At 19 years old, Louise Skold's life took a dramatic turn when she experienced sudden and significant hair loss, losing over half her hair in a matter of days. Initially convinced she had cancer, the diagnosis of alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing patchy hair loss, brought an explanation but not immediate relief from fear and uncertainty.
Skold, who was training to be a hairdresser at the time, described the experience as terrifying. The sudden loss of hair, something she associated with serious illness like cancer, left her feeling panicked and out of control. Being in the hair industry amplified her distress, as she spent her days helping others with their hair while struggling with her own.
"Every morning I woke up wondering if I had lost more hair overnight," Skold recalled. She became self-conscious, withdrawing from social situations and dating for a period. While her friends and family were supportive, it took time to regain a sense of self.
The condition, which she found to be linked to stress, prompted a significant shift in her perspective on health. At 19, feeling invincible, the experience made her more attuned to her body's signals and the importance of self-care. She began exploring supplements, focusing on overall well-being, and developed a routine including daily supplements like vitamin B12 and magnesium, regular scalp massages, and specialized shampoos.
After three to four months, Skold noticed regrowth, offering a glimmer of hope. She found solutions like hair extensions, scarves, and strategic styling techniques to be a turning point, helping her feel more confident and like herself again. "People often say, 'It's just hair', but I don't think you understand what hair means until you've lost it," she stated.
Her personal journey evolved into a broader mission. As she learned more about hair solutions, she encountered other women facing similar challenges due to alopecia, cancer treatment, or other conditions affecting hair. This common experience of fear and frustration inspired her to launch BHBD – Big Hair Big Dreams. The brand aims to provide natural-looking hair solutions that prioritize the health of the wearer's own hair.
BHBD has since grown into an international brand, with its extensions reportedly worn by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Leighton Meester. Despite this success, Skold finds the most rewarding aspect of her work to be hearing from women who feel more confident due to BHBD's products.
While alopecia remains a part of her life, Skold no longer lives with the intense fear she experienced at 19. She notes that she hasn't had new hair loss in over two and a half years, attributing this to a shift possibly related to motherhood, hormones, or a different relationship with stress. She acknowledges that options for managing hair loss have significantly improved since her initial diagnosis 18 years ago. For Skold, alopecia has become associated with positive growth, providing a deeper understanding of confidence, identity, and self-worth, ultimately inspiring her entrepreneurial path.