My Journey of Going Bald: Overcoming Dandruff and Hair Fall

Have you ever shaved your head bald all by yourself? While I didn't shave, there was a time when I trimmed my head completely. This happened during my third year of engineering college in Kankavli, a place located in the Sindhurdurga district of Maharashtra, India.

Back then, my roommates and I used to bathe daily with river hard water, which resulted in dandruff and hair fall issues. Fed up with these problems, one day, I decided to trim my hair completely. I attempted it myself first but found some areas where I could not properly trim. My mother came to the rescue and assisted me to achieve the same result. However, those three months were one of the toughest phases of my life, as I was used to carrying long hair.

One day, out of necessity and determination, I decided to take matters into my own hands and cut off most of my hair. At the time, I was in third year engineering college in Kankavli, a place located in Sindhurdurga district of Maharashtra, India. My roommates and I used to bathe daily with river hard water, a common practice in the area. Over time, this routine took a toll on my hair, leading to the dreaded dandruff and hair fall issues.

When the hair fall got severe and the itching from dandruff became unbearable, I knew it was time for a drastic change. I decided to trim my hair completely—a decision that came with its own set of challenges and unexpected situations. My tried it first on my own. My hair was thick and unruly, and despite my best efforts, there were areas around my ears, temples, and the back of my neck that were inaccessible and required additional help. With a bit of hesitation, I reached out to my mother for assistance. She came over, and together, we tackled the problem, turning my short hair into a fully bald look.

Three months of living as a bald individual (technically, it was more of a silly bowl cut) were filled with numerous challenges. Before this, I had always sported long hair, and the abrupt change was unsettling. The first day, when I went out with my newly styled hair, people couldn't help but notice. Strangers and even acquaintances would stare, laugh, and comment. I quickly learned to endure these interactions, which often felt like a personal attack. Ostensibly, it was just about the hair, but for me, it was much more than that—it was a whole new level of self-consciousness and anxiety.

During these three months, I faced several issues related to personal and social aspects. In terms of hygiene, I had to adapt to a new routine, focusing on a clean scalp and managing any slight hair left behind. I also had to deal with people's curiosity and skepticism, as many found it unusual for a student to go through such a change. Building a new social network and seeing how people reacted to this sudden transformation became a part of my daily routine.

Overcoming dandruff and hair fall was not an easy feat, and it required a lot of effort and patience. After a few weeks, I noticed a significant improvement in my scalp health. By reducing the use of harsh shampoos and introducing more moisture to my hair, I managed to control the dandruff. My hair also started to grow back, albeit slowly. The protective layers I had built on my scalp during those three months worked, and soon, a little bit of hair started to grow back, providing me with a sense of relief and hope.

While living with baldness during those three months was undoubtedly tough, it was also a valuable learning experience. I learned to appreciate the effort it takes to maintain a healthy scalp and hair, and I also gained a newfound understanding of personal transformation. It taught me to look beyond the superficial and embrace change, no matter how daunting it may initially seem. Now, whenever I catch myself feeling insecure about my appearance, I remind myself of this experience and how it helped me grow.