Why we are passionate about supporting women with hair loss – Often, we learn the most profound life lessons from personal experience, and sometimes the knowledge gained allows us to “pay it forward” with a desire to help others.
A personal journey becomes a passion for supporting women with hair loss.
Who knew that a cancer diagnosis would lead to my passion for supporting women experiencing hair loss? It is a devastating side effect of cancer treatments that can leave you feeling vulnerable and helpless.
During that time, I realized the need for a highly personalized service dedicated to anyone experiencing hair loss, whether due to a medical condition, side effects from treatment or medication, or going through extreme stress.
My vision was to create a safe space where you would have privacy and feel at ease, without feeling self-conscious or rushed while going through the process of trying on, fitting, and selecting a wig.
Wigful Thinking Wig Salon – The Vision Becomes a Reality
Meet Caryl – In 2014, we opened the doors to Wigful Thinking, a family-owned small business with a mission in mind. As a two-time cancer survivor, I understand how physically debilitating treatment can be and how much the toll of losing my hair affected me emotionally.
That was when I realized there was a need for more salons specializing in hair solutions including wigs, wig care, and accessories to help women regain confidence.
Meet Olivia – My granddaughter, Olivia, works side-by-side with me in the wig studio. As a certified cosmetologist, she has the expertise to help women choose and style a wig that best suits their needs and personality.
Olivia also worked for a breast cancer physician and observed first-hand how cancer treatment affects lives both physically and emotionally. Her hope is to make a difference by inspiring a renewed confidence in anyone experiencing hair loss.
At Wigful Thinking, our desire and commitment is to create the best possible hair solutions for each client by focusing on personality and lifestyle, understanding that every person’s journey is unique.
We will guide you every step of the way from wig selection, sizing, cutting, and styling through cleaning, refreshing, and maintaining the integrity of your wig. We can also help you with eyebrow and eyelash solutions.
There’s no greater reward than knowing we made a difference in someone’s life.
Testimonials such as this one from Wendy J. are why we are passionate about what we do, offering a service that empowers women to feel better about themselves during difficult times.
“Caryl and Liv are absolutely the best! They take the time to explain the different types of wigs and what suits you best. It is such an emotional experience losing your hair, and these two angels help you throughout the difficult process. I really didn’t think I was going to find a wig that I would love. Sure enough, they proved me wrong. Thankfully Wigful Thinking is local, but I would have driven any distance for the experience they provided.”
Your visit to Wigful Thinking is private and confidential.
In order to give you the privacy and dedication you deserve, consultations are by appointment only. During that hour, we will answer your questions and address your concerns to help you understand the process and what to expect.
Contact Wigful Thinking at 609-249-4811 to request an appointment.
Why am I losing my hair? – Have you been noticing more hair than usual in your hairbrush or the drain after shampooing?
Why Am I Losing My Hair?
We all shed 50-100 strands per day, but when the natural balance of hair growth and loss is interrupted, you may experience thinning hair or hair loss.
The growth (and loss) cycle of your hair has three stages:
1. Anagen Stage – This stage lasts 2 to 8 years when a strand of hair is actively growing.
2. Catagen Stage – A phase that lasts up to 3 weeks when the hair has stopped growing and is preparing to shed.
3. Telogen Stage – This is the last stage when the hair is expelled from the follicle. The follicle remains dormant for about three months before a new hair starts to grow.
Reasons for hair loss:
Alopecia – an autoimmune skin disease that causes thinning, patchy, or total hair loss. There are five types of alopecia:
Alopecia Areata – patchy hair loss and bald spots.
Alopecia Areata Totalis – total hair loss on the head.
Alopecia Areata Universalis – loss of hair over the entire body.
Diffuse Alopecia Areata – sudden thinning of hair.
Ophiasis Alopecia Areata – hair loss band around back and sides of the head,
Trichotillomania – compulsive hair-pulling disorder, mostly from the scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Telogen Effluvium – a disturbance in the hair cycle characterized by hair thinning or an increase in hair shedding where large amounts of hair fall out — generally brought on by stress, shock, or trauma such as illness, surgery, and giving birth, but it typically grows back.
Age – Changes in hormone levels, worsening after menopause when estrogen is lost.
Medical – Chemotherapy, radiation, thyroid problem, inflammatory condition, or medications. If hair follicles are damaged, the hair loss can be permanent.
