What it's really like to need to wear a wig PART 1

You may or may not have spotted me share this story on Twitter and Facebook yesterday, about one girl's wig experiences and the emotional and financial drain she faces. When I posted the story, I also promised to blog about it and give my thoughts (I have very mixed feelings about the piece) and it has inspired a series of blog posts, of which this is the first!

The first thing I did was watch the video, and I went from horrified to pretty angry at the content of that video! The video is inane and very misleading and whilst I appreciate the hair stylist is responsible for Beyonce's beautiful, bouncy locks, if my wig consultations went anything like that, I'd have been out the door faster than you could say 'wig'.

There are two common ways to buy wigs; first, through a wig reseller, either a hairdresser or wig specialist or second through an online store. What that SHOULD involve is an opportunity to discuss and consider your options, likes and dislikes, and second, the opportunity to see what a wig looks like before saying 'this is the one'. Upon watching the video (which takes a different tack), the hairstylist tells the girl what she will have which 'should come in at less than four grand', and then when they are ordered in and arrive, the pair decide 'this is the wig' after no more than wafting it around on a polystyrene head. Luckily for her at the end of video, she walks out with glamourous, very natural looking hair and a big grin on her face, but no thanks to the consultation in my eyes! I hope to goodness that this is just a poorly edited, low-budget video to 'add interest' rather than a glimpse at the reality of the consultation; but based on my discussions with other people, this type of experience is all too common!

Don't ever believe that just because someone sells wigs for a living they a) have a clue what they are talking about, b) understand the emotional and physical experiences involved in wearing a wig or c) resell the right wigs for you. There are a lot of absolutely fantastic wig specialists and advisers out there, but there are also many that 'fall' into selling wigs, either as a way to make money, as an extension to a hairdressing business, or because they originally tried to help out a friend. Unfortunately, the latter can often leave people with a feeling that wigs are essential but a nightmare, rather than the much more desirable accessory that fits simply and easily into your everyday life. What a good wig should make you feel is fabulous and your natural self, and in the best case scenario should make you fall in love with it! True, it isn't your natural hair, but when you can't face the prospect of being a #BaldHeadedBeauty just yet, you wig should be your absolute best friend, not an item to be tolerated.

Here's what's so wrong with this video:

1. There are probably a million different wigs on this planet ranging from synthetic to human hair with different cap constructions, styles and prices. For a good wig that's suitable for medical hairloss rather than dressing-up, you should expect to pay somewhere between £100 and £4,000 depending on your choices. £4,000 should not be your starting point and should be a very serious, considered decision as there are plenty of lower-budget wigs out there that can be just as good as a £4,000 one; trust me! 
2. TRY. IT. ON. I cannot stress this enough - try a wig on. How good they look and feel will depend on your head shape and size, the cap construction, the colour of the hair, the colour of your skin and the shape of your face. Something that looks fabulous on a friend can look entirely different on me, and just like buying a dress, you have to make sure it fits when it's actually on. True, your consultant can help increase the likelihood that it will fit, but they can't guarantee you will like it until it is on. Even if you order it online, as long as you don't wear it for hours and send it back with any obvious wear, you can give it a try to ensure you are happy!
3. Think about your lifestyle; a wig is not a direct replacement for your hair, because it is not growing out of your head! I know that sounds a tab obvious, however it does mean that it isn't repairing itself or growing, and therefore it will deteriorate over time. I have both human and synthetic wigs, but having an active lifestyle with a lot of dog walking, windy days and not a lot of spare time, it's my synthetics that get the most wear, offer the best value for money and suit me the most. Don't think that a synthetic can't be as good as real hair and make a considered choice rather than selecting the closest physical match to your original.

As I said, this seems to be just a poorly shot promotional video rather than any serious reflection on the appointment or service offered (she expands on the service in the actual article), but it does unfortunately provide unrealistic expectations and your wig experience just shouldn't be that way! If you do have any questions, feel free to email me and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction!

Victoria x


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