How to Work with Me at Hair Loss Pride
Hair loss can feel heavy. Confusing. Isolating.
And while the internet is full of advice, what most women actually need is understanding and a safe space to figure out what’s next.
That’s why I created Hair Loss Pride: a place to be supported, educated, and seen. Here’s how we can work together, depending on where you are in your journey.
✨ 1:1 Coaching — “You don’t have to carry this alone.”
Hair loss impacts so much more than just hair. It touches your confidence, your identity, and how you show up in the world.
In coaching, we create a safe space for you to talk openly about what’s been hard. Together, we unpack the shame, rebuild your confidence, and help you find a way forward that actually feels like you.
You’ll leave with clarity, emotional tools, and strategies to help you feel grounded and in control again.
👉 If you’re ready for personalized support, coaching might be your next step.
✨ Wig Consults — “Finding hair that feels like home.”
Shopping for wigs can be overwhelming. Cap sizes, colours, fibers, textures- where do you even start?
That’s where I come in. As someone who’s worn wigs for over a decade, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to find the right fit for your lifestyle, comfort, and confidence.
This isn’t about hiding. It’s about reclaiming your power and finding hair that helps you feel like yourself again.
👉 If you’ve been feeling lost in the wig world, let’s find your perfect match.
✨ Hair Loss Pride Support Circle — “Community heals what shame silences.”
Healing happens in community.
Our Support Circle is a judgment-free space where women come together to share their stories, ask questions, and support each other through the ups and downs of hair loss.
You’ll connect with women who get it- because they’re living it too. There’s power in realizing you’re not alone.
👉 If you’ve been craving connection, this is your space to exhale.
✨ Salon Workshops — “Because stylists need support too.”
Stylists want to help clients with hair loss. They just don’t always know how.
My Salon Workshops blend education, empathy, and practical tools so professionals can better support clients experiencing hair loss. We cover everything from sensitivity training to alternative hair options and consultation etiquette.
When stylists feel equipped, clients feel seen.
👉 If you’re a salon owner or stylist ready to learn more, I’d love to connect.
💛 Wherever you are on this journey — I meet you there.
Every woman’s experience with hair loss is unique. Whether you’re just starting to notice changes, ready to explore wigs, or looking to rebuild your confidence, there’s a space for you here.
You’re already braver than you think. And you don’t have to do this alone.
Dating and Hair Loss: My Journey from Fear to Acceptance
Dating is hard enough. Add hair loss into the mix, and it can feel almost impossible. I know- because I’ve lived it.
Recently, I was honored to be featured in Yahoo Canada, sharing my experience of dating with alopecia. It inspired me to write more openly about my story here, because if I can help even one woman feel less alone in this, it’s worth it.
The Beginning: Teenage Years and Hair Loss
I first started losing my hair when I was just 15, after taking acne medication. It was the worst possible timing. I was already battling cystic acne, carrying extra weight, and feeling insecure about my appearance. Like so many teenage girls, I felt constant pressure to look a certain way, and I didn’t fit the mold.
When my hair started thinning on top of everything else, I felt completely lost. I cut my hair short to make it look thicker, but inside I felt ugly, scared, and like a freak. Even if others didn’t notice, I noticed. And that was enough to shatter my self-esteem.
College: Failed Fixes and Hiding My Hair Loss
In college, I tried Rogaine, but it wasn’t realistic for a busy college lifestyle. Applying foam twice a day just drew more attention to the thinning spots I wanted so badly to hide. Eventually, I stopped and instead relied on highlights to disguise the widening part in my dark hair.
By 22, my hair loss had progressed to the point where I started wearing wigs. My first wig? Let’s just say it was… rough. A short synthetic one with bangs that looked like a lion’s mane. It was thick, heavy, and made me feel even more self-conscious.
Dating with Hair Loss: Rejection and Fear
During that time, I was dating someone and finally built up the courage to tell him about my hair loss. At first, he said it didn’t matter. But days later, he broke up with me, and we never spoke again.
That moment reinforced every fear I had:
That I was unlovable.
That I was destined to be alone.
That my hair loss made me ugly.
For years afterward, I hid my alopecia from everyone. Friends didn’t know. Boyfriends didn’t know. I used Toppik hair fibers religiously, kept my hair short and curly to hide thinning, and carried my insecurities with me everywhere.
