"Nice wig!" isn't the goal anymore. "That's a wig?!" is.
You've lived with androgenetic alopecia for 15 years and tried almost every fix out there (products, supplements, fibers, "your aunt's best friend's sister's" miracle fix) before choosing wigs. How did finally making that choice change your day-to-day life?
"After 15 years of trying pretty much everything to fix my hair loss, choosing wigs was honestly such a turning point for me. I realized I was spending so much time worrying about my hair and trying to hide it, and I just didn’t want to live that way anymore.
Wigs gave me that freedom back. I could put on a wig I loved, and just go about my day without constantly thinking about my hair.
It really shifted my mindset from trying to fix my hair loss to just embracing myself and feeling confident again.
Wigs gave me that freedom back. I could put on a wig I loved, and just go about my day without constantly thinking about my hair. It really shifted my mindset from trying to fix my hair loss to just embracing myself and feeling confident again."
When it comes to grieving small moments, like throwing your hair into a ponytail on a hot day or tucking your hair behind your ears, what everyday moment felt best to get back once you started wearing wigs?
"I think the biggest thing I got back was just the confidence to walk out the door without worrying about how people were going to look at me. Putting on a wig changed that.
I could walk into a room, go out with my kids, run errands, and just be present instead of worrying about what everyone else was seeing.
It gave me that feeling of, “I look good, I feel good, and I don’t have to think about my hair anymore.”
That confidence was something I really missed."
After dozens of wigs, both synthetic and human hair, it seems like you've figured out what works for you, and that the goal isn't "that's a nice wig," it's "wait, that's a wig?" What's one wig-wearing hill you won't budge on? And what's one detail most people overlook when choosing a piece?
"My biggest wig-wearing hill is, at least for me, that lower-density wigs look the most natural.
I know everyone has a different preference, but I’ve tried so many wigs over the years, and I’ve found that when there’s too much hair, it can immediately start looking like a wig.
For me, the goal is always “wait…that’s a wig?” rather than “that’s a nice wig.” And I think one detail people often overlook is density. They focus so much on the length, color, and style, but the amount of hair can make such a huge difference in how natural the piece actually looks."
You've said you'd rather your kids see you adjust than disappear. How has being a mom shaped the way you talk about hair loss, both at home and with the women who follow you?
"As a bald woman, I think when people see me they think, 'Oh wow, what a beautiful bad ass confident person!'
I hope that is the narrative that is what's going on when people see all bald women, and that is what I'm driving home.
We are all worthy, beautiful, and perfect just the way we are!