Alopecia support group established in Birmingham
- By Susan Whitford
- Published 4th November, 2008
- Hair News
- Unrated
Susan Whitford
Susan Whitford has twelve years experience as a health and beauty journalist in the United Kingdom. Susan has worked as a staff writer and features editor on a number of consumer magazines.
Two Midlands women have set up a support group for people who suffer from the hair loss condition alopecia.
Claire Boylan, who suffers from alopecia, set up Alopecia Support Group with her friend Jenny Austin after becoming concerned about the lack of support in Birmingham for those with the condition.
Ms. Boylan said: "I've had alopecia on and off for ten years and to start with, a lack of confidence was an issue. Now my alopecia is the worst it's ever been - I've got no hair anywhere - but I'm very confident now in who I am and it's just a condition, not an illness. That's why I started a support group - because I'm confident, perhaps I can help others."
As part of the publicity for the new group, Claire and Jenny posed for photographers in a local hair salon where Claire has her wig trimmed, her eyebrows penciled in and her eyelashes glued on. She said: "The staff are really supportive. They offer a one-to-one, personal service. My eyelashes will last for six months - you can't even tell."
The group meets regularly in Sutton Coldfield, Kingstanding and Birmingham city centre and can be contacted on 0121 384 3087 (Claire) or 07776 095885 (Jenny).
Claire Boylan, who suffers from alopecia, set up Alopecia Support Group with her friend Jenny Austin after becoming concerned about the lack of support in Birmingham for those with the condition.
Ms. Boylan said: "I've had alopecia on and off for ten years and to start with, a lack of confidence was an issue. Now my alopecia is the worst it's ever been - I've got no hair anywhere - but I'm very confident now in who I am and it's just a condition, not an illness. That's why I started a support group - because I'm confident, perhaps I can help others."
As part of the publicity for the new group, Claire and Jenny posed for photographers in a local hair salon where Claire has her wig trimmed, her eyebrows penciled in and her eyelashes glued on. She said: "The staff are really supportive. They offer a one-to-one, personal service. My eyelashes will last for six months - you can't even tell."
The group meets regularly in Sutton Coldfield, Kingstanding and Birmingham city centre and can be contacted on 0121 384 3087 (Claire) or 07776 095885 (Jenny).