Suction based wigs?! Worth the money?

This last time I have lost my hair - it seems so final, I seem more bald (if that is possible) No hair, no eyebrows, no eyelashes, let alone hair anywhere else.

I am looking into the suction based wigs because I am sick of wigs seeming to rip me off of experiences that I should be able to share with my children.  Is there anyone out there that owns or has owned one that can share there experience with me?? 

 Can you successfully tie them back??  How do they go when you swim??  How long do they REALLY last??  How do they look in wind?/  Can you see to the wig cap and does it look funny?? 

Really looking forward to feedback - cant wait to take the plunge.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Susan McAdams on February 4, 2015 at 10:32pm

Hi Martina--

I got my first Freedom Wig delivered back in early January, and had it cut and styled by a hairdresser in my area who is familiar with the product and recommended by the makers in New Zealand. I am beyond thrilled!

First, let me comment that I own 3 Follea Wigs. Two are Sports Grippers and the other is a regular Gripper. I have never felt comfortable doing heavy athletics in these wigs. Though they certainly stay in place, they DO make me sweat and get itchy. I have trouble styling them on my own, so I take them to a salon that specializes in wigs. Since i have three of them, I can wait decent intervals between stylings. Folio Wigs are very convenient, BUT the hair gets dry quicker than one would hope. If you are purchasing a wig and putting NO highlights or lowlights into it, you may have better results. But mine need to be conditioned a little more than I wish. 

I have only washed my Freedom Wig once, so I cannot claim to be an expert here. But it was easy to do. So I will save money on less salon visits. The hair on these wigs is beautiful. I got the "Extra Light" density after Deanna in new Zealand had a Skype conference with me. She is one of the owners of the company, and her 12-yr-old daughter has AU. She emailed me photos of her daughter wearing her Freedom Wig, to show that I should not be afraid of the "Extra Light" label. Deanna was absolutely right--the wig looks SO natural. That was probably my biggest gripe about Follea Wigs--too much hair! I had to have my salon remove about 10-15% of the hair from all three of my Follea Wigs because they looked too "puffy." 

The Freedom Wig is also much more comfortable. I confess, i haven't done heavy-duty sports in it yet, but I don't sweat as much as I did with my Follea Wigs. The only criticism I have is that sometimes the suction does not totally hold. That does not mean the wig will slip in any way--it is not going anywhere, believe me! It is just that I occasionally get an air bubble inside. If I'm alone or in the restroom, I push down on the wig to get the air bubble out. My dermatologist, who has had AU since childhood, told me she has a Freedom Wig, and though it is superior to everything out there, there is no such thing as total suction. 

With that said, I still say Freedom Wigs are the best wigs on the market. Period. And the owners in new Zealand are wonderful and helpful. Just make sure you have a good rep who does the mold. Is it worth the money? Absolutely! Is it worth the wait? Yes! Be prepared to wait months. But I sure am glad I found this company. I plan to order another Freedom Wig in the next 6 months or so so I can start phasing out my Follea Wigs. 

Good luck and post photos! 

--Susan

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Permalink Reply by Ann Marie on February 4, 2015 at 11:00pm
Hi Susan

I Love Follea Hair.
I hope you don't mind if I give you some tips to help you take care of your Follea hair..

Follea recommends Goldwell rich repair shampoo and conditioner , it has just the right amount of protein and moisture to maintain the lustre.
It is color safe and ph balanced so it won't strip out color (any shampoo that isn't ph balance will strip color in one or two shampoos unfortunately )

After shampooing and conditioning, towel blot take the wetness away ,then place Follea hair on a mannequin head .
Comb it into your style and let dry overnight.
Never blow dry wet to dry every week it will result in damage dryness and loss of hair .
You may finish style it in the morning with a flat iron curling iron or blow dryer
But use a thermal protectant and the lowest heat
Or I've used Velcro rollers on the lower part of the hair shaft while on mannequin head drying overnight just don't use them on the root area so it won't get tangled

I hope this helps you to style your Follea on your own to keep the lustre in the hair longer.
Hearts best
Ann Marie
Happy styling
Permalink Reply by Coco on July 21, 2017 at 10:45pm

Hi Ann Marie - I've been trying to get information on the best thermal protectant to use on my Follea wig; however, my Follea rep said to not use anything on it. Can you recommend one? She just said don't use anything on it other than a high end shampoo/conditioner.... Would love any information you could share. Thanks! Coco

Permalink Reply by Martina Wright on February 5, 2015 at 3:35am
gorgeous pic! had the scan and cant wait to get it!!! the wait will kill me!
Permalink Reply by Martina Wright on February 5, 2015 at 3:38am
ps- I see you r in LA?! im heading over on holidays in August!CANT WAIT
Permalink Reply by Susan McAdams on February 4, 2015 at 11:35pm
Thanks for the tips. Anne Marie. She shampoo and conditioning treatment used on my Follea wigs is very gentle. And woman who owns the salon I take it to has AA herself (that is why she started her salon and wig-making business--before anything good was out there). She orders Follea Wigs for several of her clients and owns some herself. She likes the brand (as I do), but she does have the same gripes (can get sweaty/itchy, sometimes feels too "grippy" after a long day of wearing it). The other day, I had my Freedom Wig on for nearly 12 hours. It did not bother me or feel like I had something pressing on my head. I was really comfortable all day. When I wear my Follea Wigs, I am always aware I am wearing something on my head.

Again, this is not to say Follea Wigs are a poor product. I would not have thrown down 4 grand a pop for three of their wigs if they were! I just think Freedom Wigs are a whole different approach to wig technology. The suction REALLY holds it in place, I feel like the cap is a little less "flappy" in back, and I find the hair to be amazing. This is a tiny company in New Zealand, so the two owners are extremely conscientious and look after their customers. In fact, Deanna is coming to the U.S. in a couple weeks and emailed me to ask if I wanted to meet her for coffee when she is here in Los Angeles. Just to see how my wig looks and answer any questions I might have. How's that for customer service?!

I certainly understand that wig preferences are personal. Some people prefer synthetic wigs or applying tape and glue! Damn, as long as we are happy with a find that is a good fit for ourselves, that is just great. My preference? Freedom Wigs.

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