Let's talk about wigs ... and baldness dysphoria ...

[madison_b]

So, a big hang-up of mine is my bald head. It's progressed enough that even if I got on t-blockers and estrogen tomorrow, I still wouldn't be a good candidate for hair transplants. It would be too sparse.

Anyway, I'm scared about wearing a wig full-time if I decide to transition. How do you manage things like ...
-working out
-swimming
-getting tugged by trees and things
-headaches from wearing a wig all day
-et cetera, et cetera

Any full-time wig-wearers want to drop some wisdom?

Thanks!

[Michelle_P]

I am a full time wearer.  How full-time?  I have been known to sleep in them rather than risk seeing myself in the mirror without hair.

When I started transition I was a Norwood 6-7.  After almost three years of HRT, and 16 months after Gender Confirmation Surgery, I am roughly a Norwood 5.  (I am going to try to get a new professional evaluation for hair restoration surgery soon.)

I have several identical wigs of varying ages, with the oldest being my 'baking' hair that I wear when cooking, particularly around the oven (heat damage is really rough on a wig).  The newest is my "Sunday go to church" hair.  I rotate through them.  They get washed after being worn for several days, in a special wig cleaner and conditioner, and are dried on open plastic stands.

The oldest is also worn when working out.  In the summer swim season, I will wear a full coverage swim cap, and depending on my hair style, may grab a worn-out wig to wear under the cap, bits poking out.

Once properly on, it takes a bit to dislodge a fitting wig.  Wig tape, really double-sided medical tape, can be useful if doing a lot of outdoor activity.  Lace front or full lace wigs are attached with adhesives or double-sided tape and tend to be quite secure.  Toppers and winglets anchor to remaining natural hair, and are also quite secure.

I only had headache problems from wearing a tight wig too low on the forehead, where it compressed blood vessels and cut off some scalp circulation.  If you get a headache, lift the front of the wig a half-nice further up the forehead and try it there.

The wig caps or stocking caps serve to restrain ones own hair and help keep scalp oils from transferring to the wig's own cap.  This helps the wig last longer, and may let you go longer between cleanings.

There are wigs that do not apply much pressure on the forehead and are a good alternative if one is prone to headaches from wigs.  Lace front wigs are held on using special tapes.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,219729.msg1946699.html#msg1946699

Here's a bunch of additional stuff I have on wigs, including links to more posts:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,240422.msg2171602.html#msg2171602

[Rachel_Christina]

The thought of loosing hair is the one thing that really kicked me to start transition.
So at least in that sense that fear was very useful to me.
I have not lost any hair and actually had some growth in the front two corners of my hairline.
Now it looks so much more feminine

This are filled in so much

[Allison S]

The thought of loosing hair is the one thing that really kicked me to start transition.
So at least in that sense that fear was very useful to me.
I have not lost any hair and actually had some growth in the front two corners of my hairline.
Now it looks so much more feminine

This are filled in so much

Same happened to me, I started hrt at 27.

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[Alice (nym)]

It is a big hang up for me. My hair line, the idea of a life with wigs, and the size of my feet cause me the biggest doubts.

It is one of those things I am trying to overcome.

I want to do this so that I am more natural, so that I am myself. The idea of anything fake makes me doubt whether I am doing the right thing. Will I be swapping a fake male life with a fake female life?  I don't mean to offend anyone because some people look amazing in a wig. It is just one of the many hurdles I have to overcome.

Which is why I watch a lot of wig videos on YouTube, to try and make me feel more comfortable about the idea of spending the rest of my days in a wig. But it makes me incredibly sad to think I won't have my natural hair.

[madison_b]

First, Michelle, thank you for your service. I'm sorry about our current political climate. SMH.

I believe I'm a Norwood 6. I'm heartened to hear that you've gotten lower on the scale! That's great!

I'm so grateful for all of the information. I have a few wigs, but since I don't (yet) present female publicly, I haven't done really anything with adhesion. I've gone out once, but just put my lace-front snuggly on, and didn't worry about it.

That's good to know about headaches. I was thinking about caps, which I frequently wear to protect my scalp from the sun, and how they can bother my head after a while. It makes sense that a wig would feel different.

Good to know about the wig caps ... I hadn't been using them, because I just shave what's left, but I hadn't thought of the longevity of the wig.

I'm eager to check out the resources you posted!

Rachel I would kill (not literally) for your head of hair! You look amazing!

