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In this episode of Wellbeing Interrupted, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tami Wong, an advocate for women and teens navigating hair loss. Tami's journey with alopecia began at 15, and over the years, she has turned her experience into a source of empowerment for others through her business, Hair Loss Pride. 

 

Alopecia Awareness and Female Hair Loss 

 

 

Hair is often deeply tied to identity, confidence, and societal beauty standards, making hair loss an emotionally challenging experience. Tami knows this firsthand. Her hair loss began as a side effect of acne medication and continued into adulthood, gradually changing the way she saw herself and how she moved through the world. 

For years, Tami struggled with self-confidence, feeling isolated and misunderstood. Dating, social interactions, and even looking in the mirror became sources of anxiety. It wasn’t until she started openly discussing her hair loss with close friends that she realised: her value was never tied to her hair. This moment of vulnerability became the first step in her healing journey. 

 

From Alopecia Struggles to Advocacy 

 

 

As a healthcare professional with experience in physical therapy, biotech, and patient advocacy, Tami had long been committed to helping others. But it was her own experience with hair loss that led her to establish Hair Loss Pride—a coaching and support platform for women and teens experiencing hair loss. 

Through Hair Loss Pride, Tami offers virtual support groups, one-on-one coaching, and wig consultations, ensuring that no woman has to navigate hair loss alone. She also educates salon professionals on how to support clients with alopecia, creating more inclusive and compassionate spaces for women seeking hair care. 

 

Challenging Stigmas in Female Hair Loss 

 

One of the biggest misconceptions about female hair loss is that it’s purely a medical issue—many assume women with thinning or no hair must be sick. But as Tami highlights, hair loss can be triggered by a variety of factors, including hormonal changes, stress, and environmental influences. Breaking these stigmas is a crucial part of her work, ensuring that women with alopecia are seen, heard, and valued beyond their appearance. 

Tami also shares how embracing her natural hair—cutting it into a short pixie style—was one of the most liberating decisions she made. For years, she held onto what remained of her hair, feeling hesitant to embrace change. But as she gained confidence and acceptance, she discovered a newfound sense of freedom in her journey with alopecia. 

  

Female Hair Loss Support and Hope 

 

Tami’s journey is a testament to the power of vulnerability, community, and self-acceptance. If you’re experiencing hair loss and feeling isolated, she encourages you to find safe spaces to talk about it—whether with a trusted friend, a support group, or through connecting with others online. 

Her advice? Don’t suffer in silence. The more you open up, the more you reclaim your power. 

 

Show Resources

 

If you or someone you know is navigating hair loss, connect with Tami at: 

📌 Instagram & TikTok: @hairlosspride 
📌 Website: therealtamiwong.com 

Wellbeing Interrupted Episodes 20: Hurdle2Hope® Meet Louise Butcher

 

 About our Guest 

 

Tami Wong has lived with alopecia since the age of 15. With a BA in Psychology, she spent two decades in healthcare—first treating patients in physical therapy and later working in biotech operations and patient advocacy. In September 2024, Tami founded Hair Loss Pride, a coaching and support group for women and teens with hair loss. She is also a bestselling author of the children's book, Hair Pride. Tami lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

 

 

Transcript Episode 57: Hurdle2Hope® Stories: Meet Tami Wong Living with Alopecia 

 

[00:00:00]

Teisha Rose: Hey there, Teisha here and welcome to episode 57 of Wellbeing Interrupted. Hopefully you've had a good week. It's been another hot week here in Daisy Hill but fortunately the cool change has hit and I'm very appreciative of that. I've been running the aircon on and hiding out in the caravan. I've again spoken to another amazing person.

Tami Wong. Tami is from Vancouver, British Columbia. Another fantastic conversation. This time it was about the impact of living with alopecia. Tami's lived with that since the age of 15 and it was amazing to chat about the impact female hair loss has on those going through it. I won't give too much away because Tami [00:01:00] introduces herself.

I guess from the outset also know Tami has professional background in health care. Initially she was working in physical therapy and later working in biotech operations and patient advocacy. So what I love about these conversations is you see where those of us living with different conditions, how we then.

Use our professional background as a platform then to help others. And that's exactly what Tami has done with her business, Hair Loss Pride. which is a coaching and support group for women and teens with hair loss. She's also a best selling author of the children's book Hair Pride. So Tami is a wealth of information.

I really enjoyed all the insights she [00:02:00] shared, so I hope you also enjoy this chat.

Welcome Tami thank you so much for joining us here on Wellbeing Interrupted. Thanks for having me. You're welcome. Now, we've got lots to talk about today, but to start with, [00:03:00] can you just share a little bit about yourself?

Where am I talking to you from? Because you've got a different accent to me. So yeah, just let us know who Tami Wong is.

Tami Wong: Yes, so yes, I'm Tami Wong and I am currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, but I am a dual U. S. Canadian citizen. So I grew up in Nebraska and lived in Kansas and California before settling in Vancouver about five years ago.

