Please help me! (Trich)

Dea wrote: Hello everyone, I am new here. I have a HUGE problem! I have 2 proms coming up next month, and i have a disorder called trichotillomania, which means I pull my hair. It's growing back, but in the meantime the hair all on top of my head is an inch long or shorter! THe rest of my hair is thin, but about shoulder length. does anyone have any ideas on how to do my hair for prom? Thanks! ~Dea

Without seeing a photograph of your hair I can't tell you if this will definitely work for you, but I've had an idea.

First of all, comb out any parting you do have by combing your hair away from your face and towards the back of your head. Hairspray or gel the first two or so inches of the top of your hair so that it goes backwards lying flat.

Put your forefingers just below your ears and draw them upwards so you gather an upside down V section of your shoulder length hair. Divide this into three and cross over just as you would start a braid. Now work in hair from the back right part of your hair so you've got a kinda braidy thing going on. Keep working in hair until you meet the part of your head where the hair just isn't long enough. Keep on braiding the hair you already have in your hand and pin as you go along so the braid lies on your head, going in what's going to end up a circular braid shape. When you get to the back left part of your head where there's some more shoulder length hair, work this in just as you did before. Keep braiding and pinning. You'll probably end up going round the same circle again. Doesn't matter. Do so until you run out of hair and try to tuck in the end bit of hair under itself and pin it out of side so the join isn't too obvious.

If you've understood my instructions, you should now have a sort of crown braid. The part of the braid lying on the frontish part of your head should be lying on top of some gelled/sprayed short hair and thus helping to hide the lack of length.

Now hide the braid join by adorning your hair with pretty chunky flower accessories or wherever you think your hair looks short and makes you unconfident. Try and strike a balance between hiding the parts of your hair you don't like and overkill!

I hope you understand my suggestion, but in any case I do want to advise you to make an appointment with a local stylist to discuss your options. If the price in your area is expensive for you, then bear in mind that if you watch what your stylist does, you can pick up some really neat tips that you can use to do your hair yourself for your second prom.

I would have suggested extensions as another idea, but I wasn't sure if this would irritate you. They can be quite expensive and when your fingers are going through a hair hating mood, it's maybe not such a great idea!

Anyway, I hope some of this helps you and that you manage to keep your disorder under control. Even if you hate my idea, I'm sure you'll find the perfect style for you somewhere!:)

~ Cait x