Embracing Change: Signs It's Time to Consider a Hairpiece or Wig

Hair loss is a natural and common experience for many women, and while there are various treatments available, some may choose alternative solutions such as hairpieces or wigs. Deciding to explore these options is a personal journey, and recognizing the signs that it's time to consider a hairpiece or wig is an important step toward embracing change with confidence. In this blog post, we'll explore the indicators that suggest it might be the right time to explore these alternatives and how they can be empowering choices for those navigating hair loss.

1. Visible Signs of Hair Thinning or Balding: If you've noticed visible signs of hair thinning or balding that impact your self-esteem, considering a hairpiece or wig can be a transformative option. These alternatives provide an immediate and natural-looking solution, helping you regain a sense of normalcy and confidence.

2. Medical Treatments Resulting in Hair Loss: Certain medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can lead to hair loss. If you're undergoing a treatment that may affect your hair, exploring wigs or hairpieces can provide a way to maintain a familiar appearance during a challenging time.

3. Genetic Predisposition to Hair Loss: If you have a family history of significant hair loss, you may be genetically predisposed to experiencing it as well. Choosing a hairpiece or wig can be a proactive decision to address genetic factors and maintain your desired appearance.

4. Experiencing Emotional Distress: Hair loss can have a profound impact on one's emotional well-being. If you find that your self-esteem and confidence are suffering due to changes in your appearance, a hairpiece or wig can offer a quick and effective solution to help you feel more comfortable in your skin.

5. Lack of Success with Other Treatments: If you've tried various treatments, such as medications or topical solutions, without achieving the desired results, it may be time to explore alternative options. A hairpiece or wig can provide a non-invasive and customizable solution that suits your unique preferences.

6. Temporary Hair Loss Due to Stress or Hormonal Changes: Hair loss triggered by stress or hormonal changes may be temporary, but the impact on your confidence can be immediate. Wearing a wig or hairpiece during this transitional period can help you navigate the changes with grace and style.

7. Desire for Versatility and Style: Hairpieces and wigs offer versatility in styling that may not be achievable with natural hair alone. If you have a desire to experiment with different looks, colors, and lengths without committing to permanent changes, a wig can be an exciting and liberating choice.

8. Wanting a Convenient and Low-Maintenance Solution: Hairpieces and wigs provide a convenient and low-maintenance solution for those with busy lifestyles. If you're looking for a hassle-free option that requires minimal styling effort, these alternatives can offer the flexibility you need.

Choosing a hairpiece or wig is a personal decision that can empower individuals experiencing hair loss to regain control and confidence. Recognizing the signs that it's time to consider these alternatives is the first step toward embracing change and celebrating the versatility of personal style. Whether the motivation is to address medical conditions, genetic factors, or a desire for a new look, a well-chosen wig or hairpiece can be a beautiful and empowering solution. Remember, the journey to self-acceptance and confidence begins with choices that align with your comfort and style preferences.

Thinking about getting a wig or hairpiece? Start Here!

If you are thinking about dipping your toes in the hair wearing arena but aren't sure where to start, check out this video!

Are you afraid of wearing your new hair?

Are you afraid of wearing your new hair? How to get used to wearing a wig or topper

Finally! After suffering with thinning hair, bald spots that you can no longer hide, or worse, a complete fall of your hair all at once, you have new hair! And yet, you’re terrified! What if your coworkers or the people at your office notice that your hair is suddenly, well, amazing?

First things first, most people are not that observant of changes like that. Nearly 100% of the time, when you wear your hair for the first time, people will simply say “wow, you look great!” and maybe, they might ask “did you get your hair done?” The answer to this is always YES!

If you’re public about your hair loss, feel free to say “this is a brand new wig/topper!” and bask in the compliments. At my dentist office, the staff told me they love when I come to see what hair I’m wearing now! How positive is that?!

If you’re not public about your hair loss (or at least not at work/church/the grocery store line), then simply enjoy the compliments. No one will ever say to you “so, is that a wig?”  And if they do, you can conspiratorially lean over and say “omg, yesssss, girl, I’m like a celebrity now, they ALL wear hair!”

At first, it will feel and look unfamiliar

You got used to your thinning hair. You did. Every day, you saw less and less but you got used to it. It will be the same with your new hair. I suggest that you look at photos of yourself before you lost your hair and also DURING your hair loss. Odds are, you’ll begin to see just how thin your hair was, just how big those patches were. In retrospect, you’ll wonder why you didn’t wear hair before now.

Pause here for a second. There is no reason TO wear hair if you don’t want to. And there’s no reason to not rock a bald head, a shaved head, a super cropped cut. There are many exceptional examples out there – from celebrities to sports figures who are rocking bald, shaved or super cropped hair due to hair loss. Go get some ah-mazing statement earrings and rock that look. If you want to.

But this is a hair wearing site, so let’s talk hair. You’ll get used to wearing hair the more you wear it. Look at yourself in all the mirrors (at home, your car, the elevators at the office… wherever. Appreciate the new you.  An older relative finally, after decades of thin or thinning hair, began wearing hair, and all of a sudden she looked nearly ten years younger. With the new hair, new outfits came a new confidence that you could just SEE in her. She didn’t garner looks because people were talking about her wig, but because she looked, well, amazing!

Sometimes out on the street, we see people we know we could help. And just want to grab them in a big hug and say “girl, come have great hair with me!” But, besides being really inappropriate to grab stranger in public, everyone comes to hair wearing in their own way, in their own time. If that time is now for you, you will not regret it, promise.

The transformation, as we say, is more than just hair.

Girl, I love your hair. What wig is that? Follow Instagram hair wearers!

Have you ever asked someone what wig she’s wearing on an Instagram post? You might discover a whole new world of women just like you! This is an iWig, custom cut and colored by Jessica at @awigandaprayer wig salon in Okemos, MI.

Girl, I love your hair. What wig is that?

Do you follow anyone on Instagram who wears hair? Have you ever commented “what wig (or topper) is that?”