I've been married for almost 15 years to my husband and I have two young daughters who are five and eight. and a very anxious rescue pit bull, uh, named Emmett. So that's kind of my home life. Um, but otherwise, yeah, I, my kind of career has spanned from 10 years in physical therapy to 10 years in biotech, in operations and advocacy, and now running my own business.

So it's been, it's been a really interesting ride the past couple of years as I've kind of [00:04:00] figured out what I wanted to do. And I'm excited to talk to you about that today.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, that's great. And what I love about talking to people with different, um, health conditions and experiences is that we've all had this background, you know, before.

And it's amazing when you look back at it, it's like, wow, that journey is really helping us what we're doing today. So it sounds like you've been working in very relevant and building skills that will help you, which is great.

Tami Wong: Yeah, I was always drawn to, um, helping people, uh, even as a young kid, I just really enjoyed, you know, being the person my friends went to for support and advice.

And I just, healthcare was always a very natural fit for me. Um, and so it's been what I've devoted my career to and I've really enjoyed it.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, that's great. And what we are, um, bringing you on the show to talk about, you experienced hair loss from the age of 15, is that right?

Tami Wong: Correct, yes. Yeah,

Teisha Rose: and so [00:05:00] how did that shape, your teenage years are hard enough as they are, so how did that shape your early years?

Tami Wong: Yes, so, uh, my hair loss started after taking an acne medication at 15. So, I had very bad cystic acne and, you know, as a lot of teenagers have acne, but this particular medication had come out on the market, you know, at, around the time I was going to the doctor to see about what we could do about my face.

And, um, it was being heavily prescribed at the time. I'm sure at the time they were getting kickbacks and all the things they did back in the day. Uh, and so it was decided I would try this. And it was a very, um, severe kind of medication. There were a lot of things, a lot of side effects that came out later, you know, of the research and, and everything after people had been on it for years.

But one of the side effects that was not known when I started it, that now is documented is alopecia. And alopecia could occur while you were taking the treatment and it could continue after. And that's what happened to me. [00:06:00] So my hair loss, you know, started while I was probably a month or two into taking the medication and it just never stopped.

So I'm 43 now. So it's been about 30 years of very gradual thinning. So I was lucky that I had Incredibly thick horse hair as a kid, um, and a young teen, um, as was common in my family, um, but by the time I was a senior in high school or grade 12, as they call it in Canada, um, you know, my hair loss to me was becoming pretty apparent.

My part had thinned, you know, the texture of my hair had changed and become finer, uh, and really breakable. And so, I didn't know at the time what was going on. I didn't understand and make the connection quite then that what had happened. Um, and so I cut my hair short, you know, I did all these things to try to make it look thicker, but, you know, teenage.

Girl life, you're already very insecure and self conscious [00:07:00] and your body's going through all these changes. And so adding hair loss onto that was, it made me very insecure. It made me incredibly self, you know, low self confidence. I felt really ugly for, you know, in my high school years. And I didn't know what was wrong.

And I didn't know why my hair was was thinning when I wasn't growing back. Um, so I struggled with, you know, being pretty quiet and withdrawn and I'm naturally a very outgoing person. Um, but, you know, I was depressed and just trying to, , hide it in any way that I could, but I, , I struggled when I looked in the mirror.

I tried to avoid looking in the mirror because it just made me feel bad about myself, um, especially when my hair was wet because it was very, um, clear when my hair was wet health and it was because you could see my scalp. And, um, so I avoided swimming, you know, and activities that I loved because I didn't want anybody to [00:08:00] see me with my hair wet and be able to notice it.

So it really, um, it took a toll on my emotional and mental health for sure. And when I was 23, that's when I actually was diagnosed with alopecia. So I did a scalp biopsy at my doctor's office and they told me, you know, your follicles are dead, they're not going to grow back. Um, and I will never forget sitting in the, you know, hospital parkade in my car, just sobbing after that appointment, because it was devastating and I, I know how to process it and, you know, doctors, the doctors, unfortunately, weren't super empathetic to it because, you know, to them, it's just a diagnosis, right?

To me, it changed my whole life. So, um, yeah, it was hard and it was hard in all the ways of dating and things like that. It made that very complicated. Um, when I was, you know, in my college and early twenties.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, that's full on to experience something [00:09:00] that anything that makes you different, um, and you know, visibly different, that's really difficult, especially when you're just trying to find yourself in your teenage years and early 20s.

So gradually as you got How did you start to feel more confident in yourself? Um, knowing that, well, this is how things are. Um, now how am I going to still live and embrace life like that?

Tami Wong: It unfortunately and honestly took me many years. Um, you know, I was broken up with when I was 22 by a guy I was dating, you know, right after I told him I had hair loss and that really, um, made me feel unlovable and made me feel like I'm going to be alone forever.

