Turning Heads in 2025

Without doubt, the topic of hair loss has come to the fore in 2025, with both new and familiar faces across our social media platforms and TV screens discussing their hair loss journeys and how their public identities have evolved as a result. Navigating any form of hair loss can be challenging, ​​especially with persistent long-standing stigmas surrounding the issue —whether driven by alopecia, menopause, post-natal changes, ageing, or causes that remain unknown. No hair-loss experience is the same, with many finding it difficult to strike the right balance between embracing a natural new “no-hair” look or making personal style choices such as wearing bespoke wigs and hairpieces that can provide a much-needed boost in confidence.

Thanks to figures such as Jasmine Mitchell, this year’s Bake Off winner, GB rugby star Heather Fisher, TV presenter Andrea Mclean, journalist, podcaster and Sunday Time bestselling author Sarah Vine and model and health coach Liberty Mills discussing their experiences in the media, this year has seen progress towards celebrating confidence in the face of what can be a deeply personal challenge.

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This year’s winner of Bake Off Jasmine Mitchell good-humouredly touched on the irony of plaiting a loaf of bread on the show, whilst no longer having her own hair to plait due to alopecia. Jasmine said she was now embracing life without a wig but admits she is still in the process of learning to love it. She shared, "Having alopecia has, and is, changing my perception of what beauty is. Being authentically yourself, the way you were made to be, is so much more beautiful than trying to look like everyone else around you”.

Others who have openly embraced new looks following hair loss include Andrea McLean, who this summer debuted a fresh bob haircut—a significant change given that her long, flowing hair was such a recognisable part of her on-screen image before leaving television in 2020. She explained that she lost much of this signature length and volume after experiencing Long Covid, with her immune system already weakened by a severe bout of flu that developed into sepsis and pneumonia. With the help of supplements and a renewed focus on her wellbeing, she is now starting to see regrowth and has confidently adopted a new style that reflects this next chapter of her life beyond television. It has been encouraging to see Andrea champion a look that reflects where she is now and inspires others to embrace their own changes.

Another public figure who has prompted wider conversation around changing appearance is Melanie Sykes, who this week shared an update on her own hair-loss journey. Building on her earlier disclosure in April where she posted a side-profile image highlighting a bald spot, she has shared that her autoimmune condition has now left her “two-thirds bald.”

Combined with the much-discussed new look worn by the Princess of Wales over the summer which sparked a wave of online commentary, Melanie’s experience underscores the persistent stigma that still surrounds hair loss.

Liberty Mills, diagnosed with Lupus at age 30, has faced similar challenges after her condition was mismanaged, resulting in significant hair loss. We were privileged to design a bespoke wig for her this December, supporting her as she navigates her own journey. As an international integrative health and nutrition coach, Liberty supports women navigating fertility, menopause, autoimmune disease, and holistic wellness. Now she’s sharing her own personal hair loss story and her experience of the “made to measure” wig fitting process to highlight the care, craftsmanship and consideration that happens “behind the scenes” to help women feel empowered to choose and wear a beautiful, bespoke, human hair wig.

Most recently, Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine has opened up about her experience of female pattern baldness, revealing her “real” hair for the first time in 15 years. In doing so, she has said she “wants women and girls to know that losing your hair doesn’t make you any less. Of anything. It’s okay. After years of after years of hiding my hair loss, I’ve decided to show the real me.”

Jo Pickering, wig-wearer and Director of Mandeville London comments,

“We’re so pleased that more and more diverse voices in the public eye are speaking up about hair loss. It just goes to show how much a person’s experience can vary - from partial to complete hair loss – and the many options that are open to people navigating this challenge. Building this sense of community is really important to anyone going through their own hair loss journey and we would certainly embrace more people advocating for and normalising people’s choice to wear wigs or hairpieces. It’s more than just a hair trend and a new wig isn’t just a change in style, for people who have experienced hair loss, it’s the moment you start to recognise yourself again.

“Looking ahead, we also see sustainability becoming an increasing part of the hair care “conversation” in 2026. Wigs are a sustainable and long-term option for our clients - bespoke pieces made to last, rather than a short-term fix.

“We’re also excited for our SWISH range to launch early next year - a wig collection in five set colour-ways in three sizes, available at an accessible price point. We hope that this will enable even more people to feel the transformative effects of wig-wearing.”