Meet Tami Wong

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tami Wong. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tami below.

Tami, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I’ve faced a lot of challenges in my life. My hair started thinning when I was 15 after taking an acne medication, and I was eventually diagnosed with androgenic alopecia at 23. It was confusing and isolating, especially at an age when I just wanted to feel normal.

Around the same time, my dad went to jail and my small-town world exploded with gossip about my family. It was devastating. I felt like I lost my dad overnight and was left with a mother who was emotionally abusive and neglectful. It was a really traumatic time, and I didn’t talk about it for years.

In adulthood, I’ve navigated infertility, miscarriages, parental estrangement, being laid off, and moving countries. But through it all, I’ve always been deeply independent. I didn’t grow up feeling emotionally safe or supported, so for better or worse, I learned to rely on myself early on.

For a long time, my resilience came from trying to prove myself: if I just worked hard enough, maybe I’d earn the life I dreamed of. But when I was laid off a few years ago, I finally stopped and asked: what do I really want?

That moment changed everything. I built Hair Loss Pride to help other women feel seen and supported in ways I never was. Now, my resilience comes from living in alignment with my purpose. I’m not chasing perfection. I’m building something meaningful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I founded Hair Loss Pride in September 2024 and started working on it full-time in January 2025. The idea came from my own experience of losing my hair as a teen, and not being able to find the support, education, or community I desperately needed. I created Hair Loss Pride to fill that gap and empower other women and teens going through the same thing.

The main services I offer are 1:1 coaching, wig consultations, and salon workshops. Coaching has been especially powerful because most women want to talk about the emotional side of hair loss: the shame, the fear of people finding out, and how to build up the courage to wear hair confidently in public.

Wig consultations were a natural fit. I’ve worn wigs for 11 years and used to manage a wig shop in Vancouver, so I understand how overwhelming that world can be. Helping women navigate it and find the perfect piece is such a joy and makes a huge difference in a client’s confidence.

Salon workshops came from realizing most stylists never get trained on alopecia. With 50% of women experiencing hair loss by age 40, this is something every stylist will encounter- and they deserve to feel confident and informed in how to support their clients. I cover topics like the different types of alopecia, accomodations stylists can make so their clients feel more comfortable, products that are actually helpful, and an overview of alternative hair.

I also just completed my breathwork facilitator training to offer emotional healing tools. Hair loss isn’t just physical- it’s deeply emotional, and I want to support the whole journey.

What excites me most is knowing I’m creating something that didn’t exist when I needed it most.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities that have shaped my path are resilience, grit, and empathy.

I grew up in a challenging home, and instead of letting it define me, I used it as fuel. I’ve had to bounce back from a lot, personally and professionally, but I’ve always held onto the belief that I’m worthy of a good life. That belief gave me the drive to work hard, take big leaps, and reinvent myself again and again.

From a small town in Nebraska to the Bay Area, from physical therapy to senior leadership in biotech, from moving countries to becoming an entrepreneur- I’ve said yes to change even when it was scary. I’ve walked away from things that weren’t right. And after being laid off a few years ago, I finally found the courage to pursue the work that truly lights me up: supporting women with hair loss.

Empathy is the through-line in all of this. It’s what’s allowed me to build deep connections, lead with heart, and truly show up for people in meaningful ways. I don’t just understand my clients. I am my clients, and that matters.

My advice is to always lead with compassion. That’s what builds trust and creates impact. And if you have a dream-trust it. You don’t need anyone else to validate it. Reinvention is always possible. You’re never too far behind to become who you’re meant to be.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

One of the biggest areas I’ve grown in is confidence, especially in using my voice and showing up on camera. I still remember the first time I shared my alopecia story publicly on social media. I was terrified to hit post. I wasn’t used to being on camera, and I was dealing with a lot of imposter syndrome. Thoughts like “Who am I to talk about this?” or “Who’s even going to care?” definitely crept in.

But then the messages started coming in: DMs and comments from women who felt seen, less alone, and grateful I had spoken up. That shifted everything. I realized that by sharing my story, I was giving other women permission to share theirs too.

Now, 18 months later, I feel incredibly comfortable on camera. I regularly talk about my thin hair, post vulnerable moments, and create content that encourages others. It’s been very healing for me and for others.

I’ve built amazing friendships with women in the alopecia community, partnered with wig brands, and even opened up career opportunities because of the transparency I now lead with. Letting go of the shame and owning my story has helped me grow- not just as a business owner, but as a person.

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Image Credits

Fontaine Photography

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