6 Types of Tattoos To Help Cope After Hair Loss
#1 Microblading
Eyebrows frame the face, and we all know losing our brows due to alopecia can hurt our self esteem and sense of identity. It doesn’t help that bold, fluffy brows have become the hottest beauty trend over the last couple years. Not all of us have the skill to draw realistic, perfectly shaped brows from scratch every day, and even if we did, some days we don’t have the time or just don’t feel up to the task. Not to mention warm days may spell a melty disaster, ending with dark smudges no longer sitting on the brow bone. Repeated purchase of cosmetics and eyebrow transfer sheets can also become costly over time. Luckily the tattoo industry has popularized a hassle-free, semi-permanent technique to mimic the appearance of natural eyebrow hair strokes! Microblading, also known as micropigmentation or 3D brows, uses an ultra-precise, special tool made of a row of tiny, sterile needles to deposit pigment into the skin’s surface in fine strokes. Results may last up to two years.
Photo from SIX+AIT Studio, NYC
Photo from SIX+AIT Studio, NYC
#2 Permanent Eyeliner
When my lashes started thinning out (they’ve regrown quite well now), eyeliner became my best friend. But without a full set of fluffy lashes to support the product, by the end of the day my eyeliner would sit in dark smears below my lower eyelids. Thanks to permanent makeup, we can still accentuate our eyes without dealing with the “tired raccoon” look. If you’re someone who applies eyeliner daily, permanent eyeliner — aka eyeliner tattoos — can save you time in the morning for potentially 3-5 years. As with any procedure, especially ones that involve your eyes, it is important to find a certified specialist that you trust before making any decisions.
Photo from Glow By Joy, CA
#3 Scalp Tattoos
I’ll always believe in #BaldIsBeautiful, but adding a cool tattoo instantly turns a bald head into one bad*ss work of art. Head tattoos work great with the unpredictable nature of autoimmune alopecia. When your hair loss is in remission, the tattoo gets covered with your hair and you can move about society and the professional workplace like any non tattoo-headed person. When your hair falls out again, you have a really beautiful design waiting to shine underneath. Scalp tattoos are one of the coolest ways to cope with transition periods between growth and loss.
*Mohana was a featured guest and Paige and Amanda are hosts of “Those Bald Chicks”.
Photo from CAM TATTOO, CA
Photo from Nadia Andriu, NYC
#4. Matching Awareness Tattoos
Alopecia advocate rockstars, Paige (@pmarieroberts) , Mohana* (@xoxomohana), and Amanda (@thatonebaldchick) from the “Those Bald Chicks” podcast recently got matching tattoos representing “alopecia, growth, and transformation. The crack represents transformation and blossoming but also represents the trauma we have all been through because of alopecia.” (Paige Roberts @pmarieroberts). What a cute and meaningful way to raise awareness for alopecia while demonstrating sisterhood and personal growth. I would love to see more tattoos like this in the alopecia community!
*Mohana was a featured guest and Paige and Amanda are hosts of “Those Bald Chicks”.
Photo from Paige Roberts (@pmarieroberts)
#5. Scar Cover Up Tattoos
As many of us have experienced, alopecia can have a psychological impact on a person and psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and social phobias are more common among people with alopecia than in the general population. Struggles with self-esteem and body image can lead alopecians to seek dangerous coping strategies like self-injury. Even after receiving help, recovering, and adopting healthier ways to cope, scars can be a painful reminder of the negative effects alopecia has had on a person’s mind and life. I have a scar cover-up tattoo on my left forearm of Haku, a river spirit that takes the form of a dragon in my favorite animated movie, Spirited Away. Overwriting scars from the past with beautiful imagery can be a great way to aid healing and move forward from darker times.
*Mohana was a featured guest and Paige and Amanda are hosts of “Those Bald Chicks”.
Photo from Ghinko, NYC
#6. Positive Reminder Tattoos
Keeping our thoughts positive and rational is easier said than done. On bad days we don’t always stick to our principles or keep our promises to treat ourselves with love and respect. We can’t just “think ourselves” out of a rut or bad mood all the time. It helps to carry a kind message with us wherever we go, and have a visible, physical reminder to keep working towards the person we want to be.
I have a tattoo on my arm that depicts two hands holding a heart, either giving or receiving love. This tattoo is a reminder of a personal mantra: to let compassion, integrity, and love guide my actions, always. That love may not always be returned, but putting love into the world is something that is impossible to regret.
*Mohana was a featured guest and Paige and Amanda are hosts of “Those Bald Chicks”.
Photo from Tritoan Ly, New Zealand
Photo from Joao Goncalves, Portugal
Would you consider any of these tattoos? Or, perhaps you have another idea? Share with us in the comments section below!
With love,
Renèe
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