Instagram is a great way to connect with others (virtually) who wear hair. When you do so, suddenly the landscape of hair wearing changes dramatically. There are literally millions of beautiful women – young and not so young – who wear hair every day, just like you do!

And many of them post photos of themselves in multiple wigs or toppers and share their experiences (good and bad) with their alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, androgenic alopecia and chemo hair loss. Many of them say exactly the same things you feel about hair loss – it robbed them of their self esteem until they could reset their feelings and come out of hair loss with a new perspective. Many share daily frustration of hair wearing – sweaty days in the summer, wig nape tangles, wig wearing at the gym or pool or how to let others know they wear hair.  

Here in Michigan, specifically mid-Michigan, there are (statistically) 2% (or about 3,000) people with hair loss of some form or another. THREE THOUSAND (out of about 115,000). Where are they? The truth is, the woman with hair you’re admiring in Meijer may be WEARING it, not growing it. And you’d never know!

Have you ever been in a store and had someone compliment you on your hair? Not knowing (and not sharing) that it’s not your bio hair? I’m sure you’ve had this experience!

But what if you reached out to someone and asked her about her hair (online) and what if someone asked you about yours? Being open about hair loss is really hard. It can take YEARS to get comfortable with it. Instagram offers a safe place to share experience with hair loss. Reaching out to ask others about their hair is easier when you know the person wears hair. Some women create separate accounts to share that they wear hair (but don’t share that account with others they know in real life!)

Virtually EVERY celebrity you have ever seen has worn hair – whether it is extensions, toppers, or wigs. EVERY ONE. They wore it on camera, they certainly wore it on the red carpet, and many use wearable hair to have consistent beauty looks when they know the paparazzi photographers will be lurking. You never have to have a bad hair day with wearable hair.

Do a search by hashtag for your type of hair loss, e.g. #androgenicalopecia or #alopeciaareata and follow who inspires you!

Follow us at @awigandaprayer and #awigandaprayer and #michiganwigsalon

How to wear a wig or topper for camping, boating, adventuring, wine tasting, bicycling, and vacationing.

Successfully managing the logistics of wearing hair, or all the things you’ll need to wear a wig or topper for camping, boating, adventuring, wine tasting, bicycling, and vacationing.

Before your hair began thinning, or you lost it due to chemo or alopecia, you probably didn’t think much about the logistics of camping, boating, adventuring, bicycling or vacationing with your hair. If you had long hair, you had a headband or a hair elastic with you, likely tucked away in your purse or car or bag. If you had short hair, you might have not needed a thing except a comb (and even then, maybe just your fingers run through your pixie!)

But now you wear hair, and you’re wondering “just how do I manage all this?” You might even be tempted to stay home.

Don’t stay home! Get out there, adventure!  Learning to manage wig and topper wearing while camping, boating, adventuring, bicycling or even wine tasting tours is embracing life with a bit extra!

No matter the adventure, you can find a spot to hang your wig. This is in a locker on a 38-foot sailboat in the Caribbean.

Wearing a wig or topper while camping and Boating

If you’re camping in a tent, consider where your hair is going to go when you sleep. If you’re car camping, hang your hair on the headrest of your car (no kidding!) or on a wig hanger on the handles in the back or front seat. If you’ve got synthetic hair and it might get too hot in your car, hang the wig hanger from the inside of your tent (most tents have  a mesh gear loft or hanger on the inside.

You can also wrap the hair in a scarf and place it in a soft protective bag – being sure to stuff a tee shirt or something inside the crown to maintain the crown’s shape. 

Wearing a wig or topper while boating

If you’re wearing your wig or topper while boating, wear a wider, stretchy headband like a Buff headband to secure the front of the wig while you race around the lake or ocean. This will also help tame the hair in the wind. Wearing the headband from your forehead over and past the crown will help secure and protect your wig. If you’re staying on the boat, most have lockers where you can hang your wig on a wig hanger (even the 38 foot sailboat in the Caribbean shown here, has plenty of lockers big enough to hang a wig). 

Bring the extra things you’ll need for adventuring during the day:

If you’re wearing a wig for adventuring, consider a backup or less costly synthetic wig so your primary expensive wig is safely stowed while you go zip-lining or swimming. 

Wearing a wig while camping

A Wig and a Prayer client hangs her wig on the back of the head rest of her car when car camping. A hat covers her head for adventuring, including roasting marshmallows and sitting by the bonfire at night (keep your synthetic hair FAR away from high heat near fires!)

You’ll need some extra gear for camping (same as for boating): Swim caps for swimming and snorkeling, Buff head tubes for hiking and climbing, sun hats for pool-side all work to keep you cool and covered. 

Consider hats with hair (see how these work in our blog post here) for camping, hiking, boating and other outside adventures. These halo hats feature elastic bands or velcro that attach the hair to the hat or rest on the head (elastic bands) leaving your scalp bare and cool under your hat.

Wearing a wig while bicycling

For bicycling, your helmet might not fit! Try it on with your wig and undo the ratchet “roc loc” in the back a few clicks. If your helmet doesn’t fit, and you’re riding longer distances, consider leaving your wig behind OR wear a hat-hair-wig and use a Buff or scarf to cover your scalp – the resulting thinner scarf or Buff may allow you to snug your helmet and will be a lot more comfortable.  For serious cycling of many hours in the summer, wear a Buff or scarf only, or possibly with a clip-on faux pony tail extension secured to the base of the scarf or Buff for off-bike adventures. 

 Wearing a wig on a wine tasting tour

For adventures of a different sort, like wine tasting  (summer sun, outdoor breeze) definitely consider hat-hair accessories, which offer the coolness and the style of a great hat with attachable hair or halo style hair. 

The dark side of hair logistics

You’re going to be envious of everyone else who doesn’t have to pack five things to manage their hair on your adventures. You’re going to get weary over having to plan all these details and make sure you consider possibilities for hair for all the day’s activities. You’re going to probably get hot under that wig, it’s going to make you cranky.

