Southern Indiana Living Magazine - Jan / Feb 2023

12 • Jan/Feb 2023 • Southern Indiana Living
Cover Story
Twenty-five years ago, Kim
Fessel embarked on a career
path born out of necessity, one
that would eventually change
her life, as well as the lives of many
others she would meet.
At the time, Fessel was searching
for work that would not only
help to support her family, but also
that would allow her to have flexible
hours. She decided upon a career as a
hairdresser.
“It was just an occupation at
the time that I could do,” she said. “I
was a single mom and I needed to be
home with my kids when they were
sick or if they had a sporting event.
I didn’t want to miss my kids growing
up, and I didn’t know what else
I could do where I could be my own
boss. So, I decided to do hair, and it’s
worked out quite well.”
If you’re a New Salisbury or Corydon
resident, you may know Fessel,
as she is the owner of Wigs by
Kim, located in Hope’s Hair Salon in
Corydon.
During the first part of her journey,
Fessel enjoyed a very successful
career as a traditional stylist, cutting,
coloring and styling hair, along with
other services associated with the
profession. In 2011 a new opportunity
presented itself to Fessel, one she had
never considered until her father approached
her with the idea of learning
how to do hair replacement.
“My dad actually talked me into
it,” she said. “He wore hair replacement
and he had to go to Louisville to
get it done. It was very expensive and
time-consuming, so he said, ‘Hey, if
you can go to school for this, I’ll pay
for it, and you can pay me back by
doing my services.’”
Fessel says she “went for it,” and
that this part of her career really took
off once she was trained. Her services
include hair replacement on the scalp
as well as wig consultations and fittings.
When Fessel began doing hair
replacement, she had her own shop
called Shear Miracles. She says she
was very sensitive to the fact that
many people don’t want to go out
into public if they are bald, nor do
they want people to know they’re
having hair replacement services
done. This especially applied to her
female clients. Fessel designed her
shop to have a private room where
she could do consultations and the
hair replacement.
“Hair replacement is non-surgical
and you’re in and out in less
than two hours,” she said. “It’s glued
on with a medical-grade adhesive,
like the adhesive used for prosthetics.
Once it’s finished, you can’t take
it off. It has to be soaked off — it’s a
process. Clients come back every two
to four weeks and have it soaked off
then reattached. I use human hair, so
if you put a motorcycle helmet on,
go swimming or ride roller coasters,
whatever you do, it doesn’t hinder
the hair at all. It’s like your own hair.
That’s the great thing about it.”
Delivering Hope
Wigs by Kim transforms lives
Story by Julie Englehardt
Photos by Michelle Hockman
If clients come in for a wig consultation,
Fessel also meets with them
in the private room.
“I have them fill out a form
and ask them if they know why
they’re experiencing hair loss,” she
said. “Some are cancer-related, some
aren’t. Sometimes it’s hormones or
it’s hereditary, or it’s due to stress, or
it’s alopecia. There are so many reasons
of hair loss, and a lot don’t know
why they’re losing their hair.”
Fessel has also used her knowledge
to work with a program for