Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
'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
-
Permalink Reply by Steve on
-
Hi Peggy
I don’t really understand your point here Peggy. The Gym I go to everyone sweats (running into their eyes , down their necks) isn’t that what going to the gym is about. My personal hair becomes wet and I would suggest that your Gripper wig is absorbing the perspiration as my own hair does…as it is a combination type wig.
I felt I also needed to put some things straight here about your comments on wearing a Freedom Wig. You have eluded to the fact that you sell Follea Grippers because of a personal choice for a better product. The reality is a little different and something that I feel should be understood. You sold Freedom wigs (older type cap) for many years and Freedom allowed you to rebrand our product as your own wig because you felt this was important to do to sell our product. Your financial choices over the last few years have lead many who deal with alopecia to be put in very untenable situations. I don’t fully want to disclose this situation in an open forum. But the reality is you are no longer able to sell or wear a Freedom Wig …not because it is a lesser wig but because of your own issues over the years. The last couple of years I have watched Follea/PKS reps do comparisons between Freedom and there product. There is no comparison and Peggy you in particular are very aware of this.
I’m not saying your current choice of product to sell is not something you like…but comparing is really quite self- defeating and so unhelpful for those who actually need information.
All wigs should be sold on their own features and benefits. I would be happy to work with you create a comparison using the features and benefits to help those with alopecia…rather than confuse them. If you would like to do this please contact me and we will work out a posting.
I do understand that this forum has mostly been about heat and that we all are wanting to share knowledge and help people with Alopecia. Perhaps on this note readers should be referred to your own comments regarding heat that are publicly stated at 3.16 minutes into your You Tube video. I think you cover off the issue about heat and differences between different types of wigs quite nicely in this video and that all readers should view this for the knowledge it provides. Your video can be found easily on You Tube or simply copy and paste the following into your web browser:Peggy Knight talks about heat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNn9K2sy0RESteve
-
Permalink Reply by Michael Leigh on
-
Hi Steve. Between you and Rose Marie thst is truly a lot of "spin". This isue was a genuine Alopecian question; "heat build-up" and permeability. Just pourr a glass of water into a Freedom vacuum wig. And the same into a Follea Gripper wig. I have. I think everyone can work it out for themself.
PS: very happy to have Peggy on board - Alopecian since she was 15, wig pioneer (including helping you improve yours and design mine) and a very brave woman.
Best. Michael.
-
-
Thanks for your response Michael,
We know it is a real Alopecian issue, which is why I thought it was helpful for me to refer to Peggy's You Tube Video for those who may not have viewed it yet. I thought she covered it very well and I also thought that it would be helpful for people interested to listen to what Peggy has to say. She comes across very genuine in the video and this is often better than reading words. Sometimes people misinterpret words. I am only referencing it to help the readers. Some people like pictures and videos and some like reading words.
Regards
Steve
-
Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on
-
Michael
Just to help with some techy type information for you and any others who may be interested.
For those interested readers, the Freedom silicone cap is waterproof and when upside down like a bowl, it will hold water. But, the silicone is MOISTURE VAPOR PERMEABLE, and since perspiration exits the skin as vapor, it will pass through the silicone cap. Polymer Chemists will tell you the water vapor molecule is much smaller than a silicone molecule, so the perspiration water vapor passes between the bigger silicone molecules, but it can be overloaded in a gym workout, for example (just like everyone you start sweating extensively if you are doing it well :)) There are other things that can create the water build up Bronx describes...which really need to be discussed with her as she may be wearing her wig in the wrong position which could form a bubble causing vapor to condense. The important point is most wearers of our silicone cap appreciate the benefits - great hair, security and comfort with no scalp irritation.
Hope this helps.
Rosy
-
-
Steve, I am sure that you inadvertently forgot the timeline of this video: 2BG. 2 years before Gripper. The video correctly portrays the best choice available at that time. I am sure Alopecia World Members are smart enough to do their own search on YouTube for more current.video content. If not, I can help. Best. Michael.
-
-
I don't think he did Michael...I would think this is the truth with the Vacuum Peggy sold. She has never sold the latest type. As you know she changed to Follea through some very difficult times she was having financially...again not because she didn't like Freedom or the wig. The 'Spin' as you put it is in reality the truth.
Just another valid point to help you ....Peggy has never designed anything with or for Freedom.