Managing the logistics is having a base set of gear for most adventures. For me, that is a Buff, a hat and a wig with some way to store it or hang it when I’m not wearing it (safely, such as a silky carry bag and an extra tee shirt for the crown-stuffing.) At a minimum, I go everywhere on every adventure with that setup. If it’s important to be spontaneous, keep a wig kit bag in your car or your (larger) bag or purse at all times.  I also keep a spray bottle of witch hazel with a few drops of peppermint essential oil to cool my scalp (rip off that wig in a private spot and spray your head.)  If you’re going somewhere, say, a winery, by bicycle, either wear hat-or scarf-attached hair or take your wig in a small drawstring backpack bag as you ride. A great looking wig go-bag can double as your larger purse. 

The light side of hair logistics:

You can protect your hair from all those adventures. Water tubing? No problem – just remove your ‘good’ hair (swap for pool hair or a swim cap) and when you’re done, your clean, dry, styled hair is ready go out to dinner. Same goes for snorkeling, hiking and other adventures that require sweaty/salty/watery experiences. Your hair will always look fabulous after you’re done!  Odds are there is someone who is really envious of your great looking hair on that adventure you’re on! 

Synthetics never lose their style – so even if you rinse it out and shake it, it’ll dry styled and ready to go.  So they make great travel partners on the go. 

The most important thing to remember is a little bit of prior planning, a go-bag for your hair/wig accessories,  you can be ready for any adventure. Don’t let hair keep you home. Your adventuresome spirit and your energy need to be out there! 

When should you wash your wig?

When should you wash that wig? Read on!

When should you wash your wig? How to tell when it’s time to wash your synthetic or human hair wig.

Synthetic wigs usually hold up very well for quite a number of wearings. They don’t get greasy strands near your face either. So how do you tell when you need to wash it?

When it starts moving like a wig, and not like hair, it’s time to wash it. Hair sections move independently of one another and are less ‘clumpy’ when they’re freshly washed. Over time, using wig conditioning sprays can build up and cause the wig to not move as freely as it did when it was clean. Washing synthetic wigs every 5-10 wearings is important. 

 For human hair wigs, when you start to notice greasy strands near your face (or about 5-10 wearings, depending on the weather), it’s time. A human hair wig needs care like human hair does, including washing, blow drying, styling – and buildup of styling products can mean you might have to wash more frequently (especially in warmer weather.)

If you’re not into the washing of your hairpieces, your wig salon or stylist will offer that as a service – and a wash and style is a great way to get your hair back into tip top shape periodically even if you do wash at home. The best part, you don’t need to stay with your hair, and you can wear your other hairpieces while yours is being styled. One of the funniest texts you’ll get is getting a text from your wig stylist with “your hair is ready!” 

See our wig washing blog posts here and here for more details on washing your own wigs, or contact your wig stylist for professional wash and style services for your wigs. 

It’s great to periodically get them styled (or get a styling/washing lesson) so you can ensure they last longer and look great while doing it. Your wigs are an investment, and taking care of them is critical for wearing them a long time, particularly if you are a daily hair-wearer.

Hate wearing your wig or topper?

There are going to be days where you hate wearing hair.

We've been there too! Itchy, hot, bothersome. Read on...

Let’s be up front about hair wearing. It’s awesome! Yet, whether you have thinning hair, alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, or hair loss due to chemo, if you wear hair in the form of wigs and toppers, you’re going to have days where you hate wearing wigs and toppers.

A few of our favorite hair wearing hates:

1)    The caps are sometimes itchy. Synthetic caps (particularly the less expensive) have lace panels that show hairlines in the front and along the part line of the hair. The backs are sometimes wefted and have bands of polyester and nylon fabric. If you’re having a hair fall and you’re one of those people who have hair fall that hurts, this can be exasperating at best and painful, at worst. 

2)    The wig around your head will feel like a vise. Particularly late in the day, when your head swells, it will feel tight (yeah, yeah, but it DOES actually swell, not just due to the compliments you’ve gotten on your hair all day!) 

3)    It’s going to be warm. Maybe even bordering on hot, particularly in hot and humid weather.  You’re going to want to rip it off your head.

4)    You’re going to have moments where you hate the hand that fate has dealt you and you’re going to hate wearing hair. Trust us. 

5)    Your itchy, hot, tight head is going to drip down into a crabby you. You might not even recognize it at first. This low level of irritation across a whole day can set you off at the day’s end. Recognize that it’s there, and it’s normal. 

We talk a lot about the joys of wearing hair on our blog and in person, too. But we often don’t talk about the dark side of wearing hair. The emotional side that puts that voice in your head that says you are less than, you are less valued without your hair, that you are not beautiful. That you are less. We know that voice. Sometimes it speaks loudly and sometimes it whispers. Sometimes you can deflect it with a wave of your hand and others, it reaches out and grabs you. 

You’re going to have days where you might even take off your hair in a public bathroom stall and hang it on the hook just to have the thing OFF your head for five minutes.  We’ve done this. Relish it. 

You might even get frustrated with your hair falling out and shave it off (don’t shave it down below ¼” of an inch – pro tip!) 

Acknowledge it.  Own it., Then, let it go. You are not less. You are so much more for having walked this road. You are much more compassionate, you are much stronger, you are much more beautiful because of your struggle. 

The truth is for many people who wear hair, the hair you can buy is WAY BETTER than the hair you were born with. Or maybe you’ve gone all in and you have embraced your hair loss and purchased the hair you have always wanted – your dream hair. If you haven’t done this, consider it. It’s empowering in a way that’s amazing. 

Even with dream hair though, there are nightmare days. Just get home and rip that thing right off your head when that happens. We know many a hair friend in town or on Instagram who hangs her hair up on the coat hooks, or the dining room chair handles, or the bathroom hook. And if you’re bothered by an itchy wig cap, a full WigGrip cap with soft velvet band and lightweight bamboo knit is a blessing. Truly. 

