With light makeup

Photographer Jen Osborne took a series of portraits of former drug addicts from the Canadian city of Vancouver. Wigs, hairpieces and makeup help to hide their true face from strangers, and sometimes even from loved ones.

(Total 10 photos)

1. Laura: “I use the face and body as a canvas, as a space for art. This is my way of expressing myself and my feelings. Many women, especially on television, wear hairpieces. I like it when people spend a lot of time looking good - washing, putting on clean clothes, putting on make-up. I do all of this and I hope it inspires others."

2. Tammy: “I always wanted to rob a bank, feel like a sexy woman with a gun in my hand. I always wondered if I had enough gunpowder. And then I said, “You know what? I'll go and do it." I took the gun and they gave me their money. I couldn't believe it! It was something like: “Here, take it!” Then I thought, “Wow! I'm going to go and rob another store right in front of the cops."

3. Lisa: “I always had my own long hair, but one person cut it off because I didn’t sleep with him. It changed everything about me—sexuality, sensitivity, everything. Later, I contracted Staphylococcus aureus. Because of this infection, parts of the body simply die off. I always had cocaine on my fingers, it got into my eyes - because of the paralyzed nerves, I just didn’t feel it. When I went to the optometrist, he examined me and said that the consequences look like there are ten thousand scratches on my cornea. Once I tried to sell a bike I got for my birthday. The man did not want to pay. He hit me in the face three times. Because of this, the infection went even deeper and my eye exploded.”

4. Carol: “Six years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and started losing my hair. I have bad nerves and it took a very long time for my hair to grow back, so I bought a wig. I still love wearing wigs. You can be a different person at any time."

5. Karen: “When you wear a wig, you can quickly change the image, no matter what mood you are in at that moment. I can’t say that my self-esteem is bad, but it’s nice when people notice your inner beauty. My real hair was long, knee length, but I cut it off and gave it to children with cancer.”

6. Shelley: “I have short hair, but sometimes I want to wear long hair. I usually buy straight long black wigs. I always wear a wig only after purchase, while it still looks good. Wearing a wig once and throwing it away is expensive, but that's what I do."

7. Stephanie: “I started doing makeup and styling my hair at the age of eleven. I use theatrical make-up, like on television or in the theater. I call my look "princess style". He is unique. I am often called a freak or a freak. I also love glitter. They make me lighter, warmer and friendlier, they attract a lot of attention. And at sunset, they look absolutely amazing and make me feel really good.”

8. Tiffany: “Every day I want to be someone completely different. It's like being a superhero. When you change, depression leaves you. I like buying second hand clothes. I don't want to dress like everyone else, so I'm always looking for things that are different, different from what everyone else is wearing."

9. Jackie: “My hair is too short. Until they grow back, I wear hairpieces with long strands. Wigs are like clothes: another fucking expensive thing. Like a manicure. I don't do fake nails, instead I use fake hair. Every time I watch a video, I want to look like those chicks. Just be stupid. I have a Justin Bieber haircut, my own Bieber hair. But like a girl."

10. Cheryl: “I sold drugs, but I didn’t want it to reflect on my personal life. Due to the extreme makeup, no one who could see me with children could recognize me. One day, the police came to my house to arrest me, but they couldn't tell if it was me or someone else. They had to take my fingerprints."