Lina’s Custom Wig Experience

Lina has sent me this post to share with all of you about her custom wig purchasing experience. Lina’s other posts: “After All Life Sentence in Canada Is Only 25 Years” and “Newbie Wig Washer.” 

My hair loss journey has me committed to wearing a wig at this point. I decided that I need to have more than one wig, I can’t even imagine the panic I would endure if anything happened to my one and only – so this past Saturday I had an appointment to order a custom piece and wanted to share my experience with you.

I went back to the place I’ve always gone, they provided me with the wig I have now and the two postiches (toppers) that I own. My wig is a lovely human hair wig but it is processed and I wanted to inquire about a virgin human hair wig since Y raves about hers and we all know how lovely and realistic hers are! Two of my biggest dilemmas were: 1) showing Michael and his staff at Continental Hair my shaved head and 2: the cost. I decided that as far as the cost, I need a second wig for my peace of mind, so I would put the wig on my credit card.

So Friday night before my apt. I washed Eva (that’s what I named her), I waxed my upper lip and eyebrows – yeah, I get the irony. You think I was going on a date, but nonetheless Eva and I had to look our best. Eva was drying on her head in the bathroom when my mom called saying her and my dad were coming over for a few minutes – shit! Wig is wet and how would I cover my head – I didn’t want dad to see. I was just about to put on a buff and then decided – what the heck, let me test drive showing my head , so they come over. Dad starts smiling and then says: “you look like a boy” (what a weiner – that’s dad), then he said: “no, you look healthy and good”, then he hugged me and said he loved me. Quick visit over and I was still standing – yay.

So I go to bed and it went something like: toss, turn, toss, turn, up to pee, time check, back to bed, toss, turn… I even had a dream and I saw Michael, I was bald and saying something like, duh, ummh… You guessed it, zero sleep. I finally get my tired self out of bed in the morning and head to Toronto, half way there I was coming up with excuses on why I was going to call and cancel my apt. so I could turn around and come home. I told myself to calm down and do this, for me.

I walked through the door and saw my girls: Coralee, Seven and Jacqui (they are the awesome stylists there) and it was and immediate whoosh – a big comforting hug, I knew I would be alright. The girls gave me a hug and all told me how awesome I looked in Eva and just in general. Last time they saw me, I was in my postiche (topper) and I told them how the shedding increased and how I shaved and moved on to my wig. I told them how I felt so much better with the break from the shedding and how I was getting used to Eva, wearing and washing her and just feeling better about myself in general. They said they could see such an improvement in me, not the hair, but me. I had a big smile on my face.

So, back to reality, time to talk to Michael and the reveal – yikes. I went back to see him and he greeted me with a big genuine smile, said it was nice to see me and asked what they were going to do for me today. I went through the whole rigamarol and then – tadah – off comes the wig. We sat and chatted, we talked about my emotional journey. He had Hodgkins before and said he wished he knew then what he knows now: he says we all have our troubles, worries, tribulations, battles, all of us – it’s how you deal with them that matters and makes the difference. It is so true. My hair loss had me under so much stress, worry, despair that it just seemed to snowball into more negativity and “bad” stuff. I told him the wig had me feeling better and more optimistic about my future, confidence to find a new job, and just a snowballing positive effect. I was so comfortable chatting that I forgot I didn’t have my wig on, I even shouted for Jacqui to come see my head , she came over, touched it (people like to do that), kissed my cheek and said I looked beautiful – insert big awh here 🙂

Michael took some measurements and got me some colour swatches. He knows how much money I have spent with him on my pieces so far and said he could fit me with a real nice processed hair wig, to save me some money – zero pressure to sell me the more expensive. I tried on a virgin wig and it was too late, I wanted one. So, my new bff is on order and she will be here in about 3 months – I decided to name her Jacqui 🙂

I stayed around chatting with the girls and even a client, we were speaking of how hair loss affected us. This particular women had alopecia areata and was getting a postiche. This is what I learned: no matter what type of hair loss, all the gamuts of emotions that we all have shared and experienced on WHLP are the same, right down to the utter despair and depression. This woman did not like the first hair piece she had nor the first place she went to for help – this also is a familiar sentiment on WHLP. It was an immediate connection and easy conversation, a real sisterhood and that is why it is so important for a support system like WHLP, thank you Y. I finally let the girls get back to work and I left – see them in 3 months!

What turned out to be an intimidating day for me, turned into a real positive one. I pray to God to give me the strength to deal with my trials, I tell him that if he shows me the way, I will fight to work through them. Each hurdle, makes tackling another just a little less intimidating.

Tragically, hair loss can take a huge emotional and financial toll. A lot of unscrupulous individuals and businesses exist that pray on our hopes, fears and embarrassment to try and sell us the latest miracle “cure” or system that is not what we need or suited to us. To say that to take advantage of us at such a vulnerable time is beyond cruel is a real understatement. Please do not let any of these individuals dampen your resolve in finding a solution that works for you in your journey. You owe it to your mental, physical and spiritual self to be your own advocate. I am so thankful I found Continental, they specialize in all forms of hair loss for women and have a clinic solely dedicated for cancer patients – I do believe that is a testament to their level of compassion and understanding and they are not in the business of just making money at all costs. Had I run into one of those shady businesses my experiences would have been MUCH different.

I am sharing my experience with you to show you there is hope and also if my journey can work out some of the emotional or financial bumps for anyone, then I would be thrilled to help. WHLP is a great resource, there are so many good and not so good stories amongst us, but all of them help, with tips, what to do and not to do, places and things to steer clear of, a place to vent, laugh, cry and share. Everytime I am having a good or bad hair day, I think of you ladies and how I am not alone.

Much peace and love to you all. I will let you know when Jacqui arrives ?

Lina,
xxoo

Tagged as: custom, purchase, Wig