates for people with alopecia areata by working with policymakers to promote awareness, ensure access to treatments, and improve public understanding of the condition.2
Research: The foundation funds and supports scientific research to find better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for alopecia areata.2
Awareness: The NAAF organizes public awareness campaigns, such as this month’s Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, to educate people about the condition and reduce stigma.
Resources: Educational resources can be found through the NAAF to help people living with alopecia areata, including guidance on managing the condition and handling related challenges like mental health.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation is a true ally for those navigating the challenges of alopecia areata. They offer a warm, supportive community where individuals can find both emotional comfort and practical help, from local support groups to one-on-one phone calls. Their dedication to advocacy ensures that the voices of those affected are heard and understood, while their ongoing research efforts bring hope for better treatments and, eventually, a cure. Whether you’re seeking support, looking to get involved, or just want to learn more, the NAAF is here to guide you every step of the way.
How Beauty Professionals Can Support Individuals with AA
As a beauty or hair professional, being able to provide a safe space for people amidst their hair loss journey is imperative. Even if you’re not able to treat your client necessarily, being there to listen, allowing them the utmost privacy, and remaining by their side speaks volumes. Above all, though, both Helen and Jo can’t stress how important it is that someone experiencing hair loss is connected with the right resources as soon as possible. Hair loss is a very delicate battle, that can often lead to years of built up and suppressed emotions. If you’re not 110% prepared or able to help your client (which is okay!), make sure you’re still playing your part as the professional to get them to the right place.
Want to make sure YOU’RE providing a safe space to clients? Just refer to the checklist, below! By deploying even a few of these tactics, you might completely revolutionize someone’s life.
"Our role as beauty and hair professionals is so much more than just providing services or getting a check at the end of the week. We’re a healers; therapists, even, in many ways." – Helen Owens, hair replacement specialist and author of Finding Our She-Compass
Safe Space Checklist:
- Offer private consultations or treatment spaces if able.
- Practice active listening.
- Use sensitive, supportive language.
- Reassure the client without offering immediate solutions.
- Understand the limits of your expertise.
- Have a referral system in place for hair loss specialists.
- Stay updated on hair loss conditions.
- Follow up with the client post-visit.
Being a hair or beauty professional takes being a supportive ally in your clients' journeys with hair loss. Even if you're not able to directly address their concern, your empathy, discretion, and referral to specialists can offer immense comfort and support.
A More Educated & Unified Future
The ultimate hope for the future of the AA community is that hair loss, whether it be due to frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), alopecia universalis, or centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, be seen as a collective, unified battle. Helen put it perfectly: “I think that all of the support groups, businesses, and movements need to come together and recognize that this is a hair loss journey. There may be different reasons for that journey, but in the end, the fight remains the same.” So even though September is officially AA Awareness Month, it’s important we still educate ourselves and show support to the alopecia areata community any time of year!
Helen and Jo, we can’t thank you enough for taking the time to sit down with us, tell us your story, and what we can do as a society to better uplift the hair loss community. If you’re a business owner or beauty professional, be sure to connect with Her Secret Hair and visit Helen's Instagram to learn more about their amazing initiative, how you can refer clients experiencing hair loss, and what you can do as a hair professional to empower said clients as their stylist.
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