When I had Hodgkin’s, I was told about this really cool program called Look Good Feel Better. This program is sponsored by The American Cancer Society. The program uses the idea that a person feels better when they look good. I decided to go with my sister because, hey, a free and fun program. It was being held at our cancer resource center. As we were waiting for the program to begin, an obviously bald woman wearing a hat walked in. I heard her whisper to her companion, “Good. There’s somebody else here who’s bald.” I instantly felt anger. Obviously not at the woman, but that anyone could feel shame about how cancer made them look while walking into a cancer center. I instantly raised my chin and took off my hat. Fuck feeling shame! I was quietly thrilled when she took her hat off too.

I have never been into make-up or hair products. It took a lot of time that I’d rather spend sleeping. Because of this, I found the Look Good Feel Better program to be helpful. All I’d ever needed was a tube of kick ass red lipstick. I learned at the program that I didn’t have any eyebrows. I remember turning to my sister and saying, “Daaamn! When did I lose my eyebrows?” That day, I learned how to draw in my eyebrows without looking like I was coloring with a permanent marker.

So when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the first things I did was buy an eyebrow pencil. I bought this brand because it had the cool brush with it. I didn’t want to have to figure out which brush would be best. Remember, I’m kind of an idiot when it comes to makeup stuff. I just wanted the brow to look natural.

It’s funny that it really isn’t the bald head that makes you look sick; it’s the lack of eyebrows. When I’ve drawn my eyebrows in, people are more likely to ask why I shaved my head. It’s taken away the notion that I had to shave my head. It makes it seem like a brave, kick ass choice. You know, rather than the shitty choice between being bald versus shedding everywhere like a dog. As you can see in the photo on the left, my eyebrows are pretty sparse. I’ve filled in my brows in the photo on the right.

 
Not too bad, if I say so myself. Without the Look Good Feel Better program, this would have been my only eyebrow training.