Midlife Hair Loss | Menopause, Illness & GLP-1 Risks for Women Over 40 - WTF Just Happened?

SPEAKER_01: This is What the F just Happened.

SPEAKER_03: The podcast that proves life is messy, midlife is so wild, and laughter is definitely non-negotiable.

SPEAKER_01: So grab a cocktail or a mocktail or your favorite emotionally supportive snack, and let's get into it.

SPEAKER_03: Okay, hello, you guys. Welcome back to What the F Just Happened podcast. We are so happy that you guys are here. And today we have a guest who is so special and so amazing and honestly like near and dear to my heart in a way that she um helps women. So uh we have uh Aria Pilar, founder of Moxy Loxy. Uh Aria has spent decades decades working with women experiencing hair loss from illness, hormones, stress, aging, through private consultations and custom solutions. She helps women reclaim confidence in a way that's deeply personal, dignified, and empowering.

SPEAKER_03: Her work goes way beyond hair. It centers on the emotional experience and restores a sense of identity and control. And we are like I have chills, just so excited to talk to you. Um, and I wanted to introduce her myself because I have experienced hair loss myself with losing my husband, um, with going through the trauma of my daughter having Crohn's disease. And also my daughter, Maddie, who she gave me permission to talk about um her hair loss, um, major, major, major hair loss with her Crohn's disease and dealing with um extensions and possible wigs and um honestly mental, what comes with that is you know, really, really heavy like emotional and mental struggles for someone that is, you know, a young adult.

SPEAKER_03: So um I'm so excited to have you here, Aria. Um, so again, we're gonna be talking about something that so many women experience and it's kind of taboo. We, you know, we were talking earlier just about how it is a little bit more um out there in society now with social media, but it it truly is something that is so near and dear to like women's hearts is like our hair and it's tied to our identity. It's tied to our femininity, it's tied to our confidence. Um, and when it starts changing, it can be really, really terrifying.

SPEAKER_03: You know, you're in the shower and it starts coming out and you're used to having this big full head of hair. So this episode is for women dealing with hair loss from illness, autoimmune issues, menopause, weight loss, GLP ones, maybe stress, stress, or even aging, or dealing, you know, wanting to listen to to help their kids who are going through hair loss as well. So I am going to um hand it over, Aria. You've built Moxie Loxy around not just hair solutions, but emotional support. And I'd love to start with your story.

SPEAKER_03: So I'm gonna hand it over to you, and we are so grateful that you are here.

SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah, thank you. This is such an important subject. And uh as you were saying, a lot of times hair loss is paired with a medical illness or aging or something else. So, you know, it's you're already getting pivot, something like that. And then next thing you know, your hair is coming out. Um, you know, our hair is sort of it frames our face. It's what we do to soften our look or to present ourselves a certain way. So I think for me, I've been doing it um over 30 years.

SPEAKER_00: And growing up, I had a grandfather wore a toupee, neither parent had thick hair. So I was always very intrigued by the difference. You know, I'd see my grandfather with his ball head, and then I'd see him with his toupee that was oh, yeah. I was honestly a little probably too thick at the time, but definitely evolved. But I, you know, you see the difference how somebody carries themselves, um, just having the confidence. And um, I think just in society, we're just so judged by the way we present ourselves, the way we look, whether we like it or not, it's just part of who we are.

SPEAKER_00: And so um, you know, just helping women come in who feel maybe shame or they're scared, things like that. Um, it's really rewarding to help them in that time of in that tune of their lives. So yeah.

SPEAKER_03: It's just amazing to me that, you know, you because you know, you were I kind of remember seeing people around when we were younger with just like really kind of awful, you know, just you kind of knew that wasn't their hair because like the top wouldn't match the bottom on a whatever. So um it's just amazing that that fascinated you since you're you were little with your grandpa and you ended up in this industry. Um so yeah, I mean, we're just we're so happy you hear you're here. Um, so what do you wish that women understood um about hair loss like earlier than what we have now?

SPEAKER_03: Like women that are afraid to jump into a wig or you know, some of the things that you offer.

SPEAKER_00: Sure. I think that most people picture like hair loss solutions going from thinning to wig. And there are so many ways you can uh combine solutions. So, like you're talking about hair extensions. If you're thin on the top, you can also have a topper attached. There's ways to have those semi-permanently attached as well. And so a lot of times when uh I do a consultation, I like to meet with people to sort of find the most simple solution without always jumping to wig and they're shocked. They can't believe it that they didn't need a wig, maybe.

SPEAKER_00: So um, even a topper can be really tiny and it can be a three-fourth wig and everything in between. So I think that it would be great for your listeners to um find someone who you know knows multiple types of solutions, not just a wig store, not just a topper, not just extensions, because there's so much to um work with. And a lot of times people aren't even at the point of needing a wig yet.

SPEAKER_01: That's actually so interesting because um when I went on my GLP one, and I've always had, I mean, I lost a ton of hair when I got divorced. I mean, like it I guess had really, really thick hair. And you're familiar with my mom's, and it's so like all of a sudden it was like I could put my hand around my, I'm like, oh wow, this is so much thinner. I thankfully had enough to start with. Just like I shed. And I don't remember coming out in draws. I just remember just during a high pressure stress time, I lost a lot.

SPEAKER_01: But being on this GLP one and I've been on it for a minute, I'm getting where all of a sudden I'm like driving over the summer and my top is back. Yeah. Why can I see my scalp? So I didn't even know. Like when we sort of talk about toppers and we're new, we're gonna go into different areas. But when you say semi-permanent, what does that even mean?

SPEAKER_00: Sure. So um just the same way we create like a track with uh leave type of extension. Okay. Um, you can make a track on the top. There's and they're called like integration pieces, things like that. So there's a way of sewing a topper to that area, or depending on the hair loss, um, there's different types of adhesives. So um, you know, depending if there's skin or there's hair there. So that's something where you can swim in it, you can go on vacation, you can do all the things you do. And it feels I think people are more drawn to extensions, hair extensions, yeah, because uh it's in their hair.

SPEAKER_00: They wake up, you know, and you feel you feel cute. You want to look at yourself that way. So I think that's the harder part when people feel like they have to take something on and off as opposed to keeping it attached.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I've got ex-I mean, in all honesty, I've got extensions now. And I can grow a long hair. I just wanted more of it. Yeah. I wanted to kind of like pump the volume up. And so I've had them, I've had them twice now. So one time I had them and I were so I had a halo made of them, so I could just pop it in and pop it out. But then I finally went back and got extensions about, you know, seven months ago and they're fantastic. But I always look at this and I'm like, oh my God, what's happening like at the very top of my head is it's you know, thinning where it's not thin yet.

SPEAKER_01: I can flip it around, but it's definitely an area where I notice it. And I think when you start to notice something about it's a little off, you are constantly like looking at it, like, is what is happening?

SPEAKER_00: Why am why am I seeing my scalp lying? Yeah. Well, and I think that's the thing I would also let people know is um hair loss is progressive. And so generally people will wait longer sometimes than they should to go in and you know, there's and it's it's sort of a simple thing. You you you nourish from inside and you take care of your scalp health. It's um it's not as complicated or confusing as sometimes all the marketing is out there. So I think um finding like um a good supplement that helps with like the DHT and things like that that can um affect hair loss, and then maybe working with a shampoo or something that would be good for your scalp health, um, just a very um simple regimen you can do, and then also find a cosmetic solution so you can kind of have both going at the same time.

SPEAKER_01: That's actually interesting because um uh the supplement and the shampoo. I've always wondered about that. So, I mean, so you do believe, obviously you're an expert in this industry, that that is something that women should or could add to their sort of daily regimen that actually does make a difference.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think that it's definitely something that to explore and every situation again is different. So um I think just like if you color your hair, you're gonna use a color treated, you know, hair shampoo for color treated. So it doesn't hurt. It's not always because it's not the miracle that, you know, sometimes is marked bottle. And I do that a lot too. I'll have someone who might take, they'll say I'll take neutrophil or whichever supplement they're taking. And then I say, okay, what are you doing for your scalp health?

SPEAKER_00: And they're not doing that because they're, you know, a lot of us we get stuff online, we don't really know how to use it. We don't because they come in thinking that that should have just grown their hair, but maybe they're not doing the topical aspect, like, or they'll say, I use rograin, which is monoxidyl, but then they're not doing the internal. So it's really just about getting the right system. It's not fancy, it's not complicated. Go with that and then and find a uh somebody they can trust that you know is gonna not market, not sell them things.

SPEAKER_00: And after about three to six months, you should be seeing some results. If not, then you know, I think if you're being consistent, uh then maybe you know, you'd still use the stuff for your scalp health. Maybe you don't need to do the supplements or these other things. Maybe it's just gonna be a cosmetic solution going forward.

SPEAKER_01: And then is there an actual, I mean, speaking of scalp health, is there an actual protocol or assistance that you use or recommend?

SPEAKER_03: Like is a biotin? Like what is the something that somebody can purchase maybe that doesn't have a lot to spend that wants hair health? And then maybe what do you recommend for like a neutrophil or a monoxidil for someone that really wants to try to grow their hair before they get into purchasing a top or a wig, what have you?

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. So I did a trethology program. So it's like the study of hair loss and whatnot. So um I believe so actually in moxigoxine, we do have um a supplement that has all the right ingredients in it. It's um CGMP certified, meaning it's constantly third-party tested, which is another important thing when you're taking supplements, making sure that what's in the bottles, what's on the what it says is in there is actually in there. Um, and then I do, you know, a scalp, um a shampoo that promotes scalp health, getting rid of the dead skin cells and sebum.

SPEAKER_00: Because you think of your scalp like our face, you know, if your pores are clogged, people put a topical on, but the topical cannot get into the follicle. Right. So it's again money wasted because it and then they think nothing's working, they get more frustrated, more stressed when it's like um a lot of times people ask, well, what's the one product I can use? And it's really a system in all cases. It's gonna be internal, the scalp health. And then as far as um treatment stuff, now there's a lot of um the red light therapy is helpful.

SPEAKER_00: Um, growth factors, which we also have um at Moxyloxy, um, it's something that you don't have to stay on forever. You use it for about three to six months, and then you can um go at where you'll see the results, like monoxidal. If you stop using it, the hair will fall out. So um there's newer things like the growth factors and stuff.

SPEAKER_03: No, I didn't know that. And I also heard too, um, after after Matt Maddie lost her hair like two times. So the first time was while when she was diagnosed with Crohn's, it happened about six months after she was diagnosed, which they say that that's when it happens, is like six to nine months after the big event in your life, whatever that is. So for her, it was Crohn's and she was in the hospital, and it was crazy. So we were like cruising along after that, and then all of a sudden her hair is like starting to fall out.

SPEAKER_03: And then that medication didn't work. So we went to the new medication. And I told you she was on humera, and then the humera-induced psoriasis all that started to cause the hair loss like six months after she started it. So it's like, man, I I wish I could tell my moms that I that I mentor, like, you know, if you start to see it happen, like get on something as quick as you can, or should they be almost giving our autoimmune kids something like a system that you have to really help promote it to kind of keep growing because that's what's just so stressful for these um young well and women too.

SPEAKER_03: I'm sure I'm assuming, you know. I mean, it is it was stressful for us losing hair. So that's all, you know, is that something that you learned like that that usually is the case? It's kind of like the big event and it happens like months down the road, or even GLP one, like a lot of our friends say they're great for a few months, and then all of a sudden they're like, Am I thinning right here? Or my hair's falling out. And you notice everyone's kind of been on it like six to nine months, you know?

SPEAKER_00: Yes. So the hair goes into the resting phase whenever your body is like goes through something stressful. And so usually it's growing at these different phases. So you've always got new hair coming in and whatnot. So when it goes in the resting phase, yeah, about three to six months, all of a sudden you've got all this hair loss. And it's um something's happening, you don't realize it until you really start seeing the part widening. Yes, but so much is tied to the stress and then nutrition, the the GLP ones.

SPEAKER_00: I've definitely seen um a lot of customers coming in now with the thinning um with that, or even the gastric bite pass. I've had clients that have had that. Um, so I I strongly recommend definitely doing a lot um if they because you're not eating as much, just supplement if possible.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and we'll be sure um to our listeners to um put all Moxie Loxy info on the bottom of the podcast, all her um her website. You can contact her and then her regimen and all of that stuff, just so you guys know. Like even even she's in California in Northern Cal. So um, if you're there, awesome. We'll also talk about if you do any kind of Zoom articles or anything like that. We'll we'll go through that a little bit later. But um yeah, hell, sorry, I'm I'm saying then do you ship out of state as well?

SPEAKER_01: I mean, because honestly, like it never honestly even occurred to me that all of these things in life, I mean, hitting midlife with hormones, having any type of illness, getting out of GLP one, I mean, all of these different things. Like we I never even occurred to me to like start thinking about my hair. Right it happened, versus trying to react to it like six months later, nine months later. Now, like I think you're just I it never even occurred to me, like your hair is your hair. We sort of take it for granted until all of a sudden I'm looking at the, you know, in the sunlight, going, Oh, I've got a little something going on.

SPEAKER_01: And then girlfriends are taking, you know, clumps of hair out and saying, What's happening? Or let's say you are diagnosed. You know, I know my um my daughter's best friend, who sadly passed away from cancer. She was only 23 when she was diagnosed. Yeah. And the first thing she said, because I happened to be with her in the hospital when the diagnosis came down because she'd just gone to the ER. They left the room after telling her she was she had basically had staged forward cancer without saying those words.

SPEAKER_01: And she looked at me and my other middle daughter who were there. And the first thing she said was, I cannot lose my hair. Yeah. Like nothing else mattered at that moment. She just heard the word cancer. Yeah. And what she cared about and what her thing was, and and show you know, sadly, we lost her, never lost her hair, probably had the thinning of her hair, but never lost her hair because she, for whatever reason, her chemo didn't go that way. But um, yeah, that was the first thing that she was, that's all she cared about was I cannot lose my hair.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's interesting. I have a lot of um people that have been diagnosed with cancer, and that is they come in and they say, I feel so vain. I I can't believe I've never, you know, they're apologizing to me. And it's, you know, a lot of times it's just they keep their dignity. They want their family members to see them not feeling well. Uh they just try to continue going about their life. Um I've had women who don't want their husbands to see them, you know, they're afraid that their husband won't be attracted to them or you know, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: So it's I know that and I won't say who it is, but I have this conversation with someone who um has been, you know, diagnosed and has been in treatment for a very long time and it's not a cancer that will ever go away. And what she said was she didn't want to look ill. Right. Is right that was her worry. You know, it wasn't the worry about the hair loss, and it's not what maybe led to the wig, but it's that then looking in the mirror told her, I'm sick. Yeah, I want to be sick. Because that's a whole other level.

SPEAKER_01: And maybe, you know, like speaking for like say Maddie Seda, like when that started to happen to her, what was her stuff around? What was her feelings around that? She's already going biologically through all these changes, and now you play on the hair.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah, especially with like young girls and you know, these young girls who their looks are kind of everything. I mean, uh for women, yes, we could say the same, but as we get older, it's not. We can we know how to kind of like work things or could easily go get a wig, you know. But for these preteens and teenage and young adults, yeah. I mean, it was like standing in the kitchen with my phone on video, um, taking a video of Maddie's hair for our hair stylist to see if she even had enough to put extensions in, you know, and I'm and I'm on the back end of the phone as I'm filming, like bawling because I see what is what she doesn't see technically in the back and big spots.

SPEAKER_03: And then um, this was actually before the psoriasis. This was her first time, and I'm just like, keep it together, and I am like dying inside because I I am like freaked out that this is the way my poor child looks, and she had such a good attitude about it. But yeah, she's crying because she sees what it looks like here, you know, little pieces and up here, big part. And we would use like the powder to kind of like fill in. And um, she honestly had such a pretty good attitude about it, especially because we were able to get extensions in her hair at that time.

SPEAKER_03: Um, it was like I was telling Aria earlier, it was probably more just like me wanting to just like help her feel still feel beautiful because she has this chronic illness that is incurable, you know? So um, yeah, that really sucked. And it was, it was really hard. The emotional part that comes with that, um, where she would start to call me when she was away at college and she would say, Mom, there's just so much hair on the wall of my shower. Like, I don't know what is happening. And I was like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03: That's so bizarre. Like, let's get you going and but then it's such a a world that you you just have no idea where to start because then the internet is so noisy and your normal hairstylist doesn't know a lot about hair loss, you know? That's what I was just gonna touch on too. It would be so great with um with Aria. If you do you do work with people out of state, what would be great uh I don't know if you do this, but like say for instance, our hair girl here, Hillary and I go the same gal. Like if Maddie ordered from you and then you were able to then like zoom in to Leslie and like kind of help with some of the stuff with the hairstylist, because they aren't super familiar with some of the working around psoriasis or working around cancer, any, you know, anything like that.

SPEAKER_03: And that's just the nature of the they don't teach that, right? You study that, that's your expertise.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely. I do a lot of hairdressers do refer their their clients to me, and I'll speak with the hairdresser or sometimes even with them. Um, and so yeah, that's definitely no problem. I I definitely noticed also like an uptake of younger women, uh, younger girls like high school age and whatnot, um, wanting wigs or wanting things. Oh, wow. That's been interesting because I think there is a lot of pressure on young people to look a certain way and they see they're always on camera nowadays.

SPEAKER_00: So it's true. That's been that's sometimes a little bit more challenging because you know, I have either girls that pull their hair from triple Talmania, which is kind of an obsessive compulsive thing, or you know, some that have alopecia, but in some cases the girl's hair is just thinning a little bit, or maybe they damaged it. And so um it's it's interesting seeing these beautiful young women that I think the parent fabulous, but I always write off in their shoes and I try to think about how it feels.

SPEAKER_03: And so uh both uh definitely a um, you know, when when they come in, is it more like what how about just women in general? Like when they're coming in, what emotions do they bring into your consultations? I mean, are they coming in newly diagnosed? Are they uh crying? Are they excited? Or is it uh just across the board?

SPEAKER_00: They kind of when they meet me, I think it's like a bit of release. They look, they look a lot of times, especially with the cancer. Diagnosis, they generally seem like they are they're they're they're in fear. Um, they look very scared. Um, so even doing this as as long as I have um nowadays, the treatments are amazing. So I try to give them a lot of reassurance because I think people hear cancer and they think right, first outcome. And that's not the case anymore. And so a lot of times now it's just I tell them we're gonna get through this stage of it, we're gonna get together, and we're gonna grow your hair back in.

SPEAKER_00: I can help them through the whole stage of clients will go from losing their hair to a wig to then we put extensions later or we do other things. So um I think that's sort of graduate out of one into the next one.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_01: Do most women come to you when they're noticing, let's say, the hair loss? Like it's probably not like you're diagnosed with anything, and then all of a sudden, like you're within the first few weeks of phone calls. Are you sort of like, now we're having medication and now our body's changing and things are happening, and now you're you're seeing them really at a critical time. Yeah. Like it's a heightened emotional state. It's got to be very traumatic, I would assume. It is the physical response to what's actually happening with your body.

SPEAKER_00: Absolutely. And I think knowing I've I'm so um I'm used to working with people going through treatments, and I understand when they get their chemo, you know, what day it is that they're gonna be able to come in because of how they feel. Of course. And so, yeah, I think um what happens a lot of times was I recommend in case anybody listening is either ever diagnosed or knows somebody, the sooner you can get into the person who's gonna do your wig, um, it's let them see your natural hair, let them see.

SPEAKER_00: And that way, I mean, I can duplicate it. I can look at them and I can know what their hair color looks like. And they can I've had women do that. We prep the wig, and then when they're ready, when they notice the hair coming out, they call me and it's like, all right, come right in. That's incredible.

SPEAKER_01: That's so smart. That's so smart. Can you take me through? So, for example, I call you and let's say I'm newly diagnosed. Can you take me sort of through the timeline of I come in, you look at my hair, and you say, Okay, great, get me kind of ready. How long does it take from let's say consultation to it might be months down the road for me, but like how long does it take to actually create a wig?

SPEAKER_00: So it depends. So it a lot of times like I have people come in, we need a wig like tomorrow or whatever it is. So um it can be as thick as that can be the same day. It can be spread out. So, and it depends uh what type of hair their, you know, what their hair looks like and whatnot. Uh, we're constantly trying to we keep an inventory of things. So, like, you know, curly hair, straight hair, right? We do a lot more natural densities because a lot of wigs are way too dense for things like that. But um, yeah, so it's quick.

SPEAKER_00: Once I know, once I have someone come in, even if they're not gonna start treatment, let's say for a month or it could be hour long, I'm ready to go. It's like I start immediately and I make sure it's ready because I know when that happens, it when the hair starts coming out, sure, it starts. I mean, and so that's when you're in like crisis mode, right?

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, your shop is I've been to your shop and it's gorgeous. It's amazing what's on the wall and the different styles and the colors. And yeah, that's amazing. I had not actually thought about that to sort of be, you know, another thing, unfortunately. Let's say if you're depending on what's going on in your life, and it could just be stress, right? Like you know, it could just be like you noticed your hair is coming out, you're in a high level of stress, is maybe not wait until you're at critical stage is this is a path.

SPEAKER_01: So let's say I call you and I my consult is let's say I'm just going through, let's say that crazy divorce, and it's just yeah crazy time. My hair is coming out. Um, you then maybe could look at me and say, Okay, we could do extensions. It's extensions, can you really get them like for volume? I obviously have a little bit extra volume, but I mean I had hair, but it's a lot more length, I would say, than like I would be like it's like this. It's like kind of like flat against my head.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so that's where it depends. So I'm being certified in every method since I started when it was like bonds, and now they we've added less and tapes and yeah, people. So you could definitely get volume. I think it's just maybe you'd want to combine different methods, okay, so that you would get more fullness. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I've got my volume. Yeah, yeah. Which I never knew about until my hairstylist doesn't know what they're like, well, where is this phenomenon life? The crimper thing? The little clipper, yeah. So like you go up and you crimp and then you put it down. Yeah, she's shown me that too. If you can get it like, but then I honestly sometimes do it, and I feel like I have a little helmet head because I've done it too much. Yeah, like walking on it like this part's all poof, and then this part straight.

SPEAKER_01: So I will tell you, it feels better to have like a little bit of hump, you know, to your head.

SPEAKER_03: So you guys, for those of you that don't know what a volume is, it's literally a little teeny, tiny crimper. Like it's well back in the like in the 80s. It's a waffle. Okay, it's a tiny waffle maker for your hair. Like the shape of a waffle maker, but in the shape of a um flat iron. And you can just flat iron the root or you a waffle, you waffle make the top, but like just the root of your hair to give yourself some volume. We'll put the link on there too.

SPEAKER_01: I don't like my basically like pull it up and I click crimp, crimp, crimp underneath, right? Then I lay it back flat and like you can see I'm like, I didn't do it today, but it's flat. But yeah, but you can like also overdo it where it looks silly. Why not? So the different variations are extensions. So like let's go from let's say you're not at wig stage, but my choices are right now is maybe like you said, is extensions, toppers, toppers can go, is it just literally right on the top part, or how far down can it go?

SPEAKER_00: I mean, it can go as big as it as far as the top. Well, yes, and crown ones it can go like in the back, like up here. Okay, if you're sort of thinning back there. Yeah. A lot of women will get like kind of the where the hair swirls are like crown area. Um, but uh a top rose tell people can be tiny to like just your part line to where it's like from the front all the way to the back, like a three-fourth wig. Okay. Um, but there's also, I think sometimes um there's the invisible type of seamless slip-in that you can do sometimes before a top where you're you just need to kind of put something right underneath your part to kind of pump that up a little bit.

SPEAKER_00: So sometimes putting a couple of those closes in that widening part line area.

SPEAKER_01: And is that something that you literally set up in and then can take out like at the night? Yes. Okay, so so if I want, and then so like you want to let's say go to more of what say stays in, is that become sort of like the semi-permanent, like a topper or a crown?

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. Well, there's also um there's a company called Hair Dreams, and they do these, there's these like little nano kind of um they're put in with a machine. And so it's flat, so you can put like maybe a few um in up like where you want them. Oh, amazing. Okay, wow, stay in. Um, there's also the tapes that have like the hair coming out of them, kind of the you can do a little bit at the top your hair.

SPEAKER_01: So and then what is maintenance on that? So you coming in, let's say you're going wherever you're going. Let's say if you're not in California for you in NorCal, are you going every like month? Is it every few weeks, every six weeks?

SPEAKER_00: It would depend. So, like depends on the methods. So, like the nanos, the ones with the machine, they basically will stay in for say three months. Oh, wow. And you would take it out and replace it. Okay. The change should be maybe like every four to five weeks, depending how your hair does. I've had clients with seven weeks, it just depends. Um, so yeah. Okay. And you just wash it like normal style. Yep. Yep.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah. So and you do all of this at your shop. Like you do all of this as a stylist, your all-in-one, like wigs, extensions, coloring, all of that. And then for someone that would like a consultation, like let's say I called you with Maddie, we're zooming into you and you're suggesting something that you could essentially ship out and work with my stylist here to help put it on. Okay.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. So yeah, we do I do complimentary consultations and whether it's in person or by Zoom, we also have um something we're adding to the website, which is where people could take pictures of themselves and it will do the measurements for us. So you don't have to worry about any mistakes with the measurements. I can also have a mold made of their head from those images. And it could be like I would have your head in the salon. You could be in New York or wherever, and I can have you measure, say, from your forehead to your nose, so I know how long to cut the bang.

SPEAKER_00: Um, there's a lot we can do.

SPEAKER_01: Technology's so that's amazing. That's incredible. So, how long does it take? Like you were saying, is um, I know you can come and let's say if I needed a wig, let's say tomorrow, I can come to your gorgeous shop and shop and get something. But like to custom one, it takes about how long? I would say about three months.

SPEAKER_00: It depends Oh wow. Okay. Um, so another thing I think that's really important now that hair extensions are so common and whatnot. Uh I've worked with every, I'm certified with every major brand out there. But what I found now is quality control and it's getting good hair. And so I work with like hair brokers and things like that, and like whether it's Ukraine or my hair extensions here are curly because I have natural curly hair. So I get that hair. I want raw hair, I want hair that hasn't been colored with textile dyes.

SPEAKER_00: You really want to match the um the texture of your of you know your hair. And so I think that's something that um so when somebody comes in and we do a custom wig, I would see their texture, I would order the hair from the hair broker. I'll have the customer check it so that if like their hair, they want to make sure it's the right curl, we have them check it and then we send it, and then we have it made into whatever wig or whatever we want. And so I work with no middleman, I work directly with the factory myself.

SPEAKER_01: So a hair broker, I mean there's such a thing. Yeah, I want to be a hair broker, right? That sounds way more fun. That sounds like way more fun. What a fun job.

SPEAKER_00: It's amazing the differences out there though. And I think that there's so much more people will say, Well, you know what I bought. I have hairdressers try to get their client a topper on Amazon, you know. And it's like you, I think online everything looks good, right? They Instagram and people put in the topper and it's amazing, or whatever it is. So I have a lot of clients come in who purchased something like that, and it didn't quite look the same. And so I think that's something that people really need to understand too, is that there is a reason for that.

SPEAKER_00: There's a lot of differences in quality and sure, a lot of really small details on the type of lace that you use, or the base and all these other things that I'm happy to share my knowledge anytime complimentary, and it's all about like helping people.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, let's say I mean this is such a personalized, individualized thing, but I can't. I mean, Amazon's not I am a I am a hundred percent for Amazon. I am a hundred percent not imagine myself buying hair on Amazon.

SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and you know, I've actually I always check everything out because I want to know if there is something that I think somebody and I know that they can't afford, if it's a good piece, what's a good piece? And I, you know, I want to always be sure a point of knowledge for people and to help cut through the noise and to help them understand. It took me, you know, 20 plus years to learn this stuff and I'm still learning. So I can't imagine someone new to it, you know, trying to. And that's where use me as a resource, find somebody to use as a resource.

SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, it's not about it's about long-term relationships. You know, clients that come to me have been coming to me since I was 18, 19 years old. Right. Well, they'll meet new people all the time and it's right. Yeah, it's it's amazing um, you know, helping people through these these scary times that they go through.

SPEAKER_01: Uh yeah, and those are because you're seeing people in such an emotional state. Um, see, I don't know if you've ever like asked this, but for um just kind of I'm like, I was just had a question and then it just sort of went away. Was um it was around wigs. Oh yeah, was I know I know they've come a really long way. Definitely. If Brian, especially when we were talking about before this about for men and for women, it's not just for women. This obviously affects men as well if they choose to go down that path.

SPEAKER_01: What's I mean, what I have only heard about them and I've never used one is that they are really hot. Yeah. So like at their own. They're really expensive and they're really hot. So has that changed a ton?

SPEAKER_00: It has. I mean, there again, there's like different types of wig faces. So there's lace, there's you know, all kinds of different materials. Okay. And I and people ask me too, is it am I gonna be hot? Well, when you have hair on your head, you're gonna be warmer.

SPEAKER_03: I mean, I'm not with my own hair. Right. I'm just like, it's always I feel like I'm always hot with my own hair. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. So I think there's a trade-off. I mean, even putting the extensions in, you know, and whatnot, it takes me less time to blow dry my hair, or it might not be so it is a trade-off, but there, you know, there are different ones that are more suitable for, say, one type of person than another. Um, your your wings that are sort of crafted, I think, on a little more quality side of it, maybe not a lot of wefting stone because that can get heavy. And so maybe more hand-tied options for someone that needs something that's lighter weight, more breathable.

SPEAKER_00: But that's yeah, so like they definitely have improved, even the toppers. Um, I have clients that I did toppers on 25, 30 years ago that were really thick and heavy. And they're so thin and lightweight, and so it's it's definitely improved.

SPEAKER_01: And then it's made so sort of the same as your normal hair. Like you take the wig off and then you just wash it and blow dry it, like on the I know they usually come with like you like like the little head, right? That sort of sit on our yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: And so I what we try to do too is like um, even when somebody gets a wig or a topper, I always tell them this is just a starting point you're now with that. So I'll say, you know, let's first know how to put it on, take it off, how to store it. Then when it's time to wash, which could be like a month away, you don't wash that often. Um, and so then I'll have them come in and I'll show them how to wash their wig, how to style their wig. And it depends on and and getting the right tips on that, because then you're not gonna wash it for say like another month.

SPEAKER_00: So it saves a lot of time. And you know, if you care for them the right way, it's so simple. You just set it in the head and next day, next time you're gonna wear, just pop it on and off the my God, you have a good hair. It's true. I mean, I love that extensions now are so common. Yeah, and stink wigs and toppers are kind of becoming that accessory as well, where I don't think there's as much sort of, I think, shame or fear of people knowing you're wearing.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, I'm a huge fan of the Real Housewives, and I'm always like, God, how was your hair so long today? And how was it written today? How do you have a bang?

SPEAKER_03: Like we always have to be um, you know, in our sad, you know, situations. It can be something for, you know, if you can afford it or, you know, something for fun, you know. I I would totally wear a wig, like a different color, one with bangs, because I don't want to cut bangs, you know?

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I have people come in who do that too. They'll have their wig or their piece for everyone they were there earlier, their one with bangs. And so generally they'll we'll build out that like wardrobe of wigs or top just like bangs you can order.

SPEAKER_03: Maybe I should order bangs, right?

SPEAKER_01: Like, yeah, I'm gonna call you. Are you saying that women are also coming in like as an accessory?

SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, yes. Yeah, and so like uh whether it's like creating like a ponytail thing, like some women too, like they want to take their hair extensions out, but they don't want people to see their hair short. So maybe uh I've had women do like that a you know, a pony that they could put their short little hair while their hair grows. Oh, I'm okay.

SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, you really want to graduate, you're growing your hair, you're taking your supplements, you have extensions, or you have your topper, and then you've moved to extensions now that you have extra hair and you want to move out of them. What would and I came to you and I said, I want to graduate out of my extensions. I'm over them, but I don't want to go short and my hair is so thin. Like, what what would be the next step if I wanted to get rid of, you know, mine and go, you know, and start to ease back into my root.

SPEAKER_03: You're saying natural, natural, which ultimately we're gonna have to like really take on the fact that our hair isn't the same as it was when we were 25, 30 years old and healthy, you know. Um, so yeah, what would be something that you can do? Like the poney, maybe explain that um to me, like, you know, taking him out and getting a pony. So if I wore my hair back, I could just have like a clip-on pony.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they do like you could do a clip-on pony. Um, there's even again the toppers that you can do that are almost like if you think of the falls, like the women used to wear like a fall or fall, yeah, yeah. And you can come down.

SPEAKER_03: I used to have a clip-on fall back in my in the in my uh You did. And I would put my hair in this ponytail, and I had a lot of hair. I don't even know why the fuck I had it. And it was like a big banana clip with a ton of hair and banana clipped it on, and I was like the bell of the freaking club with all the hair I had.

SPEAKER_00: And I mean, of course, not to mention like meeting a guy who like might touch the back of my head and be like, what the well, and that's the other thing I tell, you know, I think with women, I've had women that, you know, are single and then all of a sudden, you know, they're trying to they and they got extensions or the swing, they don't know how to solve guy. Yeah. You know, I found honestly that most men are so visual. And so a lot of women's fears of like, oh, what are they gonna think? I think that men don't, they're so used to it at this point that it's such a common thing.

SPEAKER_00: So I think if you feel good and you're you're oozing confidence, yeah it's it's I think that's the main thing, just like own it when you're not that's a very good point.

SPEAKER_03: Um, because you know, I'm I'm in that situation and um not moving in that situation area yet, but I'm thinking about my future and it's like, yeah, what do you you know, what do you say? Like what do you yeah, how do you even bring that up to someone? Don't rub my head, don't touch my head because uh first of all, they're expensive and I don't want you to pull them out, but like, you know.

SPEAKER_00: I think that I mean well, you'll know if he's dated someone with extensions, it's like how they grab your hair. Oh jeez, like gently, like just like a top instead of a pole.

SPEAKER_01: Okay, they're like, Yeah, Sean didn't know I had these, and that which is so funny because I mean we worked, we kind of we work in the same house, so we see each other all the time. So, for example, he shaved the other day and I didn't notice. He like came back and I'm like, when did you shave? And it was literally like three days before. Totally hadn't noticed it. And then I came back and all of a sudden my hair was a lot longer. Yeah, but then like probably weeks in, he went to like touch my like, oh god, don't touch my right left, don't roll it out, right?

SPEAKER_01: Don't pull him down because I don't know how to fix them. And so yeah, say that's right. I mean, but maybe it is men are probably so used to women, it's like taking off your eyelashes.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I even I mean I hand it to even the men who are doing the the hair pieces and the hair replacements, you know.

SPEAKER_01: What are they doing? Yeah, tell me about that. Because honestly, we talk about women all the time, but I mean, not that men are probably listening to our shows besides let's say husbands and friends and boyfriends, but I mean, yeah, if you can have extensions and these men are malting, why can't they have something?

SPEAKER_00: Of course they can. Sure. I mean, I think in some cases, because I was always sort of more um inspired by helping women, and then I would have men come in that were maybe they tried to do the the shots into their into their scalp to grow the hair. Um I've had men that got scarring from it, maybe because of the you know, their type of skin. And so they they basically now have to do a hair piece because they've got all kinds of scarring from that. Well, you know, maybe their hair was going to grow back in, but not the look that they want.

SPEAKER_00: And so, um, so that the pieces look very natural. Again, less density sometimes is important, the right texture, the right color. Right. I can't stress enough of how important it is to really build a relationship with someone who knows what they're doing because um these pieces can look really natural, whether it's on a man, a woman, a young person. Um, so that's yeah, they want the adhesive. Um, I have an adhesive, I can named it bonzilla because I was thinking like strong like Godzilla. I love and stuff.

SPEAKER_00: So they can swim, they can work out, they can go about the yeah, it looks really natural.

SPEAKER_01: Think it'd honestly be maybe a little bit, and I'm speaking from not a professional experience. But for a man, I would think it'd be really hard because at least as women, we have girlfriends or we've got, you know, family members, and we're thinking a little bit more open with if you know, not everyone, but it's a little bit easier of a conversation to say, like, oh, my hair's falling out, or my hair's thinning, or I'm stressing about this. This is affecting me. But for a man, I would think that would be really the challenging to come into a beauty environment and say, like, I need help.

SPEAKER_01: Like this, this affects how I feel, and I want to feel differently. So kudos to those men that you're helping for like going and putting themselves first. And then for you for helping them, I think that's incredible.

SPEAKER_00: Thank you. Yeah, and I think the other thing too, what we do at Moxie Loxy is just it's private. So I have shades that come down in the front. We'll lock the door if we need to, like, we let people know because we're in a we're in a community where maybe they, you know, someone they know is walking by or whatever. So we're really careful as far as um privacy. Sure. Um, so when somebody comes in, they're not walking into a salon. If someone's immune system is, you know, depleted because of. Treatments they can come in and not have to worry about that.

SPEAKER_00: So I think you know that's nice.

SPEAKER_01: That's incredible. Yeah, that's good. I wouldn't even think about the privacy part of it. But yeah, because not everyone, right? Like you want to have it, whatever's going on with you, whether you keep other people or you just don't want to because it's just it's too much. There's a level everyone can take and handle.

unknown: Right.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah. That's the reason that you're sort of honor all of that.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. And I think that people that don't have hair loss, they don't even mean to, but they could stay or say in a salon and they see someone getting something done, they might be curious. And that person sitting there doesn't like no, it's like we want to talk about. Yeah. So we definitely try to honor that. Um and get them past that stage, you know, the customers. Sometimes we get clients like that they love their hair piece so much that they want to tell everybody. And so you get to know these different customers and what their comfort level is.

SPEAKER_01: Right. And let them in that right, let them lead. I mean, I'm sure, you know, when Maddie was feeling that way, and I only ever saw, I mean, Maddie's such a beautiful girl, and we I never saw any of that, but I'm sure she wouldn't be like, hi, let me show you my hair loss. Right. She would you, but not, you know, yeah, but like I mean, and she I mean never her face.

SPEAKER_03: I mean, just yeah, she's so, I mean, uh, yeah, a lot of it was um honestly, like if I would it was probably more me, just wanting to make sure she felt good. And she even said to me one time, and I I think I can say this is like, mom, I'm good, I'm okay. Like, just stop mentioning it. I'm good with what I have right now. And it was like, okay, that was a a cue for me to take a step back and know that when and if she was ready to to, and it was really affecting her to the point where she wanted a wig, then she obviously, if you know Maddie, like she would definitely come and ask for that.

SPEAKER_03: And I would be more than willing to pay whatever it took to um to provide that for her because it's such an emotional thing. Like your mental health when you're any age is like so important. And if a some strands of hair or a topper or whatever can can take on and help with that, so you can go out confidently out your front door. I absolutely think um, you know, that would be so great. And I think that the reason I would kind of go suggest a topper or a wig to her was mainly because I was trying to calculate in my own mind, like how much are extensions, how much are we um moving them up, how much are we taking them out, coloring them, putting them back in, ordering new packets, things like ordering new wefs.

SPEAKER_03: So I think for me, it was like maybe you can touch on this, Aria too, like what uh price-wise, for somebody to get extensions for, you know, let's just say a year, I mean, I can calculate it right off of the what we pay, you know, our hair girl versus buying a wig, like what what does that look like? Is it like, would you suggest if I came in, you know, with Maddie and you would say, Mance, this might be a better option for you to have a wig because it's, you know, even though the wig is 3,000, you're paying 5,000 for the year for your, you know, whatever it is that you're paying for extensions.

SPEAKER_03: Like, how how do you kind of guide people on which way to go, even if they can kind of go into either a topper or extensions?

SPEAKER_00: I think with well, if you people just look at price, just price by itself. I think in the long run, extensions cost more because you're buying the hair. And that's what's interesting because the clients that come in for hair extensions, it's more broken down though, right? You're buying the hair, then you're paying for the service. So it's a little bit more spread out. Also, the clients that generally wear the extensions are a little bit more comfortable. That's where they like their comfortable spending their money to on those types of things.

SPEAKER_00: Um, with a wig, generally it's people who either never have worn hair extensions or never been faced with this type of thing. So when they're coming in and they need a wig, it's like, oh my gosh, how much? Like, you know, whether it's yeah, aesthetics are, you know, under a thousand, you know, those are gonna be your your less expensive options. But so I always weigh out too, like what to what reason is their hair loss? Is it gonna come back? I have that will come in, they'll say, I don't care what it costs me the best wig.

SPEAKER_00: I want to look natural, I don't care if I'm wearing it for a week or not. Um, but there are people that maybe they're going through treatment, they just kind of want to get through that. Maybe they, you know, so I I kind of gauge, you know, is this a lifelong, you know, thing they're gonna be wearing? Because then yeah, you might as well scourge and get like the best you can get. Um, and then in you know, medical diagnosis, it just depends, you know, how much are they gonna be out and about, what is, you know, kind of feeling out um what again, what's suitable.

SPEAKER_00: And I think that's the biggest thing when people put a top or a wig, it's like that perfect dress or that perfect shoe. If I can put it on and it's not cut in yet and it looks like it's already part of them, then that's what we generally what I try to guide them towards. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: So what is it? Um, what's the longevity? So obviously, probably different, like you were saying, there's different levels, I would assume, of you know, like you're talking about the hair, the sort of cheering up. But what is for someone who is getting away, what is if we're let's say wash me once a month. Yeah. So per years, I mean, what does it look like?

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely. And that's the other thing is um again, working with a place that you know, we have our customers if it gets if it thins, let's say it's a hand-tried thing and they're it's thinning, usually within a year, we'll check, we'll have them come in so we can check it. Okay. Add hair, we'll get more hair, we'll add it to refresh it. So you can maintenance.

SPEAKER_01: Oh, I didn't even think of that because obviously you're brushing it, like you're wanting you're doing stuff to it.

SPEAKER_00: Yes.

SPEAKER_01: It's not like it just stays exactly the same.

SPEAKER_00: Right. And so it depends. Yeah. So um, you know, we can do repairs, we do everything in-house. So whether it's repairs, ad clips, um, you know, it's a material, so maybe it needs to be tightened different things like that. Sure. You get a I mean, you can have them for years. A lot of times people just add to their collection.

SPEAKER_01: Okay.

SPEAKER_00: Um, but it depends how much to how often they're wearing it and whatnot. So I have some clients, a lady sleeps, and then her husband never sees her without it on. Oh, wow. She buys three at a time, and then I won't see her for then she might come back six to eight months. And so she's always got like a stash of them going.

SPEAKER_01: So you've been put, I mean, to sleep with it. I mean, I'm a thrasher, it's the reason we always laugh because I get this one bead that Sada has to help me with because I'm I'm like I, you know, I'm all over the place. But I couldn't imagine me with a wig on trying to sleep. Like they really stay on that tight.

SPEAKER_00: I think there's different things. Yeah. So you want to, well, ours are blue lists, so they fit when we fit them inside them. I mean, it's like putting on like a knit box on. Like you can kind of feel that kind of um, but we have wig caps, there's silicone wig grips, there's um, I have a wig that's a workout wig. It has a headband attached with velcro. So we took that from an alopecia client that went to sleep, like she didn't want her daughter to see her without her wig. So she wanted one with a headphone.

SPEAKER_00: So that is like really on snug, and she has fun and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01: So you were a miracle worker for people because I mean, as I'm in, I can't even imagine being in that position and you know, needing real, I mean, that's like your level setting how they feel about those cells.

SPEAKER_00: Absolutely. And I just intentionally, I know you guys have both been through some hard stuff too. And it's like I was going through some things, you know, in the last few years. And it's I had a gal come in, Lex, who, you know, was eight months out of almost dying from burns. I mean, she's a tall, beautiful young gal in her 30s, lost her six-figure income, had a bald spot on her head. And here, you know, it takes like what I was feeling at that time, and you're hearing somebody else. And so the women and the men and the individuals that I meet, it's it really takes you out of like the things that we deal with on a day-to-day.

SPEAKER_00: And uh, they're the most beautiful people, whether missing hair or not. Absolutely. And so there's I can't imagine doing anything else. In I think we're all meant to help each other in some way in our gifts. And um, even the people going through this, they give so much back as well. Um even on our Instagram. I mean, we're still growing, but people are so drawn to, you know, seeing other examples of strength and whatnot. And she even did some videos and stuff, and that had like three million views, and it just goes to show and everything how beautiful she is and stuff.

SPEAKER_01: So um I think walk through uh yeah, my stuff was nothing, right? My it was a divorce. It's like it it's light on the totem pole. My my divorce is mine on the totem pole of life challenges. It was it was a step. It wasn't right. But I mean, people really walk through really, really hard things.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it puts it in perspective and yeah, and even coming up with like Moxie Loxy is the name. Like I was trying to come up with the name, and I wanted I thought about like how would people feel when they put the wig on or that hair loss, and I thought that they're moxie back. They're confidence. And I see it all the time. I mean, and that's where empowering women in particular is dear to my heart because you know, women, you know, we go through so many things and divorce and all that stuff, or um, loss.

