Home / Health / From Wig Wearer to Wedding Ready: A Hair Story
From Wig Wearer to Wedding Ready: A Hair Story
11 Oct
Summary
- A woman's journey to overcome traction alopecia led to a hair transplant.
- She traveled to Istanbul for an affordable hair transplant procedure.
- The transplant has boosted her confidence, especially before her wedding.
Nicole Ethridge, who experienced hair loss after childbirth, was diagnosed with traction alopecia. The condition made her self-conscious, particularly about her thinning hair at the front. She initially relied on expensive wigs, spending thousands annually, which motivated her to create her own.
Despite trying various treatments, including an FDA-approved supplement that showed some regrowth, Ethridge sought a more permanent solution. Hair transplants in the US were prohibitively expensive. Research led her to Istanbul, Turkey, where she found a clinic with positive testimonials from African Americans.
Collaborating with a facilitator, she arranged her hair transplant in Istanbul for $2,600, plus $1,250 for flights. The procedure involved shaving her head and transplanting follicles from the back of her head. Within four months, her hair began to grow, with significant results visible by the six-month mark.
Now, Ethridge feels confident without wigs and is looking forward to her wedding next year with a full head of hair, marking the end of nearly two decades of covering her thinning hair.
