'Hair loss is completely normal,' was what I quickly accepted when small patches of my hair began going missing. Generally it's safe to assume that high tension hairstyles, along with inconsistent hair care, are the sole cause to temporary issues, like breakage and holiday hair loss*. What I found, though, is that there are far more contributors to female hair loss than cornrows, box braids and high-puff, pineapple ponytails. Mine, is Stage III Endometriosis.

Two years prior to my diagnosis I began noticing random thinning around the left side of my hairline. I blew it off thinking I was stressed and maybe my headbands were too tight. Truthfully, I also believed that my youth was enough to secure any doubts about my hair growing back and I was wrong for so many reasons. Namely that hair loss is hormonal. So even if it was effected by my emotional disposition, ultimately my hormonal imbalance decided whether you can see your reflection clearly or not on my head--because I would be bald, get it?

I wound up being really delicate with my hair from then on; learning how to flat twist by accident and actually deep conditioning it every week. It wasn't until I realized that the patches in my hair were both reoccurring and becoming more frequent that I started looking for real solutions. 

The only progress I made was by using a product from Camille Rose called Rejuva Drops. I would apply this product to the areas where hair was missing every other day and massage it in with a splash of water. 

If it worked, great! If not, I tried my best. 

I went through an entire bottle of this product, meaning it works--I mean obviously, because I'm bald now (that was not sarcasm by the way)! Of course, by this time the rest of my hair was long enough to cover it up, but knowing at any point there could be more bald patches was stressful and discouraging.

Once I lost interest in caring for my hair the decision was made; 

I shaved my head

What a relief it was to no longer be bound by the length and dying health of my hair! Backlash is to be expected when a woman decides to be rid of her hair--even when it's a consequence of an underlying illness. I haven't let it prevent me from feeling comfortable and feminine. I'm also very grateful to my parents for insuring that I have a decent skull, otherwise I would look like a melted milk chocolate ball painted in makeup.

For women who are experiencing hair loss, I encourage you to really consider your options along with your desires for your physical appearance. I took the easy way out by giving up and in to my urge to be baldheaded. This day an age numerous solutions and alternatives to baldness are available. Make research your best friend, determine what is causing your hair loss by visiting the appropriate medical practitioners and take care of yourself! I will be sharing updates, tips and tricks in the near future about how to cater to a newly shaved scalp. So comment any questions you'd love to have answered!

*reference to seemingly random patches of hair occurring all over the scalp