Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
Ordered the Gripper
Well I went into Seattle today for a consult for a Follea gripper. Feeling a bit nervous now, I tried on One that was really long, not my style at all I prefer a long bob, but got an idea how the fit will be. I still have some hair, but they said I could wear it with the hair I have, I was all set to shave it, but the gal there said that I didn't have to right away, does anyone else have the Gripper? They claim that they really stay put, which makes me feel much more secure. I have not been wearing a wig so this is a big step for me, they are so expensive, but I've seen post on here that someone said theirs lasted for years, sure hope that's true. I would love to hear from anyone who has one, or been through this.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Carmen West on
-
Hi Christine,
My name is Carmen West, hair stylist, specializing in cutting human hair prosthesis. I have been working with the gripper for two years and my clients love this piece. Check the photo posted. there are two pictures of Makayla wearing her gripper in an up do to show off her created hairline. Email me if I can be of service to you,
Carmen West cwestgb@aol.com
-
Permalink Reply by Christine on
-
Hi Carmen, thanks for the encouragement, I'm feeling so nervous right now, it's such a commitment, because I have not been wearing a wig, I don't have any experience, Idid buy a synthetic wig many years ago, which was uncomfortable, and kept ridding up in the back, because I still had hair but was bald about halfway up from my neck, I would tighten it up so much it hurt, but still would slip, I feel like a novice
jumping into a big decision and big expense without much knowledge about wigs behind me. I was not able to see the photos, but I'm on my iPad, and I'll check on my
computer later, would love to see other real people in the gripper, I'm not sure which one I ordered, the cool, sport, or other but I did get the machine sewn as it takes six months to get a full hand tied custom. My husband thought I should have two, one as a back up in case it needs repair, and feels I should do a custom order, the salon I ordered from does the color and style, I'm sure they have lots of experience, I'm just a worrier it's different when you try on a finished product and you know what it looks like, again I have no experience so feel like I'm going into this blind. Do you have any clients who wear the gripper while still having some hair? I wish that this were different, I feel sick over it, I'm so thankful to hear that people love their Grippers.
-
Permalink Reply by Lexi on
-
Christine, let me know how the gripper turns out. How much was one? OK, so hubby is on board and said buy two. I love that. And you still have hair. That is my confusion. I was always told you had to be bald to wear a gripper. No hair whatsoever. I also have the ophaisis. I know what you mean, I mean exactly what you mean, about wearing a wig and making it too tight - so tight it hurts, yet rides up in the back, then makes it appear even poufier than it should. Hopefully you ordered the cool one, but Seattle, you don't need that one. Florida, I surely would. Keep us all posted on this venture. I would also be stressed about spending all of that money, then to find it was too hot, or I didn't really like it, and never wear it. How long will it take?
-
-
Lexi,
I'm so excited and scared at the same time. I had heard like you that you couldn't have hair with the grippers, the one I got is called the sport. I just called to find out, silly I didn't even find out yesterday, I was just so in shock I guess. One thing I think is that it may slip a bit with the hair, but I'll let you know if it does, tho I don't want to shave whats left, if my hair is fantastic (the wig) than I just may even tho my husband is having a hard time over the shaving, I think that he feels its so drastic, and what if it grows back, or at least in enough that I can style my own again to cover it, so far I had been doing really well at hiding it with the ophiasis pattern, but now I have big spots on the upper. Lexi do you have any other hairloss, like eyebrows or lashes, leg hair and such??? I lost my eyebrows a few years ago, and they have never come back, I'm losing my lashes in spots hear and there, I also have very little hair on legs, and I use to have way too much, shaving all the time, I have always felt in the back of my mind that I would go AU for some reason the eyebrows make me think that, even if I don't totally lose it all, I think what I have will be not much, the under hair has been the white ones for a long time now, and cant remember when they were last normal colored, same with the ear area. I am so happy about my husbands about face with the wigs, almost can't believe it he is usually so bad when it comes to me and money issues. The gripper will be here on the 17th of this month, I ordered the non custom one as the customs take 6 months to get, my husband (Ken) said that I should order a custom one thats handtied for my second one. I think he finially realizes that this is a big thing, and not going away. One of the young gals in there who was with me during the process, said that she wore the same one as me, and she could feel the wind on her scalp, something that the first and only wig I had did'nt do for me. I'm no hyped up right now Lexi, I feel like I'm going to bust. I go between being supper happy and freaking out anxiety. I maybe will have it during the week of the 29th.
