Hey Wig Lovers,
Welcome back to our cozy corner of the internet!
Today, we're going to spill the tea (not literally, though, please!) on how to give your human hair wig the royal treatment using the basin method.
So grab your comfiest PJs, put on some tunes, and let's dive right in!
Before we embark on this wiggy adventure, let's make sure we have all our tools at the ready. You'll need:
Say hello to your wig and give it a little pep talk.
Then, gently detangle any knots or tangles using your trusty wide-toothed comb.
Take it slow, and your wig will thank you with its luscious, flowing locks!
Step 3: Fill 'er Up!
It's time to show your wig some water love.
Fill the basin or sink with lukewarm water, making sure there's enough room for your wig to stretch out and soak up the goodness.
Grab your chosen shampoo because it's almost time to add this to the water and get started on washing your human hair wig.
Apply a small amount of mild, sulfate-free shampoo to the water and your wig.
Gently work it in, being extra careful around the delicate lace or monofilament areas.
Rinse it out under a gentle stream of water, and repeat if necessary.
Step 5: Condition the Love
Smooth on some conditioner, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends.
Let it sit for a few minutes, allowing those strands to soak up the moisture.
Rinse thoroughly, and pat your wig dry with a towel.
Set your wig on a wig stand or mannequin head and let it air dry.
Remember, you can also blow dry and use heat styling tools during this pamper session If you'd like to but it's not essential!
Remember, finding a way to wash, dry and style your human hair wig is something that has to work for you.
For me personally, I prefer to mostly wash my Follea wig using the basin method as I find it quicker and easier than washing my wig on a care head.
I also mostly opt to let my human hair wig air dry as all that blow drying often leaves me overheating and with a sore shoulder!
Voila! Your wig is fresh, fabulous, and ready to take on the world with renewed vigor.
But wait, there's more! Introducing... The Wig & Wellness Hub!
Are you ready to save more money on your wigs and toppers each month while gaining access to a treasure trove of on-demand video workshops and masterclasses on all things wigs and wellness for women with hair loss?
Head over to The Wig & Wellness Hub now and let's keep those fabulous locks looking fierce! 💃💁♀️
Let's get real for a moment. Losing your hair is never going to be all unicorns and rainbows. When hair loss strikes unexpectedly (as is often the case with conditions like alopecia) it can be a very stressful and terrifying time. I want to share with you my top 3 things to do when you first start losing your hair. These are 3 things that I wish I had been advised on all those years ago (over 27 years to be exact!) when I started losing my own hair in handfuls.
“Change what you can, manage what you can't.” ― Raymond McCauley
1. Seek Medical Advice: The first step in managing alopecia is to see a dermatologist or trichologist who specializes in hair and scalp disorders. They will perform a thorough examination of your scalp and hair and may order blood tests to determine the underlying cause of your hair loss.
2. Consider Hair Loss Treatments: Depending on the severity and type of alopecia, your doctor may recommend various hair loss treatments, including topical or oral medications, low-level light therapy, or hair transplants. It's important to keep in mind that hair loss treatments may not work for everyone, and the results may take time to show.
3. Embrace a New Hairstyle: Losing hair can be difficult, but it’s important to embrace your new look and find a hairstyle that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Consider trying a wig, hairpiece, or hat. You can also opt for a short hairstyle that emphasizes your features and shows off your bold and confident personality.
This is an area in which we shine! As well as running our online webshop we also offer face to face appointments in our cosy wig room in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Our consultations are free with no obligation to purchase and absolutely no pressure. You won't find any hard sell techniques being used over here!
Often when we first lose our hair or are in the process of losing it, it can be difficult to even consider wearing a wig. We've put together a selection of light-weight, easy to wear and natural styles for you to take a look at below.
Hey!
Long time no blog gorgeous lady. I wanted to rustle up a quick blog to let you know that, after years of procrastination, I have FINALLY set up our very first Podcast show! Exciting right?
Cath and I have so much to talk to you about and we are planning on the show being a beautiful mix of practical tips, mental health check ins, mindset building and, of course, lots and lots of chit chat about wigs and toppers.
What topics would you love us to talk about on the new Podcast show gorgeous lady? Feel free to pop us across a message on our FB or Insta page or even pop us across an email and let us know!
We really want this show to be something that helps and supports you and also a safe place to come and listen and know that you're not alone in this because you totally aren't!
Our first episode on the Diary of a wig addict Podcast show will be published really soon so keep your eyes open for it.
For Episode one, Cath and I will both be speaking about our own personal experiences with hair loss and how each of us struggled but ultimately overcome many hiccups along the road with acceptance and also wearing hair!
We Just know you're going to love this episode so much because, as a women who has lived with hair loss for over 27 years now, I personally know what it feels like to feel scared, anxious and all alone in this.
We're here to remind you that you're not alone, gorgeous lady.
I never thought I would ever feel this way about being a bald women but alas, here I am typing out this post hoping that someone, somewhere will find this and be able to take some comfort in the fact that if I can accept being a bald women, then they can too.
There’s nothing particularly special about me.
I’m not really that emotionally strong. I break down and sob every time the clover butter advert comes on the telly for crying out loud and I’m not a fan of horror movies as they literally get stuck in my brain and scare the living shit out of me.
I’m not brave. I freeze and scream at the sight of a spider whilst thinking it’s totally acceptable to have my 5 year old “handle the situation” Sorry about that kiddo … Mummy has some spider issues!
I’m scared of every dog in the world apart from my friend Cath’s beautiful pooch, Teddy, and one of our beautiful customers doggie, Biffy.
I’m scared of going places on my own especially if it involves driving to new places where I don’t know what the roads and traffic will be like. Roundabouts fill me with dread and I will drive miles out of my way to avoid them.
But being bald doesn’t scare me anymore. I don’t look in the mirror and hate the reflection that stares back at me anymore. I don’t hate my make-up-less face with no eyebrows and no eyelashes. My reflection reminds me that I’ve been through a lot but I’m still here.
I see new wrinkles appearing around my eyes everyday it seems and deeper smile lines at the corners of my mouth and you know what? I don’t hate them. They remind me that I laughed a lot over the years.
