Panicked over hair loss? Call your wig salon stylist!

When you look in the mirror and realize your hair is falling out – either thinning due to androgenic alopecia, or spots falling out due to alopecia areata, or knowing that your chemo treatment for cancer is finally causing your hair to fall, your first thought may be panic.

You have options. Your physician, if you’re receiving care for an autoimmune disease like alopecia, or for cancer treatment, may help you with understanding your disease, but probably is not able to help you through the emotional and practical side of hair loss.

That’s where your local wig salon for hair loss is really going to be your go-to for help. Besides a trusted confidante in a private one-on-one setting, your stylist at a wig salon (not a wig store or traditional salon where the public view of your hair loss may freak you out) will walk you through your best options to work with the hair you have, and prepare you for the hair you GET to have.

In Okemos, Jessica, at A Wig and a Prayer works with clients on an ongoing basis to manage their hair loss with consultations on wigs, toppettes, extensions and cuts to your biological hair to maximize the hair you have. 

The first step is making the call to the salon.

It’s best not to wait, as time passes, more hair will fall out. Planning ahead is important, and we’ve authored an article on when should you start wearing a wig for hair loss as a guide. But you have many options before you consider a full wig.

Emotionally, though, you may be a wreck – if you’ve lost your hair before, you know what you’re in for, and if you’ve never lost your hair, you have no idea what you’re up against! Talking to a trusted friend in your wig stylist is invaluable to gain that perspective. We recommend thinking about two things:

1)    What is the worst case scenario? You’ll lose all your hair. What steps can you take to help yourself through this time. Maybe it’s looking at ‘dream hair’ options – wearing the hair you’ve always wanted but never had.

2)    What is your best-case scenario? Will your hair grow back after cessation of treatment (cancer) or the onset of treatment (autoimmune?)  Can your thinning hair be augmented by a toppette that is woven into and secured into the hair you have?

Take some time to step away and do something healthy for yourself – attend a yoga class, go for a hike in the woods, journal or take yourself out for a fancy coffee. Perspective helps to make that mountain more of a small hill. You may still have to climb it, but you can be more prepared to do so.

Looking at both of these sides, from an objective place, can help put the panic of hair loss into perspective. Talking with friends or your spouse about the emotional side of hair loss can also be helpful. Talking with a hair loss wig stylist who specializes in helping women with hair loss is critical. 

Wearing hats with wigs and hats with hair – fall and winter hair loss tips

Fall and winter bring on new challenges with what to do with your (lack of) hair. Hair loss and wearing a wig doesn't need to be challenging, even with Michigan’s cold climate. It’s cold, and yet your wig is still itchy, and you still have to go indoors at some point – here are some hair or hat (or both!) options that you can use to look great without hair in the winter.

It’s socially acceptable to wear hats most of the year, but most common in the colder months! Even those with hair are wearing hats indoors, especially casually. 

Wear your wig under a hat:

This one can be tricky, depending on your wig’s style. Your wig may still feel itchy, and although it’s not hot, it’s not warm either! This can be frustrating to find that even in winter, a wig isn’t warm enough to be without a hat. Fall and spring seem to be the time when wearing a wig is most comfortable due to outdoor temperatures being mild but not too hot or cold. If you do wear your wig under a hat, consider that all wigs, even human hair ones (but especially synthetic) can leave your hair with static. A trick is to carry a small bottle of hair gel or hair conditioner, squirt a tiny amount into your hand, rub your hands together and smooth them over your wig when you get indoors.

Wear a hood or hooded scarf over your wig:

A hood is probably the best option for wig-wearers and a great option for when going between car and office, or car and store, a hood is not as tight, can be thrown back once inside and tends not to mess up your hair. If your coat doesn’t have a hood, consider a hooded scarf – a scarf with an attached hood. These are popular accessories in the winter, and can also be easily made in fleece fabric or knitted (by loving friends and family as gifts for you!) The only slightly distracting thing might be the rubbing of your hair under certain hoods can be noisy as the wig rubs on the inner part of the hood. (No kidding!)  Hooded fabric or knit scarves don’t have as much noise inside as nylon/quilted ones attached to coats.

Wear a hat with attached hair:

Your wig salon can help you source extensions that attach hair with Velcro to a hat. This means, with a change of several (soft, warm)  hats, you can have a cute wardrobe of outdoor hats to wear while running errands, snowshoeing, sledding, or hanging out with friends outdoors. If you’re attending a winter bonfire, just stay back from the heat of the fire with synthetic wigs, especially. You can sit by the fire if it’s burned down a bit and not throwing off high heat. In addition, it’s not at all unusual to leave your hat on inside especially in casual restaurants and pubs during the winter months. Attached hair is an extension with hair sewn to a fabric panel with velcro. The corresponding side of velcro is on the inside of the hat's cuff or brim. Several styles of extension can be attached to hats or one extension swapped between several styles of hats. Old wigs are good for this - the wig's cap can be cut for this. If you've been wearing wigs for a while (such as for alopecia), you may have older wigs you wish to repurpose into hat-wigs. 

Wearing wigs for snow sports:

Wearing both a merino wool hat and a Buff prepares you for both the outdoor activities (snowshoeing, cross country skiing, winter hikes with your pooch or significant other), but the indoor ones as well. Simply leave your hat on over your (bald) head, or swap it for the Buff when you get indoors. This guy on the left doesn't mind being bald at all, but he's unusual. Photo by A Wig and a Prayer client Ann. 

If you’re participating in alpine snowsports such as snowboarding or alpine skiing, you can wear a beanie or lighter weight hat under your snowsports helmet, with attached hair (see above.)  Or you can wear a Buff or beanie under your helmet and not wear hair at all. If you wear a buff,  duck into the restroom or locker room, put your buff on like a hood, with the tube down over your neck for neck and face protection, and pull the top up over your head like a hood. The Buff will cover your entire head, neck and even face and nose under your snow sports helmet. When you get back inside, head back into the restroom or locker room and pull your buff up over your head and scrunch it and tuck it like a hat to wear inside. It won’t be too hot, and a hat worn indoors at a ski lodge is not only common, but accepted!

