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Brave Alopecia Sufferer Reveals Her Bare Head For The First Time In Six Years – Thanks To Her Big Sister

Sisterly love <3

A bald, alopecia-suffering teen has revealed her bare head for the first time in six years - after her big sister shaved her head in solidarity.

Brave Emily Morris, 14, has spent nearly half her life hiding her thinning hair after she was diagnosed with alopecia in 2007.
 
But now, thanks to her 16-year-old sister Lauren - who shaved off her long brown locks to raise money in memory of their mum - she's found the courage to step out in public without her bandana.

Lauren Morris (right) shaved her head in solidarity with her sister Emily (left) [Caters]
Lauren Morris (right) shaved her head in solidarity with her sister Emily (left) [Caters]

"Seeing Lauren without any hair made me realise that I had nothing to be ashamed of and gave me enough strength to take it off,” said Emily, from Halesowen, Birmingham.

"I promised her that if she shaved her hair off I would go to school without my bandana.

"I was nervous at first but with Lauren's support I felt I could do it.

"I always dreamt of what it would be like to go to school without my bandana, now I've done it and I feel so confident.

"Before, I'd always think tomorrow's the day I'm not going to wear my bandana to school but I was always too nervous and could never do it.

"My bandana was a security blanket but it got in the way of things and stopped me doing every day activities like swimming.

See ya, bandana! Emily ditches the bandana she's been wearing for six years [Caters]
See ya, bandana! Emily ditches the bandana she's been wearing for six years [Caters]

"I never wanted any attention to be drawn to me before so I'd often hide away and wouldn't like to stand up in assemblies because I knew everyone's eyes would be on me."
 
Since Emily’s alopecia diagnosis in 2007, she’s always struggled to feel accepted by other girls her age, as she felt they all had long hair.

"Everyone's always been understanding but while I was growing up, all my friends had long hair and so I felt left out and on my own,” she said.

"But since Lauren's shaved off her hair, I don't feel alone any more.
 
"Everyone at school says they're really proud of us both and I know I look better without the bandana.

"Now that I've taken the bandana off for good, my hair will grow much quicker as there won't be as much strain on the hair strands and it'll get more sunlight so will grow thicker too.

"I feel much happier and confident - everyone says I look like Sinead O'Connor."

The courageous teen has been without her bandana for nearly two weeks now - all thanks to her sister Lauren, who cut off her hair for charity.

She took part in the act to raise money in memory of her mum, Denise, who died of breast cancer in 2007.

Lauren had been planning the charity shave for more than three years but was told by her dad Howard, 46, that she had to wait until she'd finished school.

So less than 24 hours after her prom, the teenager got the close cut in front of a large crowd - including her little sister.

Lauren Morris pictured at her prom, before she shaved her head [Caters]
Lauren Morris pictured at her prom, before she shaved her head [Caters]

"I'm so proud of Emily - I've seen how much confidence can be knocked out of kids because they don't have any hair especially for girls,” said Lauren.

"My sister has always been beautiful but now I think she's a lot more confident, knowing someone else has short hair like her.

"She seems much happier now too, which is just great and I thought the shave came at a perfect time for everyone in my class.
 
"I had to wait until after prom to cut it as my dad said I had to finish school first.

"For prom, you spend so much time perfecting your hair that I thought it would be the perfect time.

 "I was never nervous but everyone at prom kept reminding me of how many hours I had left until the big shave.

Emily and Lauren, pictured here, lost their mother to throat cancer [Caters]
Emily and Lauren, pictured here, lost their mother to throat cancer [Caters]

"I had to look away while they cut my hair but when it was gone I felt a little bit like Jessie J after she shaved her hair off for Comic Relief.

"I know my mum would be really proud, I remember helping her to shave off her hair when she was going through chemo so it was really significant to me.

"I still remember mum's hair falling off in clumps in our kitchen and was thinking about her while Dad shaved my hair off.
 
"I know mum would be really touched and proud that this has helped Emily to take off her bandana."

So far the charitable act has raised more than £1,500 in money donated on the night and through her online fundraising page - www.justgiving.com/Lauren-Whitehouse2.

The money will be going to the Little Princess Trust that gives real-hair wigs to boys and girls who've lost their hair following cancer treatment.

Emily Morris was diagnosed with alopecia in 2007 [Caters]
Emily Morris was diagnosed with alopecia in 2007 [Caters]

As well as raising money, Lauren's hair – that was more than seven-inches long - has been donated to the charity to produce a wig for a cancer sufferer.

"Well done to Lauren for her head shave, raising money for The Little Princess Trust,’ said Amy Johnson, spokesperson for Alopecia UK.

"It is fantastic to hear that this has brought Lauren and Emily closer together and given Emily the confidence to go out in public without her bandana.
 
Alopecia UK is a small charity that provides information, support & advice to anyone affected by hair loss. For more information, please visit: www.alopecia.org.uk.

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