I Had Alopecia And Was Told My Hair Wouldn’t Grow Back – Now It’s Better Than Ever

For me, my hair has always been my crowning glory. Since I was young, it was often the first thing people complimented me about, 'Your hair is so long', 'It's just so thick', 'What products do you use?'. It was something I wore as a badge of honour, loud and proud. So, at 22, how did I find myself sitting in a cold doctor’s office, facing devastating news about the one thing I loved most about myself?  That's when my GP was told me that the chances of my hair growing back were slim to none.

But how did we get here? To be quite frank, I have no idea. One minute I had hair at the nape of my head, the next moment I didn't, and I only realised when my friend Stephanie, who was braiding my hair, pointed it out. And I was shocked: A, what happened? And B, how long has it been this way?

For months, I covered my hair with wigs and tried to act like it just wasn't there, but it only got worse. One night in my room at university in 2022, I said f*** this, got some clippers and shaved my whole head.

I told myself we will start fresh, from level zero and I will baby my hair. Moisturise it. Oil it. Let it breathe, whilst trying just about every serum under the sun to help stimulate something. But nothing worked. My hair regrew everywhere except the bald spots. So I shaved it again. In fact, three years passed and still it didn't get better.

The GP told me I had Traction Alopecia. She explained that, if there had been no growth for over a year, the hair follicles were likely permanently damaged. Close to tears, I nodded but silently disagreed. This wasn't my story.

Almost immediately, I went down a alopecia rabbit hole. Traction. Caused by a pulling force to the hair. How was that possible when there had been no tension on my hair to warrant such fall out – and for three years? Impossible. But still, I took her word for it and looked for remedies.

It's then when I discovered T444z Hair Food, and a whole community of women who were using it to reverse hair loss. And funnily enough, it was a product my mum used to oil my scalp when I was little. The before and afters had me convinced, so I clicked 'add to cart.'

Made from a cocktail of plant extracts - shea butter, aloe, rosemary oil, the cream came in solid form and melted when I rubbed it in my hands. I applied it to my troubled areas once a week (if I remembered to), and after a month I started seeing results.

I then began to hair max and acquainted myself with every supplement known to aid hair growth; Biotin and iron became my best friends. My hair was the best it had looked in years.

Before (Jan 2023) and After (October 2024)

Despite the progress, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my original diagnosis of Traction Alopecia didn’t fully explain my experience. After seeing two trichologists with no new insights, I was fortunate to meetShannel Ruka’s trichologist. She examined my hair and asked if I had any vitamin deficiencies.

After a blood test, it all clicked. I was severely iron and vitamin D deficient, which was likely to have made my hair loss worse. She believed I hadAlopecia Ophiasis Areata- a rarer form of hair loss that often causes a band-like pattern around the scalp, often confused for Traction Alopecia. The combination of vitamins and topical treatments had worked because they counteracted the hair loss.

When I shared my story on TikTok, the response was overwhelming. So many people said they’d experienced the same thing. 'This looks exactly like my hair,' commented one person. Another shared, 'Omg, I thought I was alone in this!' My inbox was flooded.

Ruka said: 'Hair loss often gets ignored because it’s easy to hide under wigs or extensions until the issue becomes severe. Always consult a doctor or trichologist if you notice hair loss. A doctor can rule out underlying health issues, while a trichologist specialises in interpreting blood tests and symptoms related to hair health.'

My hair now

Looking back, if I were to start this journey again, here’s what I’d do differently:

1. Manage Stress: Easier said than done, but stress plays a major role in hair health. Prioritise rest and relaxation.

2. Check Nutrition: Are you deficient in vitamins or minerals? Get tested and address it early.

3. Topical Treatments: Use products designed to stimulate hair growth alongside a consistent routine.

Hair loss is deeply personal and often misunderstood, but I believe with the right steps and persistence, regrowth is possible - even if it takes years to see the results.

Shop: The Best Products For Alopecia

Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty assistant, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie