For Bridgeen King, hairdressing has always been about much more than creating the perfect style. Over the course of a 30-year career, she has developed a specialist business helping people experiencing hair loss, from those living with alopecia to patients undergoing treatment for cancer and women navigating the hormonal changes associated with menopause.
Her journey from award-winning stylist to hair and scalp specialist has been driven by professional curiosity, a willingness to return to education, and a desire to address a service gap she identified in Northern Ireland.
Today, Bridgeen operates her hair-loss and hair-replacement clinic from the Slieve Donard hotel in Newcastle, alongside clinics in Belfast, Newry and Edinburgh, where she works from department store Harvey Nichols. Her work encompasses bespoke wigs, hair-loss treatments and scalp analysis, with an emphasis on helping clients retain their identity and confidence during what can be an extremely vulnerable period in their lives.
Speaking to Cathy Martin on the Belfast Telegraph’s In Good Company podcast, Bridgeen explained how a client’s experience of hair loss prompted a new direction in her career.
“I’m in the industry 30 years, and while I was an amazing hairdresser who could colour, style and do a lot of session work, I knew very little about hair loss — until a client came to me who was really struggling with her hair. That’s when I went back to education and educated myself in hair loss and scalp issues.”
Bridgeen believes greater public awareness, fuelled in part by people sharing their experiences on social media, is helping to break down the stigma surrounding hair loss.
“I think it’s one of those things that, going back maybe five years ago, nobody spoke about. It was such a taboo subject, and a lot of women and men hid away from it.”
The reasons clients seek help vary, from alopecia and hormonal changes associated with menopause or the postpartum period to stress, serious illness and hair loss following rapid weight loss.
For Bridgeen, understanding those different experiences is central to providing the right service. Her work has increasingly focused on the relationship between hair, scalp health and wider wellbeing, supported by further study in trichology and the science of hair and skin.
She recently graduated following a degree in hair and skin science at the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Medicine, continuing a commitment to professional development that has become a defining feature of her business.
“I think it’s a growing science,” she said of trichology, noting that hairdressers are becoming more aware of the importance of understanding the scalp rather than concentrating solely on the appearance of the hair.
That knowledge has also changed how she approaches consultations. Hairdressers often build close relationships with their clients, who may share personal news and concerns while sitting in the salon chair. Bridgeen believes this places them in a position to recognise when someone may need additional support.
“You’re their confidant. They’re sitting in your chair and you’re their safe place.”
Bridgeen has helped comedian Paddy McDonnell with his hair loss issues
One of the most important aspects of Bridgeen’s work is helping clients preserve their sense of self. For someone undergoing cancer treatment, for example, the prospect of losing their hair can compound the emotional impact of a diagnosis.
Speaking on In Good Company, she recalls one particularly striking conversation with a client who was distressed at the prospect of losing her hair.
“She was so glamorous and so beautiful and had this beautiful hair, and she said, ‘You know, I’d rather lose my breasts than lose my hair.’”
The comment stayed with her, highlighting just how closely appearance and identity can be connected.
For Bridgeen, providing a wig is therefore about much more than supplying a replacement for lost hair. It is about helping someone continue to recognise themselves in the mirror.
She encourages clients to bring photographs of their hair before they experienced hair loss, allowing her to create a look that reflects their familiar style and personality.
Bridgeen’s understanding of wigs developed partly through her earlier work in fashion and session styling. Having worked in London and Edinburgh, she saw how wigs could function as fashion accessories, with designers using them to achieve specific runway looks.
That experience sparked her interest in sourcing and styling wigs. Still, the lack of a suitable service for people experiencing medical hair loss ultimately gave the specialism a more purposeful direction.
Clients and contacts began approaching her for recommendations, particularly when searching for wigs suitable for people undergoing cancer treatment. Bridgeen recognised that the available options did not always provide the natural, personalised result people wanted.
“There wasn’t the service here in Northern Ireland,” she tells Cathy, describing the situation that encouraged her to develop her expertise in wig fitting and bespoke styling.
From there, her business expanded into a more comprehensive hair-loss service, incorporating trichology and work alongside medical professionals.
Bridgeen King in her salon
She now collaborates with doctors and specialist clinics, helping clients explore treatment options as well as addressing the practical challenges associated with hair loss — for both women and men.
Among the people she has worked with are boxer Carl Frampton and comedian Paddy McDonnell, both of whom have spoken openly about their experiences.
Their willingness to share their stories, she believes, is helping to break down the stigma surrounding hair loss and encouraging more men to seek support rather than suffer in silence.
Alongside her clinical work, the businesswoman is also campaigning for greater financial support for people experiencing hair loss in Northern Ireland, believing that this assistance would help ease the burden on people already facing the emotional and practical challenges of a cancer diagnosis, while giving them greater choice in accessing specialist wig and hair replacement services.
She is calling for a scheme similar to one available in the Republic of Ireland, where eligible patients can receive up to €500 towards the cost of a wig, hairpiece or other non-surgical hair replacement product. A separate allowance from the Republic’s Health Service Executive (HSE) of up to €770 a year is available to people who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment. Bridgeen has been lobbying Stormont to introduce equivalent support in Northern Ireland.
Education has been central to Bridgeen’s career and ambitions. After years of building her own knowledge, she now wants to share her expertise with other professionals.
“I’m hitting a milestone next year,” she tells Cathy, revealing that she will turn 50 next March and that her next goal is to develop a training module that will enable more hairdressers to deliver specialist hair-loss services.
I love looking after people, and I love giving that woman, man or child their confidence back.
When it comes to advising people concerned about hair loss, Bridgeen believes early intervention is best rather than waiting for the problem to worsen. She also emphasises the importance of considering underlying factors rather than focusing exclusively on the hair itself.
“If you’re suffering from hair loss, you need to go, and you need to see a specialist. You need to come to somebody like myself. You need to go to your own GP because there’s definitely something at the root cause.”
Beyond the business, Bridgeen has developed personal habits to help her manage a demanding schedule and the emotional weight of her work. She travels regularly, balances several professional commitments and spends much of her time supporting people through difficult circumstances.
In recent years, she has adopted meditation and journaling, using gratitude to maintain perspective.
“I’m big into journaling, and I think if it’s in your head, get it out onto the paper.”
That sense of purpose underpins her business, which has evolved from a gap in her own professional knowledge into a specialist service built on expertise, continued learning and client relationships. For Bridgeen, it’s never just about hair; it’s about helping people regain their confidence and sense of identity.
“I love looking after people, and I love giving that woman, man or child their confidence back.”