Wigs 101: Studio Etiquette

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Wig Store Etiquette

How are you treating the staff when you come into a wig store?

 

Losing your hair can be a frightening and confusing experience, so it’s understandable that you will have many questions along the way. We almost never learn about hair loss until we experience it ourselves, or when someone we know loses their hair. Only then do we start to know it all too well.

When you ask for our advice at STRUT—or any other salon or wig studio, for that matter—that insight comes from years of experience. What we often say is: “You don’t want to ask me anything you don’t want to know!”

Some of the answers may disappoint you, while others may inspire you. During this time of transition, it’s important to stay as calm as possible so that you can make informed decisions for your personal needs. No matter what type of hair replacement you choose, you want to learn as much as you can so that you can get the most out of it. Are wigs out of the question for you? What about hair toppers? Do you not have enough hair on the top of your head for a topper? Too much hair on top? Maybe try extensions. The choices can seem endless.

In the end, we are people too; we have feelings, hearts, families, and a life of our own. We all have our own particular bandwidths. And while we—as well as any staff member of any business—aren’t perfect, we do our best to meet YOUR specific needs.

When two people work together to find a solution, it’s a two-way street. Keeping that in mind can be a huge help on your journey, for both sides: for you and whoever helps you find the best hair piece for you.

While a wig store is, of course, a place to buy alternative hair, it’s also a place of mutual respect.

Now, no matter how inexperienced a client may be with wigs, it does not give the studio the right to be impatient, or to not give the client their absolute best solution possible.

On the other hand, it’s just as unacceptable to take out one’s frustration on their hair loss expert. After all, they are doing their best to help you.

While it is completely understandable that you’re experiencing a time of great stress due to hair loss, it does not give you the right to treat the very staff which is trying to help you, poorly.

Nor is it fair to take many hours of your expert’s time to make your decision, then think it’s acceptable to simply change your mind continuously without paying for the extra time spent on your behalf. It’s also not okay to assume that you’ve approved your styling, completed your order, and then change your mind the next day thinking it’s acceptable for the studio to take this loss. They won’t, nor should they.

One way of avoiding any mistakes and something we suggest to our clients is to bring a good friend to your styling session as a second (and hopefully unbiased) opinion. Plus, someone who has known you can give you an honest perspective. Be sure and have a few photos with you to make sure you and the stylist/expert are on the same page, too. It’s always helpful to see some inspiration. The ultimate mission here is a peaceful transition into your new alternative hair.

It also helps to understand that a wig, a hairpiece, or set of extensions is a foreign object on your head, and it can never fully nor perfectly mimic your natural hair. Lots of our clients may need to get comfortable with wearing hair.

How long it takes to adjust and how difficult it becomes is, quite truthfully, up to you.

That doesn’t mean it has to be heavy or uncomfortable, or that it has to be an unpleasant experience at all. Wigs and wig technology have developed exponentially over the last several decades. A wig can be lightweight, breathable, and something that can empower you by wearing it.

When you’re searching for a wig, it’s important for you not to forget that whoever is helping you on this journey is doing their best to make you look and feel like yourself again. After all, that’s the goal, isn’t it?

There’s a process when it comes to success on this wig journey.

1. Grief. You have the absolute right to grieve the loss of your hair, regardless of the medical condition. It is a wholly personal journey, and you should deal with it in whichever way helps YOU feel your best.

2. Acceptance. Acceptance of your hair loss. This isn’t an easy journey, and it’s not quick either. Everyone has their own timetable for this. But, accepting this reality will open your heart, allowing you the possibility to accept and eventually enjoy whatever alternative hair you choose.

3. Change. Changing your perspective from, “Oh, I HAVE to wear a wig” (which consciously—and probably unconsciously—creates resistance), to “Wow, I can choose to wear one beautiful hairdo today, and wear a completely different color and length tomorrow!” Those small mental changes can make a huge difference in your mental health and experience on this journey.

After all, regardless of the medical condition which causes your hair loss, the ability to choose and wear a wig (or multiple wigs!) is something over which you have true and legitimate control. The experience can empower you, if you’re open to it.

Go easy on yourself and whoever is helping you on this journey. Have patience that this will turn out well, and you will look and feel like yourself again. You deserve to feel confident and empowered when you wear your hair, and nothing should stop you from doing just that!

Pandemic Hair Loss: What Gives?

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It’s been almost 2 years since the Covid-19 pandemic started. It’s no surprise that it has affected stress levels worldwide. Huge life changes as well as changes in health take a toll on our lives, there’s no questioning that. The fact that stress can so tangibly manifest itself in our body, though, is becoming clearer and clearer in the world of medicine. (Hence, this blog!)

So, what’s the effect that stress has on our hair? Is the pandemic causing hair loss for men and women around the world? Is it exacerbating the hair loss we already experience?

