Wigs To Empower: Breaking The Stigma With Shani Lechan

Hair is undeniably a big part of every woman's identity. While some of us have been wearing the same hairstyle since high school, others prefer experimenting with new cuts and colours. Regardless of what we choose to do with it, most of us feel a strong connection between our hair and our femininity and sense of self. This is why losing it can be such a traumatic experience. 

Unfortunately, this trauma is experienced by hundreds of thousands of women daily. Hair loss, also called alopecia, can result from medical treatments, chemo, and other common causes such as stress and ageing. Several studies reported how even when expected, alopecia is often experienced as a distressing event. This is why so many women cover their heads with hats, scarves, and in some cases, wigs.

The benefits of wearing a wig 

An article published in the European Journal of Cancer Care explored the experiences of 20 women suffering from chemotherapy-induced alopecia, who decided to wear a wig. The study reported that several participants developed a strong connection with their wig to the point of considering it their 'friend'. According to the study, wigs helped women maintain their sense of normality and identity and prevented people from immediately noticing their medical condition and asking undesired questions.

Despite the many benefits wigs can have on cancer patients, the stigma surrounding them is still present. "Breaking the stigma of wig-wearing for women across many demographics has been a giant motivator in pushing my brand to the limelight," says Shani Lechan, the founder of Shani Wigs, a company producing fully customized wigs. According to this entrepreneur, this is a fundamental step for empowering women affected by alopecia. 

The stigma surrounding wigs 

While in the past, wigs were considered fashionable, for instance, in Ancient Egypt, when they were worn by the elite, in the last half-century, many women started to feel embarrassed when using one. An academic article published in 2017, involving a total of ​338 women affected by hair loss, reported that even though wearing a wig was overall correlated with an increase in social confidence, 46% of the participants reported negative experiences related to the fear of the wig being noticed. This is why breaking the stigma surrounding these accessories is important. 

According to Shani, every woman should feel comfortable in her skin. Wigs have the unique power to embolden everyone undergoing stressful procedures such as chemo. "Every woman deserves confidence," said Shani. "When you are dealing with a wig that your client will be wearing every day, you must be certain that you can follow through with the vision you and your client have agreed upon." 

Shani grew up in France, surrounded by the latest fashion trends. "Growing up in France, the standard of beauty I witnessed was timeless and effortless. Being raised surrounded by that standard of beauty influenced my work." She was always fascinated by the wig-creating business but decided to turn her hobby into a full-time job after her first child's birth. "When I had my first baby, I decided to leap of faith and invest all my savings in buying hair," says Shani. "Investing my all into my business completely shifted the way I approached my business. It was no longer just a hobby that I did out of the spare room of my home, but an enterprise that I had to be accountable for at the end of each month. The pace picked up, and I have been innovating and creating since then," says Shani.

Fighting stigmas

Businesses such as Shani's are slowly breaking the stigma surrounding wigs. But there is still a lot that needs to be done. Thankfully, nowadays, celebrities are also starting to normalize these products. Movies and music stars no longer use wigs for unique and eccentric styles but are becoming a daily accessory. For instance, in 2015, Katy Perry swapped out wigs between the Met Gala and the after-party a few hours later. In October of the same year, Zendaya changed three different hairstyles in two days during Paris Fashion Week. Plenty of famous personalities are no longer hiding their wigs but openly embracing them as part of their own identity. 

Despite this, unfortunately, the stigma surrounding wigs remains huge. This is why women from all backgrounds and businesses, such as Shani's, are now gathering to fight this stigma, reclaiming the positive power of these accessories. "I never thought hair covering would bring together women from so many different backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities," said Shani. Hopefully, with time we will be able to change the connotations of wigs, turning these powerful products from a cause of embarrassment to a woman's empowerment tool.