Nicola Wood
"Beyond appearances: The deeper connection between identity and hair loss."
Nicola describes her job as ‘a hairdresser for one day a week and spends the rest of the week trying to change the world for people with cancer and hair loss’.
As a woman living with rheumatoid arthritis, one of the side effects of her medication was hair loss. Following a breast cancer diagnosis at age 36 and discovering poor services for those with hair loss, she researched the wig industry and started a second multi award-winning business, The Wonderful Wig Company. All profits are re-invested to boost support services for underserved communities.
Nicola created a purpose-built support studio for people with medical hair loss and cancer and became one of the UK’s most qualified experts in her field – all whilst going through cancer treatment. Nicola and her team have supported over 10,000 people – including 1,200 children. She also founded the non-profit Inclusion Hair Network and runs a team of voluntary community hairdressers visiting hospitals and hospices around the North East.
