If you’d told teenage me that one day I’d be a personal trainer, I would’ve laughed. PE was a source of stress, embarrassment and discomfort. I didn’t feel sporty, coordinated, or confident. Like so many women, I spent years believing that movement just wasn’t “for me.”

In my twenties, I joined a gym because I thought I needed to lose weight to feel better — to fix what was wrong with me. I didn’t enjoy it. I dipped in and out. I forced myself to go, but never really felt connected to what I was doing.

What if losing your hair meant losing a part of your identity? For many women, hair is deeply intertwined with confidence, self-worth, and emotional well-being. Whether due to cancer, alopecia, or other health conditions, hair loss can be an incredibly challenging experience—one that goes beyond appearance and touches the core of who they are.

Nicola Wood, founder of The Wonderful Wig Company, TEDx speaker, and author, shares the emotional and psychological impact of hair loss.