Wigs are HOT!
I got my first wig at the cusp of spring turning to summer. It was super dense with hair on the cap. The feeling of sweat between the wig cap and my scalp was disgusting. On the flip side, taking my wig off after coming inside from the hot outdoors was almost as relieving as taking my bra off after a long day.
Wigs can be purchased on the internet.
With the exception of one wig, I have made all the rest of my purchases online. Sure, I wish I could try before I buy, but at the same where else can you view hundreds of wigs at the same time.
Human hair is not always best.
My first wig was human hair and heavy. My second wig was synthetic, light weight, and comfortable. I loved it and I wore it until it was noticeably thinning.
More expensive does not mean better or even more comfortable, but you also get what you pay for.
I've had wigs that cost $600-$800 and wigs that have cost $40. One of my more expensive wigs was beautiful, but heavy and a bit uncomfortable. The other expensive wig was light, comfortable and wonderful.
Similarly, my first inexpensive wig did it's job, but was itchy, stiff, and shiny, which definitely took some getting used to. My next, and so far favorite wig cost less than $40, was comfortable, the hair soft, very realistic, and moved like hair is meant to.
I've also had some truly horrible, yet inexpensive wigs. I made the mistake of buying two wigs via Amazon. The buying process was fine. Once the wigs got to me the reason for their low cost was evident. One, which was only $6, had no discernible part and left me looking like Cousin It and it shed. All wigs shed, similiarly to normal hair, but every brush stroke seemed to pull chunks out. The other wig was supposed to have chunky blonde and red highlight. It looked young and fun and I was really excited for it. When it showed up the "blonde" streaks were really white. Needless to say, I didn't wear either and as they had come from China I was stuck with them.
Lace front wigs are intimidating!
I've only bought one lace front wig and I'm not in a hurry to buy another. A lace front wig is supposed to give you a more natural hairline. Perhaps it does and it's entirely possible that I did something wrong or incompletely. When you get a lace front wig it comes with excess lace on the cap around the front hair line. You are supposed to cut the lace to you desired hair line. My hands shook so much for fear of making a mistake while cutting. I haven't been so nervous cutting something since the first time I cut my baby girl's finger nails after her birth.
Buyer Beware!
As I already mentioned I've had some buyer's remorse after purchasing a few wigs. The wigs from China were not cost effective to return.
The lace front wig I bought I did want to return, not only because of the intimidating lace cutting, but because it also had combs/clips on the inside of the cap that were not mentioned in the description. That said, I had already taken off the tag to make it easier to try on. Once the wig has been tried on it can no longer be returned. I was stuck with another wig, but at least this one was wearable. It might not have been super comfortable, but it was serviceable.
I tend to wear my wigs until they are very worn, so I guess it's good to have a spare, even if I wouldn't typically wear it.
Something else I've learned is to explicitly tell my family and friends to speak up if something isn't right with a wig I am wearing. I know that I can be sensitive to hair criticism, but I don't want to look like a fool.
Several years ago I went on an epic vacation with 14 members of my family. In the middle of it, one night in our hotel room. I asked my husband if he notice how thin the hair of my wig had gotten in the back. He said that he did. I was mortified. I hadn't realized how bad it was until that day. It felt like when I first started losing my hair all over again. I cried myself to sleep and I know my husband felt guilty for saying anything, but I needed to know. Next time, hopefully he will say something sooner.
I've definitely developed a preference for synthetic hair wigs. As a parent of 3 young kids, I have more important things to spend money on than a new wig. Buying wigs that cost less than $50 suit my purposes and my budget. Plus, if I decide that I'm ready for a change I don't feel guilty.
As much as I love my budget friendly wigs, I do lust after the Medical Hair Prosthesis by Joseph Parish. It claims that it can be worn up off the face, you can swim with it on, ultimately, do most things you would do with your own natural hair. I could never justify the cost...$2500 to $3600, especially knowing it would need to be replaced at most in a few years.
It mostly comes down to comfort. What are you comfortable spending? Are you comfortable wearing it? But also, do you feel good about you? Do you feel confident? Do you feel beautiful? It doesn't matter what anyone else says. Yes, compliments are gratifying, but if you don't feel good about you, it will show.
One of the hardest parts of alopecia is mental toll it takes. Losing your hair is easily equivalent to losing your femininity and beauty. So much value is put into a persons looks. You are more than how you look.
Although beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, the feeling of being beautiful exists solely in the mind of the beheld.
-Martha Beck
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