What are your hair hates? We have a private Facebook Group that you have to request to join. You can see the posts from the group members in your feed but no one else outside of the group can see them. Come join us and tell us. We’re here for you. We’ve ripped that hair off our head too. 

Just hang that hair anywhere, sister. We’ve been there. Shot of iWig Human Hair wig on the back of a bathroom door just to have it OFF of the head for a moment!

Loving your synthetic wigs for rainy or humid weather!

These waves won’t fall flat if you get caught in a rain shower! The Maya by Envy wigs shown here.

Why synthetic hair should be in your hair wardrobe. Synthetic wigs are GREAT for rainy days and humid climates.

 Synthetic wigs perform great in adverse weather conditions. Want perfectly beachy waves that can hold up to high humidity or rain showers? No problem. Want to wash that wig and have it dry overnight and be ready to wear with a light brushing and a shake? No problem.  

Do you want to add variety to your hair wardrobe without breaking the bank? Synthetics can do that!

Synthetic wigs and toppers add ease to your hair wardrobe, affordably. On a rainy or humid day, a human hair wig will react with human-hair characteristics – going flat, or frizzy. But your synthetics, they just stay as gorgeous as they started, no matter the weather conditions. 

Sometimes even just keeping a synthetic wig around to wear when you don’t feel like washing or styling your human hair wig can be a great option. 

But one of the mistakes many people make is buying synthetic wigs and expecting them to work right out of the box. ALL wigs – regardless of the hair type – require cut and customization for YOU. That’s where your wig stylist comes into play. She should work with you during a wig purchase and cut your synthetic wig to work for your face shape and hair likes. Many synthetics contain a lot of volume that can be overwhelming on some people. Plus, there are great products and ways of styling your synthetics that help them look as natural as possible. 

Synthetic wig wearing is really wash-and-wear hair, and many of them are comfortable, stylish and really undetectable from human hair. There are some drawbacks to synthetics – many of them don’t last past a year (and some last less than that if you wear them daily). This is common with ALL synthetics – but if they are straight, having your wig stylist steam your wigs will restore them and give them new life (sadly, you can’t steam the curly ones!)  You can have synthetics cut into a shorter style, such as a lob (long bob) or even a short bob or pixie depending on the style of your current synthetic wig. This will extend their lives a bit. 

Synthetics are a great choice for shorter-term hair wearing, or if you want to infuse variety in to your longterm hair wearing wardrobe. Your wig stylist should cut your synthetic to have it more closely fit your face shape. And you should love their easy care and “seasonal collection” opportunities to go, say lighter and more blonde in the summer, and darker/richer in the winter.

Happy hair wearing! 

It’s raining, It’s pouring,
Your wig looks flat and boring. (not anymore!)

Can you wear a wig at the beach?

This synthetic wig “Maya” by Envy Wigs after it’s been worn about 8-12 months is a perfect wig to take to the beach. Synthetic wigs generally are their best before 12 months in age, and after that they make great backup wigs for sitting in a hot tub or spa or at the pool. this wig’s open weft cap is cool.

It’s spring break season! If you’re escaping to a warm weather destination, you’ll want to know all about wearing wigs at the beach or pool.

Depending upon your hair loss, you may have several options for what to do with your head when you are at the beach or pool.

Wearing wigs or toppers for beach or pool:

Synthetic hair (either as toppers or as wigs) are best for the pool or beach, and it should be your backup piece – either a wig you have worn for a while or a less expensive piece you purchase for the purpose of beach or pool. Bring your primary hairpiece with you on your trip as well. 

If you do go in the pool or ocean in a wig, be sure to rinse it thoroughly and condition it after wearing, and consider braiding long synthetic hair before going in the water. 

If you would prefer to not wear your hair at the beach or pool, you have several options:

1)  wear a sun hat with very good coverage – such as hats with big brims that flop down in the back, or have a back “safari” flap. 

2)  For hats like fedoras, where the back of your head will show, use a stretchy headband to cover the parts of your head that would be exposed under the hat

3)  Wear a swim scarf – a scarf sewn of swim suit fabric. 

4)  Wear a Buff headwrap. You can wear this as a cap, do-rag or turban, or even tied into a rosette. A Buff also fits under a hat. 

Fortunately sunny locations always find people in well-covered sun hats, so you won’t feel out of place. If you’re going between inside and outside, wear a Buff or scarf under your hat so you can take it off indoors. 

If you are diving below the surface of the water, you may want to wear an actual swim cap (for lap swimming), as this will stay on when diving into a pool or ocean. A Buff or swim scarf will also work if you are swimming underwater, but it can come off when diving or jumping in the water. 

Scarves add a vacation vibe to your wardrobe

Tie a Buff into a rosette or wrap your head in a scarf for a vacation vibe that is stylish and cool.

Bring scarves! An elegant evening look is a big long scarf wrapped and tied on your head, with the tails hanging down, worn with statement earrings and a sarong style dress. 

Scarves also work well for hikes, kayaking and other sports where the heat of a wig won’t make you happy. 

Your vacation is designed to help you relax and be happy. Hair wearing becomes a natural part of you, and everything you do. If you want more information on traveling with your hairpieces, click here for our blog post that covers the practical tips of TSA screening, wig storing on international overnight flights and other challenges of hair wearing life on the road.

Winter hats with attached hair extensions

Winter hats with attached hair are perfect for women with hair loss due to alopecia, androgenic alopecia, thinning hair, and chemotherapy-induced hair loss.

It’s winter hat season! A cute casual winter hat look for women with hair loss is to wear hats with attached hair.  A Wig and A Prayer customers are testing out the Adorna synthetic extensions for hats, and a selection of these is available at A Wig and a Prayer in Okemos.

Hats with hair?! Yes, please! Whether you’re rocking a casual outdoor look while shopping, snowshoeing, walking the dog, hanging out with friends or sledding with the kids, hats with hair offer the warmth of a winter hat with the style of attached hair. 

