When we asked Meta what gave her the idea to post the infographic, she said it was the day a male visitor came into the office and addressed her as “sir” (her back was turned at the time). The man apologized profusely and she laughed it off, “but when you’ve had long curly hair for 30 years, it still jabs you in the heart a bit.” Meta has a wig that she wears in most public situations, but she prefers not to expose it to her workplace’s rugged manufacturing environment.
Posting the infographic not only saved Meta from having to answer the same questions over and over again, but it allowed her to educate others about alopecia areata in a proactive and professional way. Most had never heard of the condition and said they could imagine how hard it must be for a woman that has it.
You can download a PDF of the infographic here if you want to print and post it at your own workplace!
When Meta first started losing her hair, she was going through an extremely difficult time, trying desperately to get pregnant and suffering several miscarriages. Doctor after doctor said her hair loss was stress-related and that it would grow back. They prescribed steroids, creams and other treatments, but when nothing worked, Meta finally saw a doctor who gave her a correct diagnosis: alopecia areata. While relieved to have an answer, Meta needed some time to come to terms with this major loss before her healing process could begin.
Throughout the uncertainty, Meta experienced feelings that are familiar to many of us:
Meta got through it by reading and learning everything she could about AA, including the great wig and makeup options available, and realizing that to those who loved her – including her husband – she was a lot more than just her hair.