Hair Style – Over-chemically treated hair or stress on roots such as tight ponytails.
Family History – FPHL (female pattern hair loss) on top of the head, many times widening along the part line
Poor nutrition – not getting enough iron, folic acid, or other minerals in your diet
If there is no apparent reason for thinning or loss of hair – such as chemotherapy – schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to check for underlying medical issues. At that time, you can discuss recommended treatment for your condition and in many cases, hair loss can be stabilized or, in some cases, reversed.
Wigful Thinking is Here for You
Wigful Thinking is here to help you through the most challenging time of hair loss by fitting you with a wig or hairpiece. During your consultation, we take into consideration your face shape, skin tone, natural hair color, texture, and lifestyle.
All visits to our wig salon are by appointment only. To ensure the safety and well-being of our clients, we sanitize the studio between each appointment. Contact Wigful Thinking today to schedule a consultation at 609-249-4811.
There are a variety of reasons people experience hair loss: medical issues, cancer treatment, the aging process, trichotillomania, alopecia, a side effect of medications, hormonal issues, thyroid disease, and even stress.
Supporting a loved one through medical hair loss is vital to their self-esteem and recovery.
It can be a very traumatic time. Here are some ways you can help your loved one cope with their loss.
1. Listen and emphasize with their feelings – A woman who experiences medical hair loss is grieving. Give them the time and space to process those feelings. Acknowledge the magnitude of her loss and let her know it is okay to mourn.
2. Prepare yourself ahead of time – The first time you see your loved one that is losing their hair, it can be upsetting. Follow their lead in how to respond. Your loved one may feel self-conscious or want to cry. Remember, you are there to support her.
3. Tell her she is beautiful and brave – All women need to hear they are beautiful and courageous. Women with medical hair loss may struggle to believe a positive view of themselves. Offer your love and encouragement by taking the time not only to tell them how beautiful they are, show them with your time and attention. Let them know they are loved.
4. Talk to them about a support group or individual counseling. – Providing a chance to meet other people who are going through a similar experience can be invaluable. It can help your loved one cope with this new normal. If they are open to it, you can even offer to go with them.
5. Offer to go with her to look at head coverings and wigs – When your loved one is ready, offer to go with her to find her look. Selecting a wig is a very personal thing; a good friend can help. Wigful Thinking Wig Studio offers wig consultations in our Design Studio.
Take your loved one’s hair loss one day at a time.
Some days they may not want to wear any head covering, and other days they may feel more comfortable with a wig or headwrap. Being supportive and patient can help you both cope with the impact of medical hair loss.
Wigful Thinking services a growing market need for a highly personalized approach to non-medical, non-surgical hair augmentation solutions for those driven by fun, fashion, convenience, or medical hair loss.
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We will answer all your questions and help you understand what to expect.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the rate of cancer deaths in the United States is decreasing but approximately 38 percent of the population will be diagnosed with cancer sometime in their lives. As part of its cancer awareness and prevention efforts, the Washington DC-based American Institute of Cancer Research emphasizes that up to one-third of the most common cancers in the US are preventable. Research shows that just 5 to 10 percent of cancer cases are attributed to genes. Lifestyle and environment likely triggered the remaining 90 to 95 percent.
Wigful Thinking Wig Studio wants to share a few tips to help you in your wellness journey. Most people are probably aware of things they should do to prevent cancer such as avoiding smoking, wearing sunscreen, and getting regular screenings for colon, breast and prostate cancer.
Here are five steps you can start taking now to increase your odds of remaining cancer-free. Many are surprisingly simple lifestyle choices.
Keep moving – Add more activity, such as brisk walking, to your daily routine. Walking just 30 minutes at 3 mph 5 days per week can be enough to protect you. Get on your feet while talking on the phone, doing chores, or even watching television.
Eat a rainbow – Eat a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. The more colorful your plate is, the more likely it is packed with powerful cancer-fighting nutrients. Avoiding processed foods and salty foods are also beneficial.
Be choosey about how you hydrate – Sipping enough H2O every day is essential to overall health, but it is important to make sure the water you drink is clean and safe. Using filtered water can help. Avoid sugary drinks and limit alcohol, if consumed at all.
Select meat wisely – Processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and lunch meats have been classified as a carcinogen. Limiting red meat consumption such as beef, pork and lamb and making more meals using poultry and fish are good choices. Create meatless dishes using beans or eggs instead to provide the protein your diet needs.
