A good friend is undergoing risky surgery that will require her head to be shaved. She has enough on her plate right now and has asked me for help figuring out where to get a wig. I have to admit I am pretty clueless here. What does a good quality wig cost? What is the advantage of human hair vs synthetic vs human hair/synthetic blend? What about having a wig made from her own hair: what does that cost, how long will it take, and how long does her hair need to be for this to be practical? What is a reputable wig shop in Oregon? This women is stunning and always dressed elegantly, so I want to point her to a good place. Thanks!!
Hello-
Go here and call and ask for Jessica. Tell her about the situation and she will help you. She is a very good friend of mine (tell her Thommie sent ya) and will be happy to answer questions for someone who is facing this situation. They are probably the largest wig seller in Colorado and know all about it, even the really expensive ones for permanent use. They might even have a contact in Portland, plus I know they will special order and ship things. She’ll tell you all about buying and caring, what you should avoid and etc.
Take care-
-Tcat
Will they be shaving her entire head, or just part of it? I had a craniotomy a year ago, and it only required shaving a strip for the incision. If she only needs to be partially shaved, she might find it easier to just use scarves and hats.
I don’t have any expertise in wigs, but luckily Tomcat has already provided you with a contact. But I did want to address this:
*I have donated my hair to charities that make hair pieces for children, and I have heard that it takes several heads of hair to make one wig. So I don’t think it would be possible for her to get a wig made from her own hair.
You have many options when it comes to wigs. I have alopecia universalis and have been wearing wigs since September of last year. I personally prefer synthetics to human hair wigs, but I think that depends on the person. A synthetic wig is pre-styled and will bounce back to its style after washing (for me, it’s less hassle). A human hair wig can be styled using curling irons, blow dryers, etc. These products absolutely cannot be used on a synthetic wig. Human hair wigs can also be cut and styled at your friend’s salon. From my experience, and from what I’ve heard from others who wear them, wigs generally last 3-6 months, sometimes more. I’ve never had enough money to buy one of the really expensive ones, but I’ve been told that they aren’t necessarily going to last longer. Some probably do.
You might be able to get some good ideas online. Since I live in the “middle of nowhere,” it’s simply not practical for me to go to a wig shop, and I’ve been happy with what I’ve found online. I got my first two wigs from Paula Young. They’re pretty inexpensive, and decent wigs. Another good site is Ace Wigs. They have several different brands at discounted prices. The one I’m wearing now, I was able to buy on ebay for about $20 and it’s a $160 wig. I have another one that I got on ebay (my next one) that I paid about $25 for. You do have to be careful on ebay though to research brands ahead of time and make sure you’re getting something good. Really it kind of depends on how close your friend wants to be to what she’s always had. I know a lady who recently underwent chemo for breast cancer and had a special wig made in her exact same hairstyle and color. Personally, I’m not willing to spend that kind of money, and enjoy experimenting with different styles. Again, it depends on the person.
If you have any more questions, e-mail me and I’d be more than happy to help!
Thanks so much to all of you.