A small salon tucked away in a west Tigard neighborhood has been quietly changing the lives of kids with hair loss since 2020.
Superb Hair and More owner Becky Ellison became a certified service provider for the Wigs for Kids organization during the pandemic, explaining that she was looking for a way to “give back” to her community.
“During COVID, when we couldn’t really work, I was looking for something that I could do to give back that I wouldn’t normally have time to get trained and certified in,” Ellison said. “That’s when I found Wigs for Kids.”
Wigs for Kids (www.wigsforkids.org), a national non-profit donation organization, was founded in 1981 and provides children with free custom hand-tied wigs made from real human hair. There are over 1,200 Wigs for Kids service providers nationally, four of which are located in Washington County.
As the only service provider in Tigard, Ellison has been cutting hair for donation and fitting wigs for kids since 2020.
“The customization is my end of it,” Ellison said. “I have stuff so I can measure their head to make sure that the wig is perfectly fit for them. That way, they can truly live their life like a kid should. To be able to run and jump and do gymnastics and even swim. Live their life without worrying about their wig moving or coming off.”
Ellison, who has been cutting hair in the Willamette Valley for 51 years, said that she has provided eight children with custom wigs since being certified. She said she serviced her last client in August 2025.
Hair loss in children can be due to diseases like children’s alopecia, disorders like children’s trichotillomania, and can also be a byproduct of chemotherapy treatment.
“It’s really hard on little kids,” Ellison said. “It’s hard on anybody, but it’s really hard on little kids.”
Ellison’s clients have ranged in age, gender and reason behind their hair loss. She has worked with kids just starting preschool all the way up to seniors graduating high school.
“I teach them how to care for the wig,” Ellison said. “I’ve had kids where we cry together because it’s the first time they’ve ever had a haircut.”
Ellison said that she felt like she “received more than she gave” as a service provider and that seeing kids’ happiness was her favorite part of the job.
“They’re so excited. They feel like themselves again,” Ellison said. “When you can truly come alongside somebody and help them regain their sense of self, it’s very cool.”
For more information on donation and/or other Wigs for Kids services, visit www.wigsforkids.org.