Most hair + hat extensions include hats with Velcro sewn on the inside (the loopy soft side of Velcro on the hat, and the hook side on the hair attachment band). This is ideal if you have dedicated winter hats to wear with your hair, but you might want to use the same hats you use without hair and wear your hair hat extensions. The solution is to attach it to a Goody elastic band. This particular band is available only on Amazon (we haven’t seen it in local stores.) It is slightly grippy, which holds the hat extension AND keeps it in place on your head (whether or not you have hair.)  It comes in three “natural” colors (blonde, brown and dark gray) which matches with the hair. Shown here is blonde on the Warm Blonde Adorna synthetic hair extension. 

To attach the hair to the elastic band, fold the hair in half to find the center back. Align the center back to the back of the elastic band and begin smoothing the Velcro hair band along the headband. It can be a bit tricky to get it to lie smooth, so go slowly and pull it back to adjust as you need it.  To wear the hair, put the band on with the headband across your forehead and just below the crown of your head in back. Add any hat to the top!

If you’re using this under a winter sports helmet (it would drive some of our testers bezerk to have this on), you can wear a soft beanie instead of a full hat to fit under your helmet. Or for indoor wear, you can carry a thinner smooth knit beanie style hat and swap the winter outdoor hat for the beanie for indoor wear (duck into the restroom to make the swap if you’re at a ski hill.) Or you can opt to keep the hair in it’s carrying case until après ski and change into the hair with beanie for indoor wear.

Note, with synthetic extensions, you do have to be careful of high heat so stand a little bit back from that outdoor bonfire or indoor fireplace if you’re wearing synthetic hair to avoid damaging the hair due to the heat. 

We tried this with two winter hat styles, a typical  knit winter hat and a knit winter hat with a plush and warm fleece lining. Both worked fine, but the tighter fit of the fleece lining can irritate some by pressing the hair extension into the scalp. You can try this on your own hats to see what looseness of hat you prefer to wear with hair hat extensions.

Hats with hair are a great way to not have to wear a full wig AND a hat (which can be irritating) for winter casual wear.

Wig and Topper Hair Storage Ideas

Wig Storage Ideas that are creative and easy to do!

Shown here, an upper cabinet in a bathroom transformed into Hair Central for a client. She uses the shelf to store her styling head, baseball hats (for post-wig wear), wigs and hat extensions

A good view of the tension bar and wig hanger with the hat hair attachment hanging on a clip hanger. This system is easily replicated in a closet like this if you remove an upper shelf.

When you first start wearing hair, you might have just one wig, and you might have it on your head during the day….but at some point, you’ll need to take it off. How do you store a wig – and more than one wig? Or how do you safely store long-hair wigs and toppers?

You can store your wig on your styling head, of course, and this works if you have one wig. You could also set up your travel / drying stand and air out your wig that way too, storing them on a dresser or counter. You could store two wigs that way, but you may find they are in the way.

If you are managing several wigs (2-3 wigs, plus caps and hats) you need a better system. This one utilizes the open space at the top of a bathroom or linen closet and uses a commonly found inexpensive tension bar, and  hanging wig hangers to manage a selection of fun hair wearing options.

In this case, the client worked with a personal organizer who helped her clean out her bathroom closet and create a great wig storage space that is beautiful and functional. This space was previously large bottles of lotion (moved to a lower shelf) that created this open space for wig storage that is out of the way and protected. 

The top shelf of this cabinet had a lot of room above it (you could also remove a shelf from a linen closet or bathroom cabinet such as this, or remove a shelf from a row of shelves in a standard closet too.) 

·     Purchase a tension bar that will span the width of your space

·     Purchase these wig  hangers (2-pack) on Amazon

·     Hang your wigs

·     Use the shelf for storing the styling head, travel wig stand/ air drying stand, wig caps and hats

You can also use pant and skirt style hangers to clip toppers and attachable hair and hang.

Having a dedicated space for your hair protects the hair when you’re not wearing it, and creates a ‘boutique’ experience of deciding which hair to wear on any given day. Wearing hair as an accessory is a way many women embrace hair wearing, even though their choice to wear hair in the first place wasn’t their own.

Wearing wigs and toppers likely means that you may acquire ‘seasonal hair’ like accessories, meaning if you’re not looking for better storage options now, you will be soon!

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Fall is our very favorite hair wearing season!

After the heat of summer, when you wanted to rip your wigs off your head within 1 minute of being outside, fall is knocking on our door here in mid-Michigan. And it’s our favorite hair-wearing season!

“Flannel Hair” - a warm tonal outfit with rich fall colors that coordinates beautifully with your fall hair color. This is Strawberry Shortcake (27MB) in the Jon Renau Sarah wig.

Changing your hair look by wearing wigs is not only fun but it’s good for your wigs. You can extend the life of all of your alternative hair for hair loss if you have more than one to wear. Fall is also a great time to wear hair – summer’s heat and humidity is gone, and yet, winter’s chill winds (which still blow through your wig cap – seems unfair) isn’t upon us yet. Fall is one of the most delightful seasons to experiment with different hair – fall’s warmer, richer colors also lend themselves to a change in hair color. And wigs are SO EASY to change your look.

We recently came across the term “flannel hair” – the cozy, warm shades and tones of hair in the fall from deep strawberry blondes to red and caramel-highlighted browns and auburns – these darker colors, with darker roots, lend themselves perfectly to fall’s cozy layers of flannels. Everyone love sweater weather. Now you can love Flannel Hair weather too!

Human hair wigs can have custom color - so check with your wig stylist about updating your color for fall. Current color trends include rooted colors (darker at the roots, lighter about 2-3” away from the roots, sometimes going to platinum blonde), bayalage (dark at the roots, tapering into a lighter color at the ends of the hair) as well as mixed-blend colors (like the Strawberry Shortcake 27MB shown above.)