SPEAKER_00: And so I think just being able to look in the mirror and just feeling good about yourself that you can go face the world that day when you probably inside don't want to. Sometimes it's like at least fake it till you make it, you know.

SPEAKER_03: I just love that. And I I feel like I really loved what you said about um that just basically everybody that comes into your salon has had, for the most part, has had some sort of life event, internal event, external event happen. And I I honestly always say like the grief and the loss and the um experiences that we have that have like drug us through the hard are truly like what bring the human souls together. And like that's how we connect. Like you're connecting with these people who are sitting in in your chair and you're looking at them in the mirror and they are going through something where you're saying, This is so much more than I've gone through.

SPEAKER_03: But I mean, I I could be talking to you and then you I'm like, my gosh, you've gone through so much more than me. So I just love like that, the grief and the loss and the sorrow truly is like what bring people together. And if I'm your moxie, and then they're like out the door and ready to roll, like that. And then it's what the world so we can go each day and actually get out of bed, which I totally love.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. And um, I had this gentleman come in two years back, and his wife and him ended up, we ended up becoming friends and whatnot. And they would ask me, the wife says, So what is it? Tell me about she was a marketing they had a their you know, high-tech company that they were growing and sold their third one and whatnot. So she goes, Tell me about what what you sell. And I was like, I never feel like I sell anything because and so we're talking, and she's like, No, what you sell is a new life.

SPEAKER_00: Moxie. You sell moxie, yeah. Yeah, and I like gosh, someone finally could put it into words because that's the last thing I ever think about when I'm with a person. It's like I'm trying to figure out solutions, and I that's and I'm so careful even with the training that I have with the tricology and the experience, it's like I'll give people the information as much as they want, but I also don't try to press it on people because there's so much of that out in this industry and and whatnot.

SPEAKER_01: So well, yeah, I mean, and that's why people trust you, right? Because they're coming to you. They're vulnerable, so vulnerable, and you're giving them and then making them feel beautiful or handsome, and then back restoring what they're used to looking like. And then yeah, I mean, I just yeah, that's I'm sure what you do is so rewarding daily. Talk to me a little bit about um, I know there's obviously a spectrum of cost, and we talked about that. Yeah. Um so then how do people, let's say, who are going through this?

SPEAKER_01: We touched on this a little bit earlier, is it's obviously you're going through stuff, um, you've got other life changes going on, whether you're working and you're having to pause work, all those different things are maybe happening, other expenses are going out. How do women pay for this? Or um women and meh.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. So um, some health plans actually will say give them$500 a year. And it's called a full cranial prosthesis, is in there's medical codes. Okay. Um, so that's the first step. Check with their health care provider and ask if they have the coverage. Um, if they don't, then again, we have like the 0% the care credit. There's like the HSA, there's um, you know, even online now on the website, there's all those affirm shop pay. There's ways to break it up. And it all depends. I mean, again, when I work with people, if I know the right piece for them, if we need to figure something out depending, we can usually work with people too, you know, let them make payments and different types of things to make it doable.

SPEAKER_00: But generally, people I and I I guess like you know, some people are into purses, some people are into you know, design. Yeah, and I don't know those people. So, yeah, so I figure you know what, and it's not necessarily for everybody. So I ask people because cost is a thing, you know, the right thing. And and you know, to get the good quality hair and do that it is more expensive. But I always tell people, like, we'll send the estimate if it just that's just a starting point. If it's either not in your budget or what, just tell me and we'll figure out and I'll explain what maybe they have to give up in order to get it within this price, and we just um yeah, I mean that's incredible, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: That's amazing, right? Is I even think about that. It's like right, you can come back and say, This is what I need to be, this is the range I need to be in. Sure.

SPEAKER_00: And and it's yeah, it's generally doable. And if it's not, you know, sometimes I've had people too, like, I don't see them for a year, and they'll say, you know what? I went out, I spent all this money on all these things that don't look good. And then then it's like then they don't care. They're like, I don't because I right.

SPEAKER_03: And I imagine too, when you're um, you know, when you are seeing your your clients that you are, they're trusting you regardless. So like I'll pay whatever the cost is if I believe that you want the best for me, which you do, and you want to guide me in the right direction. I mean, yes, if the wig is 8,500 and my budget was 5,000, like I might need to, you know, be able to bend a little bit, but truly you're not selling anything except your moxie to people, like how you're gonna feel good, how you're gonna be able to go to the grocery store, you know, feel pretty again or all of that.

SPEAKER_03: Um, I I really do think that that's when it comes to money, yeah, it definitely has to be a budget. You did mention something about um sales tax in California.

SPEAKER_00: Oh yes. Yes, yep. So there's no sales tax, which is important for people to know on any um type of solution when you have a medical necessity. So that's a big savings. Huge. Then we're also, I know there's a lot of different things that we're trying to um they're trying to pass as far as like law is maybe getting it where there is like a set, like people get 500 because there's some insurance, it does nothing. Like a deductible per se, something like that. Yeah. So um getting more bills passed and things that can help people with medical hair loss.

SPEAKER_03: Um, but I mean, that to me is like huge to. I mean, I'm gonna drop our episode anyway into my um my IBD mom's group, but right just so and a lot of them actually are in there's a big portion of the women that um are in my group that are in California, actually. But it's you're just so uninformed. And at the same time, you're dealing with all these other things like other women are who have alopecia, cancer, whatever, what have you, which is calling pharmacies for medications, you know, deductibles, all trying to get appointments.

SPEAKER_03: I mean, honestly, for me, take helping take care of Maddie is like a full-time job when it is like in the thick of it, you know. So then, you know, worrying about hair, that would be just so amazing if there was any type of, yeah,$500 deductible and we can put it through insurance and we get a$2,500 wig or whatever. I mean, that would just be so amazing. I really hope um that those types of laws absolutely pass. And maybe I'll touch base with you after on like how I could help or write to senators or whatever it is that we do, but I would be absolutely interested in that because that is one of the biggest questions in some of our Crohn's and ulcer colitis groups is like, what are you doing for your daughters who their hair is literally like falling out in the shower?

SPEAKER_03: And it's like, oh, I was just there. Like, and everybody's different, like you said. I don't know if they need can get away with extensions or but now I can say, here you go. You're gonna call Aria and you are gonna talk to her and she's gonna give you a free consultation. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01: Question on that is it just wigs that uh no, let's say let's say um Naddie came in and she was you said to her, let's just really start you with a topper and extensions, and but it's medical, it's needed for medical. Is that qualified for the new sales tax, or is it just yeah, okay, it does. So anything that's anything that's basically diagnosed medically, yeah, which is huge because California has some of if not the highest, I mean it is really expensive for sales tax.

SPEAKER_00: Absolutely. I mean, it pays hundreds of dollars for people. So um, yeah, because it's nice to say, you know, if they're buying something that expensive that they don't have as well. Yeah, and I just I really want people to know too, because I'll have people message me on Instagram or whatever. It's I'm truly happy to help. It's not a it's whatever questions they have, I can guide them with whatever it is because um that's what I'm really passionate about. And so we do them complimentary, and even when somebody purchases something, you know, I really hold their hands through and through the process because hair loss is always changing.

SPEAKER_00: And so, like, even there's stuff for like your daughter, people with alopecia, there's um toppers that are made from like a really thin skin material that we can create like patchwork almost where you well piece of like a piece that looks so natural if say like they want something on all the time. So there's so many things that can be done.

SPEAKER_03: Are you a one-woman show or do you have a a whole uh salon full of um women that also are as informed as you?

SPEAKER_00: I am a one-woman show. I have um Lulu, who is my main right-hand person, she handles the administrative. Okay. Um, but the goal long term is to um we're kind of get everything packaged up, and then I will eventually roll out maybe in the next year or so, like a way to grow um and help other hairdressers and teaching them and and growing, you know.

SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's amazing. It's so needed. And when we're talking about sort of about like if women started to plan a little bit earlier, kind of say that when we were talking with our financial planner person, is let's say when instead of having this become is like, you know, crisis mode, is if something in your life is starting to happen, and you let's say do come in and have that consultation and you do have, let's say, a six to eight month window, yeah, that price you can start really sort of like nudging around, right?

SPEAKER_01: Yes, nudging, but like putting money aside and figuring out the mass so that you're not in another critical decision. Yeah. Like it's just always, you know, everything's always so easy when it's ahead of time or easier. I agree.

SPEAKER_00: And that's why we do the estimate because they can get it in their inbox or come in, find out information, people. There's no pressure, just get the info. Um, and you know, even on another episode where you talked about, you know, as we, you know, the faceless and the the work, like that can also you can lose hair from that, from like scarring. What?

SPEAKER_01: Am I gonna lose hair? No, when when we don't count three months out, am I do I need to have a console?

