TAMPA — According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, nearly 6.8 million people either have or will develop alopecia in their lifetime.
The hair loss condition is triggered when the immune system attacks hair follicles due to illness or stress.
For one Tampa woman, the condition is hereditary.
What You Need To Know
- 6.8 million people either have or will develop Alopecia in their lifetime
- Alopecia is triggered is triggered when the immune system attacks hair follicles due illness or stress
- Will Smith’s Oscar slap has sparked a conversation and awareness about alopecia
- Adriana Jenkins opened hair loss practice after leaving career as Florida prison guard
During Bria Jones’ hair journey, she did everything she could to feel better about herself.
“It was hard trying to figure it out on my own, dying it all different colors, just trying to give me something better than what was there,” said Jones.
Jones recalls struggling with hair loss as early as 12 years old.
“I noticed the spots would start to thin and bald,” she said. “My grandma, my mom and my dad, that same spot at the top we all have it.”
As her hair line continued to shed over the years so did her self confidence.
“It’s kind of like stages in grief, you accept it at some point,” said Jones. “This is who you are and you have to make the best of it.”
She makes the most of her circumstance by getting her hair done. For her latest hair style she has chosen an Afro.
She feels fortunate to have found hair loss practitioner Adriana Jenkins, who creates custom wigs for Jones and other clients with alopecia.
”That’s what I love about my clients. They push me out of my element,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins left a full-time job as a prison guard to pursue her passion for hair care to boost the self esteem of clients like Jones.
“It’s refreshing because I know that the issue that she has, she doesn’t let it define her and she keeps pushing,” added Jenkins. “She’ll send me stuff (hair designs) knowing she can’t get it, and I’ll say, ‘OK, well, we’ll figure it out,'” she chuckled.
Jones says it took her a while to feel comfortable with enhancing her look with extensions and wigs.
“Back in the day, only older people wore wigs,” she said.
Today she says it’s more acceptable, but there are still certain beauty standards that are celebrated especially via social media.
She says after the recent controversy at the Oscars, a much needed discussion about alopecia was sparked.
“It’s an eye opener for people that don’t know what alopecia is,” said Jones. “They don’t know what the emotional aspect of what people with hair loss go through.”
She says she’s gotten past the stigma and is embracing everything that makes her unique.
Meanwhile, Jenkins says the biggest misconception about alopecia is that the damage is always permanent.
If caught early enough she says it can be treated and reversed.
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