Markasia "Kay" R. Thompson: Cranial Prosthesis Specialist Austin, Texas

My name is Kay and I am the CEO and Founder of Kay's Hair Extensions. I am passionate about providing high-quality, stylish wigs that bring comfort and confidence to those experiencing hair loss from medical conditions like cancer, alopecia, and autoimmune diseases.

Inspired by the incredible strength of my grandmothers, who both battled cancer and faced hair loss with grace, I felt a deep calling to make a difference in the beauty industry. They were always fashionable, rocking their wigs with style, and their resilience ignited my desire to offer solutions for others facing similar challenges.

I studied at the University of Central Missouri and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Studies with a Minor in Social Work, so I have always wanted to help others; however, my main goal has been to merge my love for helping others with my passion for making others feel confident and beautiful. I started my hair business back in 2015 and the main product was hair extensions - no wigs.

I lost one of my grandmothers shortly after from Lung cancer. She experienced hair loss from chemotherapy radiation but always wore the cutest wigs. She loved her short cuts, and we agreed that I would create her a salt and pepper colored wig one day. I didn’t get a chance to make the wig but I was determined to get my new business to a place where I would be able to achieve the goal we set.

She always told me to go after every dream I had, so keeping that in mind, I decided to start being intentional about my business after she passed. Being in college at the time, I learned how to market myself through word of mouth by speaking to students on campus, building relationships and, most importantly, establishing trust.

After graduating, I became even more interested in human hair wigs/units due to heat damage I experienced with my own hair and decided to teach myself how to create them and install them. It took some time and patience, but in 2021 I created my first custom closure unit. I received such great feedback and many compliments and decided after creating 2 more, I was going to add custom wig construction to my services. I never knew how much joy I would get from creating wigs and helping my clients achieve the looks they’ve always desired but thought they couldn’t.

Fast forward to July 2024, I lost my only living grandmother who survived Multiple myeloma and was in remission for 10 years. She loved her wigs and never let the hair loss from chemotherapy radiation get her down. I am blessed to have created 3 wigs for my grandmother and witnessed how happy and confident she felt wearing them.

It was also so rewarding to know that I was able to construct a wig for at least one of my grandmothers. It hasn’t been easy without her, knowing that we talked about the steps I needed to take to become a Cranial Prosthesis Specialist, but I know that she is so proud of me.

The way my grandmothers lit up and were unstoppable when they wore their wigs, is the experience I strive to provide for all of my clients who are suffering from hair thinning/hair loss due to medical-related issues.