I jiggle my “cuddly” tummy when I get out of the shower and I don’t hate it anymore. It reminds me that I’ve grown and birthed 3 amazing children over the last 19 years.
I don’t know when this change of mindset happened but I’m so grateful for it.
It’s such a relief to not feel sad and cry over these things anymore. Give me the clover butter ad any day of the week thank you very much!
If you’re reading this hoping to find a magic formula or system on how to accept yourself for exactly who you are then I’m afraid I don’t have the answers you need right now. I’m still learning everyday about my emotions, alopecia and auto-immune disease. Even after 26 years of living with no hair I am still always learning, always growing.
I hope that reading this does offer you some reassurance though.
Reassurance that you can do some pretty amazing things hair or no hair.
Reassurance that you absolutely can and will find love in your life if you don’t have it already.
Reassurance that you can be successful in anything you set your mind to achieving.
Hair loss drastically changes our appearance and the way we identify with ourselves but it can also change how we view ourselves for the better. If you let it.
Most of the time when you purchase a Follea from us we take care of trimming back the lace front for you. Occasionally we do have customers who are not able to get back to us for a fitting appointment so their new Follea wig is sent out to them with the excess lace uncut.
We do this for a few reasons.
The above is all well and good but what happens when it comes to you having to trim back the lace front yourself!?
I know it all sounds a little scary but I promise you it’s not.
I recorded a 6 minute Youtube video a few years ago which I hope you’ll find helpful if you’ve just received your Follea wig through the post and now have the task of cutting back the lace front 😊
You either love them or you hate them.
Human hair wigs give you the versatility and freedom and style in anyway you’d like. You can customize the look by having highlights or lowlights added. You can treat it just as your own and there is no fear of it being melted when you open the oven door and forget to step back in time!
There are lots of pros to a human hair wig and also a few cons.
One of the things that I’ve found with human hair wigs is they tend to arrive with no parting in them. When you try it on for the first time you feel like cousin it from the Adams family. Not a good look I’m sure you’ll agree!
Luckily blow drying in a parting only takes a few minutes and it will make all the difference when it comes to your human hair wig looking and feeling more natural.
I’ve popped a couple of videos below for you so you can see how easy it is to do.
Enjoy!
Maybe you’re feeling frightened to go along to that first appointment and would prefer to order online?
Maybe there are no wig stores local to you and traveling is not an option due to family demands?
Maybe you’ve already been to numerous wig stores over the years of you wearing hair and you just want to try something new and have spotted a great wig sale online?
Whatever your reason for buying your new hair online is, and no matter how experienced you are at wearing hair sometimes a new wig will arrive with you through the post and as soon as you take it out of the box you think to yourself “Good Lord! What have I done!? This is NEVER going to look natural on me”.
Read on to discover a few of our favorite tips and tricks on how to make your new synthetic wig more wearable straight out of the box …
Seriously! Never under-estimate just how long that wig may have been packaged in the box for. I could have been made and packaged up weeks if not months before it arrives with you and the thing about synthetic fibre that few people know is that it can and will hold the shape of the way it’s been curled up and packaged in that box.
So if your super cute bob seems to be flicking out on one side instead of curling under then give her a little shake and then let her sit a while before deciding that she should go straight back to the store you ordered her from.
Sometime a wig can look a little strange when it’s not on a head so give it a try on and run your fingers through the fibre. See how she feels on your head, around your face, tucked behind your ears, clipped back on one side etc. Shake your head from side to side and check out how secure she feels on your head. If it’s not secure then try tightening the straps in the nape or get yourself a hair grip band for more comfort and security.
Staring at ourselves in a new wig through the mirror for what can feel like forever is not helpful. Wear your new wig around the house and keep glancing at yourself in the mirror as you pass on by. Take some selfies on your phone and swipe back through them and see what you think.
I always wear my parting off centre to the left. If I try on a wig that has a centre or off centre right parting you can guarantee that it’s not going to feel right on me! Where you’re used to wearing your parting makes a massive difference to the way you look and feel in a new wig so make sure you position your parting where you prefer it to sit.
New wigs can be really bouncy when they first come out of the box. One of our favourite tricks is to rub your hands together quickly to generate some heat and then press your (now warm) palm down on the top of your wig. The heat of your hands help to set a parting in to position and even tame any extra volume that you’d rather not have in your new wig.
Inside outside … have a wander and check out the colour of your new wig under different lighting if you’re not too sure if you like it or not. We encourage our ladies in the shop to do this whilst in store as different mirrors positioned in different places can show your wig colour in totally different ways.
I hope this blog post has been helpful! I know ordering your new hair online isn’t always an easy thing to do but hopefully with the tips and tricks above it will make the experience a whole lot easier for you.
Unfortunately there is waaaaay more to it than that!
Lace fronts, Mono tops, machine made ….. it can feel like you’re trying to learn a new language trying to figure out all the different cap constructions.
If you find yourself confused about the different wig types available then read on as this blog’s for you …
Off the peg, ready made wigs tend to come in 3 sizes.
Petite, Average and Large.
Petite is generally a 21 inch head circumference.
Average is generally a 22 inch head circumference.
Large is generally a 23 inch or above head circumference.
I found a great video by Jon Renau on Youtube that shows you how to quickly and easily measure your head circumference which you can find below.
Monofilament (Mono) top – A mono top basically means that all of the top section of the wig has been hand-tied. This allows you to place the parting in any position (left, right or centre) and also gives you a very natural look where the hair is parted.
Mono tops generally come in a full mono top or a part mono.
Open wefted back – This type of cap is machine made usually which makes the price of the wig lower. An open wefted back has some benefits in that the cap can be quickly and easily customised in size to suit you perfectly and it can also help you stay nice and cool if you tend to be a bit of an over heater!
Hand-tied cap – A hand-tied cap means that every part of the wig cap has been hand made. You won’t find any open wefting in this type of cap and it kind of “hugs” your head which a lot of wearers prefer. Because this wig cap is all hand made the cost is generally more expensive than an open wefted back cap.
Machine made cap – This cap type is made entirely by machine so is very quick, easy and cheap to produce meaning that the retail price will be lower than something that has a lace front, mono top etc.
