Sherry Schaefer - Wig Training Educator for Hairstylists
Introduction
Sherry Schaefer is a wig specialist and educator with more than two decades of experience working with wigs and hair loss clients. She is the founder of My Wig Coach and the creator of Wig Essentials for the Hairstylist and The Ultimate Wig Stylist Bootcamp, two digital training programs that teach hairstylists how to confidently offer wig services and start a wig business.
Career background
A career hairstylist and salon owner, Sherry developed alopecia areata at age 39 and soon transitioned exclusively to retailing and servicing wigs to those with hair loss in Rochester, NY and surrounding areas.
She became certified as a wig specialist through several wig manufacturers’ training programs, slowly transitioning her “regular” hair salon to one devoted to those needing wigs and toppers. Named Alternative Hair, the first three years were conducted as a non-profit, though not officially registered as a 501C-3.
During this time, Sherry volunteered with the American Cancer Society’s Look Good, Feel Better program designed to support cancer patients with the appearance-related side effects of treatment.
Throughout the next two decades she would serve over 2400 women and children with hair loss. It became increasingly clear to Ms. Schaefer that there were not enough hairstylists comfortable working with wigs, nor were there enough wig salons to adequately and professionally support the hair loss clientele.
My Wig Coach was created in 2020 initially as an online platform for Sherry to conduct virtual consultations and sell wigs during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic while salons were closed. A few years later, it began the transition to a stylist instructional portal.
Teaching and Courses
Several years before permanently closing the salon in the fall of 2025, Sherry expanded the site’s functionality and created the digital courses “Wig Essentials for the Hairstylist” and “The Ultimate Wig Stylist Bootcamp” to teach stylists about ready-to-wear wigs, toppers, their maintenance services, and the wig business, respectively.
Mission
Her work now focuses on helping hairstylists expand their careers by learning how to serve clients experiencing medical hair loss.
Student Impact
To date, Sherry’s courses have trained over 30 stylists in five countries, including 20 US states. Many have incorporated wig sales and services into their existing salon work, while others have chosen to provide wig services without retailing them to the portion of their clientele requiring this expertise.
Her Bootcamp course graduates can choose to get additional support through the private Facebook community “Wig Coach Hub” and book Zoom appointments with Sherry through her Calendly page for the most personalized support.
“I absolutely loved this wig course. Even after doing hair for 22 years, I learned so much and appreciated how clearly everything was explained. I’ve already submitted my first orders and I’m gearing up to start advertising.”- Chandra A., TX Bootcamp grad (Hairstylist)
“Having done (two different manufacturers’ education) back-to-back, I can confidently say My Wig Coach education is top notch!” - Kim R., CT, Bootcamp grad (Hairstylist and salon owner)
“5 stars! So much information at a great price. It surpassed my expectations." - Star S, KY, Wig Essentials for the Hairstylist grad (Hairstylist)
Sherry Schaefer is the founder of My Wig Coach, where she provides wig training for hairstylists through programs such as the Ultimate Wig Stylist Bootcamp and Wig Essentials for the Hairstylist.