No one's ever going to want to be with some, a woman who's losing her hair. Right. And I just was convinced I would, I would never get married, you know, and never have kids. And those were things I wanted. [00:10:00] So. I would say, you know, it really took me until I was about 27, uh, until I started talking about it with people.

And I talked to my best friends and, you know, my best guy friends because I had started dating who is now my husband and I knew I really liked him. I had hid my hair loss from every boyfriend after that one at 22. I wore, you know, fibre, like topic fibres to, to show, like, their little keratin fibres that basically adhere to your scalp, and they disguise bald spots, so I would wear that, um, and wear my hair short and curly, so people, you know, couldn't tell, um, And so when it came to where I had been dating my husband for a couple of weeks, I knew I really liked him.

I knew he was different and I could see a future. And I was terrified that he would break up with me just like the other guy had. So I started talking to my friends and my guy friends, especially, I mean, like, thinking it was this horrible [00:11:00] admission, I have hair loss. Oh my God. You know, and their response was so unexpected.

It was so. Supportive and loving and just like Oh, I'm really sorry you're going through this, but like that in no way makes a difference to me. It doesn't change how I feel about you or think about you. You know, I think you're a beautiful person because of who you are, not what you look like. And that for me was such a huge light bulb moment because I had been so stuck in my insecurity that I really couldn't imagine somebody feeling that way, you know?

Um, and so it, I really credit. Talking to my friends and just having the courage to be vulnerable. Uh, that is what started my path to healing, uh, from it and embracing it. And when I ended up telling my husband, now husband, um, two, three weeks later, he was so afraid because I sat him down and was like, I have something so important to tell you, and it might change the way you think about me.

And you might not want to be [00:12:00] with me. Like I was so nervous and I told him and he's like, that's it. I think we're going to tell me you were dying. Like, he's like, I don't care at all. And he literally has never cared, you know, and I, he's really helped me see myself in his vision and my friends as well, you know, look at myself from their viewpoint and realise that I am so much more than my hair and, you know, realizing that and.

And, you know, seeing, and then starting to talk to other women about their hair loss has really helped me embrace and accept and, and love myself for who I am.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, that's beautiful. And when you found the right partner, we like that as well, because it's true. We don't know what's ahead of us. And I was the same.

I was petrified about disclosing to Andrew, who I've been with 20 years now, and saying about MS. You know, and saying, and it's like, when shall I say it and all. And it was funny, we pulled out in front of a hospital. I'd spent months and [00:13:00] months, you know, I said, Oh, I was in there for a while because, you know, couldn't walk properly and all the rest.

And he was like, the same thing, more concerned for us, I think, then how it impacts them, which is, which is beautiful. And I think it's good for anyone listening is. If you're with the right person, and it is hard in your 20s when you're going through things, but if someone's worried about that and that's going to impact the relationship, then they're not the person.

They're not the person. They're not the right

Tami Wong: person at all. Yes. And I say that to a lot of women now who are dating and have hair loss, because I understand. I totally understand how it's a huge insecurity. But that is exactly what I say is if they are going to not want to date you because you have hair loss and they're a loser and they don't deserve your time because we are all going to change physically, including them.

They're probably going to lose their hair. We're all going to get a little fatter. We're all going to get wrinkles. And you know, if they can't stick with you through some physical, you know, transformations, then they're [00:14:00] not going to be the person you want to grow old with anyway.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, exactly. And that's part of it, isn't it?

The relationship.

That's what makes us, us. And if we find the right person, it doesn't matter because they bring to their partnership, their things as well. And we're embracing their vulnerability as well. Um, so What do you think some of the common misconceptions are about female hair loss? Because guys also, you know, go through hair loss and it's different to what you're going through a diagnosis of your condition.

Um, so yeah, what are some of those misconceptions you've experienced?

Tami Wong: I think it's, you know, I'm not saying that it's not traumatic for men to lose their hair. It absolutely can be. But it's so normalized in our culture. No one bats an eye if a guy is losing hair. That's normal. That's to be expected.

That's what happens. But when a woman loses her hair, automatically people think she's sick. Oh, she must have cancer. Or, you know, she must have some health condition that's made her lose her hair. [00:15:00] Or she must be frail or weak. Um, and I think, you know, something's wrong with her is basically the message.

And, you know, in reality, most women with hair loss. are incredibly healthy. There is nothing wrong with them. It can happen for a number of reasons, and including some they don't even know, environmental triggers can cause it. Perimenopause and menopause is a huge one. So by the age of 50, almost 50 percent of women will have noticeable hair loss because of hormonal changes.

Um, going on and off birth control, same hormonal changes can cause hair loss or trigger hair loss, extreme stress, um, and even common conditions like hypothyroidism, which is something that I have. Um, so it's, it's just, it angers me when I Run into someone or I hear someone say, what's wrong with her? Why is she bald?

What, she must be sick, you know? And it's like, no, I really want to break that stigma. Um, because it's, it's so [00:16:00] bothersome and it really trivializes what women are going through and it, and it, you know, diminishes them, um, by saying, oh, they must be weak or sick.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, absolutely. And it is those assumptions, isn't it?

