Southern Indiana Living Magazine - Jan / Feb 2023

cancer patients called “Look Good
Feel Better,” provided locally through
Harrison County Hospital.
“That was so humbling,” Fessel
said. “These women were going
through cancer, and they felt bad
enough, not to mention how they
looked all of a sudden with their complexion
and no hair. I would go in and
try wigs on them and teach them how
to change their makeup to where they
looked better. I volunteered for the
program for five years.”
Fessel reaches out to cancer
patients, or anyone in need of hair
replacement, by leaving her information
at the cancer centers in New
Albany and Corydon. She’s donated
a lot of wigs to the cancer center in
New Albany, which they can give to
people who can’t afford one.
Fessel admits that working with
clients who are in search of hair replacement
can be challenging.
“Most of the people who get
their wigs — it’s bittersweet,” she
said. “They’re upset that they’re in
the shop. They won’t even look at
themselves in the mirror. That’s frustrating
for me, because I’m trying to
help them. They don’t want a wig, so
they won’t give me any advice as to
what they want. They’re just real bitter
and angry. That’s something I’ve
had to learn to deal with over the
years. I just let my professional demeanor
go to work, and I just try to
comfort them in any way I can.”
Fessel says that wigs today are
so different from the wigs manufactured
years ago. They are lighter in
weight and are easy to care for. You
can wash them in cold water, shake
them out and they will retain their
style. Ones designed for cancer patients
are made with a softer lining
to make them more comfortable for
patients who have undergone cancer
treatments.
Fessel has met a wide array of
clients over the years who have benefited
from her expertise and training.
There are two clients who have made
an impact on her.
“Many people know about
Locks for Love, but there’s another
“That was so humbling.
These women were going
through cancer, and they
felt bad enough, not to
mention how they looked
all of a sudden with their
complexion and no hair. I
would go in and try wigs on
them and teach them how
to change their makeup to
where they looked better. I
volunteered for the program
for five years.”
- Kim Fessel
organization called Children With
Hair Loss,” Fessel said. “When you
donate your hair to them, they make
wigs and donate them to young people
up until they’re 18 years old. I had
a young girl about 7 or 8 years old
who had alopecia, and I told her parents
about the program. They were
very thankful for that information.”
Fessel also recalls a story about
a high school teenager whose family
came to her for help.
“They had just moved into town,
and the girl wore a wig. She wanted
to be on the swim team but couldn’t
Pictured: (left) Kim Fessel, owner, modeling one of her wigs (middle) one of the many wigs available (right) Kim Fessel, owner of Wigs by Kim.
Southern Indiana Living • Jan/Feb 2023 • 13