De-stress – Chronic stress can weaken your immune system and potentially speed the development of tumors. Find ways to release the strains of daily life. Exercising, spending time with friends, hobbies, and music can all be ways to relax.
After treatment, cancer survivors should follow recommendations for cancer prevention from their medical caregivers.
Contact our awesome staff
The Wigful Thinking team is a family-owned passion since 2014. Caryl, the owner, is a two-time cancer survivor and understands the emotional toll on women when they lose hair and eyebrows. Contact us for a consultation if you are experiencing medical hair loss. Our talented and compassionate staff is here to help you with all of your wig needs.
Hair loss during cancer treatment can be one of the most traumatic and stressful side effects of fighting the battle against cancer.
Wearing a wig shouldn’t make you feel self-conscious. Instead, it should empower you to feel more beautiful and confident.
A wig will help you look good and feel better.
When your world has been rocked by a cancer diagnosis, doing things that make you feel ‘normal’ again can be cathartic. Something as simple as getting up and styling your hair for the day evokes comfort and a sense of familiarity. Our hair is one way we express our individuality, so using a wig during transition can help you keep your personal style.
Take back control.
If losing your hair is upsetting to you, wearing a wig is one way you can gain control over the situation. A wig will allow you to decide what style, texture, length, and even color you want for your individual look. Do blondes have more fun? Take this opportunity to try a new hair color or style. If experimenting with a wig gives you the freedom to be yourself during this difficult time, do what’s best for you!
Less work for you.
Most wigs will keep their shape and style if stored correctly once they are removed from your head. Less time doing your hair in the morning means more time for coffee! Once you choose your wig, the team at Wigful Thinking offers styling services and products that will help provide you with the look you’re wanting to achieve. They will show you how to keep your wig in top shape and provide instructions on how to care for it correctly.
Caryl understands the emotional toll on women when we lose our hair and eyebrows. “I remember…and it is important to me that every woman is taken care of with a confidential, customized hair plan, support, and encouragement,” says Caryl. Take the next step and make an appointmentat Wigful Thinking to discuss your wig options during cancer treatment. You won’t be disappointed.
Alopecia and Wigful Thinking – There are many different reasons why someone would find themselves in need of our services here at Wigful Thinking. One of those reasons is alopecia.
WHAT IS ALOPECIA?
Alopecia occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own hair follicles. There is a range of severity of hair loss with alopecia from small, smooth bald patches on the scalp to, in rare cases, complete baldness, including all body hair.
It often occurs in people younger than twenty years old, but it can occur at any age. Most people with alopecia will regrow their own hair in the future. Some have this hair loss permanently.
Alopecia cannot be cured, but several treatments are available to encourage the body to regrow its hair. Unlike other medical diagnoses, alopecia is painless, non-contagious, and does not come attached to other health issues.
WHAT CAN WIGFUL THINKING DO FOR ALOPECIA PATIENTS?
If you have this type of hair loss, you may want to use a hairpiece while waiting for your own hair to regrow. A hairpiece is made of human or synthetic hair and can be temporarily attached to your scalp covering the bald spot. If you have complete baldness, we offer full wigs. We even offer eyebrow wigs for those who experience a complete loss of body hair.
Hair is an important part of your identity.
That’s why its loss can be emotionally traumatic. We understand this here at Wigful Thinking and can work with you tenderly and gently during this hard time. And we can handle your needs individually and personally so that you get the size, color, and style that you need.
Nora Wessler, a grateful Wigful Thinking customer, says, “Wigful Thinking changed my life! I have alopecia and, for years, have felt embarrassed going out in public. That all changed when I met Caryl, the Owner of Wigful Thinking. I now feel confident and in control of my life in the public eye. I have even been approached by strangers complimenting me on my haircut. Little do they know….”
About Wigful Thinking
We can accommodate any level of hair loss. To take full advantage of Wigful Thinking, it is important that our clients take the time to book an appointment. Make your appointment today by calling: 609-249-4811. Also, feel free to visit our website at https://www.wigfulthinking.com/
Hair loss during cancer treatment can be one of the most traumatic and stressful side effects of fighting the battle against cancer.
Take back control.
WHAT IS ALOPECIA?
WHAT CAN WIGFUL THINKING DO FOR ALOPECIA PATIENTS?