Yes. Um, that your physical assumes what you are, and I think people with disabilities the same. I lost my voice and I've shared it on the podcast for over a year. I could hardly say more than a couple of words. People assumed intellectually I was impaired because they couldn't understand me.

, it was , the most difficult thing I think I've ever been through, not being understood. Um, and you think that's what people go through because the assumptions. And so now when people react, like, do you get reactions? Like, you've got your beautiful wig on now, you look absolutely gorgeous.

Um, and if you'll have, and I'll share your Instagram account, which is fantastic. And you're embracing a shorter haircut and all. Um, so do you ever get reactions [00:17:00] if you don't have your wig on and out and about?

Tami Wong: I, I do, I mean, I got more of it when I was younger. I, I had some really negative reactions when my hair was thinning before I bought my first really horrible wig when I was 22 because I felt like I had to.

I had a relative basically say, your hair is getting really noticeably thin. You should probably get a wig. Um, and it made me feel awful. And so I, you know, I was like, Oh God, if they're telling me this, then I better, I was about to move and start a job after college. No one knew me where I was moving. I was like, well, I have to like, get it now so that like, no one knows.

And I, you know, I felt pressure got this horrible synthetic wig. This was 20 years ago. Wig technology was terrible. And it was just, it looked like it looked like a lion's maid. Like it was short and bangs and it did not look like me and it made me feel even worse about myself than wearing my normal hair.

Um, and so, you know, and I had. That same relative, when my hair was, um, [00:18:00] was wet one day, said I looked like I'd stuck my hair in a, in an electric socket, because when my hair dried, it was very wavy, curly, but thin. Um, so, you know, pretty, like, pretty horrible things to say to someone, and I, you know, I don't know that it was malicious or intentional, but just not thinking how that would impact people, and I think that that is the common thing, is I don't think necessarily sometimes people are trying to be malicious, but they just don't think before they speak, and female hair loss is such a loaded, and vulnerable, and sensitive topic.

That you can say the wrong thing so easily. Um, so I think, yeah. And then being broken up with, you know, that obviously was another horrible experience, but now, you know, I have been sharing what my real hair looks like for about a year now on Instagram, which I would never have thought I would do even two years ago, like I would have said I was crazy if I had thought I would do that.

[00:19:00] Um, but it has been so incredibly liberating and freeing to do so. And I have gotten so many wonderful reactions from women that I don't know, from all over, who have said, this is what my hair looks like. Thank you for showing what you look like. Thank you for normalizing it. Like, this is helping me. And I think I cut my hair about a month ago because I was holding on to what was almost a security blanket for me.

You know, having hair that was a little bit longer that I could put into a ponytail where I could still wear a hat with it if I wanted to. But the reality was like, my hair was making me unhappy. It was not serving me anymore. It was me just holding onto it for the sake of holding onto it. And I just decided I'm ready to turn the page and I'm ready to just try something else.

And the moment I cut my hair off, I felt so happy and Empowered and my hair feels [00:20:00] thicker and healthier and looks so much better than it did before. And now, like, I would absolutely wear my pixie cut out. Um, and I've worn it now, like I'll have friends come over and I'll just have my hair, you know, in a headband with my pixie cut.

And I never would have done that before. And my friends have had such a great reaction. They're like, I love it. Like your short hair is so great, you know, and, you know, because I think they can see on my face that I feel more comfortable with myself, and I feel lighter, um, having kind of let go of something that I held on to for too long.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, no, and you do, you look great. When I was looking at it, I was like, wow, looks really

good.

Um, and so how do your children, how do they, do they know with your I guess it's just normal for them, but you've got your wig you put on and how do they react with that?

Tami Wong: Yeah, they, so I mean, I've worn wigs since before my kids were born.

So I guess I've worn wigs for 10 years and my oldest is eight. So they have always, it's always been very normal for them that mommy [00:21:00] has wigs. I have a wig closet behind me, um, where I have all my wigs on stands. And so, yeah, they don't think it's strange at all, which I love. I love that it's normal to them.

As soon as I walk in the door, I take my wig off. I rarely wear my wig around the house. Um, and they, you know, I've asked my youngest daughter and she's like, I love you both ways. Like, I think you look great both ways. And, you know, kids are very honest. So, but she does love long curly hair. So she does like when I wear like my curly, you know, longer wigs like that.

She says it looks very pretty. She's very girly girl. But, uh, Yeah, they don't bat an eye at all. And I, I love that it's normal to them because then as they go out into the world and they see other women who have hair loss and wigs, they're like, Oh, that's just like mommy, you know? And, and my daughters will say that they'll be watching like a YouTube kids video.

And the other day my daughter was like, Oh, a woman was putting on wigs just like you. And I was like, Oh, cool. What'd they look like? You know? So [00:22:00] it's, um, it's very, yeah, not a, not a thing to them at all.