Styling a pixie or short bob wig to make it look less wiggy

This pic of A Wig and a Prayer client in her Follea pixie was featured on the Follea Instagram feed.

Short hair wigs like pixies and very short bobs often need a little bit of oomph to make the style modern and less “helmet hair”.  The reason wigs (particularly short ones) have these challenges is the hair is tied to a wig cap – and it’s not very long in a pixie or short bob style. Plus, you have foundational elements of a wig cap like lace fronts, ear tabs, clips, silicone grippers and even combs. All of these create structure under the cap and the hair can’t move as freely as if it were growing from your scalp. Even natural pixies don’t move that much where the hair is very short. 

There ARE some great ways to use product to style a pixie wig so it doesn’t have that helmet head look. 

First, your pixie wig (as with many wigs) may need washing weekly if you wear it daily without a cap under it. The oils from your scalp do get to your wig, but they don’t travel down the hair strand, so ironically, the hair on your wig can get very dry. 

So, washing, conditioning and taking care of your wigs is really essential. Don’t want to manage this or need a gloss conditioning of your wig? Your wig salon and wig stylist can take that wig and make it like new ;) 

 “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life – Coco Chanel”

Styling tips for pixie or short hair wigs

Pixies look great with some choppiness and piece-y-ness to the wig. If you have a synthetic wig, such as a Jon Renau, try their spray gel for synthetic hair. They also have a styling crème which works to create pieced sections. 100% aloe vera gel also works great for synthetic wigs. 

Go on Pinterest and search “long pixie cut” or “short bob hairstyles”  and pin a few things you like.  Longer bob or pixie styles are ideal for wig wearers because there’s more hair there to move. If you’ve never had this much hair yourself, embrace the change! 

If you have a human hair wig, you can also use regular styling things like “bedhead” creams or gels – even good old aloe-vera gel (100% gel) works fine. 

Smooth some of the crème or gel on your hands and particularly fingers, and pull out pieces of your pixie or bob from back to front. You’re looking to create some dimension so the hair isn’t all one smooth cap, but has some pieces pulling out from the base of the wig. Continue pulling out pieces and smoothing your fingers down them (the spray gel, crème or ‘bedhead’ cream will help hold these in place.) Smooth down the temple sections so the pixie lies smoothy across the ear tabs. Work in just enough product so that your pixie holds but doesn’t get too stiff. Don’t use spray on top of this – you’ll have better movement of the hair.

When your wig gets too ‘stiff’ to move – it’s time to wash (or every 7-10 wearings, if you wear it all day long.)  If you don’t want to wash your own wigs, your wig salon and stylist will wash and style them for you about every 10 - 15 wearings depending on season and content of the hair fiber.

Short bobs can also benefit from this method, particularly creating volume at the back crown moving forward, and piecing a few spots along the sides of the head toward the front. 

Your pixie or bob will be a fun, and cooler addition to your summer alternative wearable hair wardrobe. If you’re already used to short hair, you know how fun it is to wear and style. Short hair emboldens a woman.

Scarves, hats and summer no-hair wearing in Michigan

Long scarves, square scarves, big sun hats and lightweight headbands work well with existing summer headwear you can find anywhere at all price points. These cool options for summer are chic with your favorite sunglasses!

It’s going to be HOT this summer (especially by Michigan standards)! And even if you love alternative hair, those heavy synthetic locks or even those short human hair ones, you’re still essentially wearing a synthetic hat … with hair on it.

Going without hair really isn’t an option in most cases (if you have little or no hair) even for the simple reason that the sun is intense this time of year. And a hat? Fortunately, there are wonderful hat, tie on hat and scarf options that look chic – even trendy for summer.

Summer hats, the classic kind you think of – straw hats, floppy hats, baseball hats – these are all great options for summer no-hair wearing. You can use a regular hat with a soft, thin headband to cover the non-hair parts of your hairline that aren’t covered by the hat. This season’s “It” hat is a big floppy fabric hat  - these have excellent ‘no hair’ coverage and are cool and comfortable to wear without needing a hairline covering headband. 

Bamboo, cotton and rayon beanies: Beanies with or without brims for summer in lightweight, cool fabrics like bamboo and rayon are perfect – they are the summer version of your winter indoor beanies and many come with brims so they are great for sun protection too. A selection of these at A Wig and a Prayer feature ruching and other decorative elements that add visual volume to an otherwise ‘smaller’ bald head.

Sun protective hats. Hats with big brims and flaps to cover your neck are great for outdoor sports like running, walking, paddleboarding, as they offer complete coverage of the hairline and protect from the sun.

Wrap and tie hats (see a selection of these at A Wig and a Prayer salon) offer the feeling of having long hair but the coverage of a beanie hat. They slide on like a hat and have long ties that secure the beanie and float down your back. These are often also made in a swim wear fabric for pool and beach hat wearing in the water.

Scarves: Gorgeous long scarves make wonderful headwraps and worn with statement earrings, give a cool island vibe to your summer outfits. Square scarves tied bandanna-style offer classic coverage – but take the long tails and twist them into rosettes for a different look. Worn with your favorite shades, these summer scarves are a stylish way to survive summer heat without wearing hair.

Hats with hair: hats with attached or detachable hair are wonderful for summer. Jessica has great options for hats with hair, and she can help you select the right hat and hair combo for summer wear.

Henna tattoos: this deserves it’s own blog post – but the proliferation of Hollywood heroines with bald tattooed heads is inspiring for hair-less among us. Who doesn’t want to be as fierce as a warrior and boldly going bald! Henna tattoos offer a relatively temporary way to decorate your scalp for summer. Statement earrings, necklace and footwear is absolutely essential for this look, so go all out with your accessories.

Even among the most devoted fans of wig and toppette wearing among us, on the hot days of summer you can’t wait to just rip that wig right of your head! Consider spending some stylish time with these hair-free head covering options.

Beanies out of soft, breathable fabric like this one shown here at A Wig and a Prayer hair loss salon in Okemos, MI offer no-hat style that is cool and comfortable.

