Alopecia Woman Sets Up Wig Business

Adele Rees, a 49 year old woman with Alopecia, was unhappy with the service she experienced when shopping for wigs, feeling it was impersonal. Diagnosed with Alopecia 10 years ago, Mrs Rees has now set up her own wig business to sell wigs to other women with hair loss.

Her business, My Hair Studio, is designed to offer a more personal service to women, helping them to choose the right wig for their individual needs. Women who have retained some of their hair are offered a choice of styles and colours to help them feel more confident about their appearance.

Understanding hair loss

Mrs Rees commented, “I have my own unique view on the condition as I am a sufferer myself, so I feel I am qualified to give advice. I have been to so many companies, but they are run by people who are not bald themselves, and can’t understand what we go through.”

When starting her business, Mrs Rees was initially surprised at the amount of interest from those experiencing hair loss as a result of all sorts of conditions women from various walks of life have been in touch.

Mrs Rees went on to comment on the ‘taboo’ subject of hair loss, saying, “We offer a really discreet service which means people are comfortable. Losing your hair is a massive thing; it can be mentally damaging and people just don’t talk about it. I have found people open up in this environment and really want to talk about it here it is a great atmosphere.”

Many triggers for Alopecia

Alopecia affects 1 in 1,000 people at some point in their lives and is one of the most well-known hair loss conditions, with celebrities such as Gail Porter having been affected. The condition can be triggered by a variety of factors, from stress to physical trauma and even pregnancy. The root cause is not known but it is classed as an autoimmune condition.

Alopecia Areata begins with patchy hair loss, which is caused by hair follicles prematurely entering the ‘resting’ or ‘telogen’ phase they stop growing and are eventually shed. Whilst Alopecia Areata can be successfully treated by a hair loss expert, total baldness caused by Alopecia Totalis or Alopecia Universalis is harder to treat, and it is less likely that the hair will grow back.

For anyone experiencing any kind of hair loss, it is important to see a hair loss expert as soon as possible, to discover the underlying cause and receive treatment if it is possible for their condition.