Teisha Rose: Which is great. I think that's, with lots of kids, especially with their, when their parents are different.

We don't have children, but when their parents are different, you know, they're just open to diversity and being more inclusive naturally. Yeah. Beautiful, beautiful thing. Um, and so, Because I'm guessing early on when you're going through all this, you didn't have much support at all, um, in terms of other people living through hair loss.

So is that what sort of motivated you to create your business Hair Loss Pride?

Tami Wong: Absolutely. So I grew up in a very small town of 8, 000 people in Nebraska. Uh, my mother and my sister had very thick hair, just like mine was before I started losing it. And so I didn't know anybody in my town who had hair loss, um, and definitely no one my age, um, where I grew up and in [00:23:00] college as well.

So I, I mean, I didn't know anybody else like me probably. Until a few years ago, to be honest, uh, when I started sharing more openly, because I mean, I shared in my thirties when I started wearing wigs, I started talking about it a lot at work and surprising people. They'd be like, oh, I love your hair. I'd like it's a wig.

You can buy it too. And they're like, what? , you know, because when I finally, when I started wearing wigs, I actually. in a weird way, gained more confidence to talk about it, uh, because now I wasn't so self confident or I wasn't so self conscious and, uh, obsessing about what my hair looked like. I was comfortable and it just gave me the opportunity to talk about it more.

So in talking about it more and being open with it and, and bringing more awareness to it to everyday people I worked with and my friends, um, I, again, just found, like, being vulnerable really helped me heal and, and be happier and more confident in [00:24:00] myself. And so, as I worked at, I managed a wig store in Vancouver for about a year until, uh, the end of last year.

And same thing, when I'd have clients come in, just knowing I was wearing a wig and me talking to them openly about it, really helped people. And so that's when I got the idea to start my own company. Because while there are alopecia influencers out there, which is great because they're raising awareness, and there are some groups and foundations, uh, like the National Alopecia Foundation, things like that.

There, I struggled to find I think a community or a group where women with hair loss could meet each other and share experiences and get education if they wanted to learn about wigs or anything. Um, and you know, I struggled for 20 years by myself before I was able to really talk about it. And I don't want that for anyone else.

I really want. for women like me to have somewhere to go and to be able to [00:25:00] heal much quicker than I did. Um, so that, yeah, I basically built what I wish I had had.

Teisha Rose: So beautiful. That's beautiful. And I think that when it happens with that in mind, then naturally you're creating the right environment, um, to support others.

Um, and do you feel like, you know, you've worked in health and all before, so do you feel like you can bring some of that to, yeah, your interactions as well?

Tami Wong: Yeah, I mean, I think working in healthcare for 20 years, I, obviously, I've worked with patients, um, in some capacity my whole life, so I've always had a lot of empathy towards, you know, healing in whatever way, whether it be a chronic disease or an injury, you know, with physical therapy or with pharma and biotech, um, I, My last job in biotech was for a, um, company that had a lupus medication.

So I worked with a lot of women, primarily with lupus and hair loss is a [00:26:00] common part of lupus as well. So I think I, um, I really learned along the way of those 20 years really how to work with patients, how to gain their trust, how to be empathetic and just listen, um, because sometimes that's all someone needs is to be heard and listened to and felt like they have a safe space to share something.

So I think all those things really, um, really helped me. And then I went to school for psychology as well. So I was really interested in learning about how the mind works and how, you know, everything. Mind and body affect each other. So I think all those lessons have really, um, worked out well to kind of bring a lot of different things to the table and then running a wig store too, and just working with women with hair loss every day.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, that's beautiful. And what do you find, like the women that you connect with, what are their biggest struggles that they're going through?

Tami Wong: I would say it's more of the emotional mental part than the physical part a lot of time. I mean, [00:27:00] obviously the physical part is something that. is hard, but it's how it affects you emotionally and mentally that takes the most time to actually process and you truly do need to grieve it.

I, I think it is a loss of part of your identity is a loss of your femininity and the way that you carry yourself in the world. And it alters the way that you look at yourself. And so there is a lot to process and trauma that comes with that. And so, um, I myself have gone to grief therapy, which I found incredibly helpful.

Um, just because there, we tend to push it all down and say, Oh, we're fine. Especially as women. I'm fine. I'm fine. How can I help you? I'm fine. You know, how can I take care of someone else? But you really, um, I've, I've found that the mental piece and really taking care of yourself and healing and being vulnerable is the piece that women.

that I've worked with need the most help with when it comes down to it. They just want somebody to talk to about how [00:28:00] it feels and how hard it is and, um, and work out the emotions of it.

Teisha Rose: Yeah. And I think it's beautiful that you provide that safe place because you didn't have that. So you built up being so scared to tell your friends and then, but then when you say that loud to someone who understands first, I'm sure that makes those next conversations easier.