For outdoor endurance sports like snowshoeing or cross country skiing, you might want to dispense with attached hair altogether and wear a beanie (in a warm merino wool) alone. The beanie style hats are comfortable, snug fitting and wicking. When you come in, either swap for a Buff or keep your merino hat on. Again, as for alpine lodges, XC ski bonfire warming areas, you'll be just like other skiers, all wearing hats. 

Whatever you choose for your hair-wearing options, fall and winter are wonderful times to take in nature’s beauty outdoors in Michigan, cozy up with a cup of hot cocoa afterward. 

When is it time to start wearing a wig for hair loss?

When is it time to wear a wig? A guide for women hair loss clients

When clients ask “when is it time to wear a wig?” if they are getting ready to undergo chemotherapy, have suffered androgenic hair loss (thinning) of the hair for years or decades or are losing patches to alopecia areata, the answer varies. A better question though is when to begin shopping for a wig, and that answer is nearly universal: while you still have hair, sooner, rather than later.

While you still have hair, your wig stylist can see your current hair and style, ask you what you like about your hair, what you wish your hair could be, and explore your lifestyle. Wearing wigs, or wearing hair as many wig wearers like to call it, is a personal decision, but making the choice to wear one is better when you do have hair.

This is an actual A Wig and Prayer client, about six weeks after an onset of Alopecia Areata. The average time for a custom human hair wig is 8-12 weeks. We sourced her a temporary synthetic wig (which took 10 days). She had already lost enough hair within the 10 days, that she had to resort to hats and scarves. Planning ahead is important. Come in before you think you need to.

If you opt for a full wig in a human hair wig, you may have to wait 6-12 weeks for your hair to be ready, so you don’t want to make the decision to wear a wig at the last minute. You can get a temporary synthetic wig from your wig salon (and it can arrive in the salon in Okemos) that will be an inexpensive option to get you through til your beautiful new hair arrives and is styled.

If you’re getting a good quality synthetic wig, and it’s in stock, you will usually wait 7-10 days for the synthetic wig to arrive in the wig salon in Okemos, and a few days further to schedule your try-on session. From there, you’ll have your wig trimmed and styled to fit you. Many wigs need trimming/thinning to look like the you that you love.

For those with androgenic alopecia, when your hair has gotten thin enough or your hairline has receded enough to not look how you love, that’s the time to get a wig.  You might have better perspective looking at older photos compared to recent photos. We get used to the slow progression of how we look, so you might not notice just how thin your hair has become. For alopecia areata, where the hair falls out in patches, progression of the disease can be months or days long, so don’t wait. Come in while you have enough hair that you won’t have to wear a temporary wig while yours is on order.

If you are undergoing chemo, usually between 1-4 treatments, you will begin losing hair. Some lose it fast, others slower, but when it falls, it comes out in clumps and you’ll be staring at patches of bald scalp. It’s best to select your wig when you still have hair, so come in as soon as you know you’ll be undergoing treatment.

The answer whether you should wear a wig is entirely personal. But when you should select your wig is always sooner rather than later. Since that first visit to your wig salon can be an emotional event, learn more about what you can expect here before you go. And schedule the appointment. It may be a hard step, but no one has ever left a wig salon without looking (and feeling) amazing!

You will say "why didn't I do this sooner!"

Hair replacement options that are NOT wigs: Toppers and Extensions

Your hair has been thinning, maybe for years, and now it’s gotten too thin to look how you want it to. You’ve tried thickening powders and makeup to no avail. But you’re not ready or willing to go head first into a wig. You do have some hair and either it’s thinning and showing more of your scalp than you’d like, or it’s just getting harder and harder to manage your slow hair loss.

What other hair options are out there? There are some awesome options that add to your existing hair and help you have beautiful, thick locks that look amazing (and stay in your hair for weeks at a time.)

Toppers:

Toppers, also called toppettes or hair pieces are a small section of hair that covers only the top portion of your head. Toppers are attached to your own existing hair by gluing, weaving or clipping. The type of topper that you choose will dictate the length of wear. Long term wear toppers will be woven or glued in, shampooed and styled with your own hair and removed and replaced by a professional every 4-5 weeks.  Short term or daily wear toppers will be clipped in and taken off each day and shampooed after 10-12 wearings. Far from your idea of a 'wiglet' or ‘toupee’, the topper is perfect for women with thinning hair due to age, hormones, or androgenic alopecia. You’ll be shocked at how GREAT you look with more hair! It blends in with your natural hair and it’s comfortable and easy to care for.  Toppers can be human hair or synthetic and no matter which one you choose A Wig and a Prayer has a-mazing options!

Extensions:

Like toppettes, extensions add fullness and body to existing hair. They can lengthen short, thin locks, and turn them into gorgeous, thick ones. They’re perfect for when you need more hair but due to androgenic, hormonal hair loss, just can’t grow it any more. Keep in mind that with extensions you have to have enough hair to hide the extension attachment. Extensions are best when your own growing hair is strong enough to hold them. If you have any questions about whether you are a candidate, give us a call!

It’s time, really.

Why try a topper or extensions? Simple. Your hair CAN look better. Odds are you’ve gotten used to the thinness of it, maybe haven’t noticed just how much of your scalp you can see. With a topper or extension, you can have the beautiful hair you had (or maybe always wanted!)

Here are some photos of clients wearing different types of  toppers.

Self Care While Wearing a Wig for Hair Loss

Find happiness in small things. 

Hair loss can be incredibly difficult. Many people, upon hearing a diagnosis of cancer, often express they are more worried about losing their hair than anything else. Once you get your first wig, you have a feeling of elation, or maybe just acknowledgement that you have something temporary to manage your hair loss. Those with diagnoses of permanent hair loss such as androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis are facing a lifetime without hair and might have bouts where they hate wearing their wig, and there is no end in sight.

