Irene Vilà Capafons

Photographer and Videographer

Alopex

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Location: Barcelona, Spain

Nationality: Spain

Biography: I'm a journalist, photojournalist, and videographer based in Barcelona. After finishing my degree in Journalism and Corporate Communication in Barcelona, I studied a postgraduate degree in Photojournalism at the Autonomous University of... MORE

Alopex

The word Alopecia comes from the Greek term 'alopekía', which derives from 'alópex' and means fox (animal that suffers from hair loss). In Spain, around 40% of women are affected by alopecia, but it is not socially acceptable and is still a taboo. Invisibilization leads, in many cases, to anxiety or depression.

This is a project about the taboo of female alopecia.

Miravisions Award, 1st Prize Winner

Published in El Periódico Published in 7K Zazpika

La Cadiera - Radio Aragón Tardeo - Radio Primavera Sound

Júlia Moreno is 24 ...rking because of the pandemic.

Júlia Moreno is 24 years old and it’s been four years since she was diagnosed with alopecia. She started with the diffuse type, which is characterized by the loss of hair density. Now, she has developed the universalis type (complete loss). "At first I thought it was temporary. I ended up seeing that it was serious and decided to go to the doctor." From then on, Júlia began a long road of tests, analyses and treatments that contained a long list of side effects.
She works in Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing. Currently, In the picture, Júlia is teleworking because of the pandemic.

Since she talked openly about ... women who also have alopecia.

Since she talked openly about her alopecia on Instagram, she has become an essential reference for women in the same situation. Júlia receives a lot of messages from women who also have alopecia.

One day, she decided that she ...e after a long time."

One day, she decided that she would post a set of three selfies without a wig or a scarf. She had to burst out. "It's not cancer, it's just alopecia. However, it's been a very tough road. I've been hiding it for a year until today, when I have gained the guts to post a picture like this," she wrote in the caption. "I remember my phone wouldn’t stop vibrating. I was getting a lot of notifications and comments. I felt free after a long time."

Júlia had fewer defenses in h...Júlia said enough was enough.

Júlia had fewer defenses in her body because of the treatments. Eventually, the idea of having to rely on pills when alopecia did not cause her pain or disability made her want to abandon them. She was treated with intravenous cortisone, which made her go to the hospital every day for a week, where she spent an hour on a stretcher while it was injected. Later, she tried a drug usually given to people with cancer. Then she went back to cortisone and underwent a grape ray treatment to get better blood circulation to the hair follicles. She only got a bit tanned. Finally, Júlia said enough was enough.

Júlia is putting on...ead, especially on sunny days.

Júlia is putting on a headscarf watching her reflection in the window. It is important to protect her head, especially on sunny days.

"For the first few mo...ared to expose their alopecia.

"For the first few months I had stopped being myself. I hid and stopped doing the things I loved most, such as dancing and surfing. I would spend an hour getting ready to go to college. I had to draw my eyebrows, hair by hair, and it was a nightmare. One morning, before class, I had a breakdown.”
In addition to having the support of her closest people, Júlia found it helpful to see other women who had dared to expose their alopecia.

Paula Blanco is 24 years old a...ork "Sofia".

Paula Blanco is 24 years old and she was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia (gradual hair loss) at the age of 15, but she couldn't talk about it until she was 20. In the picture, Paula is in her room with her work "Sofia".

Paula's sketches book ...more people like me."

Paula's sketches book next to a picture that she did to herself, it was the first time that she showed her alopecia. At first, Paula thought she was the only girl with alopecia. "When I was diagnosed, my reaction was to wonder why." At 15, she went to a dermatologist who prescribed some vitamins and Minoxidil, a spray for her hair. "My hair became greasy and my scalp reacted to the alcohol in it". Finally, Paula fell into the hands of an endocrinologist. "He basically just told me I was fat. The sense of guilt increased." For almost ten years, Paula went from one doctor to another. "It would have been helpful if someone had told me that it wasn’t serious, that there were more people like me."

Paula decided to illustrate he...e, stretch marks and alopecia.

Paula decided to illustrate her alopecia in her final degree project. Her work is called Sofia and consists of four books that talk about loss, toxic relationships and self-esteem. Paula pulled out all kinds of physical insecurities: weight, acne, stretch marks and alopecia.

Paula is drawing one chapter o...ons like the size or the hair.

Paula is drawing one chapter of the project Sofía. In this chapter, the main character shows some of her insecurities. Some of them are about physic conditions like the size or the hair.

In the picture, there is the o...and to love her imperfections.

In the picture, there is the original piece of the chapter about Alopecia. The story has inspired by Pink's song "Fucking Perfect". In the end, Sofía decides to stop suffering and to love her imperfections.