Tami Wong: Yeah, yeah, because it's like, oh, I've been there. Yes, I understand. You know, it's talking to someone who's had the same experiences or similar experiences with you. It automatically creates a safer space because you're not going to be judged. You know, they have the same position and they might have some lessons to share with you or at least be able to be supportive and say, I know that was hard.

You know, you can talk to me about it.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, and just knowing that exactly that you've been there and you know, so they're not thinking it's all in their head that they shouldn't be impacted. Or hearing,

Tami Wong: hearing, it's just hair, you know, which a lot of [00:29:00] people will say it's just hair. You're healthy. It's just hair.

You should be fine. It's not just hair. It really, like I said, it's, it's, it's, It's part of your identity and it's a huge deal as women and especially when we're, you know, raised in this culture of shampoo ads and, you know, runways and celebrity carpets where You know, it's very clear that thick, long hair is beautiful, and that is part of the beauty standard.

And when you don't measure up to that, you know, it's, it can be hard to feel confident because you're different.

Teisha Rose: 100%. And I mean, think of all the big decisions. I'm now going gray and embracing that. As I was being wheeled in for my mastectomy, I said to the nurse, having my boobs off was an easier decision than stop dyeing my hair.

Tami Wong: So how ridiculous is that? No, it's true. So I had an aunt who had cancer back when I was in my late 20s. And when she was going through chemo, you know, I obviously was having hair [00:30:00] loss already at that time. And she knew, and I was very close with her and she shared with me that. losing her hair to chemo was harder than having breast cancer or having ovarian cancer, like for her mentally.

Um, which really struck me and I'll never forget it. It was. You know, almost 20 years ago. And it's, um, but it's true. It's, you know, something that you can see so easily. The first thing you see when you see someone's, their face and their hair. Right. So, um, it's how you lead into the world and, and a lot of people will sadly judge you harshly if you don't meet what their, you know, perception of beauty is.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, and even if they don't think, like you mentioned before, just those backhander comments almost, um, from family members, you know, and this is really important for everyone listening. If you are surrounded by people or someone, you know, meet someone in a local whatever, you know, sporting group or whatever you're doing, Who has got [00:31:00] thinning hair, that they may be self conscious about that.

And, you know, I don't, I'm assuming, would you rather people just not say anything to bring attention to it?

Tami Wong: Yeah. I mean, I think the worst thing you can say is, have you tried rosemary oil, rosemary oil, or have you tried rubbing the onion on your head? Or have you tried supplements or have you tried this hair loss serum?

I mean, the amount of things on the market that are aimed at women with hair loss, it's almost. Because I can tell you, I've tried so many of them and they don't work. And so, as a woman who then tries these things that are supposed to work and then they don't, you then feel worse about yourself. Well, what's wrong with me?

Why don't they work? Why did it work for this person on the commercial? You know, it's um, so it's really difficult there. I just feel like it's such an area that, Women get scammed because they're hopeful that something will help. Um, and so they pray, you know, these companies pray on that, which is really gross.

Um, but I think, yes, if you [00:32:00] have someone that you're close enough to, like if they're a friend or a family member that you feel is comfortable with you, you know, you could obviously say something supportive, like, Hey, if you ever want to talk to me, I'm here. Hey, I think your hair looks great in this style, you know, like if they have a cute short haircut, or if they have their hair up, or if they've obviously tried to do their hair, like compliment them, right?

Um, and not falsely, but just like be kind and definitely don't, don't point out, oh, your hair looks really thin. Oh, like have you thought about doing, Don't do that. Just please don't do that. Because it could be, to you, it seems like an innocent comment. To that person, it could be devastating. And it could make them want to hide in their house and never come out again.

Um, because the one thing they're hoping is that no one notices about their hair loss. Like, they don't want people to point it out.

Teisha Rose: Yeah, that's, that's perfect advice for everyone.

Tami Wong: And I think too, like, I'll go back a little bit because there are people who are bald [00:33:00] or who are thinning, you know, hair thinning and are proud about it, right?

Like, I am not ashamed of it. I go out and if I don't want to wear my wig and I go out without it, I'm fine with that. And like, if someone says something to me, I'm confident enough that I could be like, well, that wasn't nice. Like, what gave you the right to say that? You know, I wouldn't call someone out.

And there are definitely women out there in the world who are very, very confident in their alopecia and they are rocking a bald head and they are totally fine with it. And obviously in that case, you know, a woman's not going to care if you're like, I love the bald head. you know, I think you can tell pretty quickly if someone's comfortable with it or not.

So just, you know, use your smarts and, and be sensitive, um, to, to people and where they're at.

Teisha Rose: Yeah. And so with Hair Loss Pride, what, what's your business about? Like you have support groups or how does that work?

Tami Wong: Yeah. So my original, you know, mission was to create this support group, this community. of women with [00:34:00] hair loss who could come together.