-
-
Don't stress. It is going to be beautiful. And just saying you could feel the wind on your scalp...what a plus. Wigs are sooo very hot. And itchy. My brows are sparse, my underarm and leg hair also sparse. I barely ever have to shave anymore. I could never shave my head. Never ever. If you could wear the gripper with hair, that would be so great. Your husband has finally come around to realizing that this is very important to you. I am so happy for you. I hope it comes very soon and that you love it.
-
Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on
-
Hi Lexi
I would like to understand if you need to be without hair totally to wear a 'Gripper'?
Can anyone help with that?
Rosy
-
-
Yes, you can be totaly bare and wear a gripper.
Carmen West
-
-
Thanks Carmen
How does it work if you do have hair?? Is it as secure?? Do you use clips etc to hold it in place with that option?
-
-
Hi Lexi, email me; I will send you a link of me decribing the Gripper Cool and the Gripper Sport. Pictures if you want.
Cwestgb@aol.com Carmen West
-
-
Hi Christine, You should check with the person you bought your Gripper, to see which one you purchased. I have had some of my clients have ther piece in just days. Is the piece from Follea?
Please email or call me with your email address and I will send you more pictures of clients the have given me permission to email pictures. I have two Brides wearing the Gripper Sport.
Carmen West cwestgb@aol.com or call 850-712-3369
-
-
Hi
When you are ordering any wig (including a 'Gripper'), I feel it is very important to understand the product. I don't know who does consultations with Grippers, but I would hope that they are trained to help you with any concerns you have.
When I started to look at options for my daughter I did a lot of homework on wigs before I committed to anything.
These are the things that I would ask your consultant as they will help you understand your hairpiece. These are some of the things I investigated.
Is the hair processed or unprocessed - sometimes there is a bit of gobbidy goop about this with people being a little cagey. Sometimes people will say there are degrees of processing (which is true), but the bottom line for processing hair is that it weakens the hair and causes issues that consultants should be very upfront about. If it is totally unprocessed hair you will be getting a product that has the best hair available. (Unprocessed hair is of called '100% unprocessed virgin human hair), this is expensive and beautiful hair with has as much variation and limitations as the world's population (often there can be issues with some colours because of rarity (blondes and red hair especially).
The fit - I don't believe the 'Gripper' is custom made so they will have stock fits - make sure what they have available is right for your head shape - again the consultant should have checked this.
I understand that the 'Gripper' does give security. I would fully check that out as a degree of security can sometimes not be what your expectation is - how much security does it give you, can you swim in it etc. Can you feel secure on a fully windy day. I have read reports here of problems around security for this type of wig...but this may be one off situations.
The look of the hairpiece is also important for a wearer. How is it made, does it have wefts through it which could be noticeable in the wind, is it fully handtied (and what does that mean to the look of the piece etc.)
Longevity of a hairpiece is dependent on understanding all of the above and more.
Aesthetics - how a wig looks is also important and how long will it look good. As a wig watcher (my daughter is the wig wearer). I am always aware of how a wig moves (wefts and handtied pieces for me personally), never have the movement I'm looking for, but some people will disagree with this.
Cost - if it is not custom made, if it is made in China and onsold, I would think it should be a reasonably priced hairpiece. So be careful around understanding where the costs are incurred if it is very expensive.
My final piece of advise is to contact your consultant - but go in aware of what you need to understand.
Good luck with everything.
Rosy
-
-
Hi Rosy,
The gripper I'm getting is the sport version and yes it is 100% european natural hair, I'm not sure if it has been processed for color or not, it is from the company Follea, and yes it was pricey, they do offer stock caps (which is what I'm getting) but also offer custom fit caps they do have machine sewn hair and completely hand tied. I will be getting the machine sewn. Hopefully my experience will be a good one, the consultant said I can expect it to last a full year, and after that I may need to send it in for touch ups or repairs, if I understood her correctly. I was told that you are able to swim in it, but they don't really recommend it because of the salt water, or chlorine that may effect if just like my own hair. They have a client who water skies with hers, and dives into pools, agian they said not what they recommend. I hoping all will go well, and I will feel confident in my new hairpeice.
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
