Elaine’s wigs are just what the doctor ordered
A Paisley hair salon has proved it’s head and shoulders above the rest after being given NHS approval to supply wigs to patients.
Emulate Hair Studios opened in Brick Lane Studios 18 months ago.
Elaine Muir has since built up a steady stream of clients with issues such as male and female pattern baldness or alopecia.
She also sees many cancer patients who have lost their hair as a result of chemotherapy.
Now after a rigorous interview and assessment, she’ll start fitting wigs for NHS patients who have lost their hair.
She said: “It was a really long and arduous process to get the NHS contract.
“I’m so happy to be able to serve the people of Paisley and save them having to travel into Glasgow.
“There are only about three or four in Scotland who have the contract.
“You’ve got to have a certain amount of turnover before they’ll consider you for tender.
“The wigs are free on the NHS in Scotland. Some people think they have to pay £100, but that’s only in England.
“We have wigs in stock here, but, if they’re not suitable, we can order others in for people to try.
“We want to make sure people are happy with the look.”
Elaine is an agent for LA Hair Solutions which has salons in Glasgow and Edinburgh and has NHS patients.
Before setting up the salon, Elaine was a makeup artist at the BBC and also worked in Scottish Opera’s wig department.
She was a lecturer for Ayrshire College for 15 years and set up Emulate Hair Studios after she took redundancy from her teaching job.
She said: “A wig is never going to look like their own hair and that can be difficult for people to get their head around.
“It’s a new normal we’re trying to create for them.
“The vast majority are happy. They want to have some form of hair on their head.
“For so many women, their hair is their crowning glory.
“They bring relatives in with them and they’re all in tears. It can be quite moving.
“It’s wonderful if they can get something they’re happy with.
“I get a good sense of achievement from it.
“It’s very rewarding to help people feel like themselves again.”
I get a good sense of achievement from it. It’s very rewarding to help people feel like themselves again