When a young Pueblo cancer patient tried on one of Allison Evans’ unique wigs made from real hair, she started crying.
“She said, ‘My hair has never looked real,’ and she brought tears to me,” Evans said. “It was then I realized we’ve gotta do something.”
Evans was showing her wigs at a Pueblo flea market when she met that young cancer patient. That encounter inspired her and her husband Chad Evans to take the business a step further and open LaLa’s Wigs, Lashes and More at 410 W. Northern Ave. in Bessemer.
“When we moved here four years ago there was really nowhere to get your hair done if you are African American and there was just one wig store that did not specialize in styles for African Americans. I said, ‘no reason to complain, make it yourself,'” she said.
The couple settled on the name LaLa’s in honor of one of their nieces and also because Allison often goes by “Al” and “LaLa is Al backwards twice,” she said with a laugh.
In the first year at the Bessemer location, the couple hosted a Hair Loss Awareness Fashion Show to help get the word out about different options for those experiencing hair loss. They have worked with both women and men.
It turned out to be a blessing for people “who don’t know what to do when they see their self leaving with each hair strand,” she explained.
“We give them new hairstyles, lashes, makeup, nails and do peer counseling and then the next day they rock the runway for all the community to see. We try to make sure it’s a big event,” Evans said.
As the fashion show has grown each year, it has outpaced the couple’s ability to fund it on their own so Evans decided this year she would host a Pueblo Hair Competition — Battle of the Stylists to raise funds for the fashion show.
The battle is set for 5 p.m., Oct. 14, at the Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main St. Categories will include fantasy styling or Cosplay, superhero haircuts, weaves, braids, color, nails and makeup. The top finishers in each category will win cash prizes.
“We tried to think of a fun fundraiser that would bring together different stylists to support the cause, meet new clients, network and have fun,” she explained.
So far, stylists from Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver have signed up. Stylists can sign up online up until the day before the event or register at the event starting at 3 p.m. Oct. 14.
Cost is $35 per stylist or $100 per salon which includes admission for the stylists and their models.
Vendor booths are available for $50 per booth. The event is open to the public and admission ranges from $5 general admission to $45 for VIP seating which includes a concession stand item.
To enter the competition or to get tickets to attend and watch, go to eventbrite.com. All proceeds benefit this year’s Hair Loss Awareness Fashion Show which is set for Dec. 9.
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Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.