When Jeannie Beal's hair began to fall out in "big clumps" after her breast cancer treatment in 1995, she didn't know where to get help. She went to a couple of wig stores but wasn't sure if that was the way she needed to go and no one would help.
"I went into this one wig store and felt a couple of wigs," Beal said. "This booming rude voice said, 'no buy, no touch.'"
She turned around and walked out. She sat in her car and cried while her hair continued to fall out. She began to think maybe she wasn't alone.
"If I feel like this, then how many other women feel like this," she said.
She quit her job as a dental assistant and went to work at a wig store. She enjoyed it so much, she said, she quit work and went to beauty school to get her cosmetology license. She learned how to fit and cut wigs for her customers. She worked at another store for awhile but had always dreamed of owning her own store.
There was a need for this service on the south side so in 2005 she opened Accent? at 10600 S. Pennsylvania, Suite 15 in Chatenay Square.
Unfortunately, Beal had another bout with breast cancer in 2005 and this time she had to have a double mastectomy. Now she needed wigs and bras.
"We fit breast prosthesis in addition to the wigs," Beal said.
With the help of a prosthesis, she wears the same bra size as she did before. This in important she said because after the surgery, you no longer feel like a woman.
"In every way, I can truly sympathize with each and every woman that walks through my doors," Beal said. "There are always so many questions and that's why I am here for you."
"We will just sit back and take things slowly and I'll teach you everything you need to know about the care of wigs and how to wear them."
Beal has a private sitting room for customers while she fits the wigs, customizes them to the client's face and teaches the client how to care for the wigs.
"We don't just take it out of the box and say 'good-bye'," Beal said.
Beal suggests women come into the store before hair loss begins so she can match color, length, style and determine the right fit.
"Pre-selection of your wig will decrease panic buying and will allow you time to adjust to wearing your new wig," Beal said.
On the other side of the room is a private fitting room for bras and prosthesis. Beal also is a certified bra fitter and many of her clients are not cancer patients.
Beal also can help those with Alopecia, Trichotillomania, Lupus and burns.
Accent? carries bangs, wig care products and accessories, turbans, scarves and hats.
For those who are facing surgery, Beal has a camisole with a fiberfill leisure form, with pockets to hold the ports and drains in place.
Beal went out to eat one night and someone accidentally bumped into her while she still had her drains. It was very painful she said, and wished she had had one of her camisoles.
Insurance and Medicare will pay for many of Accent?'s products, Beal said. Her husband John was a telephone engineer for 33 years, retired and "now really works," he said.
He does all the bookkeeping for the store and he files all the insurance and Medicare claims.
"It's just so much fun for me," Beal said. "I get carried away. I love it."
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