Healing Through Hair Loss
By Cyndi Buchanan
Healing Through Hair LossSep 22, 2023
JAK Inhibitor Journey - Episode 16
In this episode, I will be discussing my year journey on a Jak inhibitor. I will talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of taking Olumiant. After a year of treatment, I will also tell you where I am with my alopecia.
*This episode is not intended to be medical advice. I am not a medical professional. I am only sharing my personal journey.*
Could This Be the Cure We've Been Waiting For? - Episode 15
*Disclaimer* I am not a medical professional. Do not take anything I say in my podcast as medical advice. I am only speaking from my personal experience.
In this episode, I talk about the new FDA-approved drug approved to treat alopecia. I dive into the mental hoops I am going through while deciding whether to try this new treatment.
How To Solve The Itchy Wig Problem - Episode 14
In this episode, I give some helpful tips for solving the itchy wig problem.
Affiliate links are listed below to help me with my expensive wig habit:
Bamboo Wig Caps:
https://amzn.to/3N0onJx
Here is a link to some of my favorite wigs. If you need help picking one out please let me know. I'll be happy to walk you through all of the cap variations and empower you to find the perfect wig for you.
https://stylesbysoma.com/cyndi
How to Cope With Bad Days - Episode 13
In this episode, I talk about how to cope when you are having a bad alopecia day. Some days are just really hard when you have alopecia. You have days when you miss being "normal". I talk about how I have learned to cope when I have days when I just want to be "normal" again.
Alopecia Perks - Episode 12
In this episode, I talk about the perks of having alopecia. And believe it or not, even on the bad days, there are perks to having this condition. I went to Instagram and Facebook for this episode and asked other alopecians for their input.
I give, not only my opinions of the perks of alopecia, but I give you the responses I got from Facebook and Instagram.
Adapting to Going to the Gym Bald - Episode 11
In this episode, I talk about how to adapt to going to the gym bald. This isn't an easy thing to do. I'll share the things I have done to adapt to going to the gym bald.
Adapting To Going Out In Public Bald - Episode 10
Going to the Beach Bald - Episode 9
You can go the beach and still keep your bald head safe. Here are 4 tips to keep from getting a nasty sunburn at the beach.
Affiliate links are listed below to help me with my expensive wig habit:
Beach Sun Hat:
https://amzn.to/3fg2cl9
Swim Cap:
https://amzn.to/3svQBCg
Sunscreen:
https://amzn.to/3tUEQWv
Here is a link to some of my favorite wigs. If you need help picking one out please let me know. I'll be happy to walk you through all of the cap variations and empower you to find the perfect wig for you.
https://stylesbysoma.com/cyndi
Alopecia Elevator Story - Episode 8
How to Talk to Kids About Hair Loss - Episode 7
In this episode, I talk about how to talk to kids about hair loss. How you talk to kids about hair loss will be different depending on their age and maturity level. I give examples of how I have talked to friends and family members of various ages about my hair loss journey.
What Not to Say to an Alopecian - Episode 6
In this episode, I talk about what you should never say to someone dealing with hair loss. This is something that I can almost guarantee every woman dealing with hair loss has heard. I discuss why this common phrase is hurtful and insensitive.
Alopecia Chat with Erica Olenski Johansen
*Disclaimer* I am not a medical professional. Do not take anything I say in my podcast as medical advice. I am only speaking from my personal experience.
During this episode, I had this opportunity to do my very first interview with a fellow alopecian, Erica Olenskijohansen. In this interview, we talk about our alopecia diagnosis, how we are currently living with alopecia, and how our relationships have been shaped because of alopecia.
Here is a little bit more information about Erica:
I'm really just hoping to represent myself as a patient and caregiver advocate but also a thought leader on the future of healthcare as well as a result of my career and intense personal circumstances. For a link, you can see more of my work in alopecia as well as cancer and complex care here: https://linktr.ee/ericaolenskijohansen
Lead With Kindness - Episode 4
In this podcast, I'm talking about the thing that everyone is sick of hearing about. Will, Jada, and Chris Rock. As an alopecian I share my opinion on what happened at the Oscars and what I wish had happened. Did Will Smith do more harm than good to the alopecia community?
Rio's Rainbow - Episode 3
*Trigger Warning*
In this video I will be discussing the harsh reality of suicide and bullying. If these topics are too much for you this might not be the video for you. This live is dedicated to Rio. Rio is a 12 year old who took her own life after dealing with severe bullying at school because of her alopecia. #riosrainbow
If you or someone you know is in distress or experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7/365 at 800-273-8255.
If you or someone you know if being bullied, get help now: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now
If you or a young person with alopecia you know needs peer or mentor support, our Youth Mentor Program can help: https://www.naaf.org/Youth-Mentor-Program
Facebook Support Groups:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/321242982008874
and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/110544604586
To Shave or Not to Shave
Making the decision to shave my head was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Do I hold onto what little bit of hair I have in hopes that it will come back soon? Or do I shave it off and hope that it comes back soon? In this podcast, I talk about my experience with shaving my head after dealing with alopecia and the emotions that came with shaving my head.
My So Bald Life
In my debut podcast, I will tell the story of my hair loss, the roller coaster of emotions that came with my hair loss, and how I am currently working to deal with this loss. Alopecia will not keep me down and I hope it won’t keep you down.