Milano Collection Wigs was a sponsor to Global Alopecia Mission's Chicago 2012 event! This special event gathered together volunteers and supporters to recognize their 2012 accomplishments. Congratulations to GAM and to those who made 2012 a successful year towards alopecia research!

GAM raised thousands towards Alopecia research and finding a cure.

Lana Becker, GAM Assistant Executive Director, and her son Jacob made a guest appearance at the event.

Toni Malone, Milano's Medical Specialist and GAM Event Specialist (awareness and fundraising) attended the event.

Camille Paddock, GAM Junior Ambassador and Dare to Be Different founder, showed up at the event to present check to Gam's Research Initiative.

For more information about GAM, the event, or how to support, check out the Global Alopecia Mission webpage.

Check out the brand new section in the Los Angeles Showroom! I call it "Toni's Corner" because it has wigs to meet the needs of those with Alopecia... such as smaller cap sizes, combination (Freedom and HM) caps, silicone caps, and the new Toni extension (coming soon)! If you'd like to check out the new Alopecia area, email me at Toni@mcwigs.com to schedule an appointment! =)

Hope to see you soon!

-Toni

Check out what I have been up to with Milano Collection! I hosted our 1st Global Alopecia Mission fundraiser in the Milano Collection Los Angeles Showroom. It was a fun night! Check out some pictures below. =)

Mark your calenders! December 15th, we'll have special guest speaker... details to be announced soon.

Alopecia Awareness rocks!

-Toni

Excerpt from The Daily Mail.

Why This Olympic Athlete With Alopecia Doesn't Need A Wig
By Lexi Nisita

While cycling her way to a gold medal, Joanna Rowsell was just a normal girl with Olympic-level athletic skills. Then she took her helmet off. And you know what? She was still just a normal girl with Olympic-level athletic skills, despite the fact that she is diagnosed with alopecia (a disease causing hair loss on the head and various other parts of the body).

Joanna Roswell became an instant superstar for two reasons: her Olympic victory and her relatively unexamined decision not to wear a wig while accepting her medal. And it's her laid-back attitude about this non-event that's most inspiring. While we're all for championing the cause, sometimes the best way to fight prejudice is just to ask: What's all the fuss about? Roswell told The Daily Mail that "on one level it was a case of 'this is just me'. I get off my bike, take my helmet off and that’s who I am. I did know it would be making a statement — I just didn’t anticipate the size of the reaction." While Joanna does own a number of wigs, which she rotates based on her mood, her obvious lack of apprehension when it comes to revealing her condition gave a boost of confidence to people with alopecia around the world. She received hundreds of messages thanking her for her bold statement, but says she doesn't want to be known as "the girl with alopecia."

Alopecia's only symptom is hair loss. That's certainly a difficult obstacle to face, especially as a young girl. But Joanna has amazing perspective on the issue, and though she admits to having struggled with her appearance for years, she now confidently says, "There’s part of me that thinks: 'I’m not ill; there’s nothing wrong with me.' Most of the time I don’t think about it." We couldn't agree more. (The Daily Mail)

Our very own Alopecia/Medical specialist, Toni Malone, joins Global Alopecia Mission as an Events Support Coordinator. She is dedicated to coordinating and supporting research awareness events and fundraisers. Click here to check out her profile!

Toni wearing a highlighted Milano wig at the NAAF Conference in Washinton DC with Hailey, the winner of a free Milano wig.

For people with Alopecia (5 million in the US alone), you lose your hair because that darn immune system of yours is just a little over zealous attacking your hair follicles as if they were viruses. Besides the loss of hair, Alopecians are otherwise perfectly healthy individuals. Alopecia doesn't physically hurt per se or make me sick. Medically speaking, it is simply categorized as a cosmetic issue.

Here are 3 types of Alopecia: Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis.
Alopecia Areata is where the hairs starts to fall out and forms into small patches usually on the scalp. Alopecia Totalis as the name suggests is total hair loss from the scalp. Alopecia Universalis is the most severe case and this is hair loss from the scalp, eyebrows, body, hands and feet.

If you feel that you are encountering Alopecia Totalis or any of the other Alopecia conditions, it is a good idea to consult with specialists, research the issue, and even arrange to see a dermatologist. This will help you to understand your condition and also let you know that you are taking pro-active steps to make the best of the situation.

This will also provide you with the knowledge of what to expect from the condition that you are facing. Being armed with this information can help in coping with the stress that can be brought on from a condition such as Alopecia Totalis. As the hair loss starts, it can be a very hard to deal with for some people; however, if you have an insight into what to expect, it may lessen the stress levels. To not understand or know why you have this condition can lead to a very stressful state which can lead to other issues.

People will be affected by the onset of Alopecia Totalis in different ways. Some will be very pragmatic and accept that they have the condition and try not to allow it to change their life, whilst others will look for solutions or alopecia treatments and try and find ways to combat the condition. This could be in the form of hair loss solutions and remedies or maybe wigs.

Milano Collection Wigs is dedicated to providing hair loss solutions for all types of Alopecia. Milano has a large inventory of trendy, stylish, high quality wigs that can be customized to any color, size or shape. Milano boasts a showroom in New York and Los Angeles as well as an online presence at www.mcwigs.com. Visit us today or contact Toni at toni@mcwigs.com to discuss your options.