Video of teen trying her first 'custom wig' after losing hair to alopecia leaves the internet in tears

At 16, Alessandra had never seen herself with hair. Diagnosed with alopecia when she was just six months old, Alessandra grew up without any memory of what it might be like to feel strands falling across her shoulders or see her reflection framed by a full head of hair. One day, all that changed inside a small wig studio located just outside New Orleans, where Alessandra recently tried on her first custom wig. The moment her stylist adjusted the piece and turned the mirror toward her, her entire face lit up, and her smile said more than words could.

The moment was shared by Tiffani Tran Calix, later re-shared by USA Today's affiliate Humankind. Calix founded and runs the studio Wigs by Tiffani after experiencing postpartum hair loss. She’s built her practice around helping women and girls with medical hair loss regain comfort and confidence on their terms. "Moments like that bring us back to our purpose. We’re not just making wigs; we’re changing lives," she told USA Today. Since opening her studio, Calix has worked with women and girls across the country, navigating hair loss caused by alopecia, medical conditions, or treatment. She focuses on removing the stigma around wigs as a tool of comfort and choice. "Being part of such deeply personal transformations is the greatest privilege. It humbles me, it fuels me, and it constantly reminds me how powerful beauty and self-confidence really are," she said.

What makes Alessandra’s story so meaningful is its real-world context. A recent US study using the PEDSnet database, which included nearly 5.4 million children, found that pediatric alopecia areata affects about 0.11% of children under 18 (roughly 1 in 900 kids); incidence stands at 13.6 cases per 100,000 child-years and has nearly doubled over the past decade. The condition most often emerges around age six, and occurs about 23% more in girls than boys.

Online, viewers were overwhelmed by the tenderness of Alessandra’s moment, and the message it carried about self-image, identity, and healing. @shelleydawnballard wrote, "She looked like a rare ray of beautiful sunshine before the wig. After the wig, she is still beautiful, but also just like everyone else. I hope she is happy always and however she shows up to the world." @laurenmarzocca3903 said, "God, she’s gorgeous both ways. This made me tear up." @cedatman3384 added, "She’s precious. God bless her beautiful soul."

Alessandra’s story isn’t the only one moving people to tears. In another moment shared by Wigs by Tiffani, 10-year-old Klara, who lives with alopecia and Down syndrome, received a new wig of her own, and her reaction was pure joy. In the video, Klara was sitting in front of a mirror with her eyes closed as the wig was carefully placed on her head. When she opened her eyes and saw her reflection, she immediately started dancing, spinning, grinning, and radiating excitement. Her family cheered behind her, and the moment, viewed more than 1.4 million times, quickly went viral. "Sweet 10-year-old Klara was the absolute highlight of my week. She is so special, so beautiful, so brave, so confident, and has the sweetest personality," Calix wrote in the post.

You can follow Tiffani Tran Calix's work on Instagram at @wigsbytiffani.