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'The Gripper' wigs sold by Peggy Knight
I'm taking the big step of investing in a new high quality wig and want to hear input regarding anyone that has purchased 'The Gripper' from Peggy Knight. This is a very big purchase for me and I would appreciate any advise from those who have taken this expensive step before as well. Please let me know your pros and cons and if you think a different wig would be better and why, if possible. I have a very hot head and am afraid to try the hard shell wigs. Please share your experience and thought with me. I have had alopecia universalis for three years now and can finally purchase a quality wig. Thank you for any assistance you can supply. Judy
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on
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Hello
I don't know a lot about the 'Gripper' hairpiece so I won't talk to you about that choice, but I would like to suggest you do your homework with each individual supplier of wigs.
You will have a wish list for your wig and I think that is where you should start. I know when I was looking for a wig for my daughter, I wanted the following attributes in a wig: Security, comfort, easy care, looks real, moves like real hair and that my daughter loved it. With these things in mind I talked to many people and found a the product she has choosen to wear. I won't talk about it here as you really want to understand the product you have asked about. But if you want to understand more about what my daughter wears please feel free to contact me.
You will get people making disparaging remarks about other products. I personally would be wary of that type of information as if you can't talk about the wig you like without running down another type of wig I would suggest that that product may not have all the attributes it needs to help.
Keep investigating and talk to those that have the knowledge around the wig you are looking at. Personal experience is a great thing...but remember they aren't you and may have very different expectations and budgeting requirements for their needs.
Good luck with your investigating and I wish you well with finding something that makes the difference for you.
Rosy
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Mine wig is around 2 year old and it still looks awesome. i bought from https://shop.wigsbuy.com
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Permalink Reply by AnGeL on
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I met with peggy knight at her office and the wigs hair quality did look very nice what i wasnt to thrilled with is it didnt have a silktop which makes it look more real in my opinion makes it look like the haur growing from the scalp anither thing i wasnt so thrilled with was it had wefts in the back i dint like wefts bcuz of a windy day scared it will blow and show them! It did feel comforatble though but i like mine long and i was looking at 5000+ so i wasnt thrilled on that but the hair did look very pretty im not sure mayb u can add a skin/silk top?
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Permalink Reply by Lori Van Decker on
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The hair in the Gripper is very nice, but is sewn into very thin wefts. Even though it is thin, the hair has nice movement. I have found, though, that the Gripper does not grip if you perspire. I bought mine for ballroom dancing and have found that during rigorous practice sessions the Gripper is a slipper. I've had better luck with custom lace wigs and Mighty Tite, or even Got 2BGlued if I know that I'm going to sweat.
In my experience, silk tops look nice, but are hot.
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Permalink Reply by Rose K on
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Hi Judy,
Having worn wigs for 30+ yrs with AU, I've made sure I've educated myself about all options & how they fit my lifestyle. I've been happiest with vacuum wig from Freedom Hair. That said, I've also worn hand-tied silk lace wigs with no wefts. My feeling is that at the Gripper prices, I would expect no wefts (machine-made) & non-processed hair. I also feel heat & found that both the vacuum wig or no-weft hand-tied wigs work best for me (I use one lace wig just for golf). It's the wefts that I don't like. Ask question about life expectancy, care, repair costs etc. Good luck & choose wisely. We're here for you....
