‘I’m happy and confident now and I feel better about the way I look’
Debbie Deboo (50) is a photographer and former teacher. She is married to Richard and lives in Ballinderry. She says:
When I was about 25 my hair started to go grey so I started dying it black. At the time I was working as a teacher so I couldn’t have anything too adventurous.
In fact, when I was about 30 I dyed it bright pink and got called into the headmistress’s office like one of the pupils and I had to dye it back to black again.
A few years ago, my health stared to decline as I have ME. I had to leave work and I became very down and depressed.
My hair was very grey and I hadn’t the energy or inclination to do anything with it.
I was in a very bad place at the time, but then I realised that while I might not be able to cure myself, I could make myself look better and ultimately feel better.
I lost four stones and started to feel better about myself. Then I talked to my hairdresser at Crafty Belfast about dying my hair a bright colour.
She recommended that we do it slowly and gently over a period of time. So that’s what we did. We coloured it mermaid shades of purples, blues and different shades.
It was very bright and I loved it. Colouring my hair was part of a bigger overall package that helped me feel so much better about myself.
The reaction was great — everyone loved the new me and, because I looked better, I started to feel better in my head. It wasn’t able to cure my ME but it did help me feel better.
My attitude to life was much more positive and friends and family saw that in me and knew it was a good thing.
Now, when the grey comes through I am able to use one of the coloured sprays to cover it up.
I’m happy and confident now and I feel better about the way I look and take an interest in how I dress.
And then I realised that if I could help myself I could help other women suffering from chronic illnesses to feel better about themselves.
So, Chronically Fabulous NI was born. We aim to do photoshoots with women who have illnesses to help them feel better about themselves. We might not be able to find a cure for your illness but we will help you look and feel your best. The response has been amazing.
We also send out gift boxes in the post as a surprise to people who are nominated. This gives them a big boost.
A surprise of goodies in the post can be a real pick-me-up.
I don’t think you are ever too old to dye your hair a bright colour. If it helps you look good and feel even better, then why not go for it?
It certainly worked for me.”