Comment by Tallgirl on July 16, 2009 at 11:14pm

So go synthetic for under $300.

Comment by natalie n. on July 18, 2009 at 3:28am

Hi there, I couldn't help but sign up and comment when I read your blog. I just found this website today but have been dealing with Alopecia for 2 years myself. My mom also has alopecia for the last 15 years so together we have A LOT of wig experience. I just wanted to tell you that the $3000 wigs are only for the rich chemo girls who have their insurance companies forking over the cash! jk! But seriously, when my mom first lost her hair we went on a similar consultation with similar pricetags in Chicago. She bought 2 custom made human hair wigs for the price of car. Then we discovered Rene of Paris (maker of wig lines "Noriko"&"Amore". For about $200 you can have a really cute hair-do that actually has a real looking scalp! They may be synthetic, but other than the fact that you know they aren't real... No one else will be any wiser. They are so easy to style... just wash, shake out and hang upside down overnight to dry. The style is ingrained in them somehow and rain or shine, your hair will look perfect and everyone will be envious. There are a few tips to picking out the right one. 1st of all, the shorter the better, and even better with more texture- straight wigs always look fake to me. I like the short styles because with alopecia you depend on your wig in all weather and temperatures, and who really wants to wear a wool hat in the middle of summer? So what that usually means is forgetting the past and finding a new look. When I first last my hair I tried to buy a wig very similar to my own hair. I HATED THAT WIG! It never lived up to what I knew I could look like and I was always heartbroken/horrified when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. So go totally different, go wild, have fun... got to a salon and try them all on. God made me originally a blonde, but I rock in auburn! I would have never known if I didn't give up trying to find something like the 'old' me.
Other than that, find yourself a cotton 2 inch wide flesh toned headband and wear that under your wig. The itchiest parts are always the edges. This trick helps IMMENSELY!
Also, I usually buy a new wig every 4 months. The synthetic ones are again very easy to work with, but they get kinda 'fried' in the back from your body heat over time.
I hope this helps. Please don't waste your money! Listen to my mom and I and our combined experience! Go to www.reneofparis.com and find retailer new you.
and if you need advice with fake eyelashes.... I happen to be an expert! They have saved my self-confidence and my eyeballs- eyelashes are very important!
Not bad for my first blog comment!
By the way, I am stopped almost everyday by a stranger to either compliment me on my hair style or to ask me where I get my hair done! I hate lying so I say "Kimberly's in Santa Barbara" which just happens to be the wig shop I get my wigs at! And they have no idea! I am here to tell you that you can feel beautiful and natural in a wig- and you won't go broke either!

Comment by Lori Van Decker on July 21, 2009 at 3:15pm

I agree. I used to buy very expensive hair when I worked on 5th Avenue in NYC, but lately, since I telecommute, I buy the inexpensive synthetic "Couture" wigs from Paula Young. They don't all come in a petite, though, and I have a peanut bald head. I buy "Sheer Satisfaction," and I stock up when they're on sale. This week, I got one for under $60 with free shipping. They're actually quite comfortable and are very close to hand tied (no stitched rows, and the cap is a soft mesh...hairs are inserted in tiny clumps). I constantly get compliments on my short, spikey haircut, and asked who does my highlights. I've even fallen off of a raft and gotten dunked under water and the people I was with told me that my "hair" looked very natural soaking wet, which I thought was a hoot. Of course, that wig was never the same after the dunking!

Comment by Karen's Wigs on July 22, 2009 at 1:19pm

Wigs are like other things - there is a wide range of quality. $3,000 is a lot of money but not terribly out of line for a hand-made human hair (European hair) wig. The synthetic fibers used in quality synthetic wigs are very life-like and lighter than those of 10-20 years ago. These are a fraction of the cost. One thing to keep in mind, getting one medium priced wig that will last 1-2 years is more cost effective than buying several "bargain" pieces. Good luck and remember to get what YOU feel comfortable with!

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