Charlotte influencer educates community about hair loss in women

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - More than 30 million women in the U.S. experience hair loss due to some form of alopecia.

For many of these women, losing their hair feels like losing part of their identity. That’s why one Charlotte woman is turning her pain into purpose as she proudly embraces the alopecia battle to inspire others to do the same.

For nine years, social media influencer Angela Agnew grew her beautiful, long locks of hair. She was so proud of that journey, then one day, she noticed something wasn’t quite right.

“I realized that the top was thinning a little bit, and I thought for a little while, I got lots to move placed up here, all kinds of different things to try to get past the hair thinning,” said Agnew. “Then I finally went to a specialist, and I asked her. I said, ‘Hey, what’s going on here?’”

Her diagnosis? Alopecia.

Agnew said that she lived in silence, hiding what she couldn’t control under wigs. That is, until she saw another woman being bullied online for her thinning hair. That’s when she made a bold choice: she shaved her head.

Like so many other women living with alopecia, Agnew decided to wear her truth with pride. She went viral on her social media platform.

“I am an advocate so ferociously when it comes to bullying,” she said. “So, when I saw this woman just doing her job and getting picked on and bullied because of her thin hair, I said, ‘You know what? This is your time.’”

Dr. Tonya McLeod is a dermatologist and partner at Piedmont Plastic Surgery and Dermatology in Charlotte. She said that alopecia is very common.

The first and most important step for women with thinning hair is to be diagnosed by a specialist, specifically a board-certified dermatologist who is comfortable with your hair type.

McLeod also said that hair stylists, as much as we love them, are not the ones to make diagnoses.

“That could possibly do more damage,” McLeod said. “I know that there are trichologists out there who claim that they are experts in hair, but really, the experts are dermatologists. Alopecia has multiple causes because there are multiple types of alopecia.”

--> Also read: Dozens of workers laid off at Charlotte facility: What we know

Those types determine if you will be able to have regrowth.

Agnew said her hair loss is permanent. Through her boldness, though, she hopes that others see her courage and that it can be contagious, and bald can be beautiful.

Men and children suffer from alopecia as well. This month, many are wearing blue for alopecia, and several walks are taking place across the country and in support groups.

For more information about alopecia, visit the National Alopecia Foundation webpage by clicking here.