This cap type is sometimes called a “traditional” cap as this is how almost all wigs were made years ago though there are many improvements that have been made on this cap type over the years such as velvet lined ear tabs and front for comfort and a general thinning out of the base so it’s not bulky and awful.
Machine made caps are the most affordable type of wig you can get and this cap type works great for short styles like pixie cuts that don’t really need any set type of parting.
The above will hopefully give you a pretty good idea of the different cap types available when it comes to ready made off the peg wig types.
If you have any questions let me know in the comments below!
Losing your hair is a terrible experience for a women to have to go through there’s no doubt about that. Watching your hair fall in front of your very eyes is frightening. Not knowing why it’s happening, when/if it will stop and how you’re going to cope is bound to stir up some major stress and anxiety and even depression in some people.
One thing that we hear all the time when in consultation with our customers is that women often feel incredible guilty for feeling upset regarding their own hair loss.
“My hair’s just thinning when other women are completely bald so what am I moaning about!?”
“My friend has Cancer and here I am crying myself to sleep each night about losing my hair yet I’m healthy in every other way”
“I’m a grown women with kids of my own. I should be stronger than this!”
If any of the above sound or feel familiar to you then that’s because every single women we meet with alopecia has felt this at some point during their hair loss journey.
GUILT is not helpful but that doesn’t stop us from feeling guilty as we look in the mirror, cursing ourselves for being vain, weak or ungrateful to have our health even if we don’t have our hair.
Yes, it’s true. Some people do have Cancer, have lost a leg in a car accident, have been severely burnt in a terrible house fire but emotional pain is emotional pain and the (not so funny) thing about that is we strive to see the positives and they wind up only making us feel more negative and guilty about the situation we find ourselves in.
It’s not vanity or ungratefulness.
It’s human nature.
Well meaning comments from those around us are often terribly unhelpful and only add to the pile of guilt we are already feeling as women with hair loss.
“Cheer up, it could be so much worse!”
“At least you’ve got your health”
“I bet you save a fortune not having to go the the hairdressers!”
“You have a great shaped head, you look great!”
Family and friends, I get it.
You’re trying to cheer up your loved one.
You’re trying (desperately!) to make them smile and see how incredible and beautiful they are inside and out, hair or no hair.
But these comments only end up making us feeling even more guilty.
Tell us we’re beautiful inside and out.
Tell us how much you admire the strength we have for carrying on each day, for getting up and trying when we are in the lows of depression and the highs of our anxiety.
Be honest with us when we try on a wig that looks wrong or unnatural.
Hug us, be patient with us and most of all please NEVER give up on us even when it looks like we may have given up on ourselves.
Hair loss is hard.
No joke and PLEASE no guilt.
When you are experiencing hair loss your world can feel like it's been turned upside down and inside out.
It's not a 'One size fit's all' type of experience though as many sufferers know all too well.
For starters, there are so many different reasons as to why a person would be experiencing hair loss in the first place.
on top of all the above reason you also have to take into account those of us that actually DON'T have a medical reason for needing a wig / alternative hair ....
When I first started Aspire Hair I thought I would meet with women experiencing alopecia and I never really considered how I would also be meeting with people in a totally different circumstance to myself. It was a very fast and very steep learning curve for me!
A necessary learning curve for sure.
I knew very early on that our consultations needed to be different to the ones I had attended myself over the years as a wig wearer. I had always loathed being rushed when it came to trying on wigs and I never felt that I could ask questions in case I came across as being a bit of a pain in the bottom.
It's ridiculous really because what else is a consultation for if not to ask questions, try on alternative hair, chat and get some support.
My own personal experiences over the years put me in the perfect mind set for how I wanted my company to care for our clients and I'm pretty sure that this is exactly why we get such amazingly positive feedback and reviews from clients when it comes to our consultations.
And what's the most emailed / texts comment the day before a customers consultation?
" I'm going to apologize in advance if I cry tomorrow!"
No need to apologize. Coming along to a consultation can be like bearing your soul to a stranger although I can promise you we won't be strangers for very long :)
So today's blog post is just a little reminder to you that you are always welcome, we are always here and you are not the only one who has that 'first consultation anxiety'.
Feeling awkward?
So, you've lost your hair EVERYWHERE then? (said whilst looking down toward your nethers ...)
This has got to be one of the most awkward questions I think anyone has ever asked me about my alopecia.
I mean come on, who in there right mind would actually ask this! I'm not talking about your best mate or your mum here. I'm talking about that old school friend who you barely even spoke to back in the day or the guy at the co-op or even (I swear to god this once happened to me) the BT man coming to fit the new phone line in your shop!.
It's almost laughable (if it wasn't so horrifically inappropriate!) but this question can be a common one for us ladies with Alopecia universalis (total scalp and body hair loss).
How is one meant to answer this? Well, of course each person is different but for me I have the same set response for most awkward questions and my response to this little gem of a question is this ...
Smile.
Move on.
Let's be honest. Any question regarding your hair loss is going to be an awkward one if you are still trying to adjust to it all.
A lot has changed for you and taking as long as you need to adjust and re-frame your thinking is totally normal. Spending numerous days tucked up under your duvet feeling sorry for yourself is also normal. You're entitled to this. Alopecia sucks when it first strikes!
One question that always used to get me all hot and sweaty was "oh my god! I bet it's horrific wearing a wig and I bet your head is all sweaty under there".
Now, some could take offense to this question. I mean, some half random person you barely know has just accused you of being sweaty headed.
Honestly? I try NOT to get offended by peoples questions. 99% of the time they are just genuinely curious and I see this as a great way to educate others. There is always that 1% of the time where they're just, frankly, been an idiot. The best way to deal with those one percent, the passive aggressive kind of person that will then make it all about your over-reaction to a "harmless question" is to to keep your answer short, sweet and emotional-less.
"Nope, not really!"
Argh ... Bluntly put? This comment really pisses me off. Not when it's said with genuine concern but when it's said in that over dramatic, whiny, let's say it so loud that EVERYONE within a 10 mile radius hears kinda way.
When someone says it in that really loud, over dramatic way I tend to think that they are trying to cause some kind of stir emotionally from me and that makes me question if I really want to be talking to someone who likes creating that feeling and drama etc.
My answer?
To the genuine person asking - No not at all! Please don't worry about that I'm not offended.
To the arsehole person asking - God no. I'm way too comfortable in my own skin to be offended about something I have absolutely no control over. (say this even if they just made you feel like crap. Don't let anyone think they have the power to upset you that way).
I could go on forever with the awkward comments and questions I'm sure we all get regarding our hair loss but I know you're a busy lady and you don't have all day to sit here and read ;-)
I'm going to say that this post is one to be continued ...
I hope this blog gave you a giggle today is nothing else!
So you’ve just purchased your new Follea wig or Topette right? Congratulations you lucky little ducky! I am beyond excited for you and equally as envious as I attempt to save for my next Follea :D
One of the things my customers tell me stresses them out the most is when it comes to caring for their Follea they feel pretty anxious and scared due to the cost of the piece. This is totally understandable and 100% relatable. I felt the same way too back in 2011 when I started wearing Follea hair so I get it!
Today’s blog post contains my top tips on caring for your new Follea wig or topette. A lot of my tips can be used weather you wear a follea wig or topette but some will be more obviously aimed towards the wigs.
You Follea wig or topette needs regular brushing. Sometimes it’s easy to fall in to the trap of not brushing your Follea as you’re worried it is ageing the hair quicker but please don’t fall in to this one.
Regular brushing (morning, afternoon and before bed) will ensure your Follea stays looking and feeling wonderful.
The more we wash our human hair wigs the faster it ages right? Well, no that’s wrong! Let me tell you a little story about one of our customers (she won’t mind me sharing this, I already checked)
Our lovely customer Donna got herself in to such a state about washing her Follea wig that she left it unwashed for 4 months. You know what happened? Her Follea wig turned in to a big old greasy mess that then attracted all the dust everywhere she went and ended up a big old dry mess!
We sent her wig back to the Follea factory for inspection and after a few washes and a reconditioning treatment it came back as good as new. Donna now washes religiously every week and her Follea has been going strong (with one additional repair to the lace front) for almost 4 years now I’m happy to report!
I absolutely love the Goldwell dual senses rich repair shampoo and conditioner and use these them washing my own and customers Follea wigs and topettes.
Years ago Follea recommended a sulphate free shampoo and conditioner but as we all learn more about alternative hair and how it differs from bio hair the more care guidelines get updated for the better
Yes, this care head and clamp set is expensive BUT it will last you a lifetime and it is so beneficial. The Follea care head is sized ultra petite so theres no risk of stretching out your Follea wig.
Also, pinning your wig to the care head when washing helps prevent the hair from inverting back inside the cap and it also allows for easy styling.
Follea wigs have delicate lace fronts that can easily be caught, stretched and frayed out. Never grab hold of your lace front to reposition your wig and always use your ear tabs to life and remove your wig or better still, remove from the nape.
I hope these tips help you in gaining more confidence in caring for your Follea wig or topette.
One of the things I miss the most after living 25+ years with alopecia universalis definitely have to be my eyebrows.
I can quickly and easily use an eyeliner to make me eyes look more awake and shapely as I don’t have any eyelashes of my own but when it comes to eyebrows they have always proved to be more tricky for me.
Drawing them on level for one thing has always been a task in itself! I’m a chronic perfectionist so you can imagine how hard I find it to give myself some grace and take on the mindset of “done is better than perfect”.
Today I thought it may be helpful to share with you how I like to do my eyebrows right now after YEARS of trying out different methods and products. Read on to learn more!
My favourite products
Using all three of the above products really does go a long way in making my 4d brow transfers last so much longer. If I just use the transfers they will last me 2 days, tops! When I put on a thin layer of Wunderbrow over the top they last me 5-6 days which for me is total bliss from having to re-do my brows every single day.
How do you like to do your brows? I would love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below.
Over the years I have built quite a collection of wigs that I wear and I tend to store them in their original boxes. Storing them in the box they came in helps keep the dust off them when they are not in use which is definitely a positive.
Some time ago I started noticing that if I had worn a style for a couple of days and then returned them to their box for storage that they tended to get a little fusty smelling when I reopened the box a few or so later to wear that style again.
I always recommend you wash your synthetic wig or topper every 7 – 10 wears but I didn’t really want to start washing my wig after just 2 days of wear so I could store it in the box and it not smell dodgy a couple of weeks later! I’m lazy (I mean, busy!) and I didn’t want to have to make the extra effort!
I was chatting away with Cath one afternoon in the aspire shop and I brought up my little dilemma with my wifft wigs. Cath came up with the idea of popping a scented dryer sheet in each box to help keep the wig fresh.
I gave it a go and I was amazed at the improvement!
Now I always include a dryer sheet in each of my wig boxes when I store my wigs away and it has been a complete game changer for me.
Sharing as I am sure it will be helpful to others reading this!
One of my favourite wigs of all time has to be the January wig by Jon Renau.
From the moment I first saw this style when it launched, I was mesmerized by it. I remember taking it out of the box for the first time and thinking what a cute little style she was! At the time I had been wearing longer styles almost exclusively so I surprised myself with how much I loved the shorter length and waves.
January comes in on a lace front / mono top / open wefted back base and is an average cap size. I find (as someone with a petite head size) that I can wear the January wig successfully when I wear my hair grip band underneath her but if you do have a smaller than average head size then January can always be resized to suit you better.
My favourite colour to wear the January wig in at the moment is definitely the Frost shade. Frost is a subtle baby pink colour with a darker ash brown root and I absolutely LOVE her!
I’ve popped a few photos below for you to take a look at.
If you are considering the January wig for yourself than I hope this blog has helped you get to know her a bit more before making a purchase.
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Over the years, I have worn LOTS of different wigs. Through my teens, twenties and early thirties I almost exclusively wore long length human hair wigs of varying qualities and never even imagined that I would feel great in a shorter style never mind a shorter synthetic style!
Don’t get me wrong. I knew this style existed and had done for many years but I had never even considered it to be something that would interest me for myself. I was so used to seeing myself with longer length hair!
I remember the morning I first discovered Rae on a personal level. I walked into the Aspire shop and I was so over heated I could barely stand. It wasn’t the middle of Summer or anything like that, but I had been struggling with my health for a while and regulating my body temperature was becoming increasingly difficult. I was either freezing cold with blue tinged finger and toe nails or having hot flushes, sweating and feeling like I was going to pass out if I didn’t sit down fast.
I walked in to the shop and said a hurried hello to my staff, Louise and Cath, before dramatically whipping off my Follea Gripper Lite wig and rubbing my head in frustration.
“I can’t cope!” I ranted “I’m so sick and tired of over heating like this”.
As I scanned the shop looking for a different wig I could put on Cath pointed out a Rae wig in Rose gold R that had just arrived in the shop and told me to try it on.
I wasn’t wearing any make-up that day so expected it to look terrible on me with it being a short style but as I looked in the mirror and fluffed up one side and then tucked the other side behind my ear I remember thinking to myself that, actually, it didn’t look to bad. Dare I say it even made me feel a little funky!
So there began my love affair with the Rae wig.
Let me tell you exactly WHY I Love this lovely little style by Rene of Paris so much …
Have you worn the Rae wig by Rene of Paris before? I would love to hear what you think of this gorgeous little style in the comments below.
This month on the blog I decided I wanted to bring you more information on a couple of Jon Renau’s human hair Smartlace wigs that are great options for ladies who want to wear human hair.
A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the Blake wig and this week I am taking you on a journey to learn more about the gorgeous Gwyneth human hair Smartlace wig by Jon Renau 😊
Gwyneth is made using 100% Remy human hair which means you can curl her, straighten her, blow dry her out and even colour her if you'd like to.
Most of the styles that Jon Renau offer in human hair come Pre-Styled and ready to wear after just a little styling. Gwyneth is more of a blank canvas on which you can create any look.
Can you wear her exactly as she comes? Of course! The thing I like about Gwyneth though is that a few layers here and there and you can totally change her look making her 100% 'yours'.
Gwyneth's cap construction is ultra luxurious :)
Featuring the famous Smart Lace front from temple to temple and a full Monofilament top, Gwyneth can be worn with the hair away from the face (no fringe / bangs needed!) The clever Mono top allows you to part the hair in any directions helping to further customise your look and create a natural look.
The fully hand-tied stretch cap is soft and comfortable with velvet ear tabs and an adjustable velvet lined nape area. I really like this cap style! It's very light weight and breathes well keeping you as cool as possible :-)
I hope today’s blog post has been helpful. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
Jon Renau have been bestsellers here at Aspire Hair since we started working with them back in 2011. From the very first Smartlace wig I saw to watching new styles in both synthetic fibre and Human hair come to life, I have always been a big JR fan 😊
From time to time on this Blog I will be spotlighting one of our bestselling Jon Renau styles and today I’m going to be talking about the Blake human hair Smartlace wig in more detail.
1: She's Loooooooong! - Blake is super long and gorgeous but not too long that she looks ridiculous. It's so tempting after you lose your hair to all of a sudden want lots of it when it comes to a wig. The Blake is a great option for ladies who want length but still want it to pass as natural.
2: She's a great density - Density is so IMPORTANT. Repeat after me ladies "density is important". Again the temptation may be there to have lots of luscious thickness and volume but let's be realistic here ..... no one wants to look like they have a massive head! The density on Blake is a medium density to ensure a natural look.
3: She has a lace front - Blake has Jon Renau's famous SmartLace front that we've all come to know and love. If you don't know and love this front then consider booking in to come see me for a consultation or lets arrange a skype meeting so I can show you. I'm not suggesting that a welded lace front is for absolutely everyone but most of my clients (and myself included) love a good old SmartLace front.
4: She's hand tied - Hand-tied basically means hand made. Blake's cap has been made by hand with each hair being hand knotted into the base leaving a cap construction that's totally enclosed and snug.
5: She arrives ready to wear - Oh yes you heard me right! Have you ever ordered in a wig from an online retailer and it comes and looks NOTHING like the stock photo on their website? Then felt that disgustingly awful churn in your stomach when you realise that you have to now go in search of a hairdresser who
I've gone through this before in the past and let me tell you it's not what I consider to be fun! You don't have to worry about this happening with Blake. What you see is what you get and she is 100% wearing right out of the box.
6: She comes in lots of Renau Natural and exclusive colours - Blake comes an a good selection of colours that are natural. Jon Renau's natural and exclusive colours feature multi tonal colours, rooted colours, hi light colours ..... Basically some of the most beautiful colours available.
7: She's 100% human hair! - Remy human hair in fact that washes well and will last you well so long as you take good care of it. Human hair gives us wearers the versatility we crave when it comes to our alternative hair. Curl it, straighten it, crimp it or blow dry! Do what ever takes you fancy style wise. Remember to use a spritz of heat protection spray to ensure your Blake lasts as long as possible.
8: She's going to raise your confidence through the roof - Now, I'm not saying this length and style is for everyone but for those of you / us who WANT a longer length style then the Blake is going to get you really excited about the who long hair business! I've witnessed my clients try on a Blake and something remarkable happens right away.
They stand up out of my styling chair
They begin walking around the consultation room, hand held mirror in hand and flicking layers to the side
They venture OUTSIDE the consultation room to get walk across the shop front towards the window (mirror still in hand) as they begin to check out the look and colour of the Blake in a more natural light setting.
Some ladies even ask if they can venture outside the front door to see her in absolute daylight!
Have you caught on yet to what may be happening here?
Their confidence begins to increase and, for me, that's the best part. I love to witness it and see how good it makes them feel. It's incredibly rewarding for someone in my line of work who has felt all the same emotions that they are feeling right at that very moment. Every cell of who am as a human being relates. It's powerful stuff!
I hope this post has been helpful to you and, as always, I want to hear what YOU think? Let me know in the comments below.
I was very lucky that my very first experience of a human hair wig was a good one.
I was 14 years old and my parents had somehow managed to get a Freedom wig funded on the NHS. Like I said, I was very lucky indeed!
My freedom wig was a game changer for me. It gave me the security on confidence and to get out of the house. It made me feel almost like a normal person again.
My Freedom wig lasted me around 2 years before my parents purchased another one for me. By the time I was 19 years old my Freedom wig was on it’s very last legs and as a new single mum I simply wasn’t in the position to buy myself a third Freedom wig so I had to search for cheaper options.
My search lead me to the Supplex wig by Trendco. The hair quality was lower than I was used to with my Freedom wig but I loved how the base was thinner and lighter and I soon adapted to the hair quality.
From the Supplex I then went on to try a few of Trendcos other human hair wigs. I wore the Diamond (loved it for the length!) the Amber, the Sapphire (I have a teeny tiny head) and then the Emerald.
I continued to wear Trendco human hair wigs until I discovered Follea hair back in 2011, a year after starting my own business helping other women with medical hair loss find wigs and toppers.
The purpose of today's post is to let you know from my own personal experience of wearing different types of human hair wigs that they each require different levels of care and commitment.
As you can see from the above points, human hair wigs and toppers are higher maintenance in comparison to synthetic wigs and toppers but don’t like the extra effort needed to maintain them put you off.
Back then they only came in the one cap size and were pretty much all machine made on very bulky bases. The closest you got to a natural parting was something called a “skin top” which, honestly, looked anything but natural.
The colours were very basic and the fibre felt very thick and heavy. All in all they were pretty awful!
Thankfully these days synthetic wigs and toppers are pretty awesome! They come on all types of bases, in various sizes and the selection of beautiful colours available is vast.
One of the most asked questions from my customers is this – “How do I wash my synthetic wigs?”.
In today’s blog post I am going to be covering everything you need to know on washing your new synthetic wig or topper so that when the time comes, you know EXACTLY what you will need to be doing.
Lets jump right on in!
Synthetic wigs and toppers need washing after around 7-10 days of wear.
You can usually tell when a wash is needed as the hair will start to look and feel a little clumpy in longer styles or may start to sit much flatter on the head in shorter styles. After 7-10 days of everyday wear you will also begin to notice that your synthetic wig or topper is starting to smell a bit “heady”.
We all sweat at the end of the day so it’s not unthinkable to accept that your wig or topper will start getting a bit smelly after a while.
If in doubt do the sniff test. If your synthetic wig or topper is not smelling all that fresh anymore then you know it’s time for a wash 😊
I’m going to run through exactly how I wash my own and clients synthetic wigs and toppers for you below. The steps are simple so there is no need to be overwhelmed by this. One of the pros of wearing a synthetic wig or topper is that when it comes to washing and styling them the piece itself does pretty much all of the work.
And that’s it! You have successfully washed your synthetic wig or topper 😊 I told you it wasn’t that hard, right!?
Once your synthetic wig or topper has stopped dripping you can leave it to air dry anyway you’d like.
I tend to pop mine on a care head I have or dry it upside down on a coat hanger to give it some extra body and volume.
Once your wig or topper is dry all that’s left to do is give it a good shake, pop her on and style using your fingers, comb or a hair brush.
I like to wash my synthetic wig at night to be sure the hair and cap is dry for the following day.
I hope today's blog has been helpful!
I wanted to share with you today my TOP 5 items that I'd recommend every alternative human hair wearer should own.
A good quality hair brush.
This one really is an essential for both human hair and synthetic wigs! A fabulous brush keeps the hair smooth and silky without the risk of damaging the hair / fibre and base of your wig.
My favorite brush is a paddle brush that has a cushion base to it. You can find these in store with us or from boots / primark etc.
Follea Care Head and Clamp Set
'I can find them cheaper than this!' I hear you cry out!! Well, I'm sure you can, I can too as I'm an extreme bargain hunter. Let me tell you MY experience with cheaper care heads and clamp sets .....
WARNING - EXTREME SARCASM TO FOLLOW (in a fun, no offense kind of way of course ...)
OK so I'm being a little sarcastic (I did pre warn you ...) but I think you get the point.
A bargain is great and I'm all for a bargain. But when quality is important it's always best to pay a little extra for something that's going to last you and bring as little drama as possible to your everyday life.
The correct shampoo and conditioner
I swear by Goldwell dual senses rich repair shampoo and conditioner. This is a brand recommended by Follea and I have always got along very well with it.
Good quality round brush
Ahhhhhh the dreaded round brush.
Did anyone else 'borrow' their mums round brush as a kid and get it stuck in their hair?
Perhaps it was just me who got myself into that tricky situation!
A little education in using a round brush never hurts so head on over to Youtube (after you’ve finished reading this blog post, obvs) and search for some quick and easy tutorials.
You can pick a round brush up for around £4.99 from a beauty supply shop or boots / Primark / Tesco etc. You can pick them up pretty much anywhere these days.
Sectioning clips
The last essential item on my list. Good old Sectioning clips. Use these little gems to section off hair when your blow drying your human hair wig out.
Tip!
To create the perfect straight / wavy / curly blow dry just secure your human hair wig onto a Follea care head and work in small sections starting from the nape and working your way up. Remember to wait until the hair is 70% - 80% dry before you start to blow dry! Blow drying wet hair with a round brush is just a waste of your time and energy. Human hair won't start to hold a style until it's dry (or almost dry), heated and then allowed to cool for the style to set.
BONUS TIP!
The hair grip band has been added to this list as a little extra and if you’ve never tried one before then I would highly recommend you give one a go!
They keep your wig nice and secure on your head and also keep you nice and comfortable through the day. You can find them available to purchase on our website here.
So there are my 5 essential items that I think every human hair wig wearer should invest in.
Do you have any items you'd add to the list!? I'd love to here what you think in the comments below.
After 25 plus years of alopecia I can say with some confidence that I've experienced every emotion under the sun when it comes to losing my hair.
These were all emotions that I expected to feel along the way. Common sense told me (even at the age of 12) that I would have bad days, awful days and down right horrific days.
It was so easy to become lost in the horrible days but you shouldn't under estimate how strong you are. We come out of them eventually right?
I know this and I know you get where I'm coming from ....
I didn't expect to be left feeling so unsupported by my Doctor!
My GP gave us a simple response of "You've got alopecia" and that was it.
There was no "You've got alopecia so here, let me get you some details on the condition" or "You've got alopecia so here you go, I'm going to print you off a list of support groups in your area"
Oh there was none of that!