-
-
Hi Michael,
I think the timeline is irrelevant. I was really just trying to draw attention to the comments starting at 3.16 minutes into the video. When anyone watches this part Peggy is quite clear about the heat with the vacuum as she is with comparisons to other products, including references to potential issues with sweat impacting on the lining of wigs. Even though the gripper was not yet created when the video was made, I think the gripper still fits with the comments Peggy made.Regards
Steve
-
-
I am happy to let the AW members decide for themselves. In early 2009, Peggy was still wearing her Freedom Wig, as she had done for many years, but had come to the conclusion - especially in Summer - that there could be a better choice for women who wanted longer hair, updo's, ponytails, light, breathable, permeable, beautiful, next generation European Hair wigs, with short delivery time, while still being very comfortable, secure and long-lasting. I personally tried on a Freedom wig to test the heat build-up myself. I too thought there could be a better solution. THAT is why Peggy helped me to design the Gripper Collection. That is why she chooses to wear them. And that is why so many others have switched to Gripper - by choice, not by mis-information. Last December, because of the large investment vacuum wig wearers had made in their pieces, we offered a $500 trade-in program for anyone that wanted to try a Gripper. If anyone would like to see for themself a copy of the photo, from just the first 15 days of the promotion, please send me an email to Hair@Follea.com and put: "Trade-in Photo" in the subject line. Best. Michael.
-
-
Michael
This vid is something you particularly need to take note of. Have you watched it Michael... As Peggy has stated, it's very clear the information she gives...her own words have explained it all and is very relevant around the Follea product....
Out of respect for those who need help in this community...I will discuss your post as well.
Michael, Peggy's reason for her change of company and hair choice was financial ...I personally don't like to put this information in a public forum but if anyone has an interest around this contact me and I will answer with the facts and explain the ramifications around this for her and her clients.The Freedom product is no longer available to Peggy, but she continues to work with Freedom Independent Agents so they can help with the fallout from her personal problems. The information feed to her clients has been rather one sided and maybe it is time that this was fully disclosed. Freedom has never wanted to cause any further upset for Peggy or her customers, but the behaviour exhibited has been less than stellar and information very contrived. Facts are really needed here.
Freedom Independent Agents have supported ex PKS and Follea Reps to continue the need their clients have for Freedom. The knowledge they have around the personal fallout for a wearer is extreme and does not come from a sales perspective but from a full knowledge that people require their help.
Michael when PKS finished your discussions with your Reps were about excluding them from the Freedom Team. We understood why but from my personal point of view it made me fully understand that you don't get what that could do to a wearer. We are still working with one of your Reps to get her another Freedom Wig....again it says it all doesn't it. This isn't a competition but a responsibility to help
Fact: your statement here that you have tried on a freedom wig is blatant misinformation (possibly unintentional).... A freedom wig must be fully customised to fit and work to full capacity...it requires a fitting knowledge which is lacking in your case. If you ordered a freedom wig by foul means I would think that says a lot about your own personal integrity and possibly whoever helped you. Deceit is not something I or freedom have expected or worked around before. It's a difficult thing to navigate, while giving straightforward information to help this community. We have no order for Michael Leigh at Freedom Manufacturing.
Follea's promotion required Freedoms good name to leap frog into this community. It was something I personally found lacked knowledge and integrity.....why would Follea want to receive freedom wigs ????? It also gave a $500 discount on the Follea product to be a part of the promotion....that particular fact for me was telling . I feel that type of discount really explains the extreme profit margin on your product.
Freedom gives the best prices to their Independent Agents worldwide, giving autonomy to each country and business for their personal viability and sustainability. This maintains sensible margins while looking after the end user. Marketing is expensive and not something freedom engages in regularly.... We help people through word of mouth within this community and do our very best to give back to our freedom and alopecia community through internal promotion to encourage support around alopecia.
The follea promotion targeted a vulnerable and very specific audience....this has been the MO for all new companies for many years... If your product does help people and can stand alone ...from my point of view that can only be good...but using freedom as a step ladder is off putting and again lacking confidence in your product while showing a lack of integrity....'spin' is one of your words and one that suits this situation and Follea with regards to this promotion.
Like you freedom has received feedback around the comparisons....if people would like these comparisons from wearers ...contact me.
