Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jenn on September 19, 2009 at 7:04pm

Thanks Aimee! I plan on washing it tonight so we'll see. It's a very wavy wig with ringlets so I can't exactly comb it out. But I'll see what happens I guess. I was very excited to get one of her wigs, they seem so popular. And this one is supposed to be heat friendly synthetic so you can straighten it with a flat iron on low. Maybe if washing it doesn't help I'll just try that!! Thank you for your insight.

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Permalink Reply by Mary on September 20, 2009 at 1:43pm

Those were human hair Raquel Welch wigs on the Shear Genius episode from summer 2008 featuring women with alopecia. They were SO huge...way too much hair, IMHO. Very heavy, and with a really large cap. I gave mine away. Here's the link if you haven't seen it:

http://www.alopeciaworld.net/video/shear-genius-alopecia

The episode was filmed in March 2008, 3 months after I lost my hair. The whole attitude of the show was: "These poor bald women really need help...." I'm in such a different place now! Today, I'd take it off on the runway and work the bald look.

Good luck with the tangles!
Mary

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Permalink Reply by Jenn on September 20, 2009 at 1:59pm

Hi Mary,
I actually like most of the Raquel styles and they are very lightweight, even my long one. I have not tried a human hair wig yet. IMHO, not everyone looks great with a bald head, and Im definitely one of them! and some of us just aren't ready to go that far. I'm very glad you are comfortable with it and that's great! I'm looking for help with this
particular wig problem so going bald is not an option for me.

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Permalink Reply by Mary on September 20, 2009 at 2:53pm

Jenn...I honestly wasn't responding as I did to suggest that you try going out bald! I've tried to stop doing that on AW - telling women who are happy with wearing a wig to try going bald. I know that choice isn't for everyone, as I made clear in a recent TV interview:

http://www.alopeciaworld.net/video/san-diego-nbo-news-interview

I just wanted to share my experience with the Raquel Welch wig (which I think was extra-heavy because they were very long to start with), and in connection with that I had to mention how my own attitude has changed since doing the show. I wish I could wear a wig - you look great!

Mary

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Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on September 20, 2009 at 3:29pm

Direct STEAM is the magic bullet that takes the tangles and frizz out of synthetics.

When your salon takes your syn wig into the back room to work on it, they are taking the nozzle of a clothing steamer and pulling the hair taut with a brush and steaming it. There is an entire description of the technique beautifully written on one of the message boards. Try WigSupport.com..someone other there will be sure to have done this.

If you want the ringlets back in the style you'll have to then set it on rollers and steam with the rollers in and take them out after it's dry.

Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org

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Permalink Reply by kim yazujian on September 20, 2009 at 4:45pm

oh yes! I wear a human hair long wig and it even tangles up in the back by the neck. If you get Biosilk smoothing solution and spray after you wash it before brushing it should help and i always have a brush or wide tooth comb with me to get rid of the tangles. Good luck kim

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Permalink Reply by Barbara on September 21, 2009 at 4:47pm

I hear you! I struggle with the same problem with my human hair wig. I washed it last night and it keeps snarling at the nape of my neck. Sometimes I can’t get the tangles out! Made the mistake of washing it last time without the usual precautions and it literally took me 3 hours to comb it out. I was up until 1:00 gently combing out the rat’s nest.

I have a longer length wig, too, and find it best to divide the hair into about 5 pieces, and then put lots of scrunchies, barrettes, and hair clips in so that the hairs can’t come loose and get all tangled. I have 2 clips or whatever in each of the 5 sections – one about 3 inches from the top/scalp and another close to the bottom. Then I put the shampoo in the water and just let the wig soak a bit, giving it a few pulses with my hands. I saturated it with leave in conditioner. Comb/brush only once it is dry.

Last time I washed it I decided to just put it in a pony tail and swish it through the water. The 3 hour comb out was the result of that choice!

My synthetic is so much easier. It doesn’t tangle for me very easily, but I don’t wear it very often as the clips under the headband poke me and are uncomfortable. But with either one, I run a wig brush (or my fingers) through it all the time – gently, of course. If I wait too long – rat’s nest! And I have to spray it every day, too with de-tangler or leave-in conditioner.

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