Call Me G.I. Jane

I thought that it was necessary for another blog post today because I SHAVED MY HEAD! After taking my wig off and looking in the mirror last night to see that I directly resembled a mad scientist with random patches of hair shooting out from all over my head, I decided that it was time for the rest of it to go. There were very few places with hair left and bobby-pinning it up under the wig everyday seemed like it was going to be more of a hassle than anything, so after a typical impulsive Laura decision, I was ready to part ways with the few lingering hairs that I had left.

Everyone in the annex was so helpful and I couldn't have done it without them. Shout out to Marisa for cutting it, Liz for bringing over her roomie's electric razors, Lauren Hagerty for buzzing it, Sue for the smooth shave, and everyone else for being so supportive and making me feel so comfortable.

Today, I wore my wig to class for the first time and a couple people just asked if I had highlighted my hair, and the others who knew said that it looked way better than they had expected, so I can't complain! Not to mention it took me less than 5 minutes to get ready to go out Saturday night and cut my shower time yesterday by at LEAST half. After class today I went for a run with Liz and just wore a hat (because I don't want to ruin my wig) and felt surprisingly fine with it. 

Bottom line: embrace change.

I figured that the blog wouldn't be complete without some photos of the process so here they are!

Barber Hagerty shaving off my remaining hair

the final product!

selfie, oops. thank you Liz Andrews for coming with me to get my new wig! :)

I have been happier than ever lately and I honestly owe it all to my amazing friends. Sorry to be sappy, but its true. This whole thing has made me realize how many great people I have in my life and I love each and every one of you!!

gettin wiggy with it, na na na na na na

Well, yesterday was somewhat out of the ordinary for a 20-year-old, fairly healthy college student.........I purchased a wig.

The past week my hair has been falling out nonstop, 24/7, all day every day, and by yesterday was at the point where not even my brand new thick headbands could cover the spots up. Here is a lovely snapshot of my hair after one shower:

Pairing a polo baseball cap to work with nice black pants, heals, and cardigan for my office job didn't seem exactly ideal, so I finally came to terms with the fact that it was time to invest in a "hairpiece" so that I can go back to feeling somewhat normal again.....YIKES that sounds weird. So yesterday, I skipped class to get my shift at work over with and then booked it to St. Louis to the local Custom Wig Shoppe where I met up with my very supportive mother (who is being unfortunately being forced to spend a fortune on my lack of hair, sorry mom) to pick out a brand new wig.

BIMBO. That was the first word that popped into my mind when I made my way around the different aisles of perfectly voluminous and teased-looking, thick, and extra shiny wigs. I mean, it is going to be quite obvious when I start walking around campus and my hair has suddenly grown 2 inches higher.. but you gotta do what you gotta do.

That's basically what I've learned with this whole thing. It's a medical condition, there is absolutely nothing else I can do about it, and there is no reason to walk around pitying myself because well... there is just no point. So I am embracing all of this the best that I humanly can.

I found that the best way to deal with it all is just to be open and accepting of it, and I feel that's the best way to get through anything in life. Just take it one day at a time and make the best out of anything that comes your way.

Anyways. I was kind of hoping that the prednisone (a steroid that works by decreasing inflammation or suppressing an overactive immune system) that my dermatologist prescribed me last week would have kicked in and stopped my hair from falling out by now, but instead it has only made me want to eat this:

hehe just kidding, I didn't really like the seaweed. but THIS is more like it:

Yes, I did eat dinner at Corner Bakery and order a huge salad and then go back for a cookie. And then walk across the street to order a full order of chocolate chip pancakes. All prednisone has done is make me want to eat everything in sight. My cravings have been out of this world, and the fact that I was road-tripping all last weekend and eating out on the streets of Chicago didn't help my case.. So now, thanks to prednisone, I can be bald AND fat. any takers?

So, back to the wig. I picked one out. I got it as close to my hair color as possible. It's really long, but I'm cutting it. I'm getting it this weekend. I'm kind of excited, and I'm sure all you DG annex girlies are too so that you don't have to deal with my bitching and constant hair balls floating around.. sorrz. But anyways, if you happen to see me around campus next week, I swear I didn't take 2 hours blow-drying, straightening, and teasing my hair, I just don't have bad hair days.