NOAH AOC

Ya know Krista, I'm just not a big fan of this myself.  I understand why you do what you do, high school can be very brutal, I remember.  But  I've found that most people in college/adult life are far less concerned about your outside appearance....well at least anybody worth your time.  There is SO much more to life than what color your hair is or what darker shade your skin is.

I'm all for a little eye make up and such, but no way I'd ever go that far to change my looks.  I can't imagine going through my life having to routinely dye my hair and put tan cream on my skin.

Please don't take this the wrong way, this is just my opinion of course.  To each their own; whatever makes you happy.  Just remember, you are beautiful the way you were born.  :)

I'm really glad you are being active in reaching out to other teens with albinism, that's great.

Krista,

You are a beautiful girl in both your before and after pictures!  I do not have albinism, but am a mother of 2 small children with OCA.  I think it is wonderful that you have found ways to make you feel good about yourself.  I wear make-up, occassionally use self-tanner, and get highlites in my hair.  Nobody ever says anything to normally pigmented people who do these things, but I have read other threads that acccuse people with albinism for hiding their true identity.  That doesn't seem fair to me!  My daughter is only 19 months and I hope you are still offering advice when she becomes a teenager.  I LOVE her white hair, but someday she might want a change and I'll send her your way.  Keep looking beautiful!

 Kelly

I was so glad to see your reply.   Yes a lot of ppl over the yrs said ' I love your hair.  Why would you want to change it?   Ha     They don't have it.   They dont' see the reactions from ppl who see me only as different.  Weird. 

 Tell your daughter from me that she is very lucky to have you for a mom.  :)

Some may not feel the need or just have different priorities, or for other reasons not want to go to the effort to look 'normal'.   But please lets let each one choose their own path and not put down the other choices.

You are a very beautiful girl.  Oh how I wish I had known someone like you when I was in high school!  

 I did start dying my hair red at age fourteen.  Way before red was popular.  I recently quit the red and dye it a light brown.  I couldn't get the same brands and colors.  As soon as I found a light red that worked well,  they would discontinue it!!!!!!!!!!  Arggggggg!   And blonde seems to look really bad on me.  Not sure why. 

If I were a  mother to a teen ager with albinism now,  I would look into getting their eyebrows and lashes dyed, and get them into the salon regularly for hair dye. If they wanted to do that. 

Congratulations to you and I wish you lots of success.  I think you will supply a very much needed service to many people.

Hello Kristin. 

I'm married to a woman with ocular albinism and very fair skin (though not truly albino).  Do you find that the products you use help with sun tolerance and skin irritation?  My wife has trouble with rashy discoloration and pinkness on her face, and I thought perhaps these products might help.

Thanks,

Sp 

Hi Krista,  I used to do those types of things myself.  I never dyed my hair, but I definitely used self tanner and make-up daily for many years.  I do admit that it helped greatly with my self-esteem.  It was only several years ago that I quit doing it (I'm 29).  I like to go camping and hiking and would even bring the self-tanner along and hide in the bushes to apply it!!  It was always the biggest hassle.  I am so grateful to have arrived at the point in my life where I feel beautiful and normal without it.

Hi Krista! 

I am a mother of a child with albinism and I just wanted to tell you that you are beautiful naturally or with the hair dye, makeup, self-tanner.  I think you should continue to do what ever makes you happy.  If you like the way you look with these things then you just continue.  I also respect you trying to help others that may want to try to change their looks also.  I dont feel like you should be ashamed of your albinism but if these things increase your self esteem then you go for it.  I also have used self tanners, gone to tanning beds, and change my hair color to alter my appearance and no one thinks a thing about it because I am normal pigmented.  Why is it any different?

Cristy

Hi Krista--

 I'm with you--I've found that doing those things you describe actually diminish the comments and ridicule from strangers.  It's kinda funny that several posts below said things like "You're great the way you are," and "You shouldn't feel ashamed about the way you look."  It isn't us albinism folks that are embarrased about how we look; rather, it's the treatment we get from those without it.

Sure, it'd be great to go "all natural" with regard to hair, make-up, and pale skin, but until people can tell the difference between albinism and mentally retarded, I'll be the hair-dyer and self-tan applier.  :-)

Early this summer on the street I saw a young Black albino woman. She had on a stunning outfit: Tight jeans, bright yellow belt, bright green + red polka dotted top, bright red headband, bright green necklace, bright red shoes, bright red lipstick. The colors of her outfit would have POPPED on a normally-pigmented woman, but on her, they shouted out at the eye. She simply could NOT be ignored--but when I looked at her on the street they didn't see an albino woman but a ballsy and stylish one.

While you look lovely in both your before and after pictures, I can't help thinking of that woman and how gorgeous she looked by making her albinism strikingly obvious instead of trying to hide it.  
 

Hi Krista:

Thanks for taking an interest in the quality of your life and not being afraid to share it with others! I love your courage and think the look is signifcantly different. I have tried self tanner myself but am kind of lazy for freequent application and plus I'm not a fan of the little smell that accompanies it. I have an older sister who lives and dies by the self tanner, lol and it looks really nice on her. However, I definityly try different hair color because I love to change my look. I've grown fond of the versatility!

I agree with some of the other persons posting below about the unfairness and critiscism for beauty enhancments that any woman should be able to utilize. Some how people seem to beleive that if you want take the same measure and you have albinism, that a person is hiding herself. I had began to feel uncomfortable about it as I got older, but decided that I too must do what makes me happy. So, I believe that I enhance my natual beauty with make up and hair color and it is simply taking care of myself, because my true beauty comes from within.

Keep smiling and sharing yourself with the world.

 Hi Krista I am sorta new to the site but I saw your post and thort I would comment on it. i think tha you look amazing with your new transformation. I am 20 and like you swear by my fake tan and make up. I have never really been teased as school but where I live it is fashionable to be tanned and everything so thats why I started wearing make up. I havn't had the guts to dye my hair yet but I can see from reading in the forum that other people with albinism don't like the idea of covering it up but really in this day in age what woman does not wear make up and fake tan and hair dye? More to the point its about what makes people feel confident within themselves. For me it is to boost my confidence but also I hated being known as 'the albino girl' and by albinism was always the first thing people wanted to know about. Now that its not so noticeable I can choose who I discuss it with and people see Roxanne before they see the albino.

Just writing this to show everyone on here some suppot xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Make sure those products don't have chemicals that pass the blood-brain barrier. I know of some self-tanners that contain heavy metals.

hello krista, I was so amazed at your positive outlook...my son also has albinism and has tried to hve his hair lowlighted, with fillers, however the end product wasnt...natural...he also tried self tanning in a booth, but there was an offensive smell and it ended up being patchy.  could you possibly send me some information on the products you use i would be so very grateful.  you can contact me at L.J.V@shaw.ca...Krista thank you so much.  linda 

I think you are beautiful either way..... I would like to add... that most women would KILL for white blonde hair. ;-)