It’s a condition that affects approximately 1.7% of the population both men and women equally. Yet in spite of the emotional turmoil it causes sufferers, alopecia is still poorly understood.

When Emma Coughlan, pictured, of Redcar got alopecia, looking back on how traumatic it was, she says she didn’t think her life could ever be normal again.

Emma wanted someone to really understand the tremendous anxiety she was suffering and for things to go back to normal and in desperation went to a semi permanent make up practitioner which ended with disastrous results.

“I was desperate to look and feel normal again she says, “so I didn’t ask any questions and just let her treat me. To my horror when I looked in the mirror I was left with two eyebrows that looked like they had been drawn on with a black felt tip pen.

"I then did some research and found that I should have been given a patch test, taken part in the colour choice and placement, however, none of that happened.”

This inspired Emma to train as a semi permanent make up technician so she would be able to give other sufferers the correct treatments and have someone to talk to who really understands what they are going through.

Emma continues: "Before I knew it, I had qualified and realised that the type of eyebrows I had been given were old fashioned but with today’s technology can be made to look a lot more natural.

“I began working for a hair replacement company in London on a crash course in hair replacement. Six months later I knew pretty much everything there was to know about hair loss and the solutions available to suit each clients needs.

"I now do the consultations in the North for London Company 'Great Looking Hair' as well as also becoming a partner in the firm.”

Having worked for companies in Manchester and Leeds which specialise in hair replacement and systems, Emma decided to go it alone and has now turned her life around to become a successful businesswoman.

“My business quickly grew and my reputation spoke for itself.

"I now treat clients from all over the North East doing eyebrow, eyeliner and lip treatments to either enhance the features clients already have, or to give them back, in the case of alopecia sufferers."

In spite of Emma’s tough journey, she explains that there is light at the end of the tunnel. “You have to learn to like yourself again. Because you wear wigs, you become paranoid about the wind and rain.

“But I found that when this happened to me, the help was limited. Although the staff was lovely, they gave me a wig, brushed it and that was it, but this was my life and people going through this, need to be able to talk about it.

“I work with lots of different companies in the hair loss industry so there is always a solution that will suit your life style.

“You do have to go through the bad parts, but it makes you reassess your life, but after all, it is only hair. Wearing a wig is not the end of the problem, it needs to be talked about so underlying problem can be addressed.

“With the support of my family I got through it and day by day found the confidence to go outside again after spending weeks hiding in my bedroom feeling socially unacceptable.”

“I opened my new clinic at Redcar Business Centre station at the beginning of the month and it’s been a great success."

As well as helping clients with hair loss, Emma has also helped others improve their appearance for job interviews and personal reasons with her tattoo removal service.

You can contact Emma Coughlan and see some examples of her work at her facebook page, www.facebook.com/semipermanentmakeup1. For further details, contact Emma at Unit 18 Redcar Station Business Centre, Station Road, Redcar, email: emmaspm1@gmail.com, Tel:07584260822