Story by Christine Grove
Photos by Jim Coarse, Moonloop Photography

Nestled among the cornfields off Chrome Road outside of Oxford sits an unexpected haven. At first glance, Color, Cut and Curls appears to be a typical small-town hair salon. Children come for back-to-school haircuts, men stop in for a trim of their beard or a shave, and women are treated to the latest hairstyles, manicures, or pedicures. However, for a select group of women, this salon offers something far more profound – hope and dignity in the face of a challenging journey.

Tammy Ramberger, the owner of Color, Cut and Curls, has created a special space within her salon called The Warrior Wig Room. This unique initiative provides free wigs to women undergoing cancer treatment, offering not just hair pieces, but also understanding, support, and a listening ear from someone who has walked a similar path.

Ramberger's connection to Oxford runs deep. She fondly remembers visiting her aunt who lived on Maryland Avenue. In 1992, she and her husband began building their home on Chrome Road, putting down roots in the community. As a young mother with two toddlers, Ramberger made the decision to attend cosmetology school in Lancaster. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for hairstyling led her to open Color, Cut and Curls in 2006.

"Owning a business wasn't always in the plans," Ramberger reflects. "It kind of just happened naturally." Life was busy with the salon and raising three children – Nathan and Ashley, now 32, and Shelby, 22. Always community-minded, Ramberger was also a Girl Scout leader for both her daughters and a committee member for her son's Boy Scout troop.

However, at age 42, Ramberger's world changed dramatically. "My journey started December 31, 2013," she recalls. "I found a lump, and surprisingly, the doctor saw me that day. By the end of January, I was having my first of six chemotherapy treatments. For the next year, I received chemo every three weeks."

Facing this diagnosis, Ramberger was not only concerned about her health but also about her business. "As a stylist and owner, I didn't have the flexibility to take an extended hiatus and deal with this. I worked in between chemo sessions," she explains. Self-dubbed the "hairless hairdresser" to her clients, Ramberger worried about the impact on her salon. Would people come to a stylist with no hair?

Throughout her treatment, Ramberger's clients proved to be an incredible source of support. "They were awesome!" she exclaims. "They supported me and were flexible when I had to take 'chemocation' – my word for being sick from the chemo."

As her treatments progressed, Ramberger learned of a salon in West Chester where she could get a wig, but only with a doctor's note. While grateful for the wig, she felt the process lacked the personal touch needed during such an emotional time. "At that moment, I thought, 'Lord, if you bring me through this, I want to walk alongside anyone going through their cancer journey and help them with their 'hair' for no charge, without a note from their doctor.'" This epiphany became the seed for the Warrior Wig Room.

Determined to turn her vision into reality, Ramberger researched wig companies and found one with a quick turnaround time. She ordered her first set of wigs, despite uncertainty about how she would fund the project. "I had no idea how I was going to pay for the wigs," she admits. "I was focused on keeping the salon going and paying my employees and bills, but it worked!"

In January 2015, just two years after her diagnosis, Ramberger gave away her first wig. Since then, over 62 wigs have been gifted to women facing cancer. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, Ramberger found ways to continue her mission, donating three wigs to ladies undergoing cancer treatments. "We had to change up the way we did it since they couldn't come into the salon," she explains. "I sent them the catalog with wig options and photos of the wigs I had in the salon. The wigs were sent to their homes, and it all seemed to work."

The process of receiving a wig from the Warrior Wig Room is designed to be as comforting and empowering as possible. Ramberger understands that the first phone call can be the hardest, so she takes great care to put women at ease. She schedules appointments around their doctor visits and treatment schedules, encouraging them to bring along their "personal stylist" – whether that's family, friends, or even their children.

When women arrive at Color, Cut and Curls, they're welcomed into a private room where Ramberger gets to know them and listens to their stories. "I listen to their lifestyle and what it was during their journey," she says. "We talk about what they want it to look like, then we talk about their hair, and they show me pictures of themselves and maybe what they think they would like. Then we start trying some on."

If a suitable wig is available in the salon, the women can take it home that day. If not, Ramberger helps them select one from a catalog, which she orders and has ready for pick-up within 5-10 days. She also provides instruction on how to care for the wig and their scalps during treatment.

Ramberger's personal touch extends beyond the salon visit. She gives each woman her cell phone number, encouraging them to reach out with any questions about the wigs or simply to talk. "Most of all, I listen," she emphasizes. "I show them that I, too, still wear a wig. My hair didn't grow back fully; I'm that 1 in a million."

The emotional impact of hair loss during cancer treatment is profound, and Ramberger acknowledges this openly. "As a society, there's this movement that 'bald is beautiful,' and don't get me wrong, it sure is! But sometimes ladies just want to feel somewhat 'normal' because this journey not only changes you emotionally, it changes your appearance without any control from yourself."

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Warrior Wig Room is that all wigs are provided free of charge. Ramberger is acutely aware of the financial burden that cancer treatment can impose. "Cancer is a very expensive fight!" she notes. "Even with great insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses are generally around $32,000. If a free wig and an ear to listen helps in some way to ease the stress, worries, and fears, then I know that I'm doing the right thing."

When asked about funding for the wigs, Ramberger simply says, "The wig donations are mostly local but have included friends of friends in South Carolina and in between. As a business owner, I should probably have a special fund to be able to pay for the wigs. Somehow, when I need to order wigs, the money is there, and I'm so grateful for that."

The impact of the Warrior Wig Room extends far beyond the provision of wigs. It offers a space of understanding, compassion, and hope for women facing one of life's most challenging journeys. Ramberger's mission is not to promote her salon or gain new clients, but to provide support and walk alongside anyone who needs her.

Through this initiative, Ramberger has learned and grown as well. "I have learned so much when giving a wig," she reflects. "I've had ladies from the strict Mennonite community come in, and I've worked with them as their haube (cap) needs to fit securely over the wig."

For those facing a cancer diagnosis, Ramberger offers words of encouragement: "I am here to walk beside you, in the good and the bad. Know that you have two real options: to sit and wallow, or to fight for your life. It's okay to have a bad moment and even a bad day, but please don't pitch a tent and stay in those bad thoughts. Look for every little moment of hope, love, and laughter, and allow those around you to help you."

With a heartfelt hug, a knowing understanding, and the gracious gift of a wig, Tammy Ramberger has indeed created a haven. Her Warrior Wig Room stands as a testament to the power of community, compassion, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

If you or someone you love is facing a cancer journey and in need of a wig, please reach out to Tammy at Color, Cut and Curls by calling 610-932-7834. In this small salon amidst the cornfields of Oxford, you'll find not just a wig, but a warrior ready to stand by your side.