Hair Solutions for Burn Survivors

"Having hair loss can be very difficult for people,” Barbara said. “It can be so noticeable and creates so much staring and double takes. At times, it felt like I was wearing a sign that said, 'Look at me.' Throughout my journey, I realized that it's a very under-addressed issue in the burn community."

When Barbara moved to Arizona about 12 years ago, she was on the hunt to find a new hair care provider. After searching online, Barbara found a local wig store and gave them a call to talk through her unique needs before heading into their shop. On her first visit, Barbara met Diana Nielsen, who was very understanding and made Barbara feel comfortable when talking about her hair loss and finding a solution to fit her needs.

Diana went on to open her own hair salon, Nuhairlines™, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Nuhairlines™ specializes in advanced, modern, non-surgical hair replacement technology and hair recovery solutions. Diana and her team are passionate about helping survivors like Barbara live their fullest lives after hair loss and are members of the American Hair Loss Council.

Learn more about Diana's expertise and salon services by visiting www.nuhairlines.com.

Today, Barbara wears a removable, partial hair piece that she can easily take on and off to sleep. It is made with real hair and custom-made to match her own hair's color. The hair piece is adhered with double-sided tape, which Barbara finds the easiest to use versus other hair pieces that are adhered with a comb or woven into the natural hair, which can cause damage.

"I empathize with those suffering from hair loss because hair is my crown in glory,” Barbara said. “I am happy to help anyone through an image enhancement consultation, regardless of location. I'd love to talk with survivors and help find them the proper resources."

Barbara & Diana's Tips

• Do your research! Find local providers online, read reviews, and give them a call before you visit for the first time. Ask questions like "How long have you been open/practicing hair care?" and "Do you have experience working with clients with hair loss?"

• Providers, remember that building trust with your client is crucial. This trust begins from the very first interaction and the aesthetics of the environment. It's about creating a safe and supportive space for your clients.

• Take great care of your hair solution! The better you care for it, the longer it will last.

• Explore different wig brands and styles. Barbara prefers synthetic wigs because they are less expensive and easier to care for.

Hair Transplants

Dr. Michael Wisiorek is a double-boarded and certified physician with 25 years in the hair and beauty industry and the owner of HRA (Hair Restoration and Aesthetics). Dr. Wisiorek has worked with numerous burn survivors on hair transplants, including eyebrows and other facial hair. For a hair transplant, survivors need to have some hair to move (anywhere on the body), and Dr. Wisiorek can perform a series of painless laser procedures. The number of procedures and the length of time depend on the location and size of hair loss.

Good candidates for hair transplants are those with fully healed scars and skin that has perfusion (signaling proper blood flow). During the procedure, Dr. Wisiorek moves one hair follicle at a time to cover and blend any hair loss. The healing process is typically three to four days, but full results will take six months to a year for the new hair to grow.

"Everyone in my office is a 'hair nerd,' and we are leaders in the field of hair restoration. We're honored to serve the burn community. We offer free virtual consults and are happy to talk with anyone to see if they are a good candidate."

Dr. Wisiorek understands that insurance typically does not cover his services and thus waives all fees for survivor patients. He also works with local businesses to help cover travel costs, including lodging. For more information, contact the HRA team by visiting www.Hrabuffalo.com.

Since Rachel had about two-thirds of her hair untouched from the fire, she made a great candidate for tissue expanders. The tissue expander process is a two-step procedure in which a balloon-like device is surgically inserted under the scalp. Over the course of several weeks and months, the balloon is expanded with saline. Once the scalp is stretched out, the expanders are removed, and the hairline can then be used to cover bald areas or scars. In Rachel's case, she had two expanders at once and now successfully has a 95% full head of hair.

"The tissue expander process was excruciating, but I am very grateful that my parents had the procedure done when I was younger,” Rachel said. “Today, I don't remember much of the pain, but I get to live with the benefits of a full head of hair."

Rachel's Tips

• Make sure you're a good candidate for tissue expanders. It's a long process, but extremely worth it if you are! Numbing cream, Advil, and ice cream will be needed to help you through saline appointments.

• Caregivers, it's easier to have these types of procedures done at a younger age. It's a lot of work, but it will be even harder as an adult. Try to work with local burn foundations or organizations like the Shriners to see if your child's procedures can be covered.

Cranial Prostheses

Lee Hoff and Morgan Moore, founders of Morgan & Moore Non-Surgical Hair Replacement and Inclusive Crowns, specialize in customized cranial prostheses are customized designed for comfort and confidence.

Lee and Morgan’s work goes beyond aesthetics—they are dedicated to holistic healing and accessibility. They recently joined our burn community podcast, Girls with Grafts, to discuss their mission to provide hope, healing, and holistic support through cranial prostheses and hair loss solutions. They also advocate for insurance coverage of cranial prostheses and offer free consultations and insurance verification.

For those ready to explore non-surgical hair replacement options, contact Morgan and Lee at www.morganandmoorenhr.com. You can also tune into their podcast episode "Empowering Confidence Through Hair Restoration with Lee Hoff & Morgan Moore" on all major podcast platforms.

Interested in donating your hair?

Contact Morgan and Lee today! Complete this hair donation form to get the process started.

Initially, Gina would start crying when she saw her missing hair. She started saying a mantra, "I am alive. Yes, I have hair loss, but in the big scheme of life, I am still alive," to help her get through tough times. Over time, she has learned to embrace her hair loss and accept herself, but she acknowledges that it's not an easy journey and something she still works on to this day.

To cope with her hair loss, Gina wears synthetic wigs and has re-learned how to have fun with her styles, whether that's rocking a wig, bandana, or hat. Gina is also a big advocate and hopes that one day, hair solutions for burn survivors are covered by insurance.