I wouldn’t go swimming. I avoided showers at the gym. I woke up early to make sure my scalp was concealed before a boyfriend saw me. Hair loss became my shameful secret, and it dictated how I lived my life.
The Turning Point: Meeting My Husband
Then, at 28, I met the man who would become my husband. From our very first date, I knew he was different. He was kind, genuine, and I felt something I hadn’t felt before: safety.
About a month into dating, I knew I had to tell him. I was falling in love, and the thought of him rejecting me later was unbearable. So one night, I sat him down and braced myself for the worst.
“I have alopecia,” I told him.
He looked at me and said: “That’s it? I thought you were about to tell me you were dying. I couldn’t care less.”
The relief I felt in that moment was indescribable. After more than a decade of shame, fear, and hiding, I was finally accepted exactly as I was.
Life Today
Fast forward: my husband and I have now been together for 15+ years, married for over 13, with two beautiful children. My husband has never once cared about my hair loss. Whether I wear a wig, cut my hair short, or try something new- his only concern is that I feel happy and confident.
My Message to You
If you’re single and living with hair loss, I know how easy it is to believe the lie that you’ll be alone forever. I believed it for years. But here’s the truth:
✨ The right person will love you for who you are- not for your hair.
✨ The wrong person will use hair loss as an excuse to leave. Let them. They aren’t your person.
✨ You are lovable, worthy, and enough- exactly as you are.
Don’t settle for less than unconditional love. Because you deserve nothing less.
Final Thought
Dating with hair loss can feel overwhelming. But my journey has taught me that when you find the right person, your hair won’t matter to them- it will only matter that you’re you.
If you’d like to read more, you can check out my feature in Yahoo Canada and my blog here at Hair Loss Pride, where I share stories, resources, and encouragement for women navigating this journey.
Understanding the Different Types of Hair Loss in Women
September is Alopecia Awareness Month, which means the spotlight is on education, awareness, and empowerment for those of us who live with hair loss.
When I first started navigating my own journey, I thought “alopecia” was just one thing. You either had it or you didn’t. But the truth is, there are many different types of alopecia and understanding them is the first step in getting the right support and treatment. Most people don’t even realize that alopecia is a general umbrella term that refers to any hair loss on the body, but it is most commonly associated with hair loss on the scalp.
In this post, I want to walk you through the most common types of hair loss women experience, their causes, and what treatment options exist. Whether you’re just starting to notice changes in your hair or you’ve been living with hair loss for years, I hope this breakdown helps you feel more informed and less alone.
Androgenic Alopecia (Female Pattern Hair Loss)
Cause: This is the most common type of hair loss in women and is linked to genetics and hormones, particularly sensitivity to androgens (male hormones present in both men and women). It usually shows up as diffuse thinning across the crown or widening of the part. 30 million women in the U.S. alone have androgenic alopecia.
Treatments:
Minoxidil (FDA-approved topical or oral treatment)
Oral medications like spironolactone or finasteride (under doctor’s supervision)
Low-level laser therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments
Alternative hair used as supportive solutions
Alopecia Areata
Cause: An autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to patchy bald spots. Hair can regrow only to fall out again in regular cycles. There is a genetic component to this condition, and 160 million people in the world will be affected by alopecia areata at some point in their lives.
Treatments:
Corticosteroid injections or topical creams
Immunotherapy treatments
JAK inhibitors (a newer class of pharmaceutical medications showing promising results)
Alopecia Totalis
Cause: An advanced form of alopecia areata where all scalp hair is lost.
Treatments: Similar to alopecia areata, though results vary. Many women explore wigs, scarves, and other forms of hair coverings as part of embracing their identity.
Alopecia Universalis
Cause: The most severe form of alopecia areata, resulting in the loss of all scalp and body hair.
Treatments: Similar to alopecia areata/totalis, but often requires emotional support alongside medical treatment because of its wide impact. This condition can also compromise health due to lack of nose hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes that protect the ears and eyes from environmental debris.
Telogen Effluvium
Cause: This is a “shedding” type of hair loss caused by a shock to the system: like childbirth, illness, major stress, surgery, or hormonal changes. Hair follicles prematurely shift into the resting phase, leading to diffuse shedding.
