"However, officially getting a diagnosis was ultimately grounding. Shortly after this initial reaction, I was able to find an acceptance of myself deeper than my surface level smile and attitude about the process. There is something beautiful about recognizing the person you were meant to be, and the insignificance of things some put so much significance in.

"When I was coming to terms with my alopecia, the resources I found were directed toward women seeking to be beautiful with hair loss through a wig. While that is an important option and valid for some, I was extremely disheartened. Societal standards of beauty are incredibly off base in many ways, and the significance of hair is one of those ways.

"I shaved my head in August 2017, and let me tell you, it was liberating! The process of losing hair was emotional and tears were shed, but when I stopped covering up the bald spots and started rocking the bald, a weight had been lifted off my shoulder (literally and figuratively). I have had many strangers come up to me thanking me for my strength to boldly be bald when they could not. Again, there is no right way—as long as the way you go is because you have chosen that way. My beauty tip: do whatever the hell you want.

"As I continue to learn about the connection between autoimmune health and overall health and wellness care, I have mobilized to prioritize my own health and wellness in ways I never had. I have completely transformed my eating habits and nutrition, exercise routine and frequency, incorporation of personal passions and activities, among other mindful and interpersonal parts of my life. This is all ironic because people assume I am tragically sick, when in fact I am the healthiest I have been in a long time.

"I get cold much easier, and have to be extra protective of my skin (I already had vitiligo, autoimmune diseases like to stick together). Something to think about is the implications of losing your nose and ear hair—the New York winter was not kind to me. In a practical sense, I wear winter hats in places that otherwise wouldn't be appropriate, put sunscreen on my head every morning, and carry tissues with me constantly. On the rare day I decide to wear makeup, learning to adjust that routine has been fun—who knew you could contour your skull?!

"I am a cis, hetero, able, Protestant, white woman who holds a lot of privilege, and the hardest part for me overall is acknowledging the privilege I hold, while also allowing myself to grieve and allow sadness. I have it easy, really. I made it to 22 with a head full of Rapunzel hair. I had hair through middle school. The people who knew me with hair seem to only talk to one another about me no longer having hair. Everyone asks about pubic hair! A colleague told me it was good I landed my job before I lost my hair or I wouldn't have been hired. When I am in public, you wouldn’t believe some of the things people say. Some days are hard. But overall, I have it easy.

"I wish more people knew alopecia existed! Also, there are double standards amongst genders as to what hair loss means, but I think an important takeaway from that is that hair loss does not necessarily mean someone is sick. Personally, I am open about talking about alopecia and what it is, but not everyone is. I would much prefer to field questions than have someone come up to me with a blanket, 'Something is obviously wrong with you. Please know I'll be praying for you,' statement."

2. "You never realize how important eyelashes are until you lose them." — Brittany

"At the age of 10, I had one bald patch that came and disappeared. I didn't think anything of it until age 12, when my hair started coming out again, but that time it was falling out in clumps. As a child you don't understand why you are going bald; I hid it from my parents because I thought I had cancer and I didn't want to worry them.