BEAUTY
Michelle Hein - Model . Makeup Artist - Role model | Makeup Michelle Hein | Videography - Jared Warren
bald is beauty
MY HAIR LOSS JOURNEY
By Roberé Lett | Publisher | Style Editor
All images | Steve Ragland Photography | www.steveragland.com
At this year's Oscars, we witnessed Will Smith and Chris Rock (the slap heard worldwide) over a joke he made about Smith's wife, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, referring to her bald head presumingly because she has Alopecia. The altercation may be disturbing on its own. Still, it created a more meaningful conversation regarding Alopecia. Alopecia or Alopecia areata (pronounced al-oh-PEE-shah ar-ee-AH-tah). There are many causes of hair loss, everything from toxic cancer treatments, alopecia areata, and male pattern baldness to cell degeneration, stress, anxiety, and hormone loss. Men and women have different rates of hair loss, with men having a faster pace. Men suffer more hair loss; roughly 85% of men will experience some hair loss as opposed to 55% of women.
Michelle's struggle with hair loss began at age 25, and as specific attributes of beauty define us, hair is one of those traits. Haute wanted to dig a little deeper into the stigma and struggles of hair loss. With Michelle, her hair loss started as a bald patch on the back of her head, and once the hair loss started, it happened quickly; I remember sitting in my tub crying, with bunches of hair falling out.
For years I tried hiding it and covering up the loss, so I stopped doing things with friends, going out in public, especially on windy days, but once I began losing hair in the front of my head, I could no longer hide, so I began shaving my head for the first time. It's still a journey, and I still struggle, but I am stronger and more determined to win back my identity!
Q&A
Q. What is the hardest part of losing your hair?
A. For me the hardest part was losing my identity, I felt a loss of my femininity and I didn’t recognize myself anymore.
Q. You have openly struggled with depression since being diagnosed with alopecia areata. How has the struggle influenced your art? Your everyday life?
A. It’s been really transformative, in my craft. It presented me with the opportunity to take what I perceived to be a weakness, and use it to empower myself. It's given me so much versatility as a model. I can be anything or anyone. I'm a blank slate, just waiting to be inspired. In my daily life, however, it's still a bit of a struggle. I'm still hesitant to leave home, or just step outside without a wig. I'm making progress, but it's something I simply can't rush.
Q. What do you like to do outside of creating?
A. That's a loaded question. Outside of modeling and makeup, I like to create other things. I repurpose and redecorate old furniture. I'm currently creating a new look for an old table. I sing and dance, though I'm terrible at both. I'm in love with special effects makeup and would like to create a line of prosthetics.
“I remember sitting in my tub crying, with bunches of hair falling out. ”
Q. Where are you from originally, and where are you currently located?
A. I'm originally from a small town in Central Michigan called Harrison. Now, I'm located in the Downriver area.
Q. How do you choose which photographer to use for a project?
A. It really depends on the vibe I want for the specific concept. Every photographer had their own style. I'll look through their catalogs and wait for something to speak to me.
Q. How often do you shoot? Would you like to shoot more or less, or are you happy with the amount you tend to shoot?
A. I average about 2 shoots a week, but I'd really love to shoot more. Shooting is therapeutic for me so whatever I am feeling I can use in a photoshoot, take for example I was having a bad day and I invited a photographer to shoot me and I literally sat there and cried as he continued to shoot and it was therapy for me because my goal is to create things that make other people feel something and what we ended up creating was powerful and raw.
“Alopecia is my super power it’s my path and what makes me shine, I was a diffrent person before I lost my hair and I am another person now it has made me who I am today!”
Q. What is the most challenging aspect of being a model for you?
A. Weeeeeeellllll, while wearing wigs allows me to be versatile, it CAN make things a bit difficult. Case in point, I've always wanted to do the pool water hair flip, uh, thing. I tried it, and, uh, my wig flew off. Unfortunately, there were other people in the pool, and my wig was floating away. So, there I am, frantically chasing a wig in a pool while a crowd of confused strangers watched. Best. Day. Ever.
Q. What is your greatest strength as a model?
A. Versatility. I find that each new wig comes with a new personality and style. I can be anyone or anything I want to be.
Q. Why did you choose to pursue modeling?
A. It made me feel good about myself at a time when I really needed to feel good about myself.
Q. Do you think it is important for a model to be able to model anything, or should models be specific to only model certain things?
A. Honestly, I think that all depends on the individual model. I mean, that's really for them to determine. It's a personal decision on what you want to pursue.
Q. What is the most important quality in a makeup artist?
A. Imagination. That's where the truly spectacular looks are born.
Q. How do you stay informed as to the latest beauty trends?
A. Simply put, I don't. I dislike being a follower. I like to do my own thing. Make my own style. That's what works for me.
We salute Michelle for her courage and bravery in allowing Haute is Magazine a glimpse of her struggle and success over Alopecia.
Michelle is a member of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation | www.naaf.org/. You can connect with Michelle @optimus_hein
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation is based in San Rafael, California, and is dedicated to the discovery of a cure or treatment for alopecia areata and to supporting the conditions victims. It was founded in 1981.