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For people whove undergone treatments for cancer, hair loss is a common but nevertheless stressful side effect.
And, contrary to popular belief, the hard part isnt over when your hair starts to return.
My hair became the statement of this change.
Initially, I felt naked and exposed without mylong hairto frame my face.
Courtesy of Tali Aronoff
And soon after, I started to experiment.
It started with dyeing the tips of my newly-regrown hair.
It changed the way people perceived me, even my friends.
Courtesy of Tali Aronoff
I went from having a pretty conservative style to appearing “fierce” or “edgy.”
It was important to me to reflect the inner change outwardly.
I had always been a super healthy, strong person.
Courtesy of Tali Aronoff
[But then,] I felt vulnerable and unsure of my health and my future.
In a weird way, becoming bold with myshort hairstylesempowered me.
Until then, I constantly felt “cancery.”
I returned to work while I still woremy headscarfto cover my mostly bald head.
I knew my patients parents were looking at me sadly.
Once it grew long enough that the super-short style looked intentional, I was finally able to relax.
I didn’t really feel lucky at the time.
How I practice self-care:Maintaining super short, dyed hair is time-consuming and costly.
It’s a big indulgence I have granted myself.
Even the time I spend in the [salon] chair is a gift to myself.
I would never have believed it was possible to fit that frequency of personal care into my hectic schedule.
I now see it as a choice of allowing myself some self-care that I deserve.
My advice: Figure out your perfect shampoo and styling products.
They may be different than they once were, just like you are.
Biggest benefit:I now feel very empowered with theplatinum blondepixie cut I gravitate to most of the year.
I would never have believed this is where Id end up aesthetically.
Its been a strange feedback loop.
My hairstyle makes me outwardly look more daring and “edgy.”
In certain ways, I think Ive evolved to be that woman on the inside, too.
My hairstyle has made me more socially sure of myself because there is nowhere to hide anymore.
Its just me and my face.
That’s all I have to show.
They may be different than they once were, just like you are.
As told toJennifer Garam.
Survivor interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Watch a woman’s hair loss journey:
