Advice about wigs?

[vanessalaw]

Hi there,

I'm thinking about buying a wig, does anyone have any advice about what to look for in a wig? What is the difference between human hair and synthetic hair?

I tried to wear a wig once, and constantly struggled to keep it on - do you have tips on what to do to keep it on?

Hugs,
Vanessa

[tinkerbell]

I suppose this link may help you a bit.

tink

[Louise]

The best advice I could give about wigs is to go to a wig store and ask them for advice.  If you are uncertain, call ahead and ask if they are TG supportive.  Many wig stores are more than happy to get customers.  Just tell them upfront that you are a crossdresser and are looking for something to help you look more feminine.  That's the approach I took when I bought my first wig.  The clerk was very friendly and helpful and I found a style that works well for me.  It was not at all what I would have picked out had I tried to do this myself.  I really think you need to try on a few wigs to see what works.  The shop will also give advice on how to care for the wig and how to keep it from slipping.  It is important to get a wig that fits well.

[KitKatKathy]

Yep, go to wig store, it's the only way to make the right choice, with hundreds of styles, dozens of colors, it can be confusing as to which is right for you.

I purchased my first off ebay, a brown Beverly Johnson long full wig, Looked great on the model. I recieved it and well, it looked pretty poor on me.

But this is the wig I've been wearing for the last 9 months or so, until this past weekend that is, my wife (sick and tired of hearing bitch and moan about my hair) literally grabbed my hand and dragged me to a wig shop (If you are in St. Louis, check out Suns Wigs, the owner was so nice and understanding, if only everyone could be this way  , she treated me like a woman not just a guy in drag and spent well over 2 hours with me trying different colors and styles)

I finally chose a Red/Brown Revlon Synthetic which she also cut to suit me even better ($140, and worth every penny), the one I'm wearing in my new avitar.

We got home and proceded to take many many pics. Even after the wife left for work, I grabbed the remote and continued to take pics, redoing my lipstick twice and my eyes once and my clothes quite a few times. Until now I'd only taken a few pics of myself but always hated the way I looked in them, hair MAKES the difference.

If you are scared of going out en femme, do your foundation, powder, eyes and wear sunglasses, take blush, lipstick, etc... with you and finish up in the car once you get there, trust me going to a store makes all the difference in the world.

As for slipping, get some 'It Stays' Works good with wigs. My new wig came with some special tape.


Kelly

[Teresa]

I got a blended wig of human and synthetic.  Works well. 

[majiccdtv]

quality fit look and price!

[samanthawhalen]

I just got my wig today.  Costed me about $130 (synthetic wig, brush, styrofoam head).  Not very impressed with it.  It's VERY HOT to wear, and itchy.  I asked my wife to watch me put it on, and give me her opinion.  She said "the color looks good on you, but it has no style at all".  She was also a little dismayed that the netting part (that the hair connects to) was scaley-looking.  When I first went to try out wigs, they spent a  little time with me (not much, probably 15-30 minutes in all), and I SPECIFICALLY asked for a "Chicago movie stripper type of look", and they said it wouldn't work because my neck is sort of thick and I don't have the kind of face those strippers had.  So I wound up getting something shoulder-length and completely straight.  Not curly, wavy or anything.  The "hairline" is so obvious.  I emailed them shortly after the consultation, and didn't hear anything for nearly a month......and wouldn't have heard anything back from them had I not gone into their shop.  When I went in to pick up the wig today, they weren't prepared at all.  The last time I saw them they said that I could purchase some type of stand that holds a wig's shape.  Today when I picked up the wig, the guy just flipped one of the used styrofoam head thingies off a top shelf, and handed it to me.  Not impressing at all.  When I asked why they hadn't answered (I live nearly an hour from their store) when I called twice today, one of them snickered and said "well, yeah, we were in the back room unpacking stuff.....".  I think I'm going to return the wig and go somewhere else.

Aeron

[LisaElizabeth]

Aeron,
  I am so-o-o sorry to hear that you had a bad experience!!!  Next time, pick a different shop.  Not ALL wig shops are that way, honest!!!
  If I remember right Kelly had a great experience, so did I.  Hers in St. Louis and mine in chicago.
  I think they wanted your money but weren't interested in you as a potential long term customer.
  Take the stuff back and go somewhere else!!!  I agree!
  Lisa E

[samanthawhalen]

Update on my wig situation:

The other day I tried taking the wig back and asking if I could exchange it for something else, or have a full refund (I only put it on a couple times, no longer than 15 seconds I was so disappointed), or even a full one.  Pamela Dee (I'm not lying, so I have no problem pointing out my bad experience with Pamela Dee's Wigs in Lexington, Kentucky) just looked at me and asked if we could work with it a little bit.  My wife had told me that with the way the wig is cut, that nothing can really be done about it.  My wife wouldn't just say that to get me to get rid of the wig, she is a little bit supportive of my transitioning efforts.  I told Pamela that there was nothing we could do with it, I just didn't like it and it didn't look as good as it did the day I tried it on (a demo version).  Pamela then just gave me that "sorry for your loss" look and said "we don't take wigs back, that's our policy".  I told her I understood and walked out.  I don't know how much business she actually gets (I doubt it's a lot, as she didn't even respond to my email over a month after I wrote her), but I'd like to imagine that she could have worked out some kind of deal with me.  She clearly got my money from me, and that's all she was concerned about.  Even though it will be a waste of time, I am going to report her to the BBB  because she didn't even mention anything about her policy on returns when I bought the wig.  I was the fool for not asking, but it seems that every other business out there mentions that policy in one way or another (verbal or on the back of the receipt).  Next time I'm going to a different wig shop there in Lexington, and I'm going to get that "bob style" wig that I want.   Even if no one else thinks it looks good on me.

Aeron