Let me give you a brief recap of the hair cycle

Our hair growth cycle has four stages. The first is the anagen phase (i.e. when your hair grows from the root; the most active of the stages).

The second is the catagen phase (i.e. the transitional period, when the anagen phase ends and the hair detaches from the blood supply which helped it grow originally).

The third phase is the telogen phase, when the hair follicle no longer actively grows, but simply rests and slowly shrinks until it’s ready to come out of the follicle.

The fourth and final phase is the exogen phase, which is simply when the hair is released from the follicle and the anagen phase can begin yet again!

Image sourced from this article[1] about hormones and hair loss.

One last important thing to note about the hair cycle is that all of our hairs are NOT on the same schedule. Each one of our follicles (where the hair grows) is on its own independent schedule—or else all of our hairs would grow in at once and fall out at once! This is why you notice 50-100 hairs a day that you lose when brushing your hair, or sometimes by the shower drain.

Let’s talk about stress and its impact on hair loss

Stress is something that can impact our hair cycle. Just last year, a study[2] published in the National Library of Medicine led by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu of Harvard University concluded that stress indeed inhibits hair growth.

When they studied the effects of stress on mice, they noted that increased periods of stress actually kept hair in the third cycle of hair growth (the telogen phase, when hair no longer grows—simply rests). Conversely, when the mice were no longer experiencing stress, the hair growth cycle continued as normal. What we can conclude is this:

Stress can cause your hair to remain in the telogen (resting) phase for extended periods, inhibiting normal and regular hair growth. 

We can now see why so many people during 2020 and 2021 experienced what we’re calling pandemic hair loss. Witnessing a global pandemic, political unrest, supply chain issues, and dealing with job insecurity and/or losing loved ones due to Covid, it is no surprise that these factors can take a toll on the health of not only our mental health, but also our physical health. We have seen this with an influx of clients in our studios stating increased stress in their lives.

So, what are some ways to keep your stress levels lower?

It’s important to take care of ourselves, not only during a pandemic, but as often as we can. Balancing our stress levels is critical to staying as healthy as we can be. We may have different ideas of de-stressing—some may exercise, others may cook, sleep, meet with friends, take a nice bath, or do something artistic like painting. Here’s an article[3] published in the NIH (News in Health) which shows us some scientifically-proven ways to de-stress.

What are some ways that you can use alternative hair solutions when suffering with hair loss?

And what do you do if you’re experiencing pandemic hair loss? As mentioned above, it’s important to take care of yourself and try various methods of de-stressing. Everyone deals with stress differently, so we highly recommend you try various activities to see what works best for you.

As far as what to do aesthetically while you’re working on restoring your hair, you can consider alternative hair solutions, such as wigs, extensions, or hair pieces in order to keep your self-confidence up.

There are topical hair products as well which help minimize the shedding of your hair when going through a stressful period in life.

Your hair is one of the first things someone sees when they interact with you, so it’s no surprise that feeling self-conscious about thinning hair can affect how you interact with the world around you. We all know what it feels like when our hair is not looking its best. 

STRUT Hair Solutions was created with the intent of restoring women’s self-confidence by making them feel comfortable in their own skin again thanks to beautiful hair.  We know what it’s like to not want to date until your hair looks good, or to dodge family/friends photo opts because you don’t like your hair. We are here to help you and show you different solutions to fit your unique needs.

We’d love to get you strutting your hair with us.

Love,

Helena

[1] https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155342

[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03417-2

[3] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/01/feeling-stressed

Breast Cancer Awareness Month … Show You Care, Wear Pink Hair!

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Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime? This month is a time to come together, to raise awareness and promote early detection.

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How to Wear Wigs and Make them Look Real

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Perhaps you know exactly which wig you desire, but you’re not so sure how to wear it so that it looks natural. I want to share some tips and tricks that will make your wig look like it’s growing out of your own scalp, so you can look and feel confident!

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Tips for Everyday Wig Wearing

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Whether you have a wig that has synthetic or human hair or wigs of varying lengths, you can take action to ensure its maintenance and style is preserved. Let’s go over some simple yet crucial tips for everyday wig wearing.

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How to Get More Volume with Fine Hair

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Gaining more volume with fine hair may be a challenge if your hair is naturally thin and flat. With little hair to work with, you may not be able to achieve the style you desire.

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Klix Hair Extensions: Everything You Need to Know

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Klix Hair Extensions are the solution to all your extension needs. Despite their name, they are not actually the ultra-popular clip-in extensions that you are probably picturing. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Klix Hair Extensions.

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How to Defrizz a Synthetic Wig

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Knowing how to defrizz a synthetic wig will increase the lifetime of your wig and keep those locks looking beautiful every time you wear it.

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Hair Toppers Before and After

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Let’s take a look at the difference between hair toppers before and after. Hair toppers are a great option for women looking to beat hair loss and thinning, and regain confidence.

