VIDEO: Girl with Alopecia Receives Amazing Gift

When Gabby Ruiz was 4-years-old, she was diagnosed with alopecia-areata, also known as spot baldness – a hair loss disorder where the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Over the years, she has tried numerous treatments, but with no results. She has not been able to grow her hair back. Luckily, she has a very good, special friend, who decided to do something amazing for her.
10-year-old Tyler Boone has been growing his hair out for the past 2 years, so that he could make a wig for Gabby, whom he considers his best friend. The two met years ago and they were able to maintaing an amazing, very tight long distance friendship.

Having long hair has made him the perfect target for bullies, who made a habit out of constantly throwing mean comments at him and calling him a girl. Amazingly enough, though, Tyler has learned to ignore those types of behaviors and not let them affect him in any way. He told ABC News, “I’m used to it now… I just want to make her happy.”

On Thursday December 29th, the unseparable duo and their families met at Florida’s Westfield Brandon Mall – Tyler was going to have a haircut! They had a short photoshoot before the big event, during which they couldn’t stop joking and laughing. Then Gabby personally cut 12 inches of Tyler’s hair. The moment was, of course, immortalized in a beautiful picture.

The hair was donated to Children with Hair Loss, a nonprofit organization that will make a wig just for Gabby.

These children’s relationship is the perfect example of TRUE FRIENDSHIP – selfless effort, love and lots of laughter together.

“He’s a great person and he’s amazing,” Gabby shared with WFTS.

After donating his hair, Tyles got an awesome new haircut. He’s a handsome kid with a giant heart – the ultimate combination!

Bottom line is we should never make fun of the way someone else looks, because we never know what that person might be struggling with.

Now here are a couple of amazing hair myths you need to stop believing and a couple of surprising truths, provided by USA Return.

Myth: Brush 100 times a day for healthier hair
This is now known to risk damaging your mane. Brushing pulls out hair that isn’t ready to fall out, often breaks healthy hairs, and scratches the scalp. Brush gently for styling only—not to stimulate the scalp.

Myth: Shaving the head of a newborn prevents baldness
There is no truth in this myth. Most male baldness is inherited. If a father has a tendency to early hair loss, any sons he has are very likely to inherit the same tendency. If a baby boy’s maternal grandfather and his own father both have this genetic characteristic, the boy will always inherit it.

Truth: Being stressed can make your hair fall out
Severe stress can take a toll on your hair. All hair follicles normally undergo periodic “rest” periods; sudden stress can cause them to enter this resting phase prematurely, making the hair fall out in the three months following the stressful event. Normally hair growth restores naturally, but it’s important to deal with stress and seek medical advice to rule out any underlying illness, hormonal imbalance, or drug side effects.

Truth: Worry brings gray hair
It seems that the stress hormone adrenaline may damage DNA in the genes responsible for the production of melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color.