Self care while wearing a wig for hair loss can’t possibly be overstated. You might have great hair now that you wear your wig, but you are grieving the loss of your own hair, of your own sense of self, of your own sense of personal beauty. The devastation is significant, emotionally and it’s well-documented. Depression is not uncommon.

Define self care:

It’s a way of helping you cope with your hair loss, while nurturing parts of you that you still love, giving you a boost that helps you keep going. You’ll have days where you’re angry that you’re wearing a wig, angry at the disease (cancer, autoimmune, hormonal) that causes you to lose your hair and, generally angry at other things.

Find something beautiful to focus on:

Shoes help. Or earrings. Or scarves, hats and wraps. Besides covering your head and accentuating your beauty, accessories are forgiving on fit on your body, which may also be changing as a result of your disease. We don’t mean to suggest you should bandage your wounded soul with things, but find things that help you cope with the loss of your hair can really make a difference.

Accessories rarely have issues with fit, they’re fun and usually relatively inexpensive. They also make great gifts if you have friends who want to bring you something. 

Feed your soul:

Nourish your body with healthy foods and good nutrition during your hair loss. Resist the temptation to eat Doritos or nothing at all (depending upon your hair loss situation). But feed your soul too! A subscription to audio books, or e-books, or a trip to a bookstore or library will help feed your soul. Whether you want to escape with novels or support your journey with self-help or inspirational books, stories feed your soul.

Support your spirit:

If faith grounds you in your life, consider attending extra worship times per week. Many churches offer daily or weekly prayer groups or prayer time, extra services or even just a chance to come in and pray quietly alone. Take comfort in your particular religious texts, find others online who share your faith and participate with them. 

Get it all on paper:

Journaling is a great exercise for the soul too. Prescribed by therapists, journals are a great way to both acknowledge the hurt that hair loss is inflicting, but it’s also a great place to write down what you’re thankful for – caring friends or family, the support of your co-workers.

If you know your hair loss is long term (from medical conditions like hormones or autoimmunity) you need to acknowledge that this is the new reality. This takes time – and you’ll go through all the stages of grief before more ore less settling in on acceptance. If it’s shorter lived, such as with chemo or anti-rejection medication, you know you have to get through a tough time to get back to the you that you once loved.

Lean on someone:

Recently, I read that if you have a dog, you should lean on them during trying times. Literally lean on them! Has your dog ever leaned on you with their hips? This leaning-on behavior is one way our pets show us that they love us. Leaning on someone – a pet, a spouse, or a best friend – literally – can help. Hair loss can make us feel socially isolated, and it’s very important to have touch contact with another person or a pet during this difficult time. Your wig salon stylist is a good person to contact initially - she is used to listening to clients talk about their hair, and understands hair loss. 

Focus on something or someone else:

Volunteering can be an exceptional way to get out of your own head and focus on someone else. Caring for others – whether shelter pets, or serving meals at a food kitchen, or even working on a community garden – can foster good feelings of accomplishment and get your head off your own troubles (pun intended!) But go slow, because the emotional process of hair loss will take more out of you than you think.

Get out there and move:

Many women with hair loss report that they put renewed focus on their bodies and physical health as part of their journey. If you’re wondering what do with your head or wig during exercise, check out our blog about that here.  Getting off the couch to 5K or taking up bicycle riding, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding or yoga are great ways to get outside, into nature. Nature is restorative. Since it's more acceptable to wear head wraps or hats during outdoor exercise (in any season) you may find this helps you get outside without your hair.

Self care during hair loss is critical for your very survival, can help with your healing and recovery (even if you will have to accept permanent hair loss.)  You CAN feel better than you do right now. Take just one of these things and implement it for 7 days straight and see if you feel better. Try it again for 7 more (or try something else for 7 more days.) After 21 days, whatever habits you’ve developed that work for you, should be keepers. 

How to swim in a wig or topper (and enjoy summer's heat and fun!)

Wearing a wig or a scarf in the pool in the summer: summer hair wearing tips

Shown here, a Buff (a stretchy tube of seamless fabric, available in many prints and colors) is a great way to cover your head while swimming. It's lightweight, dries quick and has high SPF. I usually tie it into a knot at the side, but the Buffs come with many ways to tie them on. You an also wear a beautiful scarf (shown here, hand-batiked silk oblong scarf) as an aprés pool or beach head wrap. With some dramatic earrings and a great coverup / dress, you'll look fab at the pool bar or beach party!

If you wear a wig full time due to hair loss from chemotherapy, alopecia or diffuse hair loss, you know summer’s heat makes wearing a wig hard. Here are some options for wearing a wig (and other hair options) around pools, beaches, oceans and parties in the summer.

Wearing your wig in the pool

If you have or can get an inexpensive backup wig from your wig salon and have it styled for summer, you can wear your wigs in the pool or ocean with a little prep work. First, have your primary wig in your bag, in it’s protective bag. You can stuff the cavity of the wig with a balled-up tee shirt to hold it’s shape. Then, secure your backup wig with a silicone wig grip headband (which grips better than the velvet headbands when wet.) If you have a long-haired wig, you can braid the end to keep it neat and in place. For short hair wigs, you can use a stretchy headband to keep the hair off your face while you swim. Never wear your expensive wig or primary wig in the pool, lake or ocean.

If you do wear your backup wig, rinse it as soon as you can and wash it that evening so chlorine and salt don’t damage it.

Wear a scarf in the pool

If you’d prefer NOT to swim with a wig, you can go bald, of course. Last summer at a large public waterpark pool in East Lansing,  a beautiful, confident woman wore just her own scalp in the pool. I don't know her story but she was amazing. Be sure to wear sunblock on your head. If you’re not quite comfortable with that, you can wear a Buff, which is a stretchy tube of fabric that fits snugly on your head. There are many ways to tie/wear a Buff and they dry quickly. You can also use a scarf as a bandanna-style or Hollywood-style wrap – be sure to use a scarf that won’t ‘grow’ when wet (something not cotton) and dry quickly. You can test this out at home by tying the wet scarf on your head and checking to see that it stays in place. Many women of color wear some sort of protective head wrap while in the water to protect their often expensive and time consuming braids, or straightened locks. You won’t be alone in your head coverings at the pool.