Treatments:
Addressing the root cause (nutrition, stress, hormonal imbalance)
Gentle hair care practices
Usually resolves within 6–12 months once the trigger is removed
Lichen Planopilaris (LPP)
Cause: A rare inflammatory condition that causes scarring alopecia, meaning the hair follicles are permanently damaged.
Treatments:
Anti-inflammatory medications (oral or topical)
Immunosuppressants
Early treatment is critical to slow or stop progression
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)
Cause: A scarring alopecia most common in Black women, beginning at the crown and spreading outward. Causes include inflammation, genetics, and possibly relaxers and styling practices.
Treatments:
Corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory treatments
Early intervention to prevent permanent loss
Adjusting hair care practices to reduce stress on follicles
Chemo-Related Hair Loss
Cause: Chemotherapy drugs target fast-dividing cells, including hair follicle cells, leading to temporary hair loss.
Treatments:
Scalp cooling caps (to reduce hair loss during treatment)
Wigs, scarves, and hats for support
Hair usually regrows after treatment ends, though texture or thickness may change
Autoimmune-Related Hair Loss (Lupus, Hashimoto’s, etc.)
Cause: Autoimmune conditions can trigger inflammation in the scalp or disrupt hormones, both of which can contribute to thinning or patchy loss.
Treatments:
Managing the underlying autoimmune disease with a medical team
Anti-inflammatory and hormone-regulating treatments
Supportive hair care practices
Traction Alopecia
Cause: Caused by chronic pulling on the hair from styles like tight braids, ponytails, extensions, or chemical treatments.
Treatments:
Stopping the pulling/stress on the hair immediately
Early stages may be reversible, but prolonged traction can lead to permanent scarring
Low-tension protective styles and hair-friendly accessories
Trichotillomania
Cause: A mental health condition where a person feels the urge to pull out their hair. It’s often tied to anxiety, stress, or compulsive behavior.
Treatments:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Support groups and habit-reversal strategies
Addressing underlying anxiety or stressors
Final Thoughts
Hair loss isn’t “one size fits all.” It’s a spectrum of conditions, each with its own causes, treatments, and challenges. What we all share, though, is the emotional journey that comes with losing our hair.
That’s why I created Hair Loss Pride- because no one should have to navigate this alone. Whether your hair loss is temporary, permanent, autoimmune-related, or unexplained, you still deserve confidence, community, and compassion.
If this post resonated with you, I invite you to connect with me and our community at Hair Loss Pride. Together, we can turn awareness into empowerment.
Photo: Fontaine Photography
My Alopecia Story
In honour of Alopecia Awareness Month, I want to share my story.
The Beginning of Hair Loss
My hair loss started when I was 15 years old. I had very bad cystic acne and was prescribed a strong acne medication that was new to the market. Within months, my thick, coarse hair began to thin dramatically. My ponytail shrank, my part widened, and I could see my scalp where there used to be dense, dark hair.
At first, I thought it was temporary. Doctors brushed it off as “normal shedding,” and I told myself it would grow back. But it didn’t. Instead, it got worse.
The Diagnosis
When I was 23, after years of watching my hair slowly thin, I went to the doctor, got a scalp biopsy, and finally received a diagnosis: androgenic alopecia. I’ll never forget sitting in the hospital parking lot afterward, sobbing. I knew my life would never be the same. I was convinced I was unlovable, unattractive, and destined to live a life of shame and isolation because of something I couldn’t control.
Hiding My Hair Loss
For years, I did everything I could to hide it. I spent hours styling my thinning hair, strategically parting it to disguise bald spots. I used powders and fibers daily, always checking mirrors to make sure nothing showed. I avoided rain, wind, and swimming pools. I planned my life around my hair.
Dating with Alopecia
Dating was the hardest part. I carried this secret like a weight, terrified that any man I liked would run the second they found out. I believed no one could possibly want me with hair loss. And in fact, I was broken up with at 22 after I told the guy I was dating about my alopecia. I was crushed, as this cemented the belief in my head that I was unlovable and would be alone forever.
That belief was shattered when I met my now husband at 28. After weeks of dating, I finally blurted out my “big confession,” shaking with fear. He looked at me and said: “That’s it? I thought you were going to tell me you had cancer. I don’t care about your hair. That’s not why I care about you.”
That moment changed my life. He’s been by my side ever since: 15 years together, two kids, countless ups and downs- and never once has he made me feel less than.