Calafell's beach is on...t define you at all."

Calafell's beach is one of Paula's favorite places to disconnect. Paula considered undergoing some treatment, but she was tired. Alopecia is an emotional pain to her. "Since we are little, we are taught that we must have a Rapunzel mane to be beautiful and attractive, but hair doesn’t define you at all."

Júlia Vincent is 34... blocks the nutrient supply. .

Júlia Vincent is 34 and was diagnosed with alopecia areata at the age of 7. It is an autoimmune condition that at first is usually patchy on the scalp or all over the body. Hair loss can appear in a very short period of time or after several months. In this type of alopecia there is an inflammation of the follicles that blocks the nutrient supply. .

In addition to being a chemist...efer to themselves as pelonas.

In addition to being a chemistry teacher at a high school in Badalona, Júlia is an actress and co- founder of A Pelo, an association that was born in Barcelona in 2017 with the aim of making alopecia visible. They refer to themselves as pelonas.

The personal diary that J&...to do because of her alopecia.

The personal diary that Júlia wrote before showing her Alopecia. She made a list with all the things that she wasn't able to do because of her alopecia.

"It was falling out i...re acting in a show.

"It was falling out in clumps. My mother was combing my hair before going to a friend's birthday party when she realised that she was taking off my hair with her fingers. She did her best to make a ponytail and said no more. I had clumps for a long time and tried to cover them with hairstyles that could hide them. At 15, I started wearing a wig. I stayed with it until I was 30. My friends didn't know, it took me about five years to tell them." In the picture, Júlia is combing a wig before acting in a show.

Júlia, who has been wearing a wig for more than ten years, describes it as a ‘jail'.

Júlia Vincent has n...keup, except for her costumes.

Júlia Vincent has no eyelashes or eyebrows. She decided not to use makeup, except for her costumes.

This is a drawing in J&uac...p;#39;m not beauty”.

This is a drawing in Júlia's diary. She wrote: "A lot of sadness", "I'm not beauty”.

Until she was 30, J&uacute... and insecurities” .

Until she was 30, Júlia always wore a wig. One day, she tried coming out of the closet. "Those who made my wigs told me they were looking for someone to take pictures to, but without wearing a wig. The results were posted on Facebook and the feedback was very positive. It seemed I had understood that I could also live in peace even if I was bald". However, that didn't last long. Just a few seconds. “Contrary to what I could expect, I didn’t feel prettier or more confident, but I still had the same voices as always crushing me. That’s when I understood that hair wasn’t the problem or the alopecia or the wig. The real conflict were my own fears and insecurities”.

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Thumbnail of Júlia Moreno is 24 y_orking because of the pandemic.

Thumbnail of Since she talked openly about h_m women who also have alopecia.

Thumbnail of One day, she decided that she w_ee after a long time."

Thumbnail of Júlia had fewer defenses in he_ Júlia said enough was enough.

Thumbnail of Júlia is putting on _head, especially on sunny days.

Thumbnail of "For the first few mon_dared to expose their alopecia.

Thumbnail of Paula Blanco is 24 years old an_work "Sofia".

Thumbnail of Paula's sketches book n_ more people like me."

Thumbnail of Paula decided to illustrate her_ne, stretch marks and alopecia.

Thumbnail of Paula is drawing one chapter of_ions like the size or the hair.

Thumbnail of In the picture, there is the or_ and to love her imperfections.

Thumbnail of Calafell's beach is one_;t define you at all."

Thumbnail of Júlia Vincent is 34 _t blocks the nutrient supply. .

Thumbnail of In addition to being a chemistr_refer to themselves as pelonas.

Thumbnail of The personal diary that J&u_ to do because of her alopecia.

Thumbnail of "It was falling out in_ore acting in a show.

Thumbnail of Júlia, who has been _ as a ‘jail'.

Thumbnail of Júlia Vincent has no_akeup, except for her costumes.

Thumbnail of This is a drawing in J&uacu_mp;#39;m not beauty”.

Thumbnail of Until she was 30, Jú_s and insecurities” .

Public Story

Alopex

Updated Jan 2022

Location Barcelona spain

Topics Activism, Documentary, Feminism, Freedom, Gender, Journalism, Lifestyle, Personal Projects, Photography, Photojournalism, Reporting, Social Justice, Spotlight, Womens Rights

Alopex

The word Alopecia comes from the Greek 'alopekía', which is derived from 'alópex' and means fox. 'Zorra' in Spanish, as this animal loses a lot of hair. There are plenty of foxes in the world. However, little is known about them. No statistics, no numbers, no data.This is a project about the taboo of female alopecia.

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