"Give yourself grace and time,” Gina said. “Be patient and be kind to yourself. I wasn't given a choice, so I learned to accept my hair loss. No matter what, you are still beautiful. It's just a different, new you."

Gina's Tips

• Go to a wig shop rather than buying online or through a catalog. An in-person shopping experience will help you learn what shapes and styles fit correctly and how to properly care for your investment.

• Get support! You're not in this alone. Gina is a dedicated Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter and is available to talk, listen, or help you find the right hair solution for you. Interested in getting connected? Email us at

  phoenixsoar@phoenix-society.org.

Hair Extensions

Jill Krelle Penney (pictured below)

Jill's burn injury caused her to lose some of the hair on her head, as well as her right eyebrow and eyelashes. Hair was a big part of Jill's identity before her injury, so she began a search to find a solution that felt as "normal" as possible. Today, Jill wears a topper hair piece and individual extension tracks that get retouched every 5-6 weeks.

"I love it because it allows me to 'have hair!'” Jill said. “Unlike a wig, I go to bed with my hair in, and I wake up with my hair in. It's always there, making me feel more normal and like my old self again."

Since many hair stylists are familiar with hair extensions, Jill is able to go to her local salon and work with Kristi "Mitchell" Franco, a hair designer and extension specialist located at the Creative Hair Design studio in Omaha, Nebraska. Jill specifically used the Easihair Revive Topper and Easihair Tape-In Extensions to add more length. Additionally, Jill wears strip eyelashes and gets her eyebrows micro-bladed, plus she fills them in daily to complete her look!

Jill's Tips

• Find a stylist trained in the type of extensions you will use! Jill's stylist is trained explicitly in hair toppers.

• Consider itemizing your tax return! Jill uses an itemized return and deducts her hair supplies, makeup products, medications, and other out-of-pocket expenses (more on this below).

After the first two expanders, J.R. saw that he had a good amount of coverage, which gave him hope, so he went ahead and had a third expander put in. After the third one was completed, it didn't completely give him the coverage he desired, so he would need at least two more expanders. He also noticed that his hair was growing in different directions, and his new hair was not reminiscent of his old hair, so he opted to stop the procedures.

"Growing up, my peers admired my curls,” J.R. said. “More specifically, girls admired my curls. It was a reason I got attention, and I grew accustomed to that. Coming to the realization that a big part of my identity was taken from me was hard. The idea of being bald was hard because I associated baldness with older men. Not a 19-year-old. Eventually, I learned that what attracted people to me wasn't only my hair but also my personality. Although it took time to learn, I'm blessed I eventually did."

J.R. wore hats for a long time as a way to hide his scars and the fact that he was bald. For three years, he grew a collection of headwear to match all of his clothes. He would even wear hats with team logos—not because he liked the teams, but because the colors worked for his outfit.

"Someone did propose the wig option, but I felt it wasn't me. A hat felt more like my style. I love wearing hats now, but it serves another purpose when I'm outdoors. To protect my head from the sun. Hair does grow on my head, but there are areas that don't have coverage, and if I don't shave my head frequently, it's noticeable. Hats are a great way to hide the fact that I need a haircut!"

J.R.'s Tips

• Take your time! Everyone has a different connection to their hair, which means everyone will process it differently. Before accepting the new, you must grieve the loss of what you knew. It takes time. But in the meantime, do whatever the hell brings you peace.

• However, there will be a moment when you will need to embrace the new. Stop chasing the old. Remember, your image is always going to change as you age, but who you are within is what matters and attracts people to stick around.

Paying for Hair Solutions

If you suffer from hair loss after a burn injury, you're likely already aware that hair solutions are often not covered by hair insurance as they are deemed "cosmetic." Hair solutions aren’t cheap, and most need to be replaced over time. We asked our community for their advice and tips on covering expenses for hair solutions, and here's what we found. Please note: every program, state, and insurance policy differs. We recommend connecting with your local providers and insurance company for more information.

• CareCredit: CareCredit is a credit card designed to help finance out-of-pocket health and wellness expenses with monthly payments. CareCredit is accepted at over 260,000 locations nationwide. While CareCredit offers a zero-interest promotional period, you’ll need to pay off the balance in full before the promotional period expires to avoid being charged interest on the entire amount. Learn more and see if you qualify at www.carecredit.com.

• Locks of Love: For survivors under the age of 21, Locks of Love provides custom-made hair prosthetics. For more information and to apply for a hair piece, visit www.locksoflove.org.

• Itemized Deductions: One way to recoup some of the expenses spent on hair solutions is by itemizing your tax return. Itemized deductions are certain expenses allowed by the IRS that can decrease your taxable income (aka the amount of your income that's subject to taxes). When you itemize your tax return, you pick and choose tax deductions instead of taking the flat-dollar standard deduction. We recommend working with a tax advisor to understand what options you may qualify for and whether itemizing deductions is the right choice for you.

• Fundraisers: Whether it's for hair solutions or other cosmetic procedures, many survivors have had luck using sites like GoFundMe to raise money for treatments or services that insurance does not cover. We also recommend reaching out to local burn foundations or other nonprofits that can better assist local needs.

• And don't forget, always get and save a receipt!

If you have tips or tricks on covering hair solution expenses, let us know by emailing info@phoenix-society.org.

Disclaimer: The medical information provided on this website is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Medical knowledge is continually evolving, and recommendations may change over time. Content shared by subject matter experts reflects their expertise and experience at the time of publication and may not be applicable to all individuals. Always seek the guidance of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition. The views expressed by individual contributors do not necessarily reflect those of Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.