Lately I have been on the receiving end of emails and personal messages asking me to write a blog post about the wigs I wear and my “wig” story. I have also received quite a few messages and emails asking me what I think about those in the wig community who pontificate their Christian and political ideologies as well as thoughts on guns. And yes, there are several wig-wearers who bring sensitive subject matter into their reviews on various forms of social media.
Let us go back a few years here..or “hair” to see my wig evolution!
Let me address the second part of the inquiries. I’ve unfollowed those who intertwine wigs with scriptures, Bible passages, politics and, if they are pro-gun, I do not follow. My personal ideologies and beliefs are meant for separate social media posts. And, out of respect for the wig companies sending me product for review, any sensitive subject matter has no place in a wig review. I have also taken certain wig vendors off my follow list as they support the beliefs of those reviewers. It is as simple as that. I don’t bad-mouth, I don’t start online arguments, I merely click and unfollow.
Hey. Jesus was a hippie. End of story. He didn’t wear a wig either. End of story.
I do, however, have issues with the use of filters, but I will discuss that later in this post.
Anyway, anxiety and stress have long been a part of my life. It goes back to childhood and I am not going to elaborate on that for now.
Add stomach aches, headaches, depression….and panic.
It was around the time I was in high school, that my anxiety took the route of pulling on my hair. Every time I felt anxious or stressed, I would head up to my room, put on some music (Jimmy Hendrix) and would pull strands of hair out. Then I started to pick at my scalp until it bled. I’m not going to say I got satisfaction with this, but it did relieve some of the stress and anxiety.
Sadly, I still do this when I’m stressed. I cut my hair (what’s left of it) into a chin-length bob and I’m still pulling.
Because my hair was unusually thick and porous, it appeared that I had a ton of hair—which I did. The pulling and picking would remain throughout my adult life. I did not notice any changes in my hair until my forties. And it was thinning. My part became wider but it had not reached that issue—yet. It wasn’t until one of my friends—or was it one of my sisters, who noticed a bald spot on the back of my crown. I never noticed it because of the way I wore my hair.
When I look back at this old photo, the damage had already been done. Dying my hair disguised the baldness a bit.
When the bald spot was pointed out, I became panicky and made an appointment with my general practitioner. She brushed it off as pre-menopausal and said that her hair had thinned a lot. Still not happy with her explanation, I kept pulling and picking and noticed that my once lustrous head of hair had become much thinner. In fact, I started to notice that areas where I pulled my hair and picked at my scalp, the hair was not growing back.
I didn’t chew my hair nor did I pull out hair other than the hair on my head. But I would search out split ends. Some people turn to drugs. I turned to pulling out my hair.
It wasn’t until I changed doctors that I found out I had trichotillomania. A mental condition where hair is pulled out, one can pick their scalp or other areas of the body. What I never expected was the permanent damage I caused to myself. Trich is a form of emotional illness and it is a form of body mutilation. I will not delve further.
My hair was still in okay shape though. With clever styling, the baldness was hidden. And with a clever hairstylist who talked me into long layers, my hair looked damned good! Adam worked wonders! Then it got to a point where I had to use a product made up of fibers, and sprinkled on the head, to hide the baldness which had gotten progressively worse (and yes, I was still pulling my hair). I would get my hair styled and Adam worked wonders with the product.
Adam at Bleu Mousse salon in Wayne, PA was THE best hairstylist I had gone to in my life. He was incredible and I miss the way he did my hair.
I bought a wig. I’ll never forget the first wig I purchased. Scorpio by Revlon. It was a bob and looked good but I was so anxious about wearing it to work or even out in public. I did manage enough bravery to wear it to my sister’s house on a Long Island visit. My niece asked me if I was wearing a wig. When I told her that I was she looked at me and said “It looks nice” in a very non-judgmental way.
This is Scorpio. The first wig I ever bought. I wish I hadn’t been so self-conscious at the time because looking back, this was a great little wig!
I continued to sit on the fence until I purchased a topper that I figured would solve my issue. At the time I purchased a topper from Uniwigs. The topper, texturally was fantastic because it wasn’t silky. It matched the coarse texture of my natural hair. I wore it to work, and if anyone noticed, nothing was said. The issue with the topper was that I had to constantly adjust and re-adjust it.
Toppers were a pain-in-the-neck for me. Constantly adjusting. It is just so much easier to wear a wig!
This was at a time when the women who had wig tutorials on YouTube and social media were women of color. I owe so much to those women because these women taught me how to wear and customize wigs. I learned how to cut a lace front and how to widen a too-thin part by tweezing and adding concealer to hide any line of demarcation.
I owe my wig education to women of color. Thank you!
Gradually, I became more confident in wearing wigs. And started my little way of reviewing them on YouTube.
Head to my YouTube Channel to watch some wig reviews!
I continue to review wigs on YouTube and Instagram but slack off during summer. On summer weekends, you can find me at the beach and not in front of a camera. And when I do get the opportunity to review a wig, you can bet your bottom dollar that review will be an unedited, unfiltered, totally transparent review.
