ANNE FERGUSON
EVEN though Anne is married to celebrity stylist Taylor Ferguson, she has had to face a devastating personal hair battle since she realised she was going bald.
Anne, 66, who lives near Glasgow, started losing hair from the back of her head – which left her with a bald patch.
She said: “At my hair line at the back, I’ve lost about two inches from ear to ear. That section at the back of my head has been bald for almost five years.
“I feel Nadia Sawalha’s pain. But she’s done an amazing job airing this topic to such a wide audience. A problem shared is definitely a problem halved.
“Just like her, I discovered clump by clump of hair vanishing down the shower plug hole and I felt so helpless. Being married to a leading hairdresser didn’t make it easier, especially as I am often the first person his clients meet when they check into the salon.
“If your hair starts thinning it will have a direct impact on your psyche and morale. I blame the menopause 100 per cent.
“It hit me with slight thinning from my early 50s. Then, over a six-week period when I was 61, I lost about two inches of hair. It was very swift and that made it so much worse. It was instant panic.
“If I could lose that in six weeks, what could happen in six months? I couldn’t do terribly much to help it. I sought medical advice and had lots of health tests.
“Being in the business means my hair is often under scrutiny and so when it started to thin and – its loss could be rapid and substantial – I became really stressed.
“That probably didn’t help matters. Pillow talk for us wasn’t just the day’s business or family matters, it was what was left on the pillow in terms of my thinning hair each morning.
“I’ve been very lucky because of my job I was able to get extensions which hide the bald patch. But they didn’t hide the fact I always knew it was there. “I’ve gone for the good cut, the occasional hair extension to give volume and I’ve turned to new technology now too, enhanced by good products. I feel I’m in control of the situation now and am able to hold my head higher.”
Anne has been using laser treatment for about 10-12 weeks and says tiny hairs have started to grow on the bald patch.
“I read about the HairMax laserbands on an in-flight magazine and immediately sent off for one.
“Having used the machine for almost three months now, the former shiny bald patches have been replaced by new hair. It’s stubbly but it’s hair and now I’m watching to see how it grows and develops.
“It’s made me so happy because I’ve got hair for the first time in five years on that patch. It gives me hope.” ● Visit www.taylorferguson.com