Would You Go Bald to Support a Friend Through Alopecia?

“Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend.” – Bill Waterson

Alopecia Causes Hair Loss – and Strengthened This Friendship

Mary and Whitney have been best friends for nearly a decade. In 2017, Mary started showing alopecia symptoms. She was losing her eyebrows and eyelashes for the first time, and upon visiting a doctor, was diagnosed with alopecia. With alopecia areata, the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Whitney told Mary that if she ever lost all her hair, she’d go bald with her so that she didn’t feel alone.

Like many of us, 2020 was a challenging year. Whitney lost her father in May and Mary’s alopecia began to worsen as she started losing her hair. Though Mary struggled with body image, Whitney described her best friend as being selfless and remembered the deal they made.

“It’s just hair,” Whitney said. She was fully committed to cutting her hair off to honor her best friend’s journey.

Mary has had to overcome many difficult obstacles in her life. She couldn’t imagine losing her hair and adjusting to something that affects her physical appearance as well as her mental health. She learned about alopecia treatment and how confidence plays a huge role in living with the condition. Whitney saw how resilient her best friend was during that time.

“She is the strongest person I know, and I am fortunate to have her as a friend,” Whitney said.

Mary and Whitney define true friendship. Whitney donated 14 inches of her hair to Wigs For Kids!

We know losing your hair can affect your confidence and mental state. This is why Wigs For Kids creates hand-tied hairpieces for children who’ve lost their hair at no cost to them or their families.  We’re so grateful and honored that Whitney made such a thoughtful donation to Wigs For Kids, and we love welcoming her to our community of donors who make it possible for us to provide alopecia wigs to children like Mary.

To learn more about ways to get involved and help the children we serve, visit our Get Involved page.