Trending:
- Christine Chiu recently shared that she experienced “sudden and dramatic” loss of 99% of her hair. “My head is bald,” she reveals to PEOPLE exclusively.
- The Bling Empire alum, 42, is consulting doctors and undergoing tests in hopes of finding the cause.
- Chiu explains how the support of her family, as well as strangers, have helped her during this time.
Christine Chiu is sharing her hair loss journey in hopes of helping others.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the former Bling Empire star, 42, opened up about her health after recently revealing on social media that she was experiencing “sudden and dramatic” hair loss.
Chiu tells PEOPLE her doctors still don’t know the cause of her hair loss, but she is undergoing tests.
She adds she thought “long and hard about whether to keep this a private matter or to share it, and to what degree.”
“Ultimately, it was really a thoughtful decision that stems from when I went through infertility — when I was trying to have my son and I went through seven rounds of IVF and it was a very dark and lonely journey and very private,” she adds.
The philanthropist shares a 6-year-old son, Gabriel Chiu III, affectionately known as “Baby G,” with her husband Gabriel Chiu, Jr.
She recalls how speaking openly about her infertility was considered to be “taboo.”
“And so we didn’t speak about it. And so I kind of went through it by myself and had to wander. And in retrospect, I think if I had a little bit more transparency and open dialogue, maybe I would’ve gone through it easier,” Chiu says.
Regarding her hair loss, the reality television star tells PEOPLE, “I feel like although it’s something that I would probably prefer not to share to the rest of the world — how my head is bald and I basically have a mullet with four strands of hair coming out from the ends — there’s power in knowledge.”
Chiu adds that while she has received messages like, “You’re too skinny,” “It’s because of your Botox,” or “You’re old, it’s menopause,” the overwhelming majority of responses since going public about her health have been supportive.
“What I found and even posting a little [Instagram] Stories about it, I can’t tell you, I can’t even count,” she says. “Hundreds, at least, if not thousands. My inbox is flooded with the strangers pitching in, whether it’s something as simple as sending encouragement and love. I was really surprised, super overwhelmingly surprised at how many women are going through this or have gone through it themselves.”
Some fans have suggested holistic routes such as “eating more avocados or drinking bone broth,” and even “going gluten-free.”
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Chiu says she has also drawn strength from her at-home support system.
“Well, they do live up to their names both Gabriel dad and Gabriel baby,” Chiu tells PEOPLE. “They’re both angels in my life. Gabriel baby, it’s such a blessing in disguise to see what an empathetic little kid he’s become.”
“He leaves me Post-It love notes around the house with encouragement. ‘Don’t worry, mommy, I love you. Your hair will grow back.’ Or his nightly prayers will be like, ‘Dear Jesus, please help mama’s hair grow back.’ And it’s things like that that help, it’s like the little silver lining to see a 6-year-old have compassion in that way,” she says.
“It’s very sweet,” Chiu tells PEOPLE of Baby G, adding that it also helps to be married to a plastic surgeon.
She recalls the early days of dating her now-husband, when the young couple donated to and volunteered with the John Wayne Cancer Institute (now known as Saint John’s Cancer Institute).
“Back then, I understood the concept of women losing their hair and losing their identity and feeling a little not feminine, not like themselves. I kind of understood it on paper, but now I’m really obviously seeing how important our hair is to us and to how we feel like a woman. But I’m fortunate that I’m married to a plastic surgeon and we have access to everything,” she says.
However, Chiu knows that not everyone is as fortunate, noting that quality wigs can sometimes cost as much as $20,000 for “head scans and the custom silicone cap.”
“How can someone afford all of this between the treatments and the medication and the wigs and then having to put on a brave face?” she asks.
“There are moments where I want to break down and have my moment and cry, but then I have this little 6-year-old looking at me and I’m trying to teach the lessons that beauty comes from within,” Chiu tells PEOPLE. “So I’m trying to dial into how I look at myself in the mirror and then I’m trying to teach my son [that] what you look like is not as important as who you are and who you are is built of strength and character and resilience.”
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