Lashes are not just a fun addition to your makeup look, they are actually a necessity for your eye health. Lashes help to protect our eyes in many different ways that most people take for granted. 

But what happens if your body doesn’t grow eyelashes? 

This can be the reality for people affected by Alopecia.

It’s More Common Than You Think 

According to the NAAF (National Alopecia Areata Foundation), the autoimmune skin disease known as Alopecia, affects as many as 6.8 million people in the US and 147 million people worldwide causing them to lose their hair follicles, eyelashes included! 

Alopecia Defined

Alopecia is a common autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes other areas of the body, too. People of all ages, gender, and race may develop the skin disease at some point in their lifetime, but onset usually occurs in childhood. 

To sum up the disease, Alopecia occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks healthy hair follicles, causing them to reduce in size and drastically slow in growth production, sometimes to the point that hair growth may eventually stop altogether. 

The Different Types of Alopecia

There are 3 different types of Alopecia. Depending on which type and the severity of the disease you have, you might experience hair loss in different areas and your hair loss / regrowth may be unpredictable for many years. 

Here are the most common forms of Alopecia (from least severe to most severe): 

• Alopecia Areata Patchy - This is the most common form. It’s defined by one or more coin sized hairless patches on the scalp or other areas of the body. 
• Alopecia Totalis - Total loss of hair on the scalp. 
• Alopecia Universalis - Complete loss of hair on the scalp, face, and body. 

Currently, there is no known cure for Alopecia, but the good news is that your hair follicles are still alive meaning your hair has a chance to grow back again! 

Doctors and scientists are not exactly sure what causes the immune system to attack healthy hair follicles when people have Alopecia. It is unknown if it first happens inside the body from a virus or bacteria, from one’s surroundings, or if its a combination of both, which makes the disease even more puzzling for those who have it. 

Why We Care

At House of Lashes, we always strive to give our customers the confidence to take on the world. With false lashes we are able to provide products to people with Alopecia so they can feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. 

Lashes create a frame to the eyes and add a finishing touch to all different kinds of makeup looks. Whether the look you are going for is a subtle, more natural look, or show-stopping, glamorous look, House of Lashes has you covered. 

For our Alopecia beauties, we recommend a natural lash for that everyday, natural-beauty look. Our Classic Collection was designed with exactly all those factors in mind. All the bands are clear making them extremely comfortable for first time wearers. The hairs are made with 100% sterilized human hair giving wearers a soft to the touch feel. They are the closest thing to your real lashes that you can get. 

With our Classic collection, customers with Alopecia can have a lash that embraces the person they are without fear of judgment from society. 

Some of our most natural styles include: Au Naturale and Wispy Mini . 

Alopecia has always been a condition that we hold close to our hearts and donate to each year. We understand that lashes have the power to give those living with the disease a new found confidence along with something to be excited about. 

Join us this September as we celebrate Alopecia Awareness month!

And don't forget to check out the article "Emmy: Feeling Beautiful with Alopecia"!