Finding hope in hair loss online

Hair loss sucks. It really does! Whether yours has been thinning for years, or if you’re newly bereaved by hair loss through autoimmune diseases like alopecia, or dealing with chemo hair loss, losing your hair can be traumatic.

But you're not alone in hair loss:

Finding your tribe of hair loss friends can be difficult. In a smaller city like Lansing (or even smaller, like Okemos or East Lansing), finding a hair loss buddy can be all but impossible. 

But you can find a tribe online and not only be inspired by their resilience, but come to know the joy of augmenting your hair (and just how many people actually do it!)

Instagram:

Instagram is a wealth of stylish and energetic faux-hair wearers and you can do a hashtag search of terms like #alopecia #alopeciaareata #hairloss #wigs and wig brands like #jonrenau and #follea, and #ellenwille. These popular brands, which Jessica uses for her clients at A Wig and a Prayer, can show you how others look in similar wigs, but more importantly, by following them, you can see that MOST of them not only accept their hair loss but they have embraced it. Some even say hair loss has changed their lives for the better! 

We follow the following accounts: @majalabee, @jonrenau, @rosemarie_fit, @tressedtwo, @alopeciablondie, @hopeandmane, @kellie_snaps and of course @awigandaprayer

Facebook:

You can find Facebook groups associated with Alopecia or Cancer Hair loss. You can follow wig brands like Jon Renau and Follea for inspriation and style ideas

You can do a hashtag search in the search box in Facebook, or just search for a term such as Michigan Alopecia Support

https://www.facebook.com/Michigan-Alopecia-Group-224978444727053/

You can also find private message groups such as Alopecia World which serves a global community for all types of alopecia. These groups offer valuable support, advice on a wide range of topics from products to navigating health care options. 

Chemo-related hair loss support:

Most people undergoing cancer treatment will regrow their hair in 6 months following treatment. Your cancer center can guide you to support groups for cancer – and in there you’ll find like-minded people who are also going through chemo and cancer treatment. 

Crossover to alopecia groups for more advice. Since alopecia is a life-long condition that affects hair loss well beyond the post-chemo period, you can get a lot of great advice and support from other women who wear wigs and have worn them for years, or even decades. Even though the experience of cancer is not the same, the experience of hair loss – and the power of embracing it – is very helpful. 

Stop by your wig salon for your wig styling appointment and talk with your stylist about ways you can care for your hair - but also find others. If your stylist works with other cancer survivors, she knows of the local events or groups that you can join. Plus, she can help with the nitty gritty details like lashes, brows and make-up - all important details to helping you through hair loss. 

In the Lansing, Michigan area, Sparrow Hospital has cancer support groups for patients. Inquire at your oncology clinic for more details. 

It’s hot! Tips for wearing a wig in the summer

Tips for wearing a wig in the summer? We've got answers!

Summer has arrived and with it, heat and humidity. What do you do if you’re an alternative hair wearer and what type of hair is cooler?

First off, human hair will be more comfortable in the heat, but like bio hair, it will often behave on its own in the humidity unless you use products on it (just like your own bio hair.)  But ALL hair systems use synthetic caps to attach the hair.  So at some point, there’s some synthetic against your head. 

The interior of a 3-year old Follea full wig. The lace front at the top and even the wefting on the bottom (which is different then than Follea wigs are now) show that you can see daylight through the hair fibers. Daylight=cooler wig wearing.

A good rule of thumb is if you can SEE through the cap, it’s going to be cooler. So look through the wig cap and see if you can see daylight. Daylight = breeze. If not, save that big heavy wig for cooler days.  Your wig stylist can selectively “thin” wigs down to create less volume (and less heat) for you, so if you’ve loved that synthetic wig all winter, and are in the 4th+ month, consider having it thinned for summer. With care, most synthetic wigs have a 9-12 month shelf life, and at 4+months, having it trimmed to wear the rest of the summer may be a good option. If it’s brand new, wear it for evening wear or cooler summer days.

Short hair wigs will also be cooler in the summer, for obvious reasons that you don’t have heavier hair hanging down the back of your neck. Wigs with less volume, too, will be cooler, to let airflow in.  Consider the pixie, an angled bob, a fun wavy bob or even straight wig looks thinned down for cooler hair wearing in summer’s heat. 

Let’s face it, at the end of the day, you’re going to want to rip that wig right off your head! Plan ahead: wear a scarf or tie it to your bag, and bring a wig travel bag, so you can take your hair off in your car, tie on a headscarf and safely transport your wig home. 

Bring a small spray bottle with witch hazel, distilled water, and a drop of essential oils. The (tiny amount) of oils will be cool and refreshing to your scalp. A spritz inside your wig cap will help with the “stinkies” after a long day of wearing in the heat. You may have to wash your wig more than usual – consider washing just the cap and conditioning the rest of your synthetic wig to preserve the fibers.  I’ve even washed just the bangs of my human hair wig when they developed that greasy look. Just washing a few parts of the bangs preserves my wig’s color and strands. 

A wigGrip band (not cap) is ideal for summer, as it is soft and doesn’t cover your whole head. You can also use a silicone gripper band.  Many people swear by whole head bamboo wig caps for summer, too. 

Wear your long wigs braided or pulled up – try a loose updo to keep the hair off the back of your neck. 

Get a few hats. You can wear any hat with a headband to cover the sides and back of your head. This is a cool option for summer – so look for one-layer headbands in sports lycra (such as those worn for running or yoga).  And then, look for natural fibers like straw, or linen/cotton or even hats with mesh panels for cool coverage.  Bear in mind that summer bonfires are not kind to your synthetic wigs - stay back from the fire or consider swapping for a scarf or hat so you don't damage your hairpieces. 

And jump in the pool! Check out our swimming and summer wig wearing article here.

Summer is a time of glorious weather and with a bit of extra prep, you can enjoy your faux hair fun while managing the heat. 