Try a Buff

Consider a hat with a Buff. Wearing a Buff or even a stretchy headband under a sun hat is a great option for pool and beach. For sporty people who like to swim, sail, or other water sports, a Buff is a great idea and works well for water sports. Don’t wear your wig water skiing, though. A Buff stays in place even through splashing down water slides at adventure parks, so don’t feel you have to sit out the fun.

Get a hat and put some hair on it

Try a hat with hair. Your wig salon can help you locate hair extensions that are attached with a fabric piece that can be sewn to a hat to create a hat-with-hair look for the beach or pool. This is also a great look for summer parties outdoors – many people wear hats, and your head won’t be hot or itchy since the hair is only attached to the base of the hat! If you use Velcro bands, the hair can be swapped between hats. Fedora and large floppy sun hats are very popular again this season.

Wear a scarf for pool parties and picnics

Scarves give an ethnic Caribbean vibe to any outfit, and a great dress plus an awesome scarf is a great post-beach or pool outfit or even a summer party outfit. See our Facebook page for links to scarf tying videos for a myriad of head scarf options to try.

Bring some cool wipes for your head: Mix up equal parts distilled water and witch hazel (you’ll find this at the drug store or pharmacy section of your grocery store), with either 1 drop of peppermint or two drops of lavender essential oils in a small 4oz spray bottle. Shake well and spritz on your bare scalp before applying your wig or if you need a ‘refresher’ because of the heat. Keep your wig bag with you along with a scarf, in case you’ve reached that “I’m done with this!” stage of wig wearing in the summer and feel the need to rip it off your head. The spritz and stowing your wig for a while might make the difference between enjoying summer’s heat and not!

Finding a wig you love (in Michigan)

From the moment you know your hair is going to fall out (or has fallen out enough to consider covering it up) you are thinking “how will I ever find a wig I love? In Michigan, no less?”

There ARE replacement hair options on line, of course. And you’ll probably Google that right away and come away with too many choices to decide. How will you know what is right? What’s the best kind of hair? Synthetic or human? What is too expensive? Too cheap?

And the big kahuna: will everyone know you’re wearing a wig?

First, let’s get that big one out of the way. No. It’s very hard to tell today’s well-made, modern wigs from human hair. As opposed to costume wigs, good, well-made wigs whether synthetic, or human hair, are made well enough to hide. In addition, your wig stylist will trim the lace on your lace front wigs to just enough to hold the hair in place, but so it cannot be seen (an online or not-so-good wig shop won’t do this for you – they may send you away with “just trim that off if you want” and you’ll be terrified to do so!)  If you buy it online, you're even more on your own -  your stylist may be terrified to cut into or alter your wig (many need to be shaped, trimmed and thinned out to look good on you.)

A wig should be fit to you – no one-size-fits-all wigs – you should order it in a small, medium or large cap, depending on your head size for the best fit. Even the clips on the bottom of the wig aren’t designed to cinch it down to your head. Be sure the stylist you’re working with measures your head to ensure the best cap fit for you.

You’ll want a Wig Grip headband (and other accessories) that your wig stylist will provide to you with your wig purchase. These are relatively inexpensive add-ons that really make a difference in styling and caring for your wigs. This includes special shampoo, conditioning spray and styling tools that will work for your type of wig.

Finding a wig you love should be an interactive experience. Your stylist should ask you to reflect on the kind of hair you love (or hair you have/had) and explore with you what you’re looking to achieve, what your lifestyle is and how you’ll wear your wig. Finding a wig you’ll love in Michigan is possible!

Working out with your wig (and how to keep it fresh & clean)

Working out with your wig:

If you’re working out in your primary wig, have a few things on hand to help:

HEADLINE IT! disposable wig liners are an essential product for any wig wearer. They come individually wrapped and are small enough to take with you anywhere and discretely packaged for your convenience. There is a nude back layer, which is great for camouflaging the liner under wigs and headwear. The High tech wicking material captures perspiration and keeps you dry!  It will protect wigs and headwear from dirt, oil, and sweat stains. You will get an average of 10 wearings per liner. There are 10 individually wrapped liners per box.

A stretchy headband to pull the wig’s layers off your forehead and nape of neck. If it’s a long hair wig, braid or pony-tail braid the hair to keep it off your back as well. Keeping your alternative hair off your face and neck is key to preserving your wig during workouts.

A backup WigGrip headband so you can put on a fresh one. If you need a WigGrip headband (the velvet style ones are amazing!) ask Jessica for sources.

Use a deodorizing spray to neutralize odors. Take off your wig, and turn it inside out once you’ve worked out, then spritz with a combination of distilled water and a drop or two Purification oil in a small spray bottle (one drop per about 2 cups of distilled water in spray bottle.) Let this dry a few minutes before putting on your scalp again. Purification oil is available from Young Living Essential Oils, and you can ask Jessica at A Wig and a Prayer how to get it. The Purification oil is a blend of essential oils that really works to mask the stinky!

A head/scalp toner will cool down your scalp before putting your wig back on. Use 1 cup of witch hazel to one drop of peppermint essential oil.

If you have a backup wig, use that to work out in instead of your primary wig. Switch to your primary wig after your workouts and wash your backup wig (s) for workout days.

If you have an older wig, you can make yourself a scarf with hair on it that is much more comfortable to work out in. If you have a long-hair wig, you’ll actually CUT up your wig and then sew it to a scarf or bandanna. Here are a few tutorials of scarves with attached hair that you can make.

Working out without your wig:

A stretchy headband for your forehead around to nape of neck and a baseball or sports style cap works great to cover your head while running or working out in the gym.  There are wide ones available OR use a Buff headband-style.

A traditional length Buff or stretchy seamless tube of fabric worn “do-rag” style under a bicycle helmet also works well for outdoor road or mountain biking, downhill skiing (under a winter sports helmet) or snowboarding. You can even rotate your Buff around to create a head sock/balaclava under your winter sports helmet to cover your head, neck, chin, mouth and nose too!

