Sophie started going bald at 16 - it took 12 years before she discovered the 60-second fix that made her feel like herself again

Sophie Law was at the salon when her hairdresser broke some unexpected news: she had a patch of hair missing.At just 16 years old, she was horrified. ‘How had I never noticed this before?’ she asked herself.After leaving the salon, she booked in with her GP, where a blood test revealed she had an underactive thyroid, which the doctor said was the likely cause of her hair loss.But medication to stabilise her thyroid hormones didn't make a difference. Her hair continued to shed. She spent the following decade trying everything from density-boosting shampoos to cutting out gluten and even a red‑light therapy helmet, but nothing worked. By the time she was 23, she began to notice multiple bald patches when running her fingers through her hair. Eventually, aged 26, the Kent-based logistics manager was diagnosed with alopecia areata – the autoimmune condition that caused Jada Pinkett Smith to suddenly lose her hair.Crucially, it cannot be cured. Sophie Law 28, from Kent, is pictured after finding a solution for her hair lossSophie is pictured before her hair loss (L) and when the alopecia areata took hold (R)‘I used to cry about my hair loss every single day,’ says Sophie. Some patients see success with medication like steroids that stop the immune system from attacking the hair follicles. Sophie, however, decided against it due to worries about side effects. Instead, she relied on a temporary hair-colour powder to fill in the areas where her bald patches were visible, but was constantly worried about it rubbing off. ‘Every time I would leave the house, I would worry about the wind blowing my hair in the wrong direction,' she says.‘I was hiding my hair loss from everyone around me. The only people who knew about it were my family. ‘It consumed so much of my brain, and that then left very little space for me to actually be present in the moment and be happy.’She considered clip-in hair extensions, but this was not an option as there was not enough hair for them to clip on to.Then, earlier this year, she found a solution that finally restored her confidence: an £800 wig. Ready-to-wear wigs, which can be made from human hair or artificial fibres, are popular options for people experiencing hair loss. Human hair wigs usually range between £200 and over £2,000 and can be styled with curling irons and straighteners, like normal hair. They need to be washed every seven to ten wears. Those made from artificial fibres are a more affordable option, usually costing between £50 and £300, and typically last four to six months with regular wear.Sophie's wig, which she purchased from Wig and Weaves by Hediye in Ashford, Kent, is made from human hair and features a transparent lace hairline that blends into the scalp.To try and stop her hair falling out, Sophie tried everything from density-boosting shampoos to a red‑light therapy helmet Sophie is pictured wearing her £800 human hair wig, which has restored her confidence‘As soon as I put the wig on, I cried happy tears,’ says Sophie. ‘It made me feel normal - and like my old self before I even had any hair loss.’Harley Street trichologist Marie Royce says she sees women every day whose confidence is destroyed by hair loss. 'Hair loss can knock a woman’s confidence far more than people realise,' says Ms Royce, who is based at The Wimpole Clinic. 'I see women who are constantly checking mirrors, avoiding certain lighting or worrying that somebody is looking at their scalp. 'It becomes exhausting, because you are thinking about your hair all the time.'There are medical treatments that can help, but that is not right for everyone, and neither is a transplant. 'Some women are not suitable candidates, some do not want surgery, and some simply want a solution that gives them an immediate cosmetic improvement.'A really good wig can be completely life-changing. It gives back density and coverage straight away, but more importantly, it can take away that constant anxiety.'Sophie, who regularly speaks about her hair loss on TikTok, says her family have seen a major change in her personality.'My hair is the best it’s ever looked and this has meant my confidence has increased so much,' says Sophie'My mum and dad really struggled seeing me so upset with my hair loss,' she says. 'They can see how much more confident I am now, which means they worry about me a lot less.' While she initially planned to wear the wig on special occasions, she now wears it every day.'Given how good it makes me feel about myself, I wish I’d done it sooner,' she says. 'My hair is the best it’s ever looked and my confidence has increased so much. 'Before, when I looked in the mirror, all I saw was my hair loss - but now, if I'm feeling sad about it, I can just put on the wig and forget about it.'I don’t hide the fact that I wear a wig either; if someone compliments my hair, I will tell them it's a wig.'It felt so shameful and embarrassing when I first started considering wigs - but I’ve changed my mindset on this and I really hope we can start to change other people’s too.'Wearing a wig is the same as wearing hair extensions or makeup - you wear it because it makes you feel good about yourself - and it doesn’t need to be a dirty secret.'