Chloe Peach, a 25-year-old beauty enthusiast from Southampton, United Kingdom, has turned adversity into empowerment after facing hair loss due to alopecia in August 2023. What initially struck fear into her, eventually led to a newfound perspective on beauty.
After months of searching for answers, Peach received an alopecia diagnosis in October 2023. She expressed a mix of fear and relief, recognizing the opportunity to understand and cope with her condition. Over time, the area of hair loss expanded, leaving a prominent bald patch at the center of her scalp, affecting her confidence and challenging her self-image.
Known for taking pride in her flawless hair and makeup, Peach found solace in discovering various methods to conceal the hair loss patches when in public. Using root spray as a temporary fix and experimenting with different hairstyles, such as changing her parting or opting for a half-up, half-down style, she successfully masks her alopecia.
Reflecting on her journey, Peach shared, “When I started losing my hair, it was a huge confidence knock and very stressful. You have to go online to find the answers to so many questions at first.” Despite the challenges, her ability to cover up her alopecia has surprised people, with Peach admitting, “It does affect my confidence some days though because beauty is a massive thing to me.”
Alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease causing hair loss, affects approximately 700,000 people in the United States, cutting across age, gender, and ethnicity, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) outlines various treatment options, such as topical steroid medications, injections, or contact immunotherapy, depending on the severity of the case and the patient’s age.
In a significant step toward acceptance, Peach shared her alopecia journey on social media, particularly on TikTok, a platform she frequented as a self-proclaimed “beauty fanatic.” Her video demonstrating how she styles her hair to conceal the alopecia patch garnered widespread attention, accumulating over 2.9 million views and 182,300 likes. The positive response from online communities praising Peach’s courage indicates the impact of her openness about the condition.
Peach expressed her newfound perspective on beauty, stating, “If I can help even one person by sharing my story, then I’ll be over the moon. I hope to carry on encouraging people online and in person to see their beauty from within, as I truly believe it’s your heart that makes you beautiful.”
Having received over 830 comments on TikTok, Peach connected with a supportive community of individuals dealing with alopecia, with many sharing their experiences and tips. Comments such as “Girl, you’re beautiful either way!” and “I was just diagnosed with alopecia, and this gives me so much hope” exemplify the impact of Peach’s openness in fostering a sense of solidarity among those facing similar challenges.