No filters. I do use a ring light to get the house lighting a bit brighter but you NEED to see my skin tone, my wrinkles and features!
I do not filter my face simply because at 68 years, my face is wrinkled. It is textured. I have redness that I cover with makeup. I am naturally cross-eyed. I have a nose. I want you to see me at my worst because you need to see how a wig can enhance an older woman’s looks and add a nuance of youthfulness.
Getting ready to put a few wigs on for ya! I prefer to wear a nylon wig cap because it keeps the hair that I have in place and is rather comfortable. My wigs don’t shift when I wear this type of wig cap.
And that is what you need to realize when looking and researching wigs on social media. Whether it be on Instagram or Facebook, the lands of over-filtering and catfishing, or YouTube reviews where studio lighting added to filters are used.
You will never see me without a proper nose or with over-photoshopped lips. You need to see my at my worst!
What you need to consider is the shape of your face. Is it square and angular? (Hello! That would be me) Has age gifted you with jowls? Then you might want a wig with soft layers framing your face. And take length into consideration. You do not necessarily want a short wig that is close-cropped. Length does not have to be long. Shoulder to chin works beautifully on the mature woman.
This is Finn by Estetica Designs. The shade is Caramel Kiss. My face shape is square and to soften my face, the layers in this wig are just beautiful. Finn is a favorite!
What is your skin tone? Are you warm? Cool? Neutral? The color of a wig can make you look vibrant or washed out. I prefer ashy blonds and caramel browns. I can get away with reds if they tend to blend toward strawberry blond or have brown in the mix. A true ginger does not look good on me neither does a bright platinum blonde.
The burgundy color of this wig was difficult for me to wear. The photo looks okay but in real life, it was a challenge with my coloring.
A strawberry blonde works better for me. In fact, this Easton Wig by Inner Bellezza has me on the receiving end of many compliments at work.
This ashy blonde (I cannot recall the color) of Gabor Wigs “High Society” is another color that works well!
Color makes a difference as we age. Although my natural hair color was black, a wig that dark looks harsh on me these days. A few years back I could get away with it because my hair was dyed black. Now that I’ve stopped coloring my hair, I’m more comfortable in lighter shades. My opinion but I think older women look much better in a lighter shade.
Oops. Actually this shade “Chocolate Smoke” by Estetica Designs isn’t harsh at all. The wig is my favorite bob “Jamison” and I have her in many colors!
Back in 2017, this black wig (shade 1B), Storm by Model Model was my favorite wig. Storm is no longer made and six years later, my skin and coloring have changed to the point this would now be too dark for me. Dang–I loved this wig!
Decide which type of wig you feel more comfortable with. Basic cap? Lace front or mono top? Human or synthetic hair? Take these into consideration. Some love a basic cap. For me, a lace, or mono top works better because I feel they are more natural looking. I do have a couple of basic cap wigs that I love and wear quite often and they give off a very natural appearance.
This is a basic wig cap. Note the absence of a true part and a lace front. At times basic cap wigs can appear “wiggy”.
Harlow by Noriko. This is the shade Chocolate Frost. She’s a basic cap wig but I love her. She looks good for a basic cap. I purchased her on the cheap on a “buy two, get one free”. This is where you need to research. I’ve seen this wig as little as $111 USD up to over $200 USD.
Lace front with Lace part. Looking more natural. Note the silicone strip along the front of the lace. This helps to keep the wig in place.
Again, the Easton Wig, it’s the lace front and part–incredibly affordable and very well-constructed!
Raquel Welch Bella Vida Wig. It is a hand-tied, extended lace front and mono top with the new Luxlite cap. Honestly, this is THE most comfortable wig cap ever. You can’t feel it.
Here she is. Bella Vida. Honey Pecan. I recently reviewed on my YouTube Channel. Here is the link if you would like to see: Atypical60 Bella Vida Review
Some prefer human hair wigs. And I’ve noticed there is a slight snobbish aspect of this. Those who prefer human hair tend to pooh-pooh synthetic wigs. Here’s my thoughts. I LOVE synthetic wigs. And I love them because they are easy and convenient. My bio hair took a long time to wash, dry, and style. It was so thick that it took nearly three hours. I’m not putting myself through that again. And plopping a synthetic wig on my noggin is so easy!
This is Pandora by UniWigs LaVivid line. It was the only human hair wig I ever owned. I wore it to the beach and went swimming. It dried wavy and it took forever to get it back to being straight. I have neither the time nor patience to deal with this anymore.
What size is your head? Some brands will fit better than others. My head is average to slightly large due to the weight of the hair that I still have. Estetica Designs, Raquel Welch and Gabor wigs fit me the best. Other brands favoring a smaller skull can work but toward the end of the day feel tight and I don’t like that feeling. Examples of the smaller wig brands are Jon Reneau and Envy. Both are very tight on my head. The best thing you can do is measure the circumference of your head to get the best wig fit for you.
This is Estetica Designs “Alden” in Caramel Kiss. It’s the longest in length that I’ll wear. And I love this wig. Very Julia Roberts. I wore Alden to Oona’s wedding!
