Last Updated on 22nd January 2020 by Caroline Haye
Might chalk become your Vitiligo Friend?
Vitiligo (or #leukoderma /# leucoderma as it is variously known around the world) is a condition in which the skin (and sometimes the hair) loses pigment. This usually happens in localised patches. But vitiligo can turn you chalky white in large segments or even all over.
Aside from the description above, and a recent visit to the famous White Cliffs of Dover, I can’t say that I have given chalk very much thought since school days (which goes to show how old I am, since chalk and blackboards were presumably consigned to history some time ago). But I have recently become aware of a new and surprising way in which this nostalgic substance is being used by fashion-conscious young people, and even some not so young people: a way that might provide a trendy option for anyone whose vitiligo has caused their hair to turn white.
I am, of course, talking about the relatively new trend of hair chalking, which is a fun way of applying temporary or semi-permanent colour to your hair that allows you to experiment with shades you might otherwise be too wary to contemplate.
Apart from the chance to try out some wacky colours and creative effects, hair chalking appears to offer a couple of additional benefits for anyone with vitiligo…
- The most vibrant effects are evidently achieved when hair has no colour, which presumably makes depigmented hair perfect for the job.
- Chalk is a natural substance and contains none of the chemical “nasties” present in hair dyes which can cause skin irritation and further depigmentation.
Hair chalking, though popular, is not for everyone. But, as someone who has always been interested in fashion and beauty, I often used to find that having widespread vitiligo prevented me from wearing the styles of clothing I would ideally have liked. And I sometimes felt that I was not keeping up with current trends. So I can definitely see how hair chalking could offer a welcome opportunity for anyone in that position to have fun with different high-fashion looks… At the same time as making a virtue out of the fact that their vitiligo may have left them with some areas of white hair or maybe no natural colour at all. So why not give it a try? After all, if you don’t like it you can always wash it out!
