I'm in Vogue's Hair Loss Feature!

Hey folks: this is something I've been gagging to tell you all about for the last month, and I'm so thrilled I now can -- I'm featured in Vogue's incredible feature on life and style beyond hair loss!

• PHOTOS: Meet 9 Inspirational Women Who Have Embraced the Stylish Possibilities of Life After Hair Loss
• VIDEO:  9 Women Tell the Truth About Life After Hair Loss
• VIDEO: How to Draw the Perfect Eyebrows: Carly Severn’s Foolproof Tutorial

Back-story: Vogue contacted me a few months ago about participating in this new feature -- which comprised portraits and video (links above) -- and back in April, I went out to their offices in New York to be photographed by the amazing Cass Bird and styled by their phenomenal team. The series featured a range of incredible women, from cancer patients and survivors to alopecia folks like me. Meeting all these friendly, funny people on both sides of the camera was the most incredible privilege, and I'm still on Cloud 9 frankly. They also asked me if I would do one of my video tutorials on eyebrow makeup, and you can watch it here! (Their camera is a bit fancier than my wobbly iPhone videos on this site, eh?)

I wanted to note that one of these women was 17 year-old Mia Sidaros, a lovely, vibrant aspiring fashion blogger from Los Angeles who was living with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. Shortly after the shoot, Mia passed away. I'm honored to have got to meet her and her family at the shoot, and the Vogue video interview is dedicated to her memory, which I think is a truly fitting tribute.

I hope to write more about all this in a little while, but in the meantime you can view all of the gorgeous black and white portraits here, watch the video tutorial here and check out the video interview here. I really hope you all like it.

Love, Carly x

6 Things Not to Say to Someone Experiencing Hair Loss (and 3 Things You Definitely Should)

Me, mugging for the camera as usual.

Hi folks! I blog a lot here about tips, tricks and tutorials for women experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy, alopecia (like me) or other reasons — but it's occurred to me that being the relative or friend of someone losing their hair can sometimes be tricky, too. Whether it's your daughter, your mother or your best friend, seeing someone you love going through a period of (often rapid) transition in which their appearance changes dramatically can be an awkward time, not least because you're not sure you're giving the right encouragement, or saying the right things. (Plus they probably seem angry and/or teary a lot of the time.) Well, as someone who lost their hair aged 19 and has had literally every line under the sun said to them at one point or another, I'm here to offer my personal take on what not to say to someone experiencing hair loss to help you avoid worrying about causing inadvertent upset or offence. Plus: a few things you can and definitely should say!

Please note: it is absolutely not my intention here to "pile on" to wonderful, supportive, well-meaning people who are sometimes tongue-tied or stuck for words around people experiencing hair loss. I wouldn't have had a bloody CLUE what to say to someone in this situation before I went through it myself. It's for that reason that I'm providing this list, because nobody else is going to tell you this stuff — and because the support you offer as a loved one is monumental.

PS. You can say anything to me now, by the way. I don't care. I'll be over here, eating pizza :)


What Not To Say To Someone Experiencing Hair Loss:

Runaway hair hare (photo: Airwolfhound / Flickr)

Video: How to tie a headscarf using an infinity scarf

I haven't made a video for you guys in a while (see here for an explanation!) but I've developed a sweet trick using an infinity scarf that I was so sure you'd love, I couldn't resist getting the video camera out again...

If you're not familiar with an infinity scarf (sometime also called a circle scarf, or a tube scarf), they are loops of stretchy cotton primarily designed to be worn around your neck, but why let that stop you making a BRILLIANT headscarf out of one? As I explain in the vid, these types of scarves are very common on the High Street, where they're also pretty cheap — here in the US, Forever 21 and H&M are my primary hunting grounds. -- UPDATE: I just found a bunch of perfectly-stretchy infinity scarves in lovely colors in my local Whole Foods, of all places! They were Limited-Edition Zero Waste Infinity Scarves by Yellow 108 at $24,99 -- I can't for the life of me find a link for buying online, but I'll keep you posted. -- 

Enjoy the video, and let me know what you think in the comments! C xo

Video: how to wear a Buff

For those days when tying a scarf feels like too much of a stretch, I love wearing Buffs. For the uninitiated, a Buff is a soft, seamless cotton tube that covers the head like a cap - you just slide it onto your head and you're done. (Particularly nice to have to hand when you're relaxing 'au naturel' at home and the postman knocks at the door...)

There are a number of ways to wear your Buff, which this brief video introduces!

PS. Buffs are available in selected outdoors shops and online - here's their UK and US sites to get you started...

The easiest way to tie a headscarf - without knots!

This is my absolute favourite way of tying a scarf - by using a stretchy hairband instead of tying any knots. With a little practice, you'll be able to do this one with your eyes closed. It might sounds strange but trust me: it works!

Hey, nice hat - plus, the importance of sizing

People are always nice about headwear - there's something about a good hat that just makes them smile. So I couldn't resist naming this post after the three words I nearly always hear when I'm wearing headwear from one particular company: Suburban Turban. 

In the interests of full disclosure, I should say I'm fortunate enough to now know their supremely talented head honcho Nicky, who's become a dear friend of mine through her work in UK hospitals*. But really, these hand-finished caps, hats and scarves speak for themselves.