Getting the stink out of your wig:

If you do work out with your wig, you’ll need to wash it more frequently. But just washing it won’t cut it, so try this recipe:

Drop 2-3 drops of purification in 1 tsp of baking soda. Drop the mixture in a sink full of cool (synthetic) or luke warm (human hair) water and soak wig for 10-15 minutes before washing. It will remove any stubborn odors in wig. i.e.-smoke, sweat, etc.

How affordable are wigs for hair loss?

A wig is art for your head. Invest in what makes you feel great!

Wigs and other hair replacement options like extensions and toppettes, vary in price and quality. When you’re first shopping for a wig, it’s best to consult with a professional who can help you look at your lifestyle, not just try on wigs.

When you go to a wig salon with a professional stylist who works with replacement or alternative hair (aka wigs), you should expect to have her ask you about your lifestyle first. How long have you been losing your hair? When will your hair grow back (if ever?) What do you like about your hair (or dislike.)

If you are undergoing chemotherapy, for instance, you might have no hair for six to twelve months, but then, with successful ending of your treatment, your hair will grow back in. If you have alopecia areata, you might only need a topette to cover areas where your hair has fallen out. If you have androgenic alopecia, your hair might have been thinning for years and it’s finally time to add to it with extensions. If you have alopecia universalis, you might never grow hair again.  Your cost investment depends on how long you will wear your hair, how often you’ll wear it when you need it and what kind of care and look you want from your wig.

A styled, colored and customized long hair human hair wig might cost $2-3,000. If you don’t have hair and you’re not expecting to grow any, this investment (which should last you, with care, 2-3years) will cost you just $3 a day for the time you wear it.  But you might want to have more variety in your hair wardrobe and spend just $500-800 for a well-made synthetic wig that you will only wear for six months during chemo. If you’re really only interested in a wig for special occasions, you can get a synthetic wig, including trimming and styling for $200. And some programs, such as through your cancer center, have wigs for a very modest amount of money. This is a great option if you’re wearing your wig only occasionally through your treatment.

Many younger women with alopecia prefer to have several wigs for style variety-including length, style, color and cut – and for them, a wardrobe of moderate mid-range synthetic wigs are a great choice. If you’re wearing alternative hair for the rest of your life, having fun with the style and having the hair you really want is a way to cope with the hair loss in a positive way.

The key is to shop for wigs with your wig stylist at a wig salon, rather than a wig store or online. A wig stylist will take your wig and tailor it to you – thinning out, trimming or altering the wig’s style slightly to suit you. And buying the right size wig (small, medium, or large caps) is really critical if you want your wig to stay in place. Many women are surprised at the quality of synthetic wigs – but within the affordable wig category, quality varies.

A synthetic wig will cost less than a human hair wig, but there are exceptional heat-tolerant synthetics that look amazing and natural. Many long-hair wigs are lighter made from synthetics than from human hair, but they won't last as long.

Whatever your price range, if you need a wig for hair loss, a wig salon can help you feel beautiful again.

A Wig and a Prayer is an Okemos, Michigan (Lansing-Area) wig salon.

How to wear a wig (and love it!)

When you first lose your hair, and start wearing alternative hair like wigs, there are some key things you need to have and know.

A special Wig Grip headband worn under your wig will help it stay in place whether you have some hair or none underneath. The velvet band is comfortable, adjustable and doesn’t slip around.

You’ll want a head for your wig to rest on when you’re not wearing it. It should be a formed head. You can get a travel version that snaps together and slips into the bottom of your suitcase or backpack so you can take it with you on the road.

You might want clips and a strap for styling your wig, particularly when you’re brushing or blow drying (if you have a human hair or heat tolerant wig). You'll definitely want some wig-safe brushes with round nubs on the tips of the soft bristles.

The practical tips on how to wear a wig don't quite cover how to love a wig.

Before you lost your hair (or at any point in your life) what would have described hair you would have wished for? Your dream hair? With wigs, you can have your dream hair! Always wanted long, wavy tresses, beachy and fun? You can have that! Always wanted sleek long hair? You can have that too! Too freaked out to ever cut your hair in a pixie but want to try it? Wigs offer a chance to try on a different look and lifestyle easily.

Loving your wig is hard sometimes. It can be hot and itchy. It can drive you batty after a long day of wearing it (you might want to yank it off as soon as you get in your car - if you do this, it's most dramatic if you do it at a stoplight with others watching from their cars ;D) But loving your wig takes a third eye. Have a friend, spouse or sibling take photos of you in your wigs. Hire a professional photographer. You will notice how great you look with your wigs. Check out YouTube and Instagram for wig-wearing women with style and grace. A favorite video is one we found on an alopecia web site (Alopecia World); a young woman took a video of herself in her 27 different wigs (most synthetic) with different outfits, and then set the clips to music. It's a fun way to celebrate the ability to have a different hair style - color, cut, length and texture - whenever you want!

Follow other wig wearers on social media and you’ll be amazed! They don’t look like they are wearing wigs and you’ll be surprised at how gorgeous you can be wearing your wig, too!  You’ll also note how they style their wigs, including updos on long-hair wigs, using hair extensions added to hats and more creative ideas on wearing alternative hair.

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Instagram is a great place to follow wig wearers – as experienced wig wearers, they have great tips on how to wear wigs, how to draw on eyebrows and apply false eyelashes, have creative makeup tips. They also post about good brands that you can buy right here in Lansing from your wig salon such as Jon Reneau and Follea. Of course, you can also follow A Wig and A Prayer.

Here are a few people to follow: @alopeciablondie @follea @jonrenau @fauxhairfun @tressedtwo  Follea and Jon Renau are two wig brands that A Wig and a Prayer works with for wig clients. You can also search by #alopeciaareata or #hairloss and find dozens and dozens of others who post about their daily lives with wig, toppers, and extensions.

