I’ve never met anyone like me.

Those were the words a 19 year old guest said to me during her virtual consultation.

She lived in a small town a few hours away and had been living with trichotillomania for years. As we talked, she shared that she'd never met another person with the condition. She genuinely felt she was the only one.

My heart broke for her.

Not because she had trich, but because she had been carrying it alone.

As she shared her story with me, I remember thinking, I cannot wait to help her.

We talked through every option available to her. We discussed semi-permanent options like mesh integration and bonding, and we also talked about daily wear like toppers, and wigs. In the end, we decided that a medical grade wig made the most sense.

She has a demanding schedule and lives a good distance from the salon. A semi-permanent solution would have required regular maintenance reservations, and it’s so important to me to never recommend something that doesn't fit someone's real life. The best solution isn't always the one that requires the most time in the salon. It's the one that allows someone to feel confident without adding more stress to their life.

Once we had a plan, I got to work.

I spent two full days custom coloring her wig.

Honestly, I probably could have stopped sooner.

But every time I looked at it, I'd think of one more adjustment that would make it even more believable. One more little tweak. One more detail. I wanted it to feel like her hair, not just a beautiful wig.

The day she came to the salon to receive her wig was actually the first time we met in person.

I was so excited to finally meet her after spending about a week planning this moment together.

The moment she put it on, I knew. We both did.

Even before I had cut or styled it, it looked incredible on her. It blended beautifully with her features and looked so natural that it made me emotional.

Then we finished the cut.

Watching her look at herself in the mirror was one of those moments that reminds me exactly why I do what I do.

It wasn't about changing who she was.

It was about helping her see herself again.

By the end of the reservation, we were both smiling. We hugged, and before she left I told her, "Please keep me in the loop. I want to know how you're doing."

It's one of those reservations I'll never forget.

I will never forget her as long as I live.

She reminded me how isolating hair loss can be.

If you have trichotillomania, I want you to hear this from someone who has had the privilege of meeting many people just like you.

You are not weird.

You are not broken.

And you are definitely not alone.

Whether you're considering a wig, a topper, or another hair replacement solution, there are options that can fit your lifestyle and more importantly, there are people who understand what you're going through and genuinely want to help.