Wig Customization Client Testimonials

"Diagnosed with alopecia at 3yrs old. I don’t even know if my parents really knew what it was. They just knew my hair was not growing in and when it did, it would fall right out. At age 5. I grew a full head of hair. As exciting as that was for everyone, it really was neither here nor there for me. I do recall, enjoying bows and mini ponytails. That was just Life, I was a girl and I had hair.

When I hit 13yrs old alopecia totalis also hit strong. However, I was at an age to better understand and emotionally feel my diagnosis.

It was a very difficult time with limited options. I sulked and grieved for a bit-but I did not sit mourning my loss. I tried options from reputable doctors/dermatologist ultimately just to be let down. I found it was getting the better of me at such exciting years of my life, so I let it go. I let it all go and came to the acceptance and realization that it truly was just hair. At such a young age, I really understood.

I was ok with losing my hair. Others I think we’re not, but I was. I just could not go through any more pain. It was at that time that I leaned into wigs. At 18 yrs of age I was wearing a full wig and it was great. I started off with a synthetic and quickly moved to human hair. 20+ years later I am still wearing hair. I’ve gotten to know what I enjoy about the freedom in alopecia and the beauty of wearing really good hair. Along the journey, which I mainly went myself, I came to recognize the things I did love about my wigs and what I wanted different. I always found that working with someone was far more helpful than allowing myself to go astray.

When I semi recently moved to Colorado/6 years ago, I found Audrey Catherine. Her compassion, education and above all skill level truly set her apart from anyone I had met yet in my alopecia life. She brought joy back to several of my pieces with her thoughtful and colorful restorations. While showing me new pieces and cap constructions, I had not seen. For me, wearing hair has always been a comfort and working with Audrey has far succeeded my expectations and given me another level of comfort and fabulous hair!

Being an alopecian has always been a different viewpoint for me. It’s nice to know I can work with somebody that can appreciate my viewpoint and comfortability. I have the upmost gratitude to Audrey and our relationship."

- Jenn T, Alopecia Client

"I’ve always had beautiful hair. It was fine-textured, but I had a lot of it. I loved receiving compliments on it. However, my hair began to thin in my mid-to-late 40s during perimenopause. The hair loss started at the crown of my head and gradually progressed. Eventually, the thinning spread to my temples, hairline, and the back of my head.

At first, I used hair fibers and powders to cover the thin spots. That worked for a while, but one day, I caught a glimpse of the back of my head in a mirror. Even with the hair fibers, I couldn’t camouflage the thinning anymore. That’s when I started looking into wigs.

My first wig was synthetic, and it gave me my confidence back. My hair looked good again! However, I soon discovered that synthetic wigs weren’t the best solution for me. When I baked and opened the oven, the heat damaged the synthetic hair. So, I decided to try a human hair wig. Unfortunately, it didn’t fit well. Looking back at pictures now, I wish I had found someone to help me choose the right wig from the start.

Eventually, I discovered hair toppers, and they were a game-changer. They were exactly what I needed. The fit wasn’t as challenging, and I could put one on in just a few minutes. I could  pre-style them, so I saved a lot of time getting ready. I started receiving compliments on my hair again. I simply say thank you without feeling the need to explain that I’m wearing a wig or topper.

One important lesson I’ve learned is that finding a good wig or hair topper is only the first step—they always need some customization. Initially, I assumed that while a stylist could cut and style my pieces, the color couldn’t be changed. Color is very important to me, and my first experience with having a stylist color my pieces was a disaster.

During a video consultation, I felt I clearly communicated what I wanted, including sharing photos of the color and highlights I was aiming for. The stylist assured me they could achieve the look. I sent them two new wigs, but when I got them back, both were very dark with no highlights or lowlights. It was a big disappointment, especially since I had invested a lot in those pieces. I eventually sold them at a loss.

In the past year, I discovered Sonder Salon and Audrey Catherine. Audrey is an absolute wizard with color. She has worked on several of my pieces, and each one has turned out beautifully. Not only is Audrey incredibly talented, but she’s also a joy to work with. I feel so lucky to have found her!"

- Carolyn, Alopecia Client