Using My Voice: Why Talking About Female Hair Loss on Podcasts and TV Matters
For nearly two decades, I lived in silence about my hair loss. I hid behind hats, hair fibers, and fear- terrified someone might find out I was “different.”
But in the past year, that’s changed. I’ve gone from hiding to speaking up: on podcasts, in interviews, and even on TV. My mission is to raise awareness about female hair loss and to remind women everywhere: you are not broken, and you are not alone.
From Hiding to Healing
My story started when I was 15. After taking acne medication, my hair began thinning, and by 23, I was diagnosed with androgenic alopecia. For years, I felt ashamed and isolated. I built my career in healthcare, silently struggling, pretending everything was fine.
Then, after a layoff in 2022, I took a step back and asked myself what I really wanted. I wrote Hair Pride, a children’s book about self-acceptance, and something inside me clicked: this was what I was meant to do.
I started sharing my story publicly online in early 2024, and soon after, began managing a wig store in Vancouver. Every day, I met women who were just like me: ashamed, scared, and desperate for someone to understand. I realized we didn’t just need wigs. We needed emotional support, community, and compassion.
That’s when Hair Loss Pride was born: a space where women and teens can feel seen, supported, and empowered to live fully- with or without hair.
Why Speaking Up Matters
This past September, for Alopecia Awareness Month, I had the privilege of sharing my story on multiple platforms, including The Friends You Keep Podcast with Aeryon Ashlie. Every time I speak publicly about hair loss, I’m reminded how deeply this topic resonates.
On the podcast, we talked about everything from the emotional impact of losing your hair to the wide range of causes and solutions available.
Here are just a few key takeaways:
✨ Female hair loss is common and normal.
Up to 40% of women will experience noticeable hair loss by age 50. It can show up as androgenic alopecia (female pattern hair loss), alopecia areata, traction alopecia, etc. Causes vary from genetics to hormones to medications and more.
✨ There are more options than ever.
From toppers and mesh integration systems to synthetic and human hair wigs, women now have more choices to look and feel like themselves again.
✨ It’s about more than hair.
Hair loss affects identity, confidence, and mental health. That’s why I combine 1:1 coaching, wig consultations, and salon education to help women heal emotionally, not just cosmetically.
✨ You are not alone.
Millions of women worldwide experience some form of hair loss. There is nothing wrong with you. The more we talk about it, the less power shame holds.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
When asked what I’d tell my younger self, my answer was simple: “one day, you’ll turn your most painful experiences into purpose. By helping others, you’ll heal yourself more than you ever imagined.”
That’s exactly what Hair Loss Pride is about- transforming silence into connection and shame into strength.
This movement is so much bigger than me. It’s about changing how we see beauty, identity, and confidence. It’s about reminding women that they are still whole, still worthy, and still powerful, with or without hair.
Watch, Listen, and Share
You can listen to my full interview on The Friends You Keep Podcast with Aeryon Ashlie here. You can also be see all of my TV and podcast appearances, along with educational content and resources on my website.
Let’s strip away the stigma, together. 💜
