Lina has sent me this post to share with all of you about her first time washing her wig. If you don’t remember, Lina is the lovely gal who posted the story “After All Life Sentence in Canada Is Only 25 Years.”
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Hello ladies, I recently transitioned into wearing a wig. I should of worn my topper a lot earlier so I could of got some real use out of it but fear kept me from it and alas the hair loss sped up and I am now 12 days into wearing a wig. Besides the fear of wearing a wig, I really thought I couldn’t possibly wash it on my own – that would of meant driving 2hrs there and 2hrs back every 2-3 weeks, cost of gas, time and $50-$100 for the wash and set – how could I do that?
Well, last night I decided to wash my wig myself. I used Admin’s videos as a guide – I bought the pins she suggested (way better than the t-pins) and even the shampoo and conditioner, I even shook the hair and hung it upside down. After the conditioner application, I combed it through and left it for 15 minutes before I rinsed it.
My wig heads are short (I am going to invest in the longer ones) so I had to prop them up with black bean cans (that’s all I had). I had the wig mostly hanging over the bathroom vanity and didn’t realize that my bangs were touching the vanity until this morning – they dried like the episode in “Something Like Mary” (no joke). I panicked and was getting my call in sick excuse ready when I said, “calm down Lina, wet the bangs an comb them down” – duh. Well, not really my fault, I haven’t done my hair in ages – letting it air dry and hang in crispy wisps doesn’t take much styling!
Ok, bangs wet, shook the hair, combed her and voila! My wig is a human hair wig but it is processed, when I got it it was not custom made and the salon added highlights to get the hair closer to my color – I put it on without ever washing it and to be honest it irritated the back of my neck but I thought oh well at least I have hair touching the back of my neck. They also flat ironed it – they seem to do that alot at the salon, I don’t know if it’s because everyone likes that but for me I always had some wave to my hair and never dared flat iron it – no way was I going to tug on my strands. Let me say, she air dried with wave, much closer to my own hair and she smells wonderful and is so soft and sits lovely on the back of my neck – this is the first time I have felt she isnt’ a wig!!!
At the salon, the girls never washed the wigs on a head and they were pretty rough with the pieces, they are super busy. I remember seeing them tug on them and trying to get the knots out and thinking: “shit my wig will only last a year” how can I afford this? Guess what, I used the heads, had zero problems combing her and the entire process: start to finish – 3 hairs lost! My wig is going to last much longer than a year.
So all this rambling was meant to take the fear out of washing your own wig and I can say I got the courage from our Admin – thank you, thank you. Take your $50-$100 salon visits and buy yourself something pretty or put it in a wig fund – these suckers can be addictive!
Have a happy day all (I wish you could touch and smell my wig)
Hugs XXOO
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for this helpful tip. My two wigs are not human hair (yet) but they look like my own hair. I just started to wear wigs and love it. I don’t have to spend a hour styling my thin hair to look good. I also don’t have to use a bunch of styling products. Wearing this wig is very freeing. Everyone compliments me on my hair. I made sure the wig I bought would look sort of like my real hair, only healthier. Now that I know I like wearing a wig, my next one will be a real hair wig.
A HUGE thank you to all of you STRONG, BEAUTIFUL women writing to say how much wearing a wig has made your life better !
It’s so hard for those of us still “on the other side” to imagine. But, with each post I read (from Admin and all of you ) , I’m really starting to feel it and believe it.
I cannot wait to get on here someday and do the same for someone else who’s stuck like I am now ! Hopefully, sooner rather than later 😀
XOXO to you all !
Sherry,
I am so happy to hear you are loving wearing your wig and yes it IS freeing! Good luck with the human hair wig, I think you will love it – you can do everything to it and do not even hesitate to wash it yourself. Have you ever heard people say “if I can do it, you can do it”, well sister “if I can do it, you CAN do it”. 🙂
Happy wig wearing and be free.
xo
Phillygrl,
I have read a lot of your posts and wether you believe me or not, you ARE close to taking the leap – you sound different, excited, eager and more daring – you go girl! Can’t wait to read your posts.