And Alice, I'm there with you, hon. I've certainly had the same thoughts bouncing around my mind. <3

[Rachel_Christina]

I think you have to try HRT. I'm sure it night give you some crazy results.
I've heard of some serious changes happening.

The changes I have had I would never had believed back before I started this process.

[madison_b]

I think you're probably right, about needing to try HRT. I've been all over the place in figuring out my identity. But maybe I just need to do it.

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[Wendi]

I wear wigs when I go out. I'd recommend going to a salon that specializes in wigs and make sure you get a good fitting wig. They make a huge difference.

[Linde]

I think you're probably right, about needing to try HRT. I've been all over the place in figuring out my identity. But maybe I just need to do it.

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You may see, if Fnasteride cold help.  It will cause regrowth, if the follicles are not fully dead yet.

I am just so glad that mother nature handled my hair business very nicely.  That is my hairline, as one can see, not much of any receding to see here!

[Dorit]

I have been wearing wigs full time for over a year.  99% of all wigs are sold to CIS women, they too suffer hair loss from such things as chemotherapy, aging issues, scalp disease;  you are not a "phoney" to wear one.   I wear lace front and mono part synthetic wigs and no one knows they are wigs.  I get compliments on my hair all the time.  I live in a hot climate, so in the summer I use a strong antiperspirant on my scalp before I place the wig.  It solves the summer heat problem.

[madison_b]

That's really helpful to hear! Do you have a favorite wig-maker? Any tips? I'm so happy for you that you get so many compliments!

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[madison_b]

Are there special scalp antiperspirants?

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[Russngrl]

I'm 67 and would transition tomorrow if I wouldn't lose my wife.  I'm quite bald.  My plan would be to shave my head and wear a good quality full lace human hair wig that is glued on.  This wig could then be realistically be worn for 4-6 weeks.  With the correct adhesive,I could shower and swim, even have sex.

Then switch to an identical wig while the first one is cleaned!

This would be no different from a cis woman with very severe alopecia.  No need to hide the fact that I wear a wig, I'd just "be" a cis woman with severe alopecia!

I could avoid dysphoria around it by closing my eyes when my wig stylist switches the wigs.   Not as good as my own hair, but it'd be better than living as a man!

[madison_b]

That sounds like a great plan. Part of my reason for not transitioning is because of my (female, cis) partner. Off topic, but she's moving out so that we can attempt to save our relationship. It's not working under one roof, for reasons that far exceed the obvious. Anyway, I digress. If I knew for certain I wanted to transition, I would do it, and she would give her blessing as a friend. But I don't know what I want or who I am, and that is so frustrating. I've really departed from hair!

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[Dena]

I have heard stories about the glue on wigs. Apparently it becomes kind of a smelly mess as the result of not being removed for a long period of time. I suspect it might also become itchy as well. I guess some people don't find this a problem or they wouldn't still be providing them.

[Kate.claire]

Not sure what Norwood level I am,  whichever one matches Friar Tuck.  If my current plan doesn't hold up,  I can detransition and apply as a mascot for the Padres.  I have personally witnessed a girlfriend with the same hairline get a pretty substantial recovery... Only been 4 months for me on e only,  but I've noticed a good bit of hair coming back myself.  Enough that my stupid dreams of having a full head of hair inexplicably have incorporated this to provide a logical reason for the recovery.  Still just as let down when I wake up. 

Planning on just going full wig routes,  but if hair recovers well enough,  might be possible to consider growing hair out and just adding a topper down the road   Not looking forward to the heat in the summers.  A lot of amazing glue on hair videos out there... I'll give that a shot someday when I fully transition and see what the smell reality is.  I dream of one day being able to tie a high ponytail for running!

Hmmm... maybe I should just dream of one day actually running?

[Kate.claire]

Sadly, after posting that,  I looked up the Padres' Swinging Friar....  I'd kill for his front hairline.

[Dorit]

That's really helpful to hear! Do you have a favorite wig-maker? Any tips? I'm so happy for you that you get so many compliments!

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My favorite is Raquel Welch Wigs.   I am wearing one in my avatar.  There are many strong antiperspirants available.  I use Certain Dri.  I do not glue my wigs, they fit firmly and comfortably.  I do occasionally even swim with one.   I have yet to have one come off in public, I think that if it happened it would be devastating but I would survive!

[madison_b]

Thank you!  XOXO

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