Do we do a monthly virtual support group? So anybody can join from anywhere in the world. Um, and I do it on a Saturday at 9 a. m. Pacific time. And it was just, yeah, to bring together women, to let them meet other women like them, because so often we feel like we're the only ones, uh, which is very far from the truth.

There are so many women with hair loss. For me to bring in speakers, especially other women who have alopecia, who are doing amazing things in the world. There are so many. So I want to bring those speakers in and share their stories and again, normalize that it doesn't matter. You can do whatever you want.

Your hair loss should not hold you back. And also just to provide education. So that's what I started with. And then I realized, Some people wouldn't be comfortable coming to a big group if they're, especially if they're early on in their hair loss or if there's a specific thing they want to talk about.

So then I started offering one on one coaching where we would have a private session [00:35:00] and talk about anything that they wanted to, and that has actually took off or taken off a little bit more so far. Because again, I think it is a vulnerable place and you have to be at a certain level. Place in your hair loss journey to maybe be able to come to a community, you know, situation.

So those are the two things that I started with and I have recently started doing wig consultations because I was working in a wig store and I was doing them all the time. I realized that, you know, learning the world of wigs is very overwhelming. I have done it for 10 years and I've done a ton of research and then worked in a store.

So I know a lot. But it's, there's so many things to consider. I mean, there's different cap styles or different hair types. There's what's a lace front. What's, you know, what quality of hair there's just so many aspects to finding a wig that looks natural on you. And so I had two of those last week where I helped women, um, [00:36:00] help narrow down a wig and find different options for them in their country, and that has been really rewarding because.

I can see when they come into the meeting, how nervous they are and, you know, in a really hard time in their life, one's going through chemo and, you know, at the end of the meeting saying, this was so much fun. Like I didn't expect this to be fun and feeling relieved because they've seen that they have options.

So that has been a really special thing that I've And then the last thing that I am doing is for education for salons and stylists. So sometimes the only person a woman will talk to about her hair less might be her stylist when she goes in to get her hair cut. And myself, I didn't go to a salon for years.

because I didn't want to go into a public place and get my hair cut in front of other people where they could see that I didn't have much hair. I felt very insecure about that. And I found amazing stylists along the way who [00:37:00] would, you know, cut my hair in a private room or would have me come in when the salon was really not busy so that I would feel comfortable.

So it's things like that, that I'm. Not only educating the stylist on the types of alopecia, because there are several different forms of it and how to kind of spot that, but how do you support your clients who come in, who are going through a lot emotionally? How do you support them in a way that makes them feel safe in the salon and comfortable and have a good experience?

And how do you also talk to them about their concerns and what products should you really recommend to them? It probably shouldn't be the hair growth serum. It probably should be a scalp, you know, product because they need a healthy scalp. And the hair loss serum, unfortunately, is probably not going to work.

So please don't waste their money, you know? So, um, so it, it's gone in a really cool way and kind of organically grown into some other things that I didn't anticipate in the beginning, but I think are going to [00:38:00] be great, um, great things to expand and, and just bring awareness to more areas. than just the person suffering from it.

Teisha Rose: No, I love that because you're going to have an impact on so many more women who don't directly know that the person who's cutting their hair has been educated by you. So that's amazing. That's great. Love that you've done that. And I also read, have you written a children's book?

Tami Wong: I did. Yes. So in the end of 2023, I wrote a book about hair called Hair Pride, and that's You know, funny enough, that is really what triggered this whole shift and this, me ending up doing this.

Uh, I hadn't thought about starting my own business ever before. , I had gotten laid off. from my biotech job at the end of 2022 with a company restructuring and was devastated and felt like I had lost my identity along with that role because I was so passionate about advocating for women with lupus at the [00:39:00] time.

And so I. I just, you know, took some time off. I wrote a lot. I used to write a lot as a young adult and I just decided I want to write a book about hair. It just kind of came to me out of nowhere one night. And originally I just thought I was going to write it for my kids and have something fun to give them.

And then as it took shape, I realized that, uh, there was a message that I wanted to share with the world about acceptance and Loving your hair no matter what it looks like and, um, and just putting something positive into the world. Again, something I didn't have when I was a kid and I would have loved to see, you know, a kid without hair in a book for kids, which, so my book has, you know, kids of all different nationalities, all different hair types, some without hair.

And just the message really is that your beauty is what's within and that, you know, no matter what your hair looks like, you should celebrate it.

Teisha Rose: And that's beautiful [00:40:00] for your children to have that, you know, from you, but great for other children as well going through.

And I'm assuming, you know, parents with young kids that they can show and read that to them. So that's beautiful. I love your business in terms of what you're thinking of. Obviously it's great having accounts there of people who are influencers, , and, sharing their story.

That's fantastic, but I love that you're taking that an extra, to an extra step, I guess, and really having an impact more on just, you know, physically, you know, what you're looking like. So I think that's, that's fantastic. Um, and as I mentioned at the very beginning, when we sort of connected, I hadn't spoken to anyone, who's gone through hair loss and I do think it's, it's common, you know, in terms of You see people and you don't know what's going through their minds.