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8 Wig Misconceptions About Wigs and Hair Pieces

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Using a wig or hair piece is a great way to get a natural-looking solution to hair loss. They also come in different styles, colors and lengths. This allows you to try out tons of different new hair styles before making an investment in a high quality wig or making permanent changes to your natural hair. Wigs can get a bad rap because they are considered too expensive, fake looking, or uncomfortable. But a lot of the rumors about wigs aren’t true… at least for professionally designed and styled wigs. Here’s 8 Wig Misconceptions about wigs and hair pieces.

1. Wigs Are Uncomfortable and Hot

One of the big wig misconceptions is that they are itchy because they do not breath, and they are heavy on the head. Nowadays, wigs are made so differently then previously. The material used is highly breathable, This makes them much cooler and easier to wear for a whole day.

Monofilament materials are used to make the high quality wigs and hairpieces. These materials not only have a very natural look to them, but they are also designed for comfort. With monofilament wigs, hair is individually stitched into the elastic-type material. It is constructed into thin strips so it stays very cool and comfortable. If there is sensitivity on your scalp, then perhaps wearing a wig cap under the wig might be useful. Always consider the quality of the wig. Of course the higher quality, then the more comfortable it should be.

2. Will My Wig or Hair Piece Fall Off?

One fear that many people who wear wigs have is the fear they will fall off, or become lop-sided. There are several different accessories that you can buy to make sure these things do not happen. Wig clips and wig tapes can help achieve this security. Of course, it is always helpful to ask an expert about what might be the best thing to use.

3. A Wig Will Damage My Natural Hair

Wearing a wig and covering your natural hair will not hinder it from growing. Whether you have long or short hair, a properly applied wig will not damage your natural hair.

There are times when people might wear a wig due to medical treatments that cause them to lose their hair. Chemotherapy is one of those treatments that can do this. Many women wear wigs or head scarfs while their going through this, and during the time the hair is growing out. Some people believe that this will inhibit the growth of the hair. This is a myth. Therefore it is perfectly safe for future hair growth to wear a wig or hair piece during this time to not only protect the scalp from the elements, but also, enable you to recover with confidence!

4. Wigs Look Fake

Past wigs and hairpieces have always had a fake look about them. It is normal for people to fear that nowadays they also look fake. They have been conditioned through past experience to feel that way. Now they are made so much better then previously, that wearers can wear them with confidence and feel they are flattering, rather then a dead giveaway as to what they actually are.

Remy hair is designed with the natural alignment with hair cuticles on the scalp and are the most realistic of all wigs.

Wigs with a Lace Front give a very natural looking hairline. Also, those made with a monofilament top allow for the parting of the hair to look like the natural scalp due to the way they are constructed.

5. A Wig is Difficult to Care For

Many people feel that wigs are hard to take care of, this is one of the big Wig Misconceptions. They are just as easy, and possibly easier, then looking after your own hair. Different products and processes are needed then with real hair, but it is easy and wigs and hair pieces should contain appropriate instructions on how to care for them when you buy the product. If they do not, just make sure to ask. Remember, you can always take your wig to us for professional wig refurbishing services.

6. Wigs are Hard to Put On

With the correct fitting, wigs can be quite easy to put on. Thus, this becomes one of the Wig Misconceptions. Many people have concerns that they are difficult to put on the head correctly. After they have been worn once, then there may be a need for some adjustments. However, after this has been done, they should easily slip on with little trouble.

7. Wigs Aren’t Versatile and Can’t Be styled

The idea that wigs are not versatile is completely false. They come in numerous styles, so it is easy to find what you are looking for. Also, they can be styled in any way you want, especially those made with human hair or synthetic materials that allow heat, such as a curling iron or heated curlers. As noted before, when they are made of monofilament caps, then the part can be changed, and with the lace front, the hairline is natural enough that the hair can be pulled back to create a different style.

8. Human Hair Wigs Are Better Than Synthetic Wigs

Many people also feel that human hair wigs are better than synthetic wigs. With the new technology, this is no longer the case, and is another one of the Wig Misconceptions. The new materials used can be styled effectively, and many times they are pre-styled, and may require less effort then styling the human hair wigs.

Wigs and hair pieces can be a great accessory for your daily fashion needs. They can save you time in a pinch, and can also give you the opportunity of having a new look that is not permanent. Many concerns that people have about them are unfounded and no longer need to be a concern with the new technologies found in wig manufacturing.

So if you decide to get a wig or a hair piece, be careful about where you go. Go where the experts are. Strut Hair Solutions is just such a place. They offer walk-in services if a stylist is available to assist. They also offer solutions for those with hair that is thinning or damaged. For those needing a little more privacy, they accept private appointments and offer private fitting rooms. As far as cost, they offer solutions that can work with any budget. For people with medical issues, they are also a good choice since they specialize in chemotherapy, alopecia and trichotillomania solutions. Trust them with all your wig and hair piece needs and walk away feeling good about your experience.