The bandanna was kind of my thing. I grew up watching 90’s and early 2000’s pop music videos, so if I wasn’t going to have hair, why not a bandanna? I was lucky to have grown up in such a fashion-forward era…

Ah yes, the 2000’s were glorious.

The Birth of the Bandanna. When I first lost my hair I wasn’t sure what I was going to do as far as head-wear. For a while, I wore some funky hats. I remember this one I got at Disneyland that was a cheetah print cowboy hat. I also had some knitted ones that were pretty warm and looked decent. I eventually decided on the bandanna. Then there was the bandanna/baseball cap combo, just in case you were wondering if I was ever a tomboy.

I think I wore it better than Justin.

That’s me, holding my tiny infant sister. She’s 12 now.

Branding Your Bandanna Image. Okay, so I have a lot of stories about my bandanna days. First of all, people look at you different when you wear a bandanna. It’s like, they can’t figure out what you are about. Are you in a gang? Do you have cancer? Are you trying one of those new-age things where you shave your head and act like a complete idiot? Do you like attention? Of course, the answer to all of these was a resounding NO. Except, I have to say, after a while, the bandanna kind of took over. It was like – “yeah, I am wearing a bandanna. Let’s add baggy parachute pants, a cut off t-shirt, eyeliner, and some Avril Lavigne style punk wrist bands. BOOM. Time for middle school.” Needless to say, middle school was a weird time for me – but then again, who isn’t having a weird time in middle school? The cool thing about it was that the bandanna would have definitely been against dress code had all the teachers not been afraid to ask me to not wear it. I think my mom may have met with staff after I lost my hair to prevent this. Mom, feel free to confirm or deny.

The Church Lady. I remember this one time at church (I never went to band-camp), an older lady came right up to me, grabbed my face, got right up in my business  and pretty much yelled “God Bless you child!” Right in front of everyone. Now, I know she probably meant well, but that was really not okay. Talk about motivation to get a wig. Strangers grabbing my face and acting like I was dying was NOT what I wanted nor needed at this time in my life. I don’t know why, but this has always stuck with me for some reason. I don’t know if my family even remembers this happening. I have always hated people feeling sorry for me.

Think Before You Speak. Once an umpire at my softball tournament told me I was breaking the rules because I was wearing a bandanna. There was this silly thing in club and little league softball where you couldn’t wear anything on your head, no earrings, necklaces, and apparently no bandannas. Anyways, my mom got all up in this guys face. Then he said something to the effect of “well maybe if she’s sick she shouldn’t be playing softball.” I just remember thinking “this guy is a real [expletive].” Long story short he ended up feeling really bad and stupid and I got to play the rest of my softball career with a bandanna on, no questions asked, thanks to the head umpire. Also you feel pretty B.A. walking onto the field/court in a bandanna.

Then, when I was 16, I remember there was this younger girl who also had alopecia, playing in the same league but for the younger age division. I remember that she eventually got her eyebrows tattooed and they looked great. She used to wear a red bandanna to match whatever team she was on at that time, it was really cute. She must have been 9 or 10 when I first met her, but it was like we both felt so relieved to have met each other. At least I did. The only time I ever saw her was around the softball fields. I gave her some advice on wigs (I was wearing an expensive human-hair suction-type at the time) and I know she eventually got the one I recommended for her. I will always be kind of sad that I never made more time to be a role model and meet with her more often. I at least hope that she never got any trouble from an umpire.

AWESOME.

Even after I got my first wig I found the bandanna to be a very versatile accessory. They make bandannas in almost any color scheme imaginable. After a while the bandanna became a sort of comfort. I had glue/tape for my wigs and all that, but during sports I would usually still wear the bandanna. Also, they are pretty comfortable once you learn how to tie them. (Over, Under, Pull the Flap Through, Repeat, Tighten). And bandannas are an absolute must-have for swimming with alopecia.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a versatile accessory that will make you feel totally cool and invincible as well as present you with a lot of funny stories to tell, I highly recommend the bandanna in any color.