Just a very cold and matter of fact "You've got alopecia".
Now, I'm aware that all this happened for me 25 years ago and that these days the doctors MAY be offering more support but if this is the case then why is it that almost every other 'alopecian' I speak with (and I speak with loads with the work I do) they all have the same thing to tell me.
No support
No therapy
No advice
No reassurance
I'm not even going to write anymore about it in this post as, to be honest, it makes me feeling a bit cross and I choose to be more of a unicorns and rainbows person today ...
I don't mean this in a flippant way.
What I mean is that alopecia doesn't just effect the hair on your head! I was horrified to discover that my eyebrows and eyelashes were falling out along with the hair on my head.
Yep - you guessed it! Alopecia does not discriminate between the hair on your head and the hair anywhere else on your body. Nose hair (as gross as you may believe them to be) are actually very useful to have.
Of course this is not something you'd ever dream to think about unless you actually go to lose them due to alopecia. Que all manner of dust, grease and grime finding it's way into your nostrils and pitching up tent.
Before you know it you've developed a twice daily routine of nose picking.
It's a necessity I assure you ...
It's said that we lose around 80% of our body heat through the tops of our head. I don't know how true this is but let me pre-warn you that some nights, it certainly feels to be true.
The doctors never tell you that winter nights can be brutal. I can be found EVERY night in a snugly hat and fleece socks (sexy right!?)
What's the deal with bloody big toe hair anyway???? I don't need it. I certainly don't want it and i consider my rapidly growing big toe hair an extremely cruel (and often embarrassing) twist of fate!
OK so perhaps the odd doctor will actually be very re-assuring and tell you that there is support available for you. This is not, after all, a blog about slagging every GP under the sun off. But most GP'S won't actually know WHERE the support is.
To anyone reading this I hope that you can take this post in the way in was intended. Light hearted yet honest. I would never underplay the absolutely devastating effects this disease can have on emotional level for women.
Remember, I'm one of them :)
Can you add to the above list?
What other things do our Doctors fail to tell us at diagnosis?
I can relate to this myself as when I first started wearing Follea hair I was pretty nervous myself and at that point I had already been wearing and caring for my own human hair wigs for 15+ years!
I was browsing my Insta and I came across this fabulous demo video from Follea on how to wash your Follea wig or Topette using the basin method and I just knew I had to share it!
I hope the video below is helpful :)
"What does being bald feel like?"
"Did it hurt when your hair fell out?"
Questions like this used to really upset me.
Not only did I NOT want to answer them but I also didn't want any reason to have to talk about the fact that I'd lost my hair. I didn't want to be reminded that I had Alopecia.
All those question did to me was to open up an ageing wound.
Every question stung me and hurt me all over again on an emotional level.
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"What does being bald feel like?"
"Did it hurt when your hair fell out?"
Questions like this used to really upset me.
Not only did I NOT want to answer them but I also didn't want any reason to have to talk about the fact that I'd lost my hair. I didn't want to be reminded that I had Alopecia.
All those question did to me was to open up an ageing wound.
Every question stung me and hurt me all over again on an emotional level.
I didn't want any reminders. All I wanted was for all of it to be over. I wished I was having a nightmare and that I'd wake up soon and it would all be over.
As a teenager my parents took on the approach of avoidance.
If a shampoo advert came on the telly they switched channels. When a mascara advert came on guess what they did? Yep you got it! They switched the channel.
I know they were trying to protect me and did what they did to avoid upsetting me but it taught me a very bad habit which took me a good ten years to change.
They taught me avoidance. I became an ostrich. And just like an ostrich I began burying my head in the sand as a way to protect myself when I was scared.
My fiancé brought me out of myself when we met ten years ago.
He didn't do anything elaborate or dazzling he just let me know that it was ok to be myself. My Alopecia didn't make him view me any differently. He thought I was a great person and that's who he fell in love with. It was from that point my confidence grew.
It was a slow process!
I took baby steps to accepting myself and my Alopecia but those important baby steps helped me get to where I wanted to be. Those baby steps took me directly to starting my business Aspire and I can't imagine doing anything else now.
So, now when I'm asked the question "how does it feel to lose your hair?" I can answer honestly and with confidence ...
It's painful emotionally.
Initially it robs you of a chunk of your identity.
It makes you wonder if you'll ever find that special someone who will love you regardless of your Alopecia.
It can often introduce you to depression. A depression so dark you don't know how you even manage to breath. Breathing feels like too much effort.
It makes you angry. You hate Alopecia.
And then I remember how the other side of the coin feels .....
It made me realise how strong I am emotionally.
It made me realise how much of an impact finding the right alternative hair can have on a person.
It made me realise I was resilient.
It made me realise I'm not alone in this.
I hope, if your reading this .... If your struggling right now that you will take some comfort in the fact that you're NOT weak either. You’re strong. You’re amazing and you're going to be ok :)
Massive amounts of love and hugs to all those struggling today.
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If you haven’t already discovered the beauty that is Follea hair then I really do recommend you check the collection out here.
Follea created wigs and toppers using the most beautiful hand selected European ponytail hair that is processed very gently to colour and very long lasting.
We call Follea “investment hair” in the salon as it is more expensive than your typical brands but is absolutely the very best we have ever come across in our 11 years in this industry!
You can discover just how fabulous Follea hair is for yourself by getting in touch with us and booking your appointment right here.
Back to today's blog post!
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If you haven’t already discovered the beauty that is Follea hair then I really do recommend you check the collection out here.
Follea created wigs and toppers using the most beautiful hand selected European ponytail hair that is processed very gently to colour and very long lasting.
We call Follea “investment hair” in the salon as it is more expensive than your typical brands but is absolutely the very best we have ever come across in our 11 years in this industry!
You can discover just how fabulous Follea hair is for yourself by getting in touch with us and booking your appointment right here.
One of the bestselling wigs from the Follea collection is most definitely the Follea Gripper Lite wig.
This wig has been specifically designed for women who have near total to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis / universalis) as it secures itself to the head by means of a silicone perimeter that “grips” for the most secure fit possible without the need for glues or tape.