Rose
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Hi Rose, I saw the Gripper and wasn't impressed. I was thinking of looking into the Freedom wig now. You didn't find that it was too hot. I get so hot in wigs! Are the Freedom wigs reasonably comfortable as regards to heat? I saw the wigs when I was in Indiana at the NAAF Conference. They were beautiful! Also you mentioned no weft hand tied wigs. Where do you find those? Is there any you prefer over others...vendors, manufacturers. I really want to do this right the first time if possible and feel rather overwhelmed by all the options. I truly appreciate the wisdom of all of you. Thanks for your help. Judy
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Hi Rose, Thank you for the info. So you've tried them all and think most highly of the Freedom Hair vacuum wig. Did you have any problem with heat and the vacuum wig? I am a hot head and it worries me a little. I was thinking of maybe getting both vacuum and a no-weft hand tied wigs if I can afford it. Where do you get the hand-tied wigs? Do they fit those to your head as well? I saw the Gripper and agree with your opinion. They were beautiful hair but the construction was not what I had expected. Peggy Knight used to carry a very beautiful wig that I saw about 2 1/2 years ago. I'd like to find one of the quality wig she used to carry. I'd appreciate any direction you could give me. I met Debbie Fuller from Freedom Wigs at the NAAF Conference and was very impressed with the Freedom wig but was worried about the vacuum cap. I may only be able to afford one high quality wig and I want to get it right the first time. I lost my hair during Chemotherapy over three years ago and it decided that it didn't want to grow back in. This has been a difficult experience but I have found great support from so many of you. Thank you. Judy
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The Freedom wig is hot, but you get used to it. The good thing is it's a perfect fit so you'll never feel like it's too tight and won't have that urge to rip it off. Also dont forget that freedom costs $1000 to have repaired, and it takes them about 3 months to repair them, so you'll need to buy two. That said if you swim often or don't want to think about your hair AND can afford two pieces it's a good investment and mine have lasted quite a few years.
Also look into featherlite - they don't have the benefit of gripping/sticking down (unless you glue it or something). But they cost less, hair quality is better and looks great.
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Hi Smiling
Pleased the Freedom wig is working for you. I think your personal opinion on heat is just that. With the 1000's of people that wear them most would have a very different view. My daughter has never complained - she says that they are comfortable, they take on the heat of your body (there is no insulation as with most other wigs)...there is no itching, they are secure, the hair is amazing, they move and breath like your own growing hair, they are durable and give longevity (if you look after them).
Many with alopecia can't look at wigs that cause itching or need glue to hold them down because of allergies etc.
The freedom wig is solely designed for the alopecia community (or those with long term extensive hairloss). They are not a fashion boxed hairpiece they are a medical prosthetic designed to replace your hair with comfort and realism.
Repairs aren't really repairs they are restorations. When a Freedom wig is sent to be refurbished - it is fully refurbished. The inside of the cap is replaced, new hair (if required) is implanted, it is finished like new, of course it is still your hairpiece (sort of like getting an expensive pair of shoes fixed - the quality of the shoe is worth fixing as is the quality you achieve in your freedom wig). I would always discuss repairs and the ramifications of them with your Independent Agent before a decision to move forward with this type of work is taken on.
I personally don't feel you have to have two hairpieces, but if you love your freedom hair, I would think it helpful after a year or so to think about investing in another...you may not want to or need to...it isn't imperative. What I notice is that even when people have other wigs that they can wear they tend to stay with their freedom...which can cause concern if they do want to send it away for restoration. So just be thoughtful of your own needs with Freedom and how many you require to make you comfortable.
Smiling - I've not seen you here before and see you have only just started posting - welcome. :)
Rosy
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Hi
I would just like to write a little here about my own experience with 'heat' and a freedom wig.
My daughter has been wearing Freedom Wigs for the last 9 years (she doesn't do this because she has to but because they work for her). She doesn't find them hot or uncomfortable, (we live in Auckland New Zealand- a warm temperate part of New Zealand).
I think all wigs are hot if you are comparing them to no hair or your own biological hair. The things that work with Freedom are the type of material used in the cap. It is made with medical grade silicone which has the ability to pass water vapour through it. It does have minimal breathability. Some people find all wigs hot and I would suggest the Freedom wig will be no different if this is a problem for you. In my experience the benefits of this type of wig far outweigh the negatives (that all wigs have).
The Freedom Wigs works for thousands around the world and if you want to talk to people that wear them ring the Independent Agents in the US as most of them have alopecia - like you, they would not wear these wigs unless they worked.
I want to be very honest with my own input, I help people in New Zealand with this option, but the reality for me is if I saw another type of wig that I thought would help my daughter she would have it on her head. She wears Freedom because it works for her - she doesn't get hot or uncomfortable, she loves her hair.
Rosy
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Thank you Rosy. I appreciate your input. It's such a scary choice since it involves so much money and you can't even try it on to see how it feels. I'm going to have to do some serious research before I make my final decision. All the advise I can get is greatly appreciated. I saw the Freedom wigs when I was in Indianapolis at the NAAF conference. They were very beautiful! I just wish I could talk to someone that has one that isn't selling them. Thank you again and I'll probably be 'talking' to you again soon. Judy
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