SPEAKER_00: Or like you know, as we age, like um, you know, our hair to be able to soften, you know, when it got sitting here or aging, and then it's like you want some softness. So I think, yeah, women having these types of ways to fill back in their hair is so important. Yeah, plan for it. Cause I think at some point, not every woman, but most of us will need something.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah. Well, I need to probably start talking about like, right? Oh stop great. No, it's like literally, you can see like I never had this. I mean, I always had really full, I looked back at pictures and it was always really full. I mean, this is on the scale of you know, important to yes, this is a zero. So you know, like I do. I mean, I just noticed it where like I got sunburned. We were all of our girlfriend shifts last year, we were in Lakinta together, and it was the first time my scalp got sunburned.

SPEAKER_01: And I thought, that's weird. Like, I've never had a sunburn on my scalp. I've never had to spray something in. And it wasn't even super hot because it wasn't like we were there in summer, but it was because I'm thinning up here a little bit.

SPEAKER_00: So yeah, and also take care of your scalp too. I think that's another important thing for you all of us because our scalp is so sensitive. And over the years, yeah, but all of that does damage our scalp, our fallout. So sunblock, hats, all that is a really good, you know, again, preventative um for our scalp health.

SPEAKER_01: So just put like a normal sunblock in your just kind of spray, yeah, spray on you know. We can't say that because we have extensions. And I found this out the hard way is I was in Mexico and I was right using my cause she didn't tell me to eat my darling hairstylist, but we just hadn't covered that. Yeah. Different whether is it mineral based? Yeah, there's a certain ingredient that you can't. Yeah. So I I got nice salmon colored highlights. Wow. I'm just like, wow, look at me being all like fancy without trying to be fancy.

SPEAKER_01: And then she had to thankfully take them out, fix them. But yeah, when you have extensions, you need and so you can literally just with the right with the right one, you can just like sort of put in your part.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. Or wear a hat, you know, something. I think that the taking care of your scalp is really important. And it even like it sounds kind of crazy about your daughter with the Crohn's like our gut microbiome. There's such a tie to our skin, our scalp.

SPEAKER_03: Yes, all of that. Yeah. Like really taking care of your gut. I mean, gut health, yeah, I have a lot of opinions on, you know, is Crohn's curable, is it not? And that's a whole nother conversation. But yes, micro, gut microbiome is like a huge buzzword, but so true. Absolutely. So needed for all of us to know what we should be putting in, what we should be putting into balance our guts, all of that. I mean, whether you're on whether you have Crohn's or you're on a GLP one, you have IBS, any of those things, any of us, you know, just all of that is so important.

SPEAKER_03: Um, I absolutely agree. So was um your daughter's Crohn when did she get diagnosed with it? Two years ago, about two years ago, yeah. So she um, and the symptoms like looking back were just, you know, I kind of we thought maybe she had um like um dairy intolerance. And yeah, she we just weren't, I mean, I had never really even heard of Crohn's. I mean, I think I heard the word randomly, but now that I'm in the world of Crohn's, I just can't believe how many young people have it because it wasn't always like this, which again goes back to I think the gut and like what we're eating and all of that, um, or what we our environment, all of that.

SPEAKER_03: Um, but it was mainly like a lot of women, like over the age of 35 back in the day. And now it's a ton. I mean, in my groups are kids that are three years old, like cannot even imagine like being a mom and having a child, you know, with uh, but that's what I do. Like that's my part of my gift that I love that I know I'm here for is to like help these women know, like you said, right now when you're in the thick of it and it's so detrimental and you know, all it's going to get better. Like you're just in this really hard season and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

SPEAKER_03: But while we're in this, let's see what we can do to help solve a problem. Maybe it's the wig, maybe it's you know, whatever it is for for getting through the season and knowing it's going to get better once you get some of these things under control. But I absolutely believe in um gut microbiome biome, like all of that is I study it, I research. I am such a weirdo when it comes to like dieting. Oh my god, it's your daughter, like just go down the rabbit holes, but it's good. I mean, I can, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: And it's also when you have a teenager and you have a young adult, you know, getting them to do certain things and that um, you know, might help, whether it's full, you know, carnivore diet at 19, probably not gonna happen, you know. So, but carnivores known to be really great for Crohn's. So that's like a whole, but yeah, it's just about dealing with what you have right in hands and how can you make the best of that so that we can still go out into the world and try to live on this planet, you know?

SPEAKER_00: And kind of take that off the table too, because I think getting the cosmetic solution while you're kind of and you're sorting through all of this data and science and trying something. And so you've got all that time frame that you've got to do this. And so in the meantime, that's why I tell people too, is get a cosmetic solution, get something that you're gonna feel good today. Right. Because sometimes people come in and you know, they'll kind of go back and forth or, you know, um, where they think I'll have say, like an older client possibly come in that's had thin hair her whole life, fine hair.

SPEAKER_00: It's never been the hair she wanted, and now it's even, let's say, thinning more. Sometimes they'll think, well, if I take those vitamins, isn't my hair gonna just throw in and look like this? Yeah, no. The answer now is that's not the solution. Yeah. So I think that too. It's like sometimes people want to believe things that are marketing or things that aren't gonna really, you know, give them that what they really want. So I hate to see people throwing their money away on like you're asking her about the supplement to this, to that.

SPEAKER_00: And I think address the most, you know, the main thing, which is I think a lot of times the cosmetic solution and work on all the other parts.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's easier to go cheaper, right? It's easier to be like, okay, I'm just gonna like you said, and then yeah, I've done that on so many different things. This has nothing to do with medical, but just and you end up finally buying the thing, yeah, just start it there because all the other things just didn't work, and then it's just a waste of money, and you would have saved so much if you had just actually gone to what was needed in the first place.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and then they're nervous because they've bought these other things that they did before, and it's like they're afraid I'm gonna spend a thousand, two thousand dollars on something and not wear it. But it's a completely different experience when it's customized for you and it's not being right.

SPEAKER_01: So what's the one thing that you would say that is pretty typical? Obviously, someone calling you. Uh, and obviously, you know, there's a variety of different things, but what's the one thing that you sort of hear the most? Um, that you could just tell all of our listeners, like, just don't worry about this, right? Like, we hear it all, we see it all. So, like, what's that thing?

SPEAKER_00: Well, I think I guess the main thing is I I try when I meet with people is to really talk to them to get to the heart of what the main what's the main concern? And I think trying to address that first and taking things in steps, I think people get really overwhelmed with hair loss. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: Um Do you think that people, I mean, when do they call? Like, for example, if I'm just calling, um by emailing and just saying like because I'm sure it's really hard to make that first phone call when you're like, you know, you need help or you're thinking you need help, but there's so much other stuff going on.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, sometimes it's helpful if they have a friend. Some people, if they're they have say a friend they've known forever, that they can sort of see them in it because you know, when they're experiencing hair loss, they're kind of nervous and whatnot. And I really like if people come in or we have a long enough conversation or some type of zoom where I can see. Yeah, because it's it it's so different for each person. Um, but I would just say find someone you trust and and talk openly. Like I've been doing this so long, nothing surprises me, nothing is sure, you know.

SPEAKER_00: Um there's always something that can be done.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah. And that you're not alone, like you're not right just like with anything, with whether you have the diagnosis of whatever you have, but like you're in my shop, you're on my Zoom with me because thousands of other men and women have also contacted me and like this isn't weird, you're not alone. Right. You didn't cause us, you deserve support. There are so many solutions for you. Like that, you're like the the um the godmother of wing. Yeah, uh-huh. Like you are Mrs. Moxy Loxy with like a little fairy godmother.

SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, I think too, and that's the thing too, is I think that for I know if somebody comes to see me, if we if they'll kids, if we work together and we get sometimes it might take a little longer, like you're asked about time frames. You know, if it's somebody say with really naturally curly hair and we need a certain piece, we might have to custom make it. So there might be that time frame, but I can guarantee every customer that we that I see that I work with, I know, and I can usually we build a strong relationship.

SPEAKER_00: I'll get them there. It's just you've got to find that person, get on board and just sort of trust the process. And it usually sometimes it takes until I get them a top or a wig and they see how I cut it in and customize it, how I care for them after the purchase, that they they build that trust. So once you can once you get there, I think it's anything is possible. I'm also very, you know, when I'm talking with people, I want to make sure there's someone that we can work in together that they're kind of hearing what I'm saying, I'm hearing what they're saying.

SPEAKER_00: And I feel like it's a mutual. I tell them we're like in a partnership together.

SPEAKER_01: Right. Because you know it's scary, right? Because it's like you're coming in, you're looking at you for a solution, you know there's trust built there because obviously they've probably been referred to. They've heard of you and they can see your gorgeous shop when they come there or you zoom. But it's gotta probably feel a little overwhelming. It's like you're hopeful and it's like you don't wanna, I mean, you get your hopes up too much, but then all of a sudden I'm sure at the end of it, like flash forward, if you could show them like the little crystal ball of like, we're gonna get you here, and this is what it looks like and this is how it feels.

SPEAKER_01: And it's like it's hard to probably be in that middle part to trust the work.

SPEAKER_03: In that middle part, say, you know, someone calls and they've already lost their hair and they're in the middle of their treatment and they're ready for a wig or a top or what have you? What do you normally say if if we're getting a if I'm getting a custom wig made and then you say, okay, it's gonna be it's gonna be eight to 12 weeks. And this is, you know, what do you suggest in that interim? Do you have wigs that you can rent let them rent? Do you have you say, do you say scarves are your best friend?