As great as the Follea Gripper wig is we have had a few clients come back to us to let us know that the Silicone areas are not as “grippy” as they were when they first started wearing their wig. With this in mind I thought it would be really helpful to pop together a quick list of things that you can do to ensure your Gripper wig remains “grippy” 😊
I would love to hear them in the comments below 😊
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HD (heat defiant) wigs and toppers are a great option for women who are wanting the option to heat style but are not quite ready to invest in human hair.
HD wigs and toppers can be styled at a medium heat so can be blow-dryed, straightened, curled and waved or simply left as they are and enjoyed as is.
We get asked lots of questions about HD wigs and toppers so I thought I would write up a quick blog post with some of the pros and cons of this fibre type as well as a few tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your new HD wig/toppers.
I hope you found today’s blog helpful! If you have an tips to add or have any questions at all then please feel free to leave a comment below 😊
Can you believe that it’s almost Christmas!?
I absolutely LOVE this time of year. The lights, the music, the movies and getting all cosy and warm snuggled up on the sofa with a big cup of hot chocolate is the best feeling ever.
As a mum of 3, I also love the magic of Christmas and the excitement I see in my kids (especially my 4 year old!) as the big day draws ever closer. What will Santa have left them under the tree!?
This is going to be my last Blog post of 2019 and to make the occasion I really wanted to share with you my favourite styles of the year.
I’m still the kinda’ girl that gets excited about new hair and I’m pretty sure I always will!
So without further adu, here we go!
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
If I don't see you in the aspire shop before, then have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
I feel like I speak about this all the time and that’s probably because it’s a very real very important subject for us ladies that wear alternative hair.
Going out for the first time in your new wig or topper can feel very scary indeed!
You see, one of the things that we want the most as new hair wearers is to be un-noticed in our new hair.
We don’t want people to know that we’re wearing a wig and we certainly don’t want people asking us questions about our hair!
All we want is to blend in and feel better about ourselves wearing our hair than we do not wearing our hair. Is that really too much to ask?
I recommend going somewhere that’s not too busy on your first outing in your new hair. That is, of course, if you are feeling a little bit nervous! If you’re not feeling nervous and you’re raring to go then you go girl!
I hope today’s blog post has given you some food for thought!
Happy hair wearing lovely lady.
When I first started experiencing alopecia I didn’t even realise that losing your hair when you were not sick was even a thing never mind that there was numerous different types of alopecia!
Alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis .... it’s enough to overwhelm anyone Isn’t it!?
Now, I’m am certainly no expert on the different types of alopecia or the ways that different types can present themselves in people but I have had the privilege of getting to meet with hundreds of women (if not thousands!) over the course of running aspire hair who have taught me so much.
I have put together to today’s blog post by using the wealth of knowledge of one of my favourite sites to visit when it comes to learning more about alopecia and getting support.
That website is the alopecia uk website.
Alopecia Areata (AA) is understood to be an autoimmune condition. The immune system which normally protects the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. This is what leads to hair loss.
Read more about alopecia areata, totalis and universalis, how it presents itself and treatment options on the AUK website here
Androgenetic Alopecia is often referred to as 'Male Pattern Hair Loss' or 'Female Pattern Hair Loss'. It is the most common type of hair loss affecting approximately 50% of men over the age of 50 and around 50% of women over the age of 65. Androgenetic Alopecia can also affect younger men and women. It is caused by a number of genetic and hormonal factors.
Read more about androgenetic alopecia, it’s causes and treatment options on the AUK website here.
Scarring Alopecias refers to a rare group of disorders that destroy hair follicles. Occasionally they are referred to as cicatricial alopecias. The hair follicles are replaced with scar tissue (hence the name). In some cases the hair loss is without symptoms and can go unnoticed for long periods
Read more about Scarring alopecia/s it’s, causes and treatment options on the AUK website here.
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Normally 10% of a person's hair is in the telogen phase. Telogen effluvium occurs when there is a higher than average amount of hair shedding, 30% of more. Common triggers for this change in the usual telogen stage include childbirth, trauma, illness, bereavement, sudden weight loss, new medication or hormonal changes. In around a third of those affected, no cause can be found.
Read more about Telogen & Anagen Effuvium, it’s, causes and treatment options on the AUK website here.
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I want to say a massive thank you to alopecia UK for always sharing their knowledge on alopecia with us sufferers! Their website is a wonderful resourse and if you haven’t checked them out already then you definitely should!
If your new to wearing hair then it might come as a surprise that wearing hair during the Summer months is totally different from wearing hair through the Autumn and Winter months and not for the reasons you may think!
Obviously, wearing hair in the Summer can make you feel a little warmer and wearing hair in the Winter is not quite as warm but another thing to keep in mind is that human hair and synthetic wigs that are below shoulder length will wear much faster during the Autumn and Winter due to the type of clothing we wear.
So, with the above in mind let me share with you my top tips on keeping your below the shoulder length wig in good condition during the colder months ...
The ponytail – During the colder months we wear collars / coats and scarves a lot more and what this does is create friction in the nape area of your wig. With human hair wigs you may notice this as an increased been to comb through and de-tangle that area and with synthetic wigs you’ll notice the same need for increased de-tangling but after you de-tangle you’ll notice the ends of your hair feel more coarse than before.
Pulling your hair back in to a low ponytail with keep your hair nice and neat and will reduce the build up of friction.
Use the correct products – Using the correct products on your human hair or synthetic wig is always a good idea year round but I would recommend increasing the amount of product you use during the colder months.
For example, Jon Renau have created a fantastic product for synthetic wigs called HD smooth fibre spray and it is an absolute God-send! I always recommend using this product with every wear on your synthetic or heat resistant wig but during the colder months try using it before and after each wear. It really does make a difference!
Part your hair through the back – If you are wanting to wear your hair down to go out shopping or walking then why not part your hair loosely down the back and pull your hair forward over your shoulders.
By doing this you are reducing the amount of friction your wig is generating against your coat collar and making it easier on yourself when it comes to de-tangling.
I hope these little tips will help you better manage your synthetic or human hair wig through the colder months. If you enjoyed today’s blog post then be sure to sign up to my FREE fortnightly newsletter below and you’ll never miss another Blog post from me!