Hair, Interrupted: One Woman Faces Hair Loss After Chemo—and Discovers the Beauty of Standing Out in a Crowd Inline

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Courtesy of Suleika Jaouad
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    My waist-length auburn hair was my signature before I got sick. Back then, I was intrigued by short hair, but never had the guts to do it.

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Seamus McKiernan
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    A few days before entering the hospital to begin chemotherapy, I decided to chop off my hair into a sleek bob.

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Seamus McKiernan
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    Losing your hair can be traumatic, but taking control before the chemo could make the first move helped me to feel empowered.

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Seamus McKiernan
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    After undergoing a bone marrow transplant in April 2012, I lost my hair again. This time, I decided to rock my bald head proudly.

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Seamus McKiernan
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    Shopping for wigs became a way for me to try on new identities and experiment with different styles.

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Youtube
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    Kristen Howard, a fellow cancer comrade, and I created a spoof YouTube video project called “The Real Housewives of Chemotherapy.” During difficult times, sometimes laughter, friendship, and ombré wigs are the best medicine.

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    Photo: Mara Nelson-Greenberg
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    Experimenting with "hair tattoos" was a fun way to turn the quarter-inch of hair on my head into a creative canvas.

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    Photo: Seamus McKiernan
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    My favorite wig to wear during the time I was sick was this hot pink number that a friend bought for me at a Halloween store. Wearing wigs in wild colors was more about making a statement than concealing an illness. Here, my brother Adam joined in on the fun.

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    Photo: Courtesy of Suleika Jaouad
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    These chic leather turbans, designed by Robin Hoods, kept me feeling stylish when my hair started to grow out.

  • Suleika Jaouad Hair Loss Cancer
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    Photo: Ashley Woo
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    I'm now in remission and happily rocking a short do. I'm pictured here with my dog, Oscar, and the Emmy Award I won for my column and video series "Life, Interrupted,” in The New York Times.