August is Hair Loss Awareness Month—a dedicated space for raising awareness about a topic that impacts millions of people worldwide. By sharing inspirational anecdotes from our Education Ambassadors, our aim is to help normalize hair loss and wearing alternative hair, provide helpful information about hair loss solutions, and offer support to those navigating this journey.

First, we met Pia, who found solace in connecting with the hair loss community online. Now let’s meet Heather, who re-discovered a sense of confidence when she reframed her perceptions around alternative hair.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Heather, and I am a mom of two and a small business owner. I have Lichen Planopilaris, which is an autoimmune condition that causes permanent scarring alopecia. My LPP causes diffuse thinning all over rather than large patches of hair loss, and I don't have total hair loss.

I have tried to be very intentional at reframing things like, "Girls have long hair, boys have short hair" and trying to help detach hair from femininity as it took many years for me to separate the loss of my hair from the loss of my femininity because that was how I was conditioned early on.

2. How long have you been wearing wigs or hairpieces?

I started wearing wigs and toppers about 10 years ago and ultimately decided to shave my head this year and wear wigs exclusively now.

3. When you started your hair loss journey, what do you wish you knew?

I wish I knew how little my decision to wear wigs would really matter to others. I was very consumed with whether or not people would be able to tell my hair was a wig, or this feeling of insecurity if people found out my hair was "fake". It took a lot of work to reframe those conversations I was having with myself about what fake really meant and realize I was projecting my own insecurity onto others.

My decision to tell people about my hair loss never resulted in this stigma or shame, and actually had the opposite impact. Many people who asked if my hair was different were in search of solutions to their own hair loss problem and were so grateful to hear about the positive impact wigs and toppers made in my life.

When I have encountered negativity from those who learn my hair is from a box, it is generally from folks whose opinions don't matter or who I wouldn't take advice from. I wish from the get-go I had recognized the difference between curiosity and intentionally trying to shame someone. The vast majority of people who ask questions are kind people who could care less whether my hair is growing from my own follicles.

4. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself throughout your hair loss journey?

I've learned that I am more than just my hair. I still forget this sometimes, as it's such a big part of who we are as women. I've realized, however, that confidence is the real secret to living my best life rather than genetics. I truly embrace the fact that I can be anyone I want to be and am not limited by the length or density of my hair. If I want to have long blonde hair one day and short brown hair another, I can, and people love me even more for being a bit of a chameleon.

5. What advice would you give to a new alternative hair wearer?

Buy good quality wigs that are COMFORTABLE, and then take very good care of them. I originally put an emphasis on achieving a certain look and didn't realize what a difference a well-made, good-fitting wig made. I wear my wig 8-10 hours a day and it is so much easier to adapt to a different style or hair color than it is to adapt to a wig that is too small or doesn't have good stretch or airflow. 

6. Which Jon Renau style is your favorite?

Angie human hair wig in 12FS8. She's the perfect example of a wig looking "different" at first vs. looking "bad". I thought people would ridicule me for how different this was from my natural hair and instead I have never received more compliments on my hair in my life. This is my go-to style that I wear most often.

Inspiration doesn’t stop here! Follow Heather on social media at @thewiggywoman for relatable hair loss content and wig-powerment.