SPEAKER_03: Like what is it that you do you have any solutions that you give them so they're can still live in those three months, you know?

SPEAKER_00: Um well, sometimes what we'll do is, especially if they're new, maybe they want something that's more of a stock item. So we may just say, let's go with this to start, then we'll start working on the other. So a lot of tweets will do that.

SPEAKER_03: Um they kind of have an a little like a less expensive interim wig that maybe is like more of a I don't know if it's synthetic or not, but just something to get them by until they can get their moxie wig uh uh customized from you.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's definitely that's generally probably what I would do because when I meet with someone, I'm trying to figure out, but it depends on their lifestyle, depends on what they want. But um how eager they are, how upset they are or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. But and most people, they're kind of if they're in that situation, they kind of need something sooner than later. Um so it depends, but that's also as I'm growing and as the business has evolved and whatnot. It's like we try to keep in as much in stock as we can, as far as like having the variety of like different sizing.

SPEAKER_00: A lot of wings aren't there's not a ton of size large or small or extra small. So I make sure I have those on hand, or we have human hair that's white hair that's for people that you know are gray or white hair. Um, so I do try to keep a really big variety of items so that way I kind of know where the missing parts are that I maybe can't get quickly. So ones we try to keep on healing more.

SPEAKER_01: If I came in and said, I want to be like, I don't know, let's go super dark black, would you like look at me and be like, that's probably not like or would you say, let's do it, let's have fun. Or would you be like, we I mean honest to me, you probably tell people when I mean me and like dark, dark hair, because I've had it, is I'm a little, I'm a little stark.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. Well, I it's funny because I'll have people come in let's say get diagnosed, and so they'll come with their friends or they'll come in to they're with them. Well, maybe I want to try a peep. And I'm like, because they get so now excited almost like I'm oh I'll do this, and like, and then so they'll go through trying on like a dozen wigs and everyone there. It's like no, generally start with what's closest to you, right?

SPEAKER_01: And it feels yeah, and then have like the accessory piece, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: And then I'd be like if you want to go out for like something fun, but your everyday look like yourself, start there and yes, but yeah, a lot of people when it's new, it's like they sometimes they get into it, which is cool, you know. But um, some people will get like a human hair and then they'll do the fun ones in synthetic, you know, ways to find it. And there's even different qualities in synthetic.

SPEAKER_01: So I mean, that's another is there any worrisome with synthetic hair? Like, can you be around flame? Uh well, you you want to be careful around like if you're leaning over a candle, it's just the whole okay to know, right?

SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you don't want to um like uh toast your marshmallows like close to the fire with your synthetic wig, I imagine.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and probably not even with your human hair wig.

SPEAKER_03: We don't want that we don't want that on fire either.

SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00: You don't want to ever be on fire, but I'm just saying is synthetic just makes me think of like, oh, that sounds like yeah, and I I generally we specialize in human hair because I can customize the color up in, you know, and this another few things that people may not know when they're shopping for wigs, hair extensions is like some are, you know, could they put silicone on the ends to make it look healthy and the hair might not be great hair, or you know, we don't use the color with textile dyes because the textile dyes are what you color couch with, or you can't highlight them, you can't do your outling.

SPEAKER_00: So um I think those are little things that people don't really know or differences. And you know, they'll get hair that looks really great and shiny, they'll wear it for a few weeks and it starts crawling up or tangling or whatever it is. Um, so there is a huge um, there's a lot of things that go on within the hair world that you have to know what you're looking for.

SPEAKER_01: So that's even not even questions I would have even thought to ask, especially like the textile color.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah. Crazy. I mean, I'm sure there's so many different um companies out of, like you said, Ukraine, China, wherever that comes from, you just have to be, I mean, that's why you're the expert and sure just sit there um silently getting our hair done.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and you trust the person that you're going. Um now there's just so many more extensions being done than like in the 90s when I started doing that. Now every hairdresser does some sort, it seems, uh some type of hair extension. Um, but one thing that I'm happy about is that like I like being able to offer all the tapes. So I'm not locked into you can only get wefts or you can only get tapes or you can only, you know, so there's just that's so I mean, yeah, so versatile because I didn't even know there were so many.

SPEAKER_01: I thought there was like the tapes. Right. I remember about the like sort of the toppers that you can have in, semi-permanent. And I thought they were just like you would clip them in. Yeah. And crown areas. I mean, there's just and then patching. That's I mean, you're really are like your solution for everybody's head that needs some type of help.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely. And even like the less can be cut into smaller panels and stuff. So um, I help women when they're bringing their hair back after chemotherapy, and people worry about what extension is gonna ruin my hair. And they got because even within the tapes, there's some really small ones that aren't as weighted. So there's, you know, see kind of just all having all those different options are really helpful. Um they can be done very well where it's not gonna damage the hair of my clients' hair, grow their hair back out, and they're able to go about, you know, back to their normal, you know, coloring and cutting and all that.

SPEAKER_01: That's amazing. So wrap it up. I mean, thank you. Submit on and we'll link all of your things.

unknown: Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: Lasting is basically just sounds like, and correct me if I'm wrong, but just I mean, reach out to you.

SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01: Just reach out and reach out earlier, maybe than maybe you think for whatever the issue is. Um, because then you get ahead of it. And then maybe when it does come time for whatever's going on, it's not so overwhelming.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah. And then, you know, also not to have any shame or fear of reaching out, even if it's like when you're saying my hair is sitting a little here. You know, if it's on you, it's a big deal for you. And so, I mean, I've had my hair color go wrong before. So, you know, you're like, what do I do? Oh yeah, moment, that is the biggest thing. And I think that people just, you know, there's nothing too small or too little that you know, if it if it's something that you want to feel better about, reach out, let's find a solution.

SPEAKER_00: And yeah.

SPEAKER_03: Well, absolutely going to be uh reaching out for some clip and bangs. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00: On the Instagram, I have one of myself without it. And I do the clip-on bang in it.

SPEAKER_01: So oh really, yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that's the curtain bang that you m the hill get made AI pictures of us.

SPEAKER_01: I did. I did AI pictures and I was like, I could never see this. And they were I'm like, first of all, the best part with that was because they I sent it to I sent it to the AI. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: And then AI, because AI is so kind to me, sent back sort of my face, but really her face. With I was like, Well, she is because that's not me. That is not my face, and uh I want now to look like her.

SPEAKER_00: It was phenomenal. And I think too though, even on that, it's like with AI, if I'm grateful that I've got 30 plus years experience where I think people now are getting all this, you know, can fake it or put this stuff online. So it's again really finding someone that has the real experience that you're gonna get real impacts.

SPEAKER_01: You're gonna get real, actual, real results. I'll be I'll be in Danville very soon in just a few weeks. So I might have to for a con a bang console. Right, a bang, a curtain bang. I'll send it.

SPEAKER_00: I'll send you the AI picture. It was great. Well, they say bangs are in this season and textures of hair, so yeah. So good. We're on trend and we don't even know it. You're right. Well, I wanted to thank you, ladies too, for what you're doing for one because I think it's awesome that you're doing this and and getting awareness out on all these different topics.

SPEAKER_01: Right. Well, we're all, I mean, I I'm you know, 56, so I am full into the messy middle, right? It's messy and it's gonna get messier because I haven't even gotten to the hormone stuff yet. So yeah. Yeah, no, we we all have to talk about it because we're all in it together.

SPEAKER_03: So that's true. And like it's really just about what links us together and and talking like real conversations and not fluffy like Instagram posts where you know, it's just like, let's just be raw and real and talk about what other women are probably sitting at home thinking they're the only ones going through, you know, this hair loss or this divorce or this loss or what have you. I mean, even if we can connect each other on the internet where we're not directly near you or near each other, it's like that can be, we want it to be like this is our friend group.

SPEAKER_03: Like we could talk to us about anything, and we're here to support you. And and really that's just what to me, what it's what it's all about. So I'm so thankful to have met you. Thankful. Yeah, more about yeah, what you're doing to pass some laws for medical. That sounds amazing to me. All for that. I will reach out to you about that.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and we can post that too, is what can people do to help? Right. I mean, there's no reason people can't send absolutely.

SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I have a girlfriend of mine, she's an oncologist at Stanford, and so we're gonna be working together. She's writing a book, and so we have a whole thing that people can fill out too. We can end up passing along to try to see if we can get some some laws passed and some things. Oh gosh, it'd be incredible.

SPEAKER_03: Like beyond anything. I would love to collaborate and be help and that for sure. So, especially like you're in my in our state in Idaho. I mean, it's a you know, it's a lot to get um some things passed, but I mean, I'm all for it. So yeah, we're so grateful for you. So grateful for so grateful.

SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much. It was such a pleasure. Yes, I look forward to talking to you guys again soon. Oh, we definitely will.

SPEAKER_03: Hello. Everyone, have a great night. Thanks for joining us, and we will see you guys on the next episode. Have a beautiful week. Beautiful. Thanks. You're welcome. Bye bye. Bye.

Midlife Hair Loss | Menopause, Illness & GLP-1 Risks for Women Over 40

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