An 8-year-old girl who has alopecia recently experienced a life-changing moment that has melted the hearts of millions on TikTok.
Sat in a salon chair, Sadie explained to Australia-based Holly Faller, from Lusta Hair, that she was beingbullied at school because of the bare patches on her head. Faller was able to relate as someone who had grown up with alopecia, which can cause areas of hair to fall out, and the isolation that came with it.
“She reminded me so much of myself, right down to the way her alopecia patches and hair looked identical to how mine looked at the same age; it was like reaching back in time and holding little Holly’s hand when she was struggling in the early years,” the 33-year-old told Newsweek.
Screenshots of Sadie (front) and Holly Faller. The Australia-based woman fitted Sadie’s wig and told Newsweek the transformation in her confidence was huge.
@lustahair
In the clip, Faller surprised Sadie by telling her that she’s wearing a wig, and no longer has any hair left on her head. The little girl was shocked and couldn’t believe how real Faller’s wig looked.
“Losing your hair is hard at any age, but when you’re so young, you shouldn’t have to think about how you’re going to get through another school day without someone asking what’s wrong with you or teasing you for something you have no control over,” Faller told Newsweek.
Alopecia is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss, often in patches, as the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. It can affect people of all ages and lead to partial or complete hair loss on the scalp, face and body.
“When Sadie realized that we were the same, she was no longer alone in her alopecia journey—we were in it together and she had an instant new friend who accepted her exactly as she was,” she added.
Faller’s mission was to find a wig for Sadie that was both comfortable and natural-looking. The moment the wig was placed on her head, her reaction said it all.
The clip, posted on the Lusta Hair TikTok account (@lustahair), has gained over 5.5 million views, along with thousands of comments from other social media users who were in tears after watching Sadie’s reaction.
“Her posture and voice even changed with the new hair,” one user observed. Another wrote, “How she turned to look at you when she had something she could connect with you over, your job must be so fulfilling.”
“Seeing Sadie come out of her shell and find her confidence like that was absolutely everything to us,” Faller told Newsweek.
The overwhelming support from the online community has been heartwarming for the wig company. Many people have reached out, wanting to contribute to Lusta Hair’s Children’s Project which provides wigs to kids in need.
“The Sadie that walked out of our office was not the same one that walked in! She went from being quiet and unsure of herself, to bouncing with excitement and ready to take on anything with her new look,” Faller said.
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