About
My name is Ashley Merrick and I am the founder of United Capping LLC. I did not choose the path that led me here but I am choosing to take my experience and use it to help others. In August of 2021 I was diagnosed with Her 2+, estrogen positive, breast cancer. At 38 years old with a wonderful life filled with two active boys battling cancer was the last thing I needed. After getting my treatment plan of chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation, and continuous medication for at least 5 years, I knew it was time to tell my boys the dreaded news. At age 7 and 10, the only understanding they had about cancer was dying and hair loss. The first conversation was filled with questions about how I would feel and if I would lose my hair. At that moment I knew I would try whatever I could to make this journey as seamless as possible for my husband and kids. I began researching hair supplements which lead me to cold capping.
Cold capping is the process of cooling the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy to prevent alopecia. The caps are placed on the head at a cold temperature to attempt to tighten the hair follicles so that chemotherapy medicines do not kill the follicle and result in hair loss or extreme cases, permanent alopecia.
In my opinion and personal experience, cold capping helped save my life. I never looked sick, my kids never had to see me without hair, I never had to look in the mirror and be reminded of my illness. My emotional and mental state throughout chemo was highly impacted by the success I had with cold capping and in turn, I believe, helped me beat cancer!
After I was declared disease free, I decided I wanted to use my experience to help others which then led to United Capping. Being diagnosed with cancer is stressful for the whole family. Managing the cold caps can add to that stress. United Capping was designed to help with the process by taking the worry of hair loss off the list. My services include training prior to treatment, training during the first chemotherapy session, or complete capping for the duration of treatment. Tailoring my assistance to fit the needs of each patient is the ultimate goal. While saving their hair is the priority, I bring a sense of comfort with my own experience and success.