Ranvir Singh talks alopecia struggle following Jada Pinkett Smith Oscars joke
Watch: Ranvir Singh opens up about alopecia on Lorraine
Ranvir Singh has opened up about her experience of living with alopecia following the much talked about Oscars slap that brought attention to the condition.
Good Morning Britain presenter Singh, who stepped in to present Lorraine on Friday 1st April, said she has "found ways to cover it" as she discussed her battle with hair loss with Dr Amir Khan.
After sharing the statistic that eight million women in the UK suffer from hair loss, Singh said "Me [being] one of them – I can show you", as she pulled back her hair to show a bald patch, a symptom of alopecia.
Read more: Jada Pinkett Smith's history with alopecia after Chris Rock Oscars upset
"We were at Thorpe Park on Mother’s Day and I feel dreadful about the photographs because your hair’s going backwards," Singh added. "So I’ve always had a fringe, I’ve found ways to cover it, I use coloured sprays and things. I’ve got a patch in the middle, I’ve got a patch at the back."
This came into conversation as Singh and Khan discussed the moment Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the the 94th Academy Awards over his GI Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hairstyle, which she keeps shaven due to having alopecia.
Read more: UK's leading alopecia charity responds to Will Smith's Oscars slap
Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss. Hair loss is not usually anything to be worried about, but sometimes can be a sign of a medical condition. Some types can be permanent, like male and female pattern baldness, or they can be temporary, caused by things like an illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss, or an iron deficiency.
“It started when my dad had a heart attack and when he died, when I was eight or nine, and it’s never come back, so I understand a little bit of the real discomfort you live with having it," Singh explained, in empathy of others.
"If anything, it’s certainly made us talk about what it is… and women know that they’re not alone.”
Pinkett Smith first revealed she was struggling with hair loss in 2018 during en episode of her Red Table Talk.
“It was terrifying when it first started,” she said. "I was in the shower one day and had just handfuls of hair in my hands and I was just like, ‘Oh, my God, am I going bald?’ It was one of those times in my life where I was literally shaking in fear. That's why I cut my hair, and why I continue to cut it."
In Dec 2021, she posted on Instagram that she was "going to be friends" with alopecia as she shared a video pointing out a line on her head. "So it just showed up like that and this is going to be a little bit more difficult for me to hide," she said. "So I thought I’d just share it so y’all are not asking any questions.”
Read more: Women nationwide share their own experiences of alopecia following Oscars controversy
If you think you might have alopecia, you should see a GP if you have sudden hair loss, develop bald patches, you're losing hair in clumps, your head also itches and burns, or you're worried about hair loss – visit the NHS's website to find out more.
If you or someone you know is affected by hair loss you can contact Alopecia UK on info@alopecia.org.uk or 0800 101 7025 for one-on-one peer support and advice.
If you need urgent support you can call The Samaritans on 116 223, Childline on 0800 11 11 or NHS 111 Service on 111.
Watch: Jada Pinkett Smith opens up about hair loss and 'wants to be friends with alopecia'
