Ricki Lake on Female Hair Loss, How She Regrew Her Hair and That Oscar’s Moment

Feminine hair loss isn’t mentioned practically as typically as male’s. Actress, TV host and documentary filmmaker Ricki Lake has been on a mission to alter that following her personal hair loss journey. We sat down with Lake to debate her experience with alopecia, the choice to shave her head, what has helped her hair regrow and what she does to floor herself amidst all of the day by day stressors.

Forward of our dialogue, Lake had an interview with Harklinikken founder Lars Skjoth. In the course of the Q & A portion, somebody requested Lake to deal with the Oscars incident relating to Chris Rock’s remark about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair and why it generated such an emotional response. “Violence is rarely the reply. So what he did was fully unacceptable,” stated Lake, then she went on to explain her empathy for Pinkett Smith. “I really feel her ache, and I commiserate,” she added. “It was a really unhappy factor, and it positively struck a nerve with me. The joke itself wasn’t humorous, particularly for individuals who wrestle with alopecia.” Lake then chatted with us about her hair loss journey and the place she’s at now.

When did you begin experiencing hair loss?

“I used to be about 26. I did a film known as Mrs. Winterbourne. I used to be the main woman on this film, and so they put me on a food plan. They needed me to lose weight for the position, and it was a interval of 9 or 10 weeks, and I misplaced like 30 kilos, which is so much. I imagine that’s what triggered my preliminary shedding of hair. This firm Philip Kingsley helped me, and on the time, it did get well, however then a few years later, after my first child, it shed another time, and it simply has been a cycle over a interval of 25 years of struggling.”

What introduced you to the choice to shave your head? How did having a shaved head shift your perspective of your self on the time?

“It was big. After I shaved my head, it felt like I had no alternative. I had been coping with carrying a hairpiece on my head for a protracted, very long time, and it was pulling, and it was hurting and coloring my hair each two and a half weeks would burn my scalp. It was simply getting more durable and more durable to do this protocol. I simply sort of reached my breaking level, and this was on New Yr’s Eve day of 2019, so proper earlier than 2020, proper earlier than the pandemic, and I simply stated to myself, excuse my French, ‘f**ok it.’ I simply wanted to be let loose.

It was such an empowering expertise, and I didn’t count on to really feel pretty much as good as I felt. I felt liberated as a result of when you’ve gotten a secret that’s bogging you down, it’s affecting each side of your life. Each time I walked by a mirror, it was a reminder seeing my scalp, seeing extensions. So once I lastly simply stated, ‘I don’t wish to cope with this anymore.’ It was similar to being launched.

It reworked my life, not simply how I look, however internally simply coming to a spot of self-acceptance and self-love that has carried me to the place I’m now. I’m on this stunning new marriage. I believe it begins with simply loving ourselves unconditionally. It’s been a course of. It’s taken me years and years to actually personal who I’m and what I see once I look within the mirror, and it’s been profound. It’s one of the crucial badass strikes I’ve ever finished in my life. However it wasn’t a calculated transfer. It was merely that I used to be on the finish of my rope.”

How do you are feeling if you look within the mirror now versus if you have been within the midst of your hair loss journey?

“Oh, I’m like a unique particular person. I nonetheless cope with like—okay, I’m 53 years previous, holy shit. I’ll by no means look the way in which I did 20 or 30 years in the past. I’m by no means going to be a dimension 4 once more like I used to be 10 years in the past. It’s okay, I’ve sort of come to phrases with the truth that I’ve to do away with these garments as a result of it’s simply not within the playing cards, however I’m completely happy. I’m actually in a spot of contentment and appreciation and gratitude. I’ve this stunning house life. My children are good. I’m doing good work. I actually like what I see once I look within the mirror, and that claims so much being a girl in immediately’s society and being in my center years.”

How did Harklinikken assist your hair regrow?

“I’ve been round for a extremely very long time, and I’ve had lots of endorsement affords through the years. I’ve by no means partnered with any firms, that is the primary time, and it’s as a result of this product has actually helped me. I didn’t imagine it at first. After I met Lars after I shaved my head, he stated he may assist me. I had tried every part. I used to be actually a guinea pig—I used to be on Propecia, I used to be getting scalp injections, I used to be on Rogaine. I attempted every part that was out there, and nothing appeared to assist. He defined this product, and he did a complete scalp evaluation, and he thought that this might actually assist me, and lo and behold. 

After I shaved my head two years in the past, I didn’t suppose it was ever going to develop again, and now I’ve a full head of hair. I don’t colour my hair anymore, and I don’t stress about it, and I don’t put extensions in, and I don’t actually put lots of warmth on it—I principally let it air dry. It’s been a game-changer for me. Girls, we’re so hooked up to our hair. It’s been fairly the journey to return to a spot of peace on this space.”

Why do you suppose hair loss in girls isn’t extensively and overtly mentioned the way in which it’s with males?

“I believe it [feels] embarrassing for ladies. I believe it’s shameful. I believe we’re so hooked up to our hair, and it’s as if it’s part of our femininity.”

As mentioned, stress and modifications in consuming habits can result in hair loss, so what are some self-care rituals that you just do to heart your self?

“I’m going out in nature on daily basis. I reside within the hills in Malibu. I simply moved there final yr after I obtained engaged and obtained married. I like being out in nature each morning. I’m going on a two-mile little hike with my canine, and it’s quiet. I don’t meditate—I actually ought to. My stroll within the mountains simply grounds me, and it’s so stunning, and it’s so quiet within the wild. That’s my sort of completely happy place, and I principally do it alone. Generally my husband will come, however for essentially the most half, I’m going tremendous early with my canine, and it’s only a time of recalibrating.”

What’s your recommendation to girls in the same state of affairs?

“Shave your head. No, I’m kidding. That is what I discovered that works for me. I can’t converse for everybody else. I can simply say wholeheartedly that this model, this protocol that I do with Harklinikken, has helped me tremendously. I’d suggest everyone get a session, it’s free, you are able to do it within the privateness of your individual house, and so they’ll inform you for those who’re a candidate, and so they’ll inform you in the event that they see a problem together with your scalp. 

A lot of it’s about scalp health, not even your hair essentially. You begin with the scalp and the follicle care, and that’s what makes the hair develop more healthy. I wish to say to individuals which are struggling, I commiserate. I’ve a lot empathy. It’s a extremely arduous capsule to swallow for ladies to return to phrases with the truth that they don’t look the way in which they used to, and their hair isn’t the way in which it was. I’d begin with this firm and see if they are often of service.”