🙂
Lina, I’ve been following your story closely, because progress wise I don’t think I’m that far behind you! I gasped when I read you shaved it all off and started wearing your wig. GOOD FOR YOU!!!
Even happier that it’s working out well for you wearing it every day. I bet it looks amazing…maybe you could post a pic wearing it? (hint, hint!)
xoxo
Angie
Hi Angie,
Yes, 25 years and NOW I wish I had the nerve to wear my topper a lot earlier. That being said, I am personally glad I took that step for a few weeks first. A) it got me used to (and those around me) to wearing hair and B) it hurt so much that it made the decision of wearing a wig for me. The head shave came during another round of TE and sadly the comb over stopped working add to that the shed hell and I just could not take it a minute longer. I took some before photos just to remind me WHY I shaved and I have had to look at them twice since I shaved 2.5 weeks ago and one second looking at them and all doubt – gone! I don’t know your personal hair loss story but 25 years and everything but a hair transplant exhausted and I knew it was a losing/lost battle. I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful showers have become once again, I now shower with the light on – it was so strange at first, I actually had to get used to it again! I don’t plug up mu vacuum head, I don’t pick hair off me all day, and I do not hide from mirrors. I am still somewhat sad when I take my girl off but let’s face it, not the most ideal situation but I’ve learned it’s the making lemonade out of lemons kind of deal 🙂 I HATE my hair loss and that’s the truth – I hate that I lost the best years of my life, hiding, MORE!
My hair was falling out gang busters while I wore the topper and I hit my enough moment. I became empowered and no longer powerless – angie, for ME it was the right thing to do. I’m still a work in progress and not 100% happy with my wig, but I plan on getting a custom piece – I will keep you ladies updated. – I will post a photo, even though I’m shy, only to know that it might help one person. Thank you for your support and I would love to know about your journey.
Big hug xxoo
Dearest Lina !
Thank you for your much needed words of encouragement. I hope I am getting stronger, I think it coincides with watching “Ys” videos,reading all the great women on here, AND the number of cups of coffee Ive had ! 😀
I try to only post on the days Im “feelin it”. My dark days, I keep off the computer. I know how much it means to come here and read positive posts. Especially for those who are just starting out. They don’t need to read the gloom and doom of it all .
But YOU ! YOU are such an inspiration ! I cried reading your post about shaving your head the 1st time ! But now I smile because I can read the relief and empowerment it has given you !! Stand and applaud yourself everyday ! YOU are victorious and you are free :D:D
I hope that everyday you get more and more of your life back and that you have love and support all around you. Cant wait to hear about the day you find the perfect wig, just like “Y”. YOU ROCK ! 😀
Looking forward to pictures, if you ever feel like you want to do that.
Its so funny to feel so much for all the women on here, when we are just words on a screen. 🙂 I keep saying “where are these kind of women in real life?!” haha
XOXO to you all !
Lina, my story is posted on here somewhere. Long story short – I’m 39, my hair loss started in my late twenties. I think mostly genetic and stress, I’ve been tested for everything else! Have tried everything. Am currently on Propecia/Spiro/Biotin, use Rogaine and Toppik. I am still to where I can “hide” it somewhat. But if I don’t use Toppik, you can see my scalp. It’s just effin gross.
I have an almost ten year old daughter who is severely autistic. (Who has goregous, thick, straight, dark hair I would DIE for! You could shave it all off and she’d neither notice, nor care.) And I am just finally reaching a point where I’m just so TIRED of all the anxiety and heartache of the last ten years. I’ve had something of a nervous breakdown this last summer.
I’m finally to the point where, WTH – if wearing hear makes me feel and look better, why not? If there is just ONE area of my life I can improve upon that will help with my depression and anxiety, why not? So I am looking into options. I’d really much rather go with bonded hair than a wig. The expense is the only thing holding me back, but