“Sage” by Estetica. This is the shortest I’ll go. I love the fullness and I can’t remember the shade!
Gabor Wigs “High Society” I believe this is the Champagne blonde color. I have three of this model. Gabor makes a great wig!
Same Gabor wig in a gray shade!
“Upstage” by Raquel Welch in Cappuccino SS.
What’s your budget. This is something you need to be mindful of. Price increases abound, you should not go into debt because you are being pressured by an influencer that you need an expensive wig. One of my most-worn and favorite wigs happens to be a very affordable on. Easton by Inner Bellezza. This is an affordable and stunning wig with a ‘60’s vibe that wears very well!
Back with “Easton” by Inner Bellezza. This won’t break the bank!
I also love The Wig Company’s in-house brand, Statements. Not only does The Wig Company offer brand-name wigs, but their house brands are very good.
“Luxurious” by Statements, the house brand of The Wig Company. She’s lightweight and incredibly affordable!
You do not need to experience hair loss to wear a wig! Remember back in the 1960’s and 1970’s when falls and other hairpieces were popular? Nobody thought twice about wearing them! There was no stigma. Hair enhancements were fun! What happened over the years to make women balk at wearing wigs for convenience or fun?
Falls and other hairpieces of the 1960’s should have gotten more love decades later. I personally love the look of these falls!
Vacations are a great example. You are away for a week. You are swimming in the ocean or lake or pool. All day. Then you go to dinner. Imagine the time spent showering and drying and styling your hair. With a wig, just plop it on and go.
In France this June. I wore Finn by Estetica quite often. Swim in the morning, wig in the afternoon!
Events are another example of wigs being your best friend. When my daughter, Oona, was married, all I had to do was plop a wig on my head after my makeup was done. No time spent having my hair done. I took it out of the box then went on my merry way.
Took less than a minute to do my hair for my daughter’s wedding. I plopped Estetica’s “Alden” in Caramel Kiss on my noggin!
For my girlfriend MaryBeth’s daughter’s wedding, I wore “Jamison” by Estetica! Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
At work, everyone knows I wear wigs. It is no big deal. Some of my co workers have their favorites. Some like my wavy wigs and others prefer my straight-haired wigs. Either way, it’s always fun!
“Avalon” by Estetica is another favorite of co-workers!
Sometimes I receive compliments from strangers on my hair style. When they find out it’s a wig, the shock sets in. It is important for me to try to normalize wearing wigs. And usually these conversations last quite a while. It is good to educate others on wearing wigs.
Aging hair. Let’s face it. Not all of us have hair that ages well. The hair that I do have is dry. It is porous and is coarse. The shade range runs from charcoal to white and makes me look washed out. Cover that aging hair with a wig. It will boost your confidence and wake up your face a bit.
My bio hair. After two hours of setting, blow drying and adding fibers to cover the bald spots. It’s too much work for me. Wigs look better. With age comes wigsdom!
Do this for you! If you experience hair loss, hair that hasn’t aged well or just want a bit of change without cutting your hair, wigs are the answer. This isn’t the time to ponder what others think. This is selfish time. Do it for you. And have a sense of humor about it. My kids started calling me Moira Rose after the infamous Schitt’s Creek matriarch who wore wigs daily. One of my coworkers recently saw the movie “80 for Brady” and said she thought of me when Jane Fonda’s character opened the trunk of her car and it was filled with wigs. I got a big giggle out of that because I saw that movie on a flight to France this summer and thought of me too! Honestly, it’s fun when little things like that remind people of you.
Moira Rose and her wigs. I just love her!
Upkeep. I take good care of my wigs. And I think that’s why they last for a long time. I use a wide-tooth comb after every use and place the wig inside out back in its box. Before wearing, I “comb” with my fingers.
After taking my wig off, I run a wide-toothed comb through it..
…then I turn inside out and place…
..in the box!
Then she goes into the wig closet!
I don’t wash my wigs often either. Since they are synthetic, they really don’t need to be washed often. And when I do wash them, I do not use fabric softener to condition. I ruined a beautiful Wren wig by Estetica Designs by conditioning it in fabric softener and that was a huge mistake. The wig stretched out; the fibers just hung. It really was a huge mistake.
This is the wig I destroyed by conditioning. I love Wren by Estetica and was so angry with myself when I ruined her..
Here’s my blonde Wren. I’ve had her for a few years and I think I washed her twice. Take care of your wigs and you don’t need to wash them often!
HD fibers don’t wear as well and at times, the ends can get frayed. Two solutions. Steam the wig or cut the ends off. But be careful doing both. Remember to cut up into the wig and not across.
This is Raquel Welch’s “Current Events” wig. It’s an HD Fiber wig and a number of people don’t like the way HD fibers wear. I’ve had no issue.
That’s about it. I hope you enjoyed this little journey and take these tips into consideration. Remember—this is for you. And enjoy!
The most important thing is YOU! YOU will wear the wig. Not your mother, sister, daughter, friend. It’s you–so be a bit selfish! And I hope this helped a little bit!