For a couple of seconds after shaving her dreadlocks to oblivion, Karalyn’s sense of balance got lost. She said it felt as if a huge weight was taken off her.

Karalyn is a tiny girl packed with a lot of personality. I mean, her huge dreadlocks of a hair would really catch your attention but the moment she entered the Butterfly Loft at Encino, I also saw a girl with a big spirit.

I am extremely thankful to be invited to be a part of this project. I was asked by my good friend Nicole (Hairchamelion) if I can photograph the process of Karalyn’s transition from having a hair full of dreads to a shaved head to surprise her sister Rebecca.

Rebecca have alopecia and Karalyn hopes that her shaving act would help raise alopecia awareness to a lot people.

Below you can read Karalyn’s interview with Manuel Quintanilla for the documentary film that they did:

M: How’s your relationship with your sister as you grow up?

K: My sister was and still is my role model. Always setting examples for me to look up to. When we were younger she was like my caretaker and now at this time in our lives we are best friends.

M: Are there any special/interesting anecdotes/stories of both of you, either growing up or as adults?

K: Ironically enough, while my sister’s hair was falling out more and more. Here I was with enough hair on my head for 4 people that seemed to never stop growing! I am doing this today not, only for my sister, but for everybody with alopecia.

It’s easy for me to say to my sister, “Just go out without your wig on, who cares?” Well, I care, which is why I want to experience the feeling of going out in public with a naked head.

M: What does your sister means to you and especially at this point in time?

K: My sister keeps my soul alive and encourages me to follow my passions and dreams. She is so beautiful inside and out.

M: How did you find out that your sister had alopecia? What was your reaction?

K: When things are introduced as a child, they’re just normal so my sister having bald spots on her head was a normal thing to me. [It is] a part of her life which made it a part of my life- she was still my sister.

M: How does she feel about her current situation? How is she trying to overcome it?

K: Now, I can see how much she had to go through living in this society, sometimes it is hard for people to let their “hair down”. She wouldn’t go out in public without her wig or scarf on. Now she is embracing the bit of hair that she has. Look out world because here she comes. It is a difficult acceptance but she finally accepted it.

M: Why is it for you and your sister important to create awareness about alopecia?

K: Spreading awareness for alopecia is especially important when it comes to the children, I want to help send a message them that “it is just hair.” Being upset about something that we don’t have, is wasting something that we do have. You are beautiful, beautiful with hair, beautiful without hair

More sources where you can read and spread the word about Alopecia

http://www.naaf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_events_aware_month

http://childrensalopeciaproject.org/

https://www.facebook.com/AlopeciaAreataAwarenessRocks

https://www.facebook.com/groups/InternationalAlopeciaDay/

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