How to grow long hair in less than a week!

That’s a sexy headline! I scrolled across that one on Pinterest the other day. Presumably, the post was about some magical serum. But you all know that’s not true, really. There isn’t a magic serum you can use to grow long hair in a week. However, it IS true you CAN get long hair in less than a week!

If your hair is thinning, patchy, lackluster, and maybe, due to your age, just not looking like it used to anymore, there are many great options that your local wig salon and wig stylist can help you with.

Toppettes are very small caps that are woven in and attached to your bio hair to create length, fullness and younger-looking hair. They’re comfortable, they last for up to 4 weeks, and they can be washed and heat styled, just like your bio hair. This is a fabulous option if you’ve had thinning hair for a while and just want to have great looking hair again.

Extensions are added into your hair at other points (other than the crown of your head like a toppette). Extensions can be glued, woven or even using a special crimping clip that can be reused again. They also stay in for 4-6 weeks and can be washed and heat styled.

Wigs offer full coverage. If your hair is too fragile or there’s too little of it (say, due to androgenic or autoimmune alopecia), you can get a full head wig that is lush and beautiful. Depending on your budget and lifestyle, either a synthetic or human-hair wig can offer the best look for you.  Many wig wearers have both synthetic and human hair in their wig wardrobe – synthetics offer easy care and fun, affordable options to change your look up, while human hair wigs are more durable, can be colored and styled just like bio hair.

The best part about faux hair or at least fun hair is that it is just that – fun! You can have fun and you can grow long hair in less than a week (about the time it takes to sit with Jessica, your hair loss stylist at A Wig and a Prayer, order your perfect hair system and get it back for your styling and fitting session.

What are your #hairgoals? Longer, thicker hair? Covering up thinning, graying locks? Adding some oomph to your style? Having your dream hair?  Whatever your #hairgoals, a wig, topper or extensions can be a great option.

Avoiding the 'wig conversation' with colleagues, friends and family?

Avoiding the 'wig conversation' with colleagues? Sometimes it's easier to NOT have to explain why you're wearing a wig, toppette or extensions - but if your newly awesome wearable hair has your colleagues and casual acquaintances looking at you twice, you might consider a few creative answers. 

Talk about your beautiful new hair! You never know who you might inspire - directly or indirectly.

First, most people will know that you changed something, maybe even your hair, but might not notice that you have dramatically different hair. When going from a short red pixie to a long strawberry blonde look with fellow sports parents, one of our clients found that a few women asked questions, none of the dads did at all. One sports mom said "you look great! Did you color your hair?" when the hair our client had on was ten inches longer, wavy and an entirely different color!  The y kids, on the other hand, were amusing. One boy, a family friend of our client, openly gaped at her as she walked by. Other kids looked shyly, and asked how her hair was so different. Fortunately, our client is comfortable with her hair (and her disease) and said very simply “I bought this new hair because my own natural hair fell out due to a disease.” The child, satisfied, smiled and said “it looks really pretty!”

If you don't want to lie but you don't want to talk about it, you could say "I have the most amazing stylist and she helped me with this new hair look! Thanks for the compliment!" and walk on. Or you could do as a friend suggested:  "yes, it's my hair! I bought it!" 

If you're wondering if your friends and family are answering this question when you're not there, don't worry. Your friend or loved one wants you to be loved and accepted as you are. You can let them steer the conversation in a positive direction by saying "Yep, tell them, ‘Mary got some new hair help at her salon and doesn't her hair look fabulous!’  Will they share that you're wearing a wig? They might!

Would that bother you? Why? Asking yourself these questions might help uncover how YOU feel about your hair now. MOST celebrites wear augmented wearable hair – either toppettes, extensions or wigs – and it’s not a secret or a surprise. They’re in the business of looking great. You deserve that, too!

Most people look so much better with wearable hair – even if their own natural hair is intact - wearable hair is thicker, shinier, younger-looking and styled professionally by your stylist. Wearable hair can take years off a person’s looks and help them feel better about themselves. Synthetic wearable hair has a consistent style even after washing and is professionally styled to remain that way, an easy option if you’re not good with styling your hair. And even human hair wigs or toppettes are styled and then worn for 7-10 days before washing and restyling meaning you can take your time the first time to style it and wear it longer before you have to restyle.

At a family gathering, a beloved aunt who has had thinning hair for decades, sported thicker, younger looking hair. She had on a trendy new cardigan and looked at least a full ten years younger than her actual age. She looked so fabulous, everyone was exclaiming how great the transformation was. Did everyone know? Sure? Auntie had had that barely-there wispy hair on her scalp forever. Did anyone care that she was wearing a wig? NO!  They only cared that she looked lovely and piled on the compliments.

But if you’re in line at the grocery store, and someone compliments your hair, just take it as that. Wigs are not perceptible on virtually anyone who looks at them. Quality synthetic – more affordable than human hair – or quality human hair wigs – are quite well made now, with lace fronts and hand-tied caps that hide wefting and hairlines. You’re going to look wonderful! Bask in the compliments.

Live Video Reveal of the Jon Renau Human Hair Angie wig

New hair for a big day! Caitlin gets a new look for her upcoming June wedding with the Jon Renau human hair Angie wig in color 633 with custom lowlights added by Jessica at A Wig and a Prayer.  In this video, Jessica also shows the velvet WiGrip band that helps secure your wig in place comfortably. 

Live Video Reveal of the Jon Renau Sarah Wig

There's nothing more fun than getting a new hair - and it's even MORE fun when it's a very dramatic change for a client with alopecia areata. Jessica, the salon owner of A Wig and a Prayer, puts a Jon Renau Sarah in color 27MB on Ann for the first time.  The Sarah is a synthetic wig from Jon Renau with a hand-tied cap with lace front. Ann is wearing the WiGrip headband integrated wig cap combo to protect her scalp (which is very sensitive). 

Jessica also shows how this wig can be worn up if her client chooses to do so.