Michael your personal lack of knowledge around the freedom product seems to continue....there is no misinformation or even marketing spin around what we do.
We help people with a technologically advanced, fully customised medical prosthetic, using hair that is totally unprocessed in hair lengths required by the end user (specific to their needs). Using the latest fitting techniques in most instances (medical laser scanners) to achieve an accurate fit using medical grade vapour permeable silicone. Implanting the hair in a totally lifelike finish over the whole cap(a process again specific to freedom). It is a fully specific product designed for those dealing with extreme alopecia.
The benefits and features are specific to freedom.... There is nothing generic with regards to the freedom product customisation is total. Freedom has been around for 30 odd years continually updating their technology to help this community and specifically those with long-term extensive hairloss. It's not a fashion accessory it is a replacement for those who are going through the ravages of medical hairloss. Most who help others with this product also have alopecia....freedom has never advertised for their Independent Agents...they have come to us asking if they can pass on what has helped them. We aren't a marketing machine but a manufacturer that listens very carefully to those we help within the limitation of what can be achieved ...the results speak for themselves.
As my daughter has explained to me .... She loves her freedom hair.... But the fact is she would still prefer her own growing hair....alopecia is a devastating condition and this community really needs support and information that is clear without this type of behaviour.
Let your product stand-alone Michael as freedom lets their product ....don't muddy the water for this community with the blurb....explain the Follea hair and the processing done on it, explain what the wefting and handtieing means to the end user etc. you know your product and I have never felt it was not helpful....but don't compare it to the freedom product as there is no comparison. ( my personal view).
As I put to you on a former post ... Should we fully do a comparison for the end user to work with... I'm happy to work with you to do this. My want is to make information clear to those who need it. I am part of this community and fully engaged in educating myself on the wealth of knowledge here...people dealing with alopecia and other auto immune conditions are inspiring. I watch my daughter and others I've meet with this condition and feel fortunate to be in a position to learn and help.
I believe the freedom product stands alone and we only talk about its features and benefits, as a company we have never required and still do not require another company to help people with our product. I really don't get Follea's premise for promotion and comparison, but if it helps this community I will consider this option with you. I just want clear real information available to this community.
Rosy
-
-
Michael,
Rosy has summed it up exceptionally well and there are plenty of facts to support what has been said.
I think you are right to back away and let clients learn from those who are prepared to share their own experiences. Presumably you tried on a Freedom Hair piece custom made for someone else and shaved your hair before trying on? Shaving your hair is important otherwise heat does build up between the scalp and the cap. Creates a bit of moisture too. Not a good idea to try and use a poor fitting piece.
Anyway, best all left to those who truly have to decide.
I note you have had to create a product registration system to help you with Follea counterfeiting problems?Probably not a bad idea for any marketing organisation getting product manufactured in China and other Asian countries. They can be ruthless when onto a good thing.
Reading
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/follea-inc-creates-hair-industrys-224...
-
-
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE? With respect, you have no idea what the "Follea hair process" is. But it does ensure that we select only the best European hair, discard the rest, and offer color consistency, density and double-drawn length that matches a detailed specification that you can re-order, if you choose, in 2 or 3 years time.
INTEGRITY? What we DON'T do is advertise our hair as "Virgin unprocessed" while purchasing it some of it from US Charitable organizations that receive multi-ethnic hair contributions (which is America) handled by non-professional volunteers who know nothing about cuticle-correct hair, and of which at least some of it is likely to have “salon-processed”, and that was anyway sent to that charity by donors who assumed they were going to be made into low cost/no cost wigs for cancer patients.
FOLLEA REP? Yes. Paid for her Freedom Wig 2 years ago (before becoming Follea ICARe Rep) and still waiting for Freedom to make good on it, as in one that will fit her. Meanwhile, a very happy Gripper wearer.
PEGGY? In my world, if you don’t have something nice to say about someone, better to not say anything at all.
Best. Michael.
-
-
If anyone would like me to continue this with Michael/follea I am happy to do so re his above post ( I personally doubt that anyone will). Out of respect for this community I feel before I launch into another verbose reply I need to listen to what people are saying ... page 5 of this thread. If anyone would like an explanation let me know as I am more than happy to put Freedom's case forward re Michael's bullet points here. If not this conversation for me is at an end.
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
