For Ivana Okaro, wigs aren’t just about looks—they’re about feeling like yourself again. Ivana is a neuroscience student, founder of Crowned by Ivana, and knows how important hair can be to a person’s confidence. After facing her own struggles with hair loss, she turned her passion for wig-making into a way to help others. Today, she creates custom wigs that help people—especially those dealing with medical hair loss—feel comfortable, included, and beautiful.
Finding confidence through wigs
Ivana’s journey started when she was a kid. She faced struggles with hair loss that made her feel self-conscious growing up. She found support in online communities where others shared her experience, but she also found confidence through hair—especially wigs.
“My condition definitely affected my self-esteem,” Ivana shares. “But finding others who understood and experimenting with different hairstyles helped me heal.”
Her first attempt at making a wig was for her high school valedictorian speech. She wanted to wear something special that made her feel good. The wig she made wasn’t perfect, but it sparked a new passion. Soon, she was practising and creating wigs for others who needed them.
Juggling school, business, and helping others
Along with running her wig business, Ivana studies neuroscience at McGill University and hopes to become a pediatrician one day. Even though her studies and wig-making seem very different, she sees them both as ways to help people.
“I think my work in neuroscience and wig-making both tap into the same thing—helping people in different ways,” she explains. “One is through research and medicine, and the other is through confidence and self-expression.”
To balance everything, Ivana organizes her business carefully. She only takes a set number of wig orders at a time so she can focus on school. She also offers services like wig touch-ups, which take less time but still help her clients feel their best. By planning her time wisely, she can do what she loves without feeling overwhelmed.
Making wigs for everyone
As Ivana gained experience, she realized that many wig shops didn’t have styles for Black women or people with different hair textures. She knew that wigs should help people feel like themselves, so she decided to create a variety of styles: straight, curly, kinky, and everything in between.
“When people lose their hair, they’re not just losing strands, they’re losing a part of who they are,” Ivana says. “I want them to look in the mirror and recognize themselves.”
For many of Ivana’s clients, a wig isn’t just about appearance, but also about feeling normal again. Whether they’re going through cancer treatment, have alopecia, or are experiencing hair loss for other reasons, Ivana makes sure every person feels cared for.
“It’s so much more than just hair,” she says. “Hair carries memories, culture, and identity. I want to help people reconnect with that, even when they’re going through difficult times.”
She listens to each client’s story and customizes wigs to fit their needs. Some clients want a wig that looks exactly like their old hair, while others see it as a chance to try something new. No matter what, Ivana’s goal is to help them feel confident again.
How wigs are made
Creating a wig can be a long process. Ivana specializes in making wigs from high-quality human hair, which is donated and carefully processed before being turned into ‘wefts’—small sections of hair that can be sewn onto a wig cap. She sews the hair onto the cap using a sewing machine, then carefully customizes the hairline to make it look natural. She spends hours washing, styling, and perfecting each wig to make sure it’s comfortable and beautiful for her clients.
“My first wig took me over a week to make,” Ivana says with a laugh. “Now, I can complete one in a few hours, but I still take my time to make sure every detail is just right.”
Depending on the wig, the process can take anywhere from three to five hours. Some styles, like curly or braided wigs, take even longer. But for Ivana, the time and effort are worth it if it helps someone feel good about themselves again.
Giving back to the community
Ivana doesn’t just sell wigs—she donates them too. She works with organizations like Hope & Cope to make sure people facing medical hair loss have access to high-quality wigs. She is also applying for funding to provide even more free wigs to those in need.
“When I started my business, I knew I wanted to give back,” she says. “I don’t want finances to stop someone from feeling beautiful and confident.”
For anyone struggling with hair loss, Ivana’s message is simple: You are beautiful as you are, and you deserve to feel like yourself again.
“I want people to know that they are incredible, resilient, and beautiful just as they are,” she says, “wig on or wig off. They deserve to hold their heads high. My mission is to help them see that and to give them the support, resources, and confidence they need to feel like themselves again.”
