ABSTRACT
Hair and the “body-self” of women with body image despair and eating disorders by Margo Maine. Based on clinical work exemplified by case vignettes with women struggling with eating disorders and body image despair, this chapter provides a window into the rich and complex meaning of hair in women’s psychological life and well-being. Over the course of an eating disorder, the health of hair suffers dramatically, resulting in thinning hair and sometimes, severe balding. For many women with eating disorders, “hitting bottom” happens when they can no longer deny their hair loss, forcing them to face that they must change, or they will be sentenced to a lifeless life. For some, hair is the only motivator for recovery.
