Beauty is Definitely on the Outside

It is very noble of us all to say that beauty comes from within, and it does, but it comes from the outside too.

If this weren't true the cosmetics industry wouldn't be what it is. I wouldn't be brand loyal to my Maybelline mascara or my MAC powder. I wouldn't have religiously gone to the beauty salon every 10-12 weeks for a highlight and haircut and I would have saved a lot of money at the mall.

However, every morning, we wake up, get in the shower and go through our entire regimen to looks good on the outside. But looking good on the outside builds confidence in the inside.

And that is why I spent the money that I did on my "new hair" that will be accompanying me through my journey. The doctor told me I would have 10-14 days after my first treatment until I lost my hair, but my follicles fought hard and lasted 18 days!

It was Saturday afternoon and Rett and I had a 2:00 wedding to attend. I got into the shower to go through the routine listed above. I began washing my hair and it was coming out all over the place. I had strands in my hands, all over the drain, so I began to think that I was prolonging the inevitable.

Rett and I prepared shop. We laid down an old sheet, wrapped a towel around my shoulders and sat me down in a chair from the basement. At this time we had about 30 minutes to get my head shaved, "hair" on, get dressed and start driving downtown. It ended up being a blessing in disguise as Rett and I had about 2 minutes to cry and hold each other, and then we had to get down to business.

Bring on the 3/4" guard (men will know what this is; but a guard is set to the blade to keep 3/4" of hair ontop of my head)! Hair was everywhere! It was on the floor, on me, on Rett and some made it into the trashcan. And then I looked into the mirror...and I was a Chia Pet!

My hair was gone; the hair that was just getting so full of bounce and shine from the pregnancy; the hair that helped define my outer beauty.

I debuted my new hair at the wedding and at work on Monday. I am still getting used to the fact that I have to put on my new hair everyday. But I know that the day will come that it will feel natural and add to my self confidence once again.

In the meantime, I do still have the nubbins of hair atop my head but it continues to thin. I learned a tip from another survivor to take a lint roller and rub onto my head; and this has become Rett's new favorite hobby.