A ground-breaking business for patients dealing with hair loss through illness has been named the sole supplier to deliver the service to hospitals across Durham and Tees Valley. Founded by Nicola Wood, The Wonderful Wig Company is the exclusive supplier of wigs to hospitals in Durham, Darlington, North Tees and Hartlepool.
Nicola, diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2016, set up The Wonderful Wig Company in 2018 after she saw that existing hair loss services were limited on the NHS, with high-quality wigs only available to those with the means to pay for them. After winning an initial tender in Sunderland, the business has now been named on the supplier list to NHS hospitals and trusts including Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead and South Tyneside.
In early 2023, it was named as the sole supplier to deliver the service in Durham, Darlington, North Tees and Hartlepool. Adam Butler, Operational Team Lead at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust says: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with The Wonderful Wig Company to provide high-quality wigs to our patients in need. We recognise the significant positive impact the business has had in our region and are proud to offer our patients access to their exceptional products and services”.
The business, headquartered in Ouseburn, Newcastle, has grown from one to 21 team members spread across five sites. Its efforts have positively impacted over 10,000 individuals, with 1,200 of those being children. Nicola says: “After extensive research nationwide, I noticed that good-quality hair loss services were not readily available to people on the NHS, and quality provision was usually reserved for those who could pay privately. In the beginning, I dedicated a lot of time to hair loss training and understanding the tender process to apply to support hospitals across the North East of England, so I am delighted that it has paid off.
"We aim to see every referral within seven days, with a dedicated fast-track system for anyone whose hair loss is imminent, ensuring patients have their new hair before they lose their biological hair. We try to prepare them fully for what they are going to experience, answer any questions, calm any fears and most importantly, supply them with beautiful new hair, which is such a cornerstone of wellness and self-confidence for many people.”
Patients receive a voucher from the local trust to use towards a wig, and people can opt to top-up to buy a better-quality wig. If someone can’t afford to top-up, they can access The Wonderful Wig Company wig bank, where they can supply a limited number of wigs for free—often upcycled or paid for by other patients who want to pay it forward. The service also extends to people who usually wouldn’t qualify for wig vouchers, including women who have lost their hair through emotional trauma due to physical abuse.
Nicola, a qualified Trichologist, is now looking to parliament to change how the service is viewed, as currently, it is not categorised as a medical issue. “I am determined for this to be seen as more than just vanity as it has a massive effect on people’s mental health," she explains. "I am busy campaigning for hair loss to be properly recognised, and I plan to train people across the country to do what I can do. I want to see hair loss training delivered in colleges across the UK. My ultimate goal is to have someone in every salon across the country who knows what they are doing when it comes to supporting hair loss.”
Nicola has recently set up a not-for-profit charity called the Inclusion Hair Network, which helps create safe, skilled and understanding salons nationwide for minority and LGBTQIA+ people. You can find out more about The Wonderful Wig Company here.
