SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A new service at a hair salon in Lackawanna County is aimed at helping those suffering from hair loss.
28/22 News has more about how they’re hoping to boost confidence and end the stigma surrounding wigs.
Lavish hairstylist Elizabeth Mitchko has been in the industry for 8 years.
Her usual work behind the chair at the salon in Scranton is now expanding to another aspect of hair, and one she personally deals with: Wigs.
“I started losing all of my hair, so I chose to shave what I had left, which, to me, I was choosing how to lose my hair,” said Mitchko.
Her hair loss stems from alopecia, an autoimmune disease that attacks the hair follicle.
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“Unfortunately, mine attacks my head, my eyebrows, and my eyelashes,” explained Mitchko.
Using her own personal struggles, Mitchko is passing along the confidence she gets from wigs to clients at Lavish.
It’s a service she and owner Lauren Woodard noticed is lacking in the area for those experiencing hair loss.
“Cancer treatment, alopecia, we do wig refreshes for people within the Jewish community. The need for the service is just broader than we even expected it to be,” explained Woodard.
For those seeking the service, Mitchko says she talks to them about their struggles, sizes them, and figures out the cut and color of their wig.
“I’ve had people send me pictures saying, ‘I want to be identical to what I looked like. I don’t want people to know I’m wearing a wig,’ and I’ve had women that are like, ‘Give me purple and pink!’” said Mitchko.
Already helping more than 40 women in just six months. The salon hopes to end the stigma surrounding wigs and for those struggling with hair loss, know that they’re not alone.
“It’s been really rewarding and fulfilling to see people just leaving with such confidence,” said Woodard.
“Your eyes glow, your face glows, everything... You feel whole again,” said Mitchko.
In addition to its new wig service, the salon in Scranton also offers after-hours appointments for those battling cancer.
