You Fight the Chemo, We Fight the Hair Loss.
Turning Pain into Purpose: How One Woman Turned Her Cancer Battle into Hope for Others
Ashley Merrick, Founder of United Capping LLC
I never chose the path that led me here—but I’ve chosen to use my experience to help others.
In August of 2021, at just 38 years old, I was diagnosed with HER2-positive, estrogen-positive breast cancer. My life was full: a wonderful husband, two active boys, and a busy schedule. Battling cancer was the last thing I ever imagined. My treatment plan included chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, and long-term medication. But before any of that, I had to face one of the hardest moments—telling my boys, then just seven and ten.
To them, cancer meant two things: dying and losing your hair. When they asked if I would go bald, I realized that keeping my sense of normalcy—for them and for myself—was going to be vital. That moment sparked my determination to find a way to preserve not only my hair but also our family’s sense of stability.
My research led me to cold capping, a method that cools the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy to help prevent hair loss. By tightening the hair follicles, the cold slows down the absorption of chemotherapy drugs into the scalp, reducing damage to the follicles. My husband became my “cold cap specialist,” reading manuals, watching videos, and practicing ahead of time to ensure we did everything right. His dedication paid off: I kept 85% of my hair. To the outside world, I never looked sick. My boys never saw me without hair. And every time I looked in the mirror, I saw me—not my diagnosis. That made an incredible difference to my emotional and mental health throughout treatment.
After being declared disease-free, we founded United Capping LLC to help others navigate this process with confidence and comfort. Cancer treatment is overwhelming enough—cold capping doesn’t have to be.
Through United Capping, we offer personalized support ranging from pre-treatment training to full-service capping throughout chemotherapy. Our mission is to help patients preserve their hair and dignity, while offering understanding from someone who’s been there. While our business is mainly in the Knoxville area now, we are excited to announce our expansion to the Nashville area.
Cold capping saved more than my hair—it helped me reclaim control. Now, we are honored to help others do the same.
