I can’t work out where the half year mark is. Is it midsummers day? Or the last day in June? Or the first day in July? Whatever the answer, we’re kind of there, which means….
<drum roll please>
…I have not pulled one hair out of my head for six months :o) To celebrate, today I had a haircut :o) :o) :o) My lovely friend-of-the-family-hairdresser informed me she would do what she could to change my hair from ‘helmet’ to ‘styled’. Being a bit of a genius, I think she managed it and I am feeling rather proud of myself, I have to say.
For anyone reading this who has trichotillomania, I am not for one minute suggesting that shaving your head and buying a Bradley (the name of my wig) will solve your problem, or that you should try it. All I am saying is that after 23 years of trying just about everything, this worked for me. It’s not been easy. I have had to fight urges to pull (an alien concept I guess, if this is all new to you but it’s a bit like biting your nails, just weirder. You can read about the weirdness here). And I’ve have had to find other things to get into the habit of – I am now obsessive about crochet. But hopefully it is the end of my trich for good, but just to keep the pressure on a little, I’ll update you at the end of the year.
Thank you to all the lovely people who have supported me and especially to those who didn’t bat an eyelid when I removed Bradley while out for a drink, coped with me developing a passion for hats and not shied away when I have just looked daft due to patchy bum fluff on my head. On that last one, thank you especially to Sisters 1 and 2 who have ALWAYS supported me and my bald patches and my amazing colleagues who really could have reacted differently, but who never made me feel conspicuous…even though I was!
There is only one person who cancelled meeting up when I told him Bradley had gone into retirement and I haven’t heard from since. He’s off the Christmas card list now. One out of a lot of lovely people isn’t bad I guess.
And now, here’s a little journey using some (pretty awful) pictures that take you from 6 months ago to today. Be warned – they are all those taken-in-the-mirror pictures (Norman is rubbish with a camera) and some I have no make up on which is never a good look!
This is when I stopped wearing Bradley
There is a bit of a gap in my photos here. The one above was the start of May. The one below was yesterday (and I admit, I may have made it a bit more pokey-outy than usual…)
And this is how much hair I had cut off today:
(ok, it’s not that much, but in the Pog scheme of things, it is!)
TA-DAAAAA! (look at those crows feet – this has clearly aged me!)
Thank you, all you lovelies. I couldn’t have done it without all the support :o)x
the pog blog 
Huge kudos to you! Absolutely inspiring stuff and you look wonderful. :o)
Thank you so much Katie. And thank you for being one of those amazing colleagues that I mentioned :o)
You could have done it without our help, but if in any of us helped you to look like you do ‘today’, we are well chuffed. Well done Pog and don’t slip back into the bad habit. The barnet looks far to nice too sacrifice all that hard work, and John definitely needs the help of ‘Bradley’ more than you do now!!
Thank you. I’ll give Bradley to mum and dad next time they see you so John can try him for size ;o)
It certainly is a cute haircut! Congratulations to you!
Thank you, owleyes (very cute name) :o)
Well done you! Gorgeous haircut… Very styley! Xx
Thank you Janette. And thank you for helping to feed my crochet obsession – you are a very talented lady! :o) x
You look great — well done you — see you soon xx
Thank you! i certainly look different :o)
so proud of you honey hang in there and before you know it you’ll b flicking it over your shoulder-(should u choose to go long that is!??) I actually really like short hair on u! xxx
Thank you Sacha :o) I think I may be keeping it short now as it takes about 30 seconds to do it in the morning…and people keep saying ‘oooh, you look SO much better with it short!’
from one hair-puller to another, congratulations! it encourages me to read your post :)
Thank you Devan. I am so pleased this has encouraged you. It’s not easy…but it’s not impossible either :o)