Shropshire hairdresser sets up county's first wig bank
Many take for granted that they can go out and have their hair done for a bit of a personal boost - but for wig-users things are not that simple.
Now one Shropshire hairdresser wants to offer the same kind of service to those who have to make use of wigs, as she has set up the county's first wig bank.
Tracy Reynolds, 46, is a qualified wig maker who trained in Oxford with a company that has made hair pieces for both James Bond and Harry Potter films.
Church Stretton born and bred, she was encouraged to go into hairdressing first of all by her husband Tony, 53, who runs Anthony's Hair Studio in the town.
But she soon realised that, for many, life was not as simple as popping down the salon for new cut.
Mrs Reynolds said she was introduced to a client with alopecia (hair loss) and realised she was out of her depth.
She said: "After I qualified I met one of my clients who was a wig user and quickly realised I just didn't know enough to be able to help her.
"This led me to qualify in Indian head massage, wig services and scalp treatments. Along the way I learnt of The Wig Bank set up in Perth, Scotland, by a breast cancer sufferer who found it both expensive and difficult to get wig advice.
"The lady, called Agnes Lennox has since passed away but her legacy is a growing network of Wig Banks across the UK.
"I am proud to be part of such a worthwhile organisation."
She said Wig Bank Shropshire, now based above her husband's business on High Street, Church Stretton, aims to offer advice and help to wig users as well as re-conditioning and repairing wigs to sell on, with 25 percent of proceeds going to Severn Hospice.
She said the Wig Bank will also be looking to stage events such as pamper sessions with an educational spin, explaining the factors in choosing wigs styles and colours.
Mrs Reynolds said: "The thing about wearing a wig is that, if you decide on an NHS one, that's it - you're stuck with that choice. One of the ideas of the wig bank is basically to have a choice, for wig users to be able to go out and have a hair-do.
"To have your hair done makes you feel better, and if you're a wig wearer that option isn't normally open to you. We want to change that."
Wig Bank Shropshire is run as part of Mrs Reynolds own business Hair Peace and offers in-house consultations or private home visits by agreement.
For more information visit www.wigbankshropshire.co.uk