So I love that we're shining the light on that today. And, um, yeah, and as I said earlier, for anyone [00:41:00] who also comes across people, this is just an important conversation to have and for you to think about how to interact. Um, so I certainly will be, not that I would have said anything bad, but it gives you confidence, um, too, again.

say something positive, um, about what they're looking like. So in terms of people connecting to you, how do we connect to you on Hair Loss Pride? Is that your actual website?

Tami Wong: It is my Instagram and TikTok handle. So yes, if you go on Instagram or TikTok, it's at Hair Loss Pride, uh, is my account where I share about my alopecia.

I share tips on wigs and just Hopefully empowering content, uh, for women who are dealing with hair loss. And then I have a website, which is TheRealTamiWong. com. Tami spelled T A M M Y, and TamiWong. com was taken. So I had to go and, uh, and I'm on LinkedIn as well. So I try to share on all of those [00:42:00] profiles and, um, and have, you know, all the information on my services and me and, and my story on my website as well.

Teisha Rose: . And I'll put handles and your website and LinkedIn in the show notes. And yeah, I'll certainly share on social media as well I like interviewing people and then having absolute confidence that, um, it Anyone in my audience is experiencing hair loss.

I just think you are absolutely the person for them to connect to, um, because I love, love your energy and it very much aligns to what we're wanting to do here on Wellbeing Interrupted. Um, so if someone is listening, if they're going through this, they haven't said anything to anyone and they're, in those early stages, what would you say to them?

Tami Wong: A few things. I think the biggest one is don't suffer in silence. I can tell you firsthand, I did that for 20 years and it really delayed my healing, um, and, [00:43:00] and processing of it. And I wish I had talked about it sooner. So find those people that are safe. You know, your best friends. If you're close with your family, someone that is a safe space for you, that you can trust to share it with, even if it's one person, uh, to talk about what you're experiencing, to talk about the emotional toll of it, because the more you keep it inside, the more power it has over you.

And when you start to speak about it and let it out, you will really find that you take that power back and you will feel that shift. Uh, try to build community with other women who have hair loss. So go on Instagram, go on TikTok. There are so many women with hair loss on, on Instagram. Just search alopecia or female hair loss.

They will come up with a ton of accounts. Just start following them and it will be very clear very quickly that you are not the only one going through it. And it really helps to see it and normalize it and to see other women. Confident and in a good place because it may take some time, but you can get there.

Um, there are Facebook [00:44:00] groups out there, you know, Hairless Facebook groups where you can join and ask questions and share experiences as well. So I just really think there is healing in community and I'm, uh, and again, that's why I started the business that I did. 

Teisha Rose: And you're creating a beautiful space and community. So I think absolutely, if anyone is going through this, connect to Tami because I'm sure you'll feel supported and heard, um, if you join Tami and get support. So Thank you so much, Tami. I've really enjoyed our chat.

I've learned a lot and this is why I love getting people on this show because it's all about us learning from each other and trying to, support each other and have others challenge their thinking as to what hair loss means, um, to females in particular. So thank you for shedding light on that today.

Tami Wong: You're welcome. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it. And I had fun too. [00:45:00] Oh good, good. That's the aim. Okay, thanks Tami.

Teisha Rose: Okay, thank you for listening to another episode. I really enjoyed this chat with Tami, so hopefully you did as well. Do connect with Tami if you're experiencing female hair loss.

Her details as she mentioned. Instagram at hairlosspride, also her website therealTamiwong. com Go to those two different sources and connect with Tami. I think the support she provides would be invaluable if you are experiencing what she's been through as well in experiencing hair loss. I do think the conversation today with Tami is really relevant to all of us living with health conditions as well.

Because sometimes and often those health [00:46:00] conditions make us different. And often that difference is in our appearance. For me, living with MS, I look different. My gait of my legs doesn't look normal. My flat chested ness going through two single mastectomies, I again look different. But it's so important if we're to live well, if we're to embrace life, that we learn to embrace those differences.

You know how I like suggesting other episodes to listen to that are relevant? Listen to episode 20. Way back last year, one of the first interviews I did, but it was with Louise Butcher who ran the London Marathon flat chested post -. Two single mastectomies and this is all about the message that she wants people to have [00:47:00] in seeing her flat chested that it's all about challenging body image and what it means to be female and a woman.

Actually, and this is hot off the press as well, Louise is running the marathon again this year in a couple of months and she's going to hop back onto the show to let us know what she's doing. So have a listen to that episode or any of the past episodes of Wellbeing Interrupted again. Thank you so much for listening.

More and more people around the world are listening. That makes me feel so good that from this little caravan in Daisy The messages are getting through to others all around the world because when your life is interrupted, I really do believe more and more as I speak to more and more people that our mindset has such a [00:48:00] massive impact on our experience.

So that's all for me. Enjoy your week and we will chat soon.