EGGIE Salon Studio empowers cancer survivors with hair care

The buzz of blow dryers and the scent of hairspray carry a different meaning inside EGGIE Salon Studio. For owner Rachel Eggie Gibbs, the work goes far beyond styling. It’s about helping women reclaim a piece of themselves during one of the hardest chapters of their lives.

Gibbs and her team offer consultations, personalized wig fittings and upkeep sessions for cancer patients across Baton Rouge, creating a space where clients feel supported, seen and cared for.

“It’s really amazing when you turn them around to the mirror and they are in shock with tears running down their face because it’s like, ‘Wow, I feel like me again,’” Gibbs said.

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 1 million women in the United States receive chemotherapy each year for cancer treatment. About 65% of women experience some degree of hair loss.

Margee Fawley was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer in 2004. The disease eventually spread to her lymph nodes, causing her to endure two intense rounds of chemotherapy. After her first round, she lost almost all her hair in what she describes as a “traumatic experience.”

“I was very upset to lose my hair and I was like, ‘This is going to be my biggest struggle,’” Fawley said. “It was just a terrible time not having any hair and then your eyelashes and eyebrows fall out too.”

For Fawley and many other women, hair loss can make them feel less beautiful or unworthy of public attention.

“I kind of like just wanted to stay in the shadows. I did not want to be out in front of people,” Fawley said.

The post-chemo experience particularly resonated with Gibbs. After meeting clients who shared stories similar to Fawley’s, Gibbs made it part of her mission to help restore confidence for women dealing with hair loss caused by chemotherapy.

The Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center reached out to Gibbs in 2022.

“I was actually approached by Mary Bird Perkins to start donating the first post-chemo haircut to some of their patients,” Gibbs said.

According to the cancer center’s website, Dr. William Varnado, a medical oncologist at the cancer center, enlisted Gibbs’ help after hearing the traumatic hair stories of his patients.

“I told Rachel the story of my patient and what I thought we could do better,” Varnado said. “A big part of that is hair.”

When first accepting chemotherapy clients, Gibbs took her commitment even further.

“I actually shaved my head so that I could start teaching them how to grow it out and really understand what they go through during that whole process. It felt empowering to learn about what women experiencing chemo go through,” Gibbs said.

By experiencing it herself, Gibbs said she could better teach them how to care for new growth, manage changes in texture and navigate the emotional challenges that come with starting over.

At the salon, Gibbs and her team strive to ensure every customer walks out feeling beautiful regardless of hair type, texture or style.

Salon manager Emmie Carriere oversees the operations of the studio. She reaches out to customers after their salon visit to make sure they received the best service at one of three locations.

“EGGIE Salon Studio strives to make sure that all women and men who walk through our doors walk out feeling confident, beautiful and satisfied with their experience. We also strive to create an environment for both stylists and clients that is welcoming and empowering,” Carriere said.

For Gibbs, that goal takes on a deeper meaning. She dedicates one day each month to working exclusively with post-chemo clients, helping them begin the emotional and physical process of hair regrowth. She offers product recommendations, gives encouragement and provides their first haircut free of charge.

According to Gibbs, each appointment is tailored to restore confidence, whether it is matching a wig to a woman’s natural look or gently guiding her through hair loss for the first time. The women return to the studio every other month to keep up with growth and help style it.

A study by the American Cancer Society estimated the number of people receiving chemotherapy across the world will rise to 15 million by 2040. Gibbs and her studio are working to help a portion of those patients feel confident and beautiful again.

In 2023, Gibbs expanded her partnership with the Ochsner Institute and is already planning to develop her own haircare line, furthering her mission to help women rebuild confidence from the inside out.

What began as a small effort driven by inspiration and partnership has grown into a full, committed plan to support women through their post-chemo journeys. A single story sparked an innovation that brings in over 100 women into the salon every year, a reminder that one person can inspire change and create something extraordinary.

Jaidon Cotton is an LSU mass communication sophomore. This story was produced as part of the Manship School’s newspaper and online journalism course.