NORMA COLFORD
NORMA Colford noticed she was starting to lose the hair around the crown of her head when she was only about 20.
She said: “I’ve always had fine hair – my mum had it as well. It’s a genetic thing.”
But she felt self-conscious when her hair started coming out in clumps, leaving her with bald patches that wouldn’t grow back.
Norma added: “I used to hate sitting on buses where people could look at the back of my hair so I’d sit at the back. I didn’t like anyone sitting behind me.
“It was always in the back of my mind. If someone gave me a look I’d think, ‘Can they see my bald spot?’”
When her GP told her it was genetic female pattern baldness, she didn’t think anything would help.
Norma, 56, who’s originally from Glasgow, lived in Kinross before moving to Philadelphia in the US two years ago for her husband’s work.
The mum of three read an article about Lucinda Ellery hairloss studios and had a consultation in 2011.
She then used the Intralace system, which she says has transformed her life. There’s a studio in Edinburgh but with Norma living in the States, she visits one in New York.
She said: “There’s an upkeep, I go every six weeks to get it tightened.
“But it’s just like having normal hair. I go swimming and can tie it back and straighten it. It’s totally transformed me as a person. I’m more confident and don’t have to cover the back of my hair.”
When one of her daughters married in 2013, Norma was able to have her hair styled with the bridal party.
Now she’s keen to raise awareness of the help that is available for women suffering baldness.
She said: “You think you’re the only one and it does make a big dent in your confidence. But there’s help out there.
“People don’t think this happens to women. They think it’s a male thing.” ● Lucinda Ellery has studios in Edinburgh, London, Bristol, Manchester and the West Midlands. Visit www. lucindaellery-hairloss.co.uk