New Hair And Smiling Faces
By Sandy Tusi Mercante
Hair loss or thinning resulting from medical treatments or health issues is a side effect no one desires. Even though these consequences may be expected, they are always shocking for clients. The Wig Boutique is trained to show the highest degree of care and sensitivity to clients’ emotional and physical issues as we help them to look like themselves once again and get back to living their lives.
For many reasons hair is an important feature for so many people regardless of age. The integrity of my clients is first and foremost! From the many questions, some tears and fears, looking into the mirror with their new hair on, eyes shining and confident smiling face is an A+ in my book. Sharing information, we teach and learn from each other.
The Wig Boutique offers a confidential consultation that will help you to better understand your own hair loss. The Wig Boutique has the latest solutions and technologies in hair loss, whether due to heredity, alopecia, cancer, or any other illness. Sandy is able to help men, women, and children with a variety of options and solutions. During the complimentary consultation we can get to know each other, your likes and dislikes, and get you into a comfort zone with your new hair.
The Wig Boutique specializes in medical and natural hair loss. We provide products and services for those with female & male pattern, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, those undergoing chemotherapy and anyone who has any form of hair thinning or hair loss.
Comments from our clients
“Miss Sandy I need new hair, we have a wedding, and everyone needs to look at the bride, not my bald head!” (9-year-old female)
Surprises are fun! “Sandy I have always wanted to be a redhead!” From brunette, to blonde, to a sassy redhead! (My feisty 90-year-old female client ballroom dances in her blonde hairpiece.)
These are some of the wishes clients have and I help grant them. They may come to see me alone or with family and friends, it is their choice and comfort zone.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Alopecia Areata occurs in males and females of all ages and races; however, onset most often begins in childhood and can be psychologically devastating. Although not life-threatening, alopecia Areata is most certainly life-altering, and its sudden onset, recurrent episodes, and unpredictable course have a profound psychological impact on the lives of those disrupted by this disease.
“Miss Sandy, will my new hair stay on when I am playing on the monkey bars and I am upside down? “ My 7 year old alopecia universalis client asks me.
My 34 year old alopecia areata client tells me: “Come on Sandy, when I take my wig off I am naked!”
Again, my clients teach me all the time, I learn something new every day.
Some of my clients with alopecia universalis have multiple wigs, human hair and synthetic fiber.
My teenagers and young college students who play sports like field hockey or soccer. Do they beat up their wigs, sure, but they are living life. My women are rowers, they jet ski, work out go to water parks, they don’t allow their loss of hair to interfere with their lifestyle. I teach them little techniques to keep their new hair on.
For my youngest clients who suddenly lose their hair (alopecia areata, chemotherapy or chemical related), their parents have gone to their schools, spoke with their teachers and school nurse who then have a meeting with their classmates to explain alopecia areata or chemotherapy. When children have an understanding of what their classmates are going thru, they are much kinder.
Delaware now has its own alopecia areata support group. The efforts of my client and friend, Liz DeCarlo made this possible. They have meetings and special events throughout the year for more information you can go to www.naaf.org.
After so many years of doing hair, I feel very fortunate to have so many “special clients” in my life and they are mine until they no longer need me.
The following testimonial was sent to the Women’s Journal, and I felt it needed to be included on Sandy’s Page
Losing my hair to alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss) has been an emotional journey. Finding Sandy Mercante at Precision Hair and Wig has been a blessing!
I first met Sandy 12 years ago when my condition had turned into the most severe form, alopecia universalis (total hair loss). I was desperate to find a salon that had an assortment of wigs to try on in a private setting, a beautician to style the wig, and someone who was knowledgeable about my condition and sensitive to my needs. I had visited a few wig shops in the area. One place showed me a book of wigs to order from but then I would have to find a salon to cut the wig and style it to fit my petite head. Another place had wigs to try on but did not cut or style the hairpiece. It was very upsetting. Finally, I contacted Precision Hair and talked to Sandy. I immediately felt her passion for helping those with hair loss to look and feel good.
Knowing how sensitive I was about my alopecia, Sandy welcomed my sister and I to her salon before it opened. She helped me choose a wig and style it so that people who saw me did not even realize that I was wearing a wig. It was important to me to feel as normal as I could. I walked out of the salon that morning a new confident person.
Over the years, Sandy has stuck with me through every new kind of hairpiece, reminding me of the progress I’ve made with my acceptance of my hair loss.
Sandy has truly changed my life. I can’t imagine where I would be today without her. Her support has given me the confidence to return to college to complete a degree and start a local support group to help others who have alopecia areata. Now, I am willing to step out in front of people without worrying about them staring at my hair or feeling I need to hide myself.
Sandy Mercante’s talents extend beyond the stylist’s chair. In her own way, she counsels women, men and children afflicted by an array of diseases. Her guidance helps them with something extremely important but often-overlooked in medical exams: their self-esteem. Sandy also volunteers her time at the annual National Alopecia Areata Foundation Have a Ball and Bowl Fundraiser; attends the NAAF Delaware Alopecia Areata support group meetings and all this is done without self-promotion.
Sandy, please know in your heart everyday that what you do makes a huge difference in people’s lives. You are a blessing! ~ Liz DeCarlo
Precision Hair & Wig
7 Liberty Plaza
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 369-3311
