Meet the influencer and wig designer who is inspiring women to talk about hair loss - after her own alopecia began at just 16.<br /><br />Stephanie Barber, 31, says she wants others to be "empowered" after being "embarrassed" as a younger woman.<br /><br />Her hair problems began in her teens and, by her early 20s, her hair was falling out in clumps.<br /><br />Fearing a terminal condition, Stephanie, from Totnes, Devon, went to see a doctor.<br /><br />There she was told she had non-scarring alopecia, before being told years later it was actually alopecia areata - and since then has made it her mission to remove the stigma.<br /><br />Stephanie now designs wigs for all sort of people including fellow alopecia sufferers, those transitioning genders and celebrities.<br /><br />She also posts online - says the reaction can be powerful.<br /><br />Stephanie said: “I want to help women feel empowered - your hair does not define you. You’re still beautiful.<br /><br />"When I put up the first post of me with no hair, I was so scared of people's reactions.<br /><br />"But it was incredible and everyone was so supportive. <br /><br />“Some women reached out to me and said because of my posts it helped them with their confidence and acceptance. <br /><br />“And some were very difficult to read - they would say that seeing my posts had stopped them from killing themselves. <br /><br />“I realised it was something much bigger than me, it made me want to post more about hair loss awareness."<br /><br />Stephanie says she first started to notice her hair was getting thinner in 2008 following her GCSEs, after her father sadly passed away from a terminal illness. <br /><br />And by her early 20s, she says it was falling out in clumps – leaving her terrified she was also ill was a terminal condition. <br /><br />After plucking up the courage to go to the doctors she was diagnosed with non-scarring alopecia and referred to a dermatologist but decided to try and treat the condition herself. <br /><br />In non-scarring alopecia, there is the potential for hair regrowth with treatment. <br /><br />She began regularly posting on Instagram about the condition and built up a community of other women experiencing hair loss. <br /><br />In her late 20s, Stephanie returned to the doctors for an updated diagnosis via a dermatologist and was finally diagnosed with alopecia areata – an autoimmune condition which attacks the hair follicles. <br /><br />Stephanie decided to start her own wig brand, Baldy Lox Boutique, in May 2022 – and it quickly took off thanks to her social media following. <br /><br />And in December of the same year, she quit her full-time job to pursue her wig brand full time – which was so successful, it led to one of her campaigns being featured in Forbes. <br /><br />Now, Stephanie creates wigs for people with hair loss, but also for musicians, models, and people who want a fresh look for an event or photo shoot and has worked with the likes of Becky Hill, Big Brother’s AJ, and more. <br /><br />“When I began to really see a huge difference in my hair was in my early 20s where my hair would come out in clumps,” said Stephanie. <br /><br />“It came out in clumps, I was pulling it all out - I was so horrified, the floor looked as if my hair had been cut, it was full of hair. <br /><br />“I was so scared, and I just wanted the world to swallow me up, I was embarrassed - I didn’t know what alopecia was, I thought I had cancer. <br /><br />“I was introduced to the world of wigs at 21 and I was so happy, there was a sense of hope and an alternative. <br /><br />“Now not only am I catering for people with hair loss but also for people who have hair and want a protective style for a shoot, film or costume. <br /><br />“I left my full-time job and took the big step, it was scary as hell, but I did it and ever since it’s been the best thing I've ever done. <br /><br />“It’s opened so many doors, it’s hard to explain - it’s just been fantastic.”