What about eyebrows and eyelashes? Jessica at A Wig and A Prayer in Okemos, MI can show you some options for faking gorgeous eyebrows, and you can get tutorials online on YouTube. Makeup tutorials abound. You'll note that wearing eyeliner is a great fake for not having eyelashes (it masks that pale and naked no-lash look very well.) Especially thicker eyeliner like cat-eye styles; embrace makeup when you have no hair.  There are options such as microblading, that fill in eyebrows, eyebrow tattoing that offer a semi or permanent replacement for lost brows.

Wig and a Prayer is a wig salon Okemos(Lansing-area) Michigan

Where to buy your wigs locally in Lansing?

You've decided you want to have great hair and you're going to buy a wig! Or, maybe, somewhat reluctantly, you've realized the inevitable and you have to buy a wig. Your perspective (in either case) is OK - own the feelings associated with buying a wig. Now what?

Your options for buying a wig in the Lansing area include wig stores, consultants, wig stylist at a wig salon or online. If this is your first wig, you'll want to consult with a wig stylist for your wigs. Having a consultation with a wig stylist (rather than buying a wig online or at a wig store) is more akin to having a personal shopper. The personal shopper asks you questions about your lifestyle, finds things that suit your personal style and your life, and you have a private try-on session to explore your new look. A wig stylist at a wig salon mimics this experience.

Your wig stylist at a wig salon will sit down with you and explore your hair - if you still have your hair (a good time to think about buying your first wig is when you still have hair), you can share what you like about your current hair with your stylist. If you've already lost a lot of your hair, you can bring photos of yourself or pin styles to your Pinterest board to share with your wig stylist.

Your wig stylist will work with you to explore the types of hair that fit your life. If you're experiencing thinning across the top of your head, for instance, you might just need a topette or extensions to add to the fullness that you've lost. If you're losing large patches of hair, you might need a full wig. How long you intend to wear your wig is also a consideration. If you're undergoing chemo, your hairless time might be six months or a year, but if you have alopecia areata or androgenic alopecia, you might need wigs for the rest of your life.

Where you buy your wigs also has an impact on how you care for your hair. Caring for 'alternative hair' (an industry term), is different from caring for your own hair, and having your wig stylist at a wig salon style, color and wash your hair every two weeks might be a better option than having to wash and style your own wigs.

If you've purchased your wig from a wig stylist, you have someone who knows how to customize the hair. Very often, wigs are not perfect for you the moment you put them on. The bangs might be too long, the fullness might be too much; traditional stylists do not know how to and often are afraid of cutting into wigs (particularly synthetic wigs) for fear that they will ruin your expensive investment. A wig stylist at a wig salon knows precisely how to cut wigs and cuts a lot of wigs - so she has a lot of experience.

Where do you find a wig stylist and salon? You can google wig salon in your area, such as "Wig salon Lansing, Michigan", or you can ask your hospital or doctor, or even your own stylist for recommendations. Most stylists are the ones that refer to a wig salon and wig stylist, because they are the ones that sit with you to cut and style your hair on a much more regular basis than your hospital or physician's office. They're among the first to tell you your hair loss is getting to the point where you might need a wig.

If you have a more rare condition (i.e. alopecia areata, totalis or univeralis, or androgenic) you will find a salon stylist owner can help you connect with a community of like-minded women that she knows. Buying online won't give you the support network you need a this challenging time.

Your stylist and salon is a relationship built of trust and caring. Your wig stylist wants you to leave feeling like you are a fabulous version of yourself. Perhaps with even better hair than you originally had!

What can you expect from your first hair replacement or wig appointment?

Because hair is so much a part of us, choosing hair is more akin to custom design than an off-the-shelf solution. Some clients want hair that matches exactly to their current style.  Others use the opportunity to have the hair they’ve always wanted. Some clients want hair only for special occasions, others need to wear their hair every day of the week. Some clients want to try different styles and have more than one wig, others need only a topette or extensions to fill in areas where hair is thinning.

Aero Toppettes like this one from Follea, offer lightweight hair addition options for women with androgenic alopecia where hair thins over a long time. It's perfect if you have some hair and want to blend it in with your own.

Because what kind of hair is perfect for you is so unique, your wig stylist will work with you to select the perfect hair replacement options for you. You’ll sit in a comfortable, relaxed environment, private and serene. You can bring girlfriends or your spouse, or you can come alone. Jessica will ask you about your lifestyle, your budget and your hair wearing needs.

At your first appointment, you can browse a variety of hair catalogs – much like you browse Pinterest or hairstyle magazines at your regular salon, see samples of the types of hair replacement options available, feel the types of hair options and try on samples for fit. Your hair will arrive at the salon (timing depends on the type and style of your hair replacement option) and you’ll return so Jessica can cut and style your wig, hairpiece or extension to fit with your face shape and desired style.

You’ll leave feeling a new hope – and know that your new hair will be gorgeous and perfectly suited to you!

I’m losing my hair and I’m scared, what are my options?

You’re sitting in your stylists chair and she notices something. A small patch of missing hair. And another. Your first instinct is to freak out and head directly for your doctor. A wise choice. Or, you’re in the shower and notice clumps of hair coming off when you wash it. Losing your hair is scary. But there are good options for hair replacement including wigs, extensions, hairpieces called toppettes and integrated hair systems that use your own hair.

Your next stop is googling hair extensions or hair pieces or even wigs. The sheer number of results can be overwhelming. What should you choose? How do you match it to your hair color? Do you have to cover your whole head or just that spot?

Your stylist, who has cut and styled your hair for years, may know of a wig stylist, a specialist who is licensed as a stylist and has training and experience cutting and styling wigs.

A stylist who cuts wigs - synthetic or human hair – can help make that wig or hairpiece make it perfectly you. Almost all wigs require at least a small amount of styling - trimming around ears or bangs, adjusting length or reducing fullness. And few salons have stylists trained or experienced in cutting and styling wigs.

You might not need a full wig! Some clients only need a toppette, where your own hair is integrated into a cap that feels cool, natural and can stay in for weeks at a time, where you care for it as you would your normal hair. You might need extensions to help with thinning hair, or you might find you’re most comfortable with a whole wig. Your wig stylist should go over all of your options, and she should guide you to the best option that fits your type of hair loss and how you feel about your hair.

