GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

Hi Girls,
This is an urgent plea for assistance. Anyone who has experience with hair pieces or wigs or hair replacement systems, please let me know.

I really need some guidance here, girls. I have a hair piece and I really do not like it. I don't completely trust the woman I got it from, either. I'm afraid I'm being sold a bill of goods and I need someone to talk to about this.

I'm feeling very lost and scared about this. Any help would be sincerely appreciated.

Erin

G'day fellow kiwilander

I wore a wig for about the first 5-6 months of going full-time, so I have some experience. I got it from the store down the road from the Hospital that caters to cancer/chemo patients who have lost their hair.
My approach was to go for a colour that matched my hair as closely as possible and a style that was fairly neutral, but definitely feminine.
Dark wigs are better IMO, as they don't 'age' as quickly as blond wigs (which generally look terrible anyway).

What don't you like about your hair-piece, specifically?

I wear one because I'm bald. It's got a urethane base, is held on with double-sided tape and has coarse hair. I hate that I have to take it off at night and put it on in the morning. It's also uncomfortable and has a very unrealistic hairline.

The one's I'm interested are called 'lace-front wigs.' They're supposed to be much more comfortable, look better, have a better hairline and you can wear them for two-to-three weeks at a time. They are offered by companies like these:
http://www.orderquality.com/main.php?l=en
http://www.hairreplacement.ie/
http://www.lace-front-wig.com/
There's a woman here in town who represents the company with the second website. I see her in a few weeks to talk about getting a hairpiece from them.

The woman I'm going through to get my hairpiece now is telling me that these aren't good, they're fragile, they aren't comfortable, etc. I'm getting the distinct impression that this woman is jerking me around. She doesn't carry any products like this. I've asked her to give me the website of the company she gets her hairpieces from and she won't do it. She's also bloody difficult to get a straight answer out from. It's like trying to nail jello to a wall.

I hope this makes sense, let me know if you have any other questions.

Erin,

Lacefronts are generally believed to be more comfortable than thinskin or polyurethane base wigs. I would suggest checking out a website like Black Hair Media or Hair Boutique. They both have lacefront forums (BHM's is by far the most active on the internet).

At any rate, check out one of the other forums and read as much info as you can. The Black Hair Media forum will give you extensive information about vendors/factories/etc... If you are able to bring human hair products into New Zealand, you might consider having your wig made in China. That is where all of the large lacefront vendors are and the price will be much better.

Here are a couple links for you:

http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/
http://talk.hairboutique.com/

I'm not bald, but, as a couple of gals here can attest, I am not well crowned.

Even HRT hasn't helped much for me in that realm, and I wear wigs pretty much *constantly*.

I wash them weekly, never, ever, ever use tapes or glues, and I sleep in a couple of short hair ones.
Lacefronts are awesome.

I will say that my approach to wigs is one of *enjoying* them, as opposed to feeling like they are my only option.

I don't know enough about them to really give you much in the way of advice, but I have, at present, about 9 of various colors and lengths, and I am known to even swim in the shorter ones.

Wearing one to bed will, ultimately, destroy it. I do not like human hair wigs -- the maintenance on them is horrific, and the lifespan is about a tenth of others.

Kanekalon fibers are pricey, but they tend to be something I actually look for.

THe most important thing, though, is find someone who understands the concept of cut, or get a very expensive, long hair wig and have it actually styled to your face.

I've had, in the last year, well over 40 wigs. My circumstances are such that I could, but they have ranged in price from 30 bucks to 210, and the price never matched the quality.

Not much help, I realize, and I'm sorry I'm not more, but that one woman? Sounds like she is trying to work you.

Just order some online (wigsalon.com is cheap, and http://www.wilshirewigs.com isn't bad, and I've used http://www.paulayoung.com on occasion, too) or hit up the tiny shops that carry them as a sideline, if you have such locally.

Sadly I've found that while sounding sincere people in wig shops often are anything but.

The majority of their "trans" customers are crossdressers, not transsexual women; they're salespeople, not infrequently the owner of their shops, and just trying to sell you whatever they can. It is, after all, only for your kinky fetish, not life or death.

It's so easy to give into the sales pressure, whether buying a wig or a car.

My advise is not what you want to hear, but it is IMO the single most important thing you can do when buying a wig: Bring an honest friend; One that you're certain is willing to tell you if it looks like poop. One that will notice the hairline is awful, one that will tell you the shape is all wrong for your face.

If you buy online, that's great. Try them on in front of your friend, at home, not out. When you're out shopping or otherwise out in public and you're all made up, I've found people are less likely to be honest (they don't want to ruin your good time/whatever). Be prepared to give/throw away anything they say doesn't work.

Another thing that I've found important is the fit, if the wig is too tight you'll get headaches every time you wear it. Sadly my best wig, the one that while not the most expensive looks the best/most natural, is just a tad too tight.

I know this doesn't help; I've wasted my fair share of money on wigs too. I do understand your feeling lost, I feel I've been "taken" by wig salespeople too. The first time was when I bought my fourth wig, and it was something I never had suspected until a few hours after leaving the store. I've now tried every store I can find, and sadly, I see the same thing everywhere. Bring a friend, honest, it's the best thing you can do.

I totally agree with some of what has been said. I personally much prefer human hair to synthetic and don't think the care is that bad. If you are going for the most natural and undetectable wig you can get, I would still go for a custom made (to your measurements) lace front or full lace wig. There is nothing that will give you the same result, not even polyurethane.

If you buy directly from a factory, you are looking at paying about $225-$300 USD. If you go through a retail lacefront vendor, you could pay 4-6 times that amount for the same wig.

To hide front hairline, wear wig with bangs.

Another way to go is hair extensions, or partial wigs. "Paula Young" is a good, reasonable price resource for these products. I have personally used their products.