Discovering Wigs
I started wearing wigs in my early 30s. At first, I was terrified people would notice. But instead, coworkers and friends just thought I’d gotten a new haircut or blowout. The freedom I felt was incredible. I could try different looks, feel confident again, and slowly stop hiding.
Releasing the Shame
The biggest shift came when I stopped keeping my hair loss a secret. When someone complimented my hair, I would shock them by telling them it was a wig. I took the opportunity to talk about female hair loss and how I’d lost my hair. Talking about it out loud, instead of carrying the shame in silence, gave me back my power. And I realized something important: there are millions of women just like me, living in the same shame and isolation I once felt.
From Pain to Purpose
That’s why I started Hair Loss Pride™.
After being laid off from my biotech career after a company restructure in 2022, I leaned fully into this mission. I wrote Hair Pride, a children’s book that celebrates all forms of hair. I began offering wig consultations, 1:1 coaching, and support groups for women and teens with alopecia. And most importantly, I created a community where we can remind each other:
👉 You are not broken.
👉 You are not alone.
👉 You are so much more than your hair.
My Mission Today
What once felt like the most painful part of my life has now become my purpose. My mission is to end the stigma of female hair loss and help women reclaim their confidence, whether that means rocking a wig, shaving their head, or embracing their natural texture.
You are beautiful in every version of yourself. And I’ll keep showing up until every woman with alopecia believes that too.
Vancouver Magazine Article
I was interviewed by Vancouver magazine right before the Hair Pride book launch party, and they released the article on their website on December 21, 2022. I’m so grateful for their coverage of my alopecia story and the book!
Read the article here: https://www.vanmag.com/city/arts-and-culture/new-vancouver-childrens-book-hair-pride-celebrates-hair-of-all-kinds/
Launch Party Fun!
The Hair Pride launch party was December 7th at the Wilet showroom in Vancouver. It was a wonderful event with about 50 people in attendance, who gathered to hear a reading of the book, socialize, and try on colorful wigs. The amazing women from Jo Hair Studio in Vancouver were there to help adults and kids alike try on fun wigs and celebrate different kinds of hair. There were blue, pink, blonde and brown wigs and everyone had a blast! The event was made even more special when my sister surprised me by flying in from San Diego to celebrate with me. It was truly a special night.
Thank you to everyone who came to support me and Hair Pride!
Hair Pride is Live!
I’m a published author! I'm excited to announce the launch of my children’s book, Hair Pride! I wrote it back in May and have learned so much about what it takes to bring a book to life in the past few months. There’s a lot to digest and learn: how to get an ISBN number, find an illustrator, decide which publishing route to take, price your book, and create a website. It’s been fun to discover an industry I knew little about before.
Some of you may wonder why I chose to write a book about hair. This book is very personal to me, as it was inspired by my own experience with alopecia, which started when I was fifteen years old. I have androgenetic alopecia, one of many forms of the autoimmune disease, where my hair thins throughout my scalp, similar to male-pattern baldness. Having hair loss in my teens and twenties was very difficult for me, at a time when I was already self conscious. At that age, all I wanted to do was look like everyone else and be “normal.” My hair loss made me feel like something was wrong with me, like I didn’t fit in, and I feared that people would make fun of me if they knew my secret. Hair is so central to a woman’s identity, and the loss of mine often made me feel ugly, so I did everything I could do to hide it. It took me fifteen years to accept my appearance and to share my story with others. Once I did, I quickly learned that my hair had nothing to do with how much my loved ones cared about me and that I was good enough just as I was.
I’ve worn wigs for about a decade now, which has been a way for me to reclaim the hair I had as a child and to have fun with different styles and colors, rather than letting my hair loss rule my life. I never could have imagined I would tell the world about my alopecia and I’m thankful that I was able to get this place of accepting myself for all that I am, even things I thought of as flaws for so much of my life.
Hair Pride is all about celebrating your hair, no matter what it looks like, while also realizing that your worth is so much more than what is on the outside. This is the book I wish I had when I was first experiencing my alopecia. I hope it will help kids accept and celebrate themselves and others.
Hair Pride is now available in paperback on Amazon worldwide. I will be releasing it in hardcover with other retailers soon- stay tuned! I’m proud of this book and its message and I can’t wait for you to read it!