When you leave, you should feel comfortable, beautiful and confident with your new (or newly augmented) hair!

I need a wig, where do I start?!

It’s the stuff of nightmares. Your hair is falling out in clumps, due to alopecia or chemotherapy. Or it has grown so thin, you can’t continue hiding it under caps, headbands or powdered makeup. You realize you might need a wig. Where you do you start?  If you're in Lansing, or Grand Rapids or Metro Detroit in Michigan (or anywhere else, for that matter), odds are you're going to turn to Google and search for "Wigs in Lansing, Michigan".

The process of searching, evaluating and buying wigs can seem daunting. The price might seem out of reach. You might be afraid of looking like you’re wearing a Halloween costume wig instead of hair. The process of replacing your natural hair with a wig – or, as the medical industry terms it “cranial prosthesis” -  is scary. You don't know if you want a synthetic wig or a human hair wig and you won't know anything about a "lace front cap" and the third result you see is "Cheap Fashion Wigs", surely, not something you want at all!

First, it’s helpful if you have photographs of yourself before you began losing your hair. Gather up photos of yourself when you had a full head of hair, look at hairstyles that you like in magazines, or on web sites like Pinterest. Although losing your hair can be scary, it also gives opportunity for changing your look or having the hair you always wished you had!

A visit to a wig salon is your next step. A private, comfortable space where you can have a private consultation with a wig and hair style specialist is a positive and comfortable way of exploring your options. There are many options for wigs, including full wigs in both synthetic or human hair, toppettes (which clip to your remaining hair), extensions and even integrated wig extensions that incorporate your real hair.  A private consultation will ensure that you’re not overwhelmed by so many wigs, and help you explore options at a comfortable pace. If you want to bring a trusted friend or loved one, or come alone, it’s all up to you.

You probably googled Wigs and ended up at this site. And you know in your search there are thousands (millions) of listings about wigs, but are they good wigs? A great wig is an extension of you. It should make you feel beautiful, confident and, well, you.

You can’t tell that a wig will make you feel your best just from a web site. Nor can you know what hair replacement options are best for you. If you have androgenic alopecia or thining hair, you might be able to incorporate your own hair in to an integrated wig. If you are losing your hair for a short time, such as for chemotherapy, your options might be different than if you have alopecia or hormonal hair loss that can last for many years or even be permanent.

Gather up your photos and ideas, and scheduling a private consultation at a wig salon is your best option for feeling your beautiful self again.

Hair or Not, It's really OK.

It’s hard to believe that its been 2 whole years since I shaved off all my hair in an attempt to briefly understand what it would be like to wear a wig on a daily basis.  It was definitely something that I will never forget.

I have had many people ask me what my experience was like and ask me to write about it. I always meant to write about it sooner, but time got away from me and quite frankly I thought to myself, “who cares?” Who cares what I, a person who has hair, who made the “choice” to shave my head, only to have it grow back immediately with no pain and no sickness thinks? Who really cares?? And seriously, I still feel that way.  I don’t really care about my experience at all. What I do care about is each and every woman that I have helped on her journey through hair loss. I care deeply about every story that I have heard and I am humbled and grateful for the trust that these women have put in me to educate them and provide them with quality hair replacement options.

I have the pleasure of serving women who have no choice. They have absolutely no choice whether they have their own hair or not. Some are sick with cancer and lose their hair to chemo. Others have autoimmune diseases and their hair just falls out without any warning and without any rhyme or reason. There are women who have hereditary hair loss or excessive thinning.  Some, through no choice of their own, have a disorder in which they are compelled to pull out their own hair. There are many different reasons women lose their hair.  The feelings and emotions that accompany hair loss are also entirely unique with each person.

I’ve known women who, when faced with hair loss due to chemotherapy choose to shave their heads immediately before any hair starts to fall out. I’ve also known women who choose to hold on to every last strand.  There are women who are comfortable wearing hats and scarves. Some women are fine with super thin hair. There are women who grieve deeply the loss of their long thick hair while others couldn’t care less. What I have learned through all of my experiences with each woman that I encounter is that whatever they are feeling and whatever they choose to do or not do with their hair is OK.

 I had someone once say to me that a bald head seemed like a badge of courage for a woman going through chemo. Maybe it is. If a woman feels that her bald head is her badge of courage, then it should be. Not every woman feels that way and that is OK too. It shouldn’t be any less a badge of courage if a woman wants to wear a wig while she goes through chemo.

Chemo and sickness are not the only reasons people lose their hair. Some women lose hair for no apparent reason at all. They are not sick, yet if they walk around with a bald head they get looked at with eyes of sympathy and sadness because people assume they are sick. Again, if someone with long term hair loss decides that a wig is not for them and they are comfortable rocking their baldness, then I say, you go girl! If they decide they want to buy some hair to wear, then there is no shame in that either.

I’ve been asked many times why I do what I do. Why do I want to work with wigs? The answer is simple. I love to make women feel beautiful and I love to create beauty.

Should a woman feel beautiful just because of who she is on the inside? Yes. Should a woman be able to walk around with whatever hair she has or does not have and still feel beautiful? Absolutely. Should a woman have confidence because she is smart and capable? Yes. Should a woman be able to go to a meeting with no hair and not get looked at with sad or inquisitive eyes? Yep. Should her colleagues assume she is able to complete the job at hand with excellence? You bet! Do all of these things happen all of the time in the world that we live in? Nope. Is it right? No way! Will they ever happen all the time? I sure hope so.

In my experience with women and hair, I have found that it is so much more about how she feels than how she actually looks. I can tell a woman all day long that she looks fabulous in a short haircut, but at the end of the day if she “feels” ugly and unfeminine, then its not the right cut for her. She needs to “feel” fabulous.

I had many people tell me that I looked beautiful with a bald head. It was very kind of people to say and I’m sure they meant it. However, I didn’t “feel” beautiful. I felt naked and I felt like someone else. I didn’t feel like me. 

So when I’m asked how it was to wear a wig, my answer is always the same; it sucked. (Not great for business, I know!) Sometimes it was completely hot, completely itchy and completely annoying as hell. BUT it always felt completely like me. It felt like I could go anywhere and not have people look at me strange or weird. It felt like I still looked like myself and that mattered to me. The bottom line is, a wig was what I needed. It isn’t what everyone needs and that is OK. If I would’ve been a hat or scarf person, I would have worn them. I’m NOT and that’s OK. If I would’ve felt comfortable rocking my bald head, I would have. I didn’t and that’s OK. Its ok that I liked wearing a wig because it made me feel like“ME”.  

This is what I really want every woman to know when I work with her and her individual hair loss. IT’S ALL OK. If a woman feels like her best self with a hat or a scarf on, it’s OK. If a woman feels like her best self with thin fine hair, it’s OK. If a woman feels like her best self with no hair, it’s OK. If a woman feels like her best self with a wig or a hairpiece on, it’s OK.  My goal is to meet every woman where she is at and support her there. In the end, if that means she doesn’t get a wig, well then that’s OK with me too.

"So, what's with the prayer?"

"So, what's with the prayer?" This question was posed by one of my clients. I figured the blank stare and ensuing silence on my part probably wasn't going to be good enough in the future so I better mull this one over for awhile and come up with a better answer.

The very short answer for why I settled on the name A Wig and a Prayer is that I had a dream about it. I woke up in the morning and there it was right on the tip of my tongue. I thought it sounded clever and it went along with who I am, so I quickly wrote it down and the rest is history. For those of you who like the "bottom line" and you like it quickly, you can stop reading now. You’re welcome.

If you are still reading, the above paragraph told you a little about my personality. I am a big picture person. I have an uncanny ability to find the bottom line in everything. I also tend to be searching for it in everything I hear and read. So that paragraph was for all of my fellow "bottom liners" out there. Those of you still reading are probably just curious or you are more detail-oriented people. That’s ok too. Detailed people write amazing books, tell great stories, read (and follow) the directions and clean up while cooking. Details are great as long as I am able to pinpoint the bottom line in them somewhere. If not, you may encounter my "open mouth; glassy-eyed; for the love of all that is good and holy, what is this person getting at?" stare. Now you know.

Maybe it’s just who I am or maybe it has something to do with being a hairdresser. I spend a lot of time listening to long stories about hair (and relationships and family and work and life.) I have to quickly decipher what someone wants and how I am going to turn them into Jennifer Aniston in 45 short minutes. Let me tell you, women can come up with some LONG stories about their hair only to decide in the end that we will be taking a ¼ inch off the bottom. Either way, I do think that being this way makes me a better hairdresser because I have the ability to understand what someone is really trying to say, when they have said SO MUCH more than that.

The longer version of why I decided on A Wig and a Prayer must begin with telling you a little about my faith. I believe in one God who exists in three persons: God the father, Jesus Christ the son, and The Holy Spirit. I am a sinner saved by grace through the faith that I have placed in Jesus Christ. I believe that the Bible is God's true word and that it lays out His redemptive plan for sinners. It teaches me about God and is my instruction manual for life. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Since I'm not even sure what the previous paragraph means, let me sum that up for you: I'm a big loser (recovering), God loves me anyway (and thinks I'm awesome), Jesus gave his life to secure my spot in heaven (amazing), the Holy Spirit teaches me and reminds me when I'm being an idiot (daily) and I can (and should) go to the Bible before google, (always). But let’s face it, you’re just not going to learn how to clean every inch of your house with only vinegar or a million things to do with a coffee filter in the Bible. Just sayin.'

Getting back to the “What’s with the prayer?” question. Aside from the catchy play on words and the obvious divine intervention via dreams, I used the name because of my faith. I believe in the power of prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

I think that a lot of women who are facing or experiencing hair loss are fearful or worried about it. I know that I am. I'm afraid I will be ugly. I'm afraid I will lose my femininity. I'm afraid my husband will be totally freaked out by me. I'm afraid people will stare at me. I'm afraid people will judge me. I'm afraid I will look weird in a wig. I should probably stop now. I'm sure I could think of more.

Now I will close with a short self-talk. (Feel free to use it yourself if you like): I believe God is who he says he is. I believe God keeps his promises. I believe God is trustworthy. I know that I can pray and "cast all my anxieties on him because he cares for me." (1 Peter 5:7) I believe that when I do this I can experience peace. Now I'm going to go write that on a notecard and post it on my bathroom mirror. What can I say? I have a short memory. 

Why I've decided to shave my head

First and foremost I want to say that I have no idea what it is like to be diagnosed with cancer or to have medical or hereditary baldness of any kind. I am doing this to try and understand the emotions that a woman goes through when she is faced with losing her hair and all that goes along with wearing a wig on a bald head. I do not want to make light of the seriousness of hair loss or to be insensitive to women who are going through hair loss due to a sickness. On the contrary, my goal in doing this is to illustrate the intensity of emotion that a women has toward her hair and the prospect of losing it.

I am realizing that hair loss is a very personal and very different experience for each woman I meet. I have decided that in order to speak intelligently about being bald, then I really must BE BALD. I am going to be talking to women about shaving their heads and wearing wigs and if I have never actually had to do that, it is much more difficult to give advice on the subject. I want to have first hand knowledge and a new level of compassion to share with my clients.

So this is why I have decided to shave my head. This October 10th I will be getting rid of all of my hair. October is breast cancer awareness month. It also marks one year since I went to a wig store with my friend and made the final decision to begin A Wig and a Prayer. I have chosen to share this journey because I want women to see that although hair loss is frightening, it does not have to be devestating. There are gorgeous, natural looking hair replacement options to make you look and feel beautiful!

There....I've said it out loud to the world. I guess I can't change my mind now! If you are interested, I will be sharing more about the whole process and the effect it has on me as a person, a wife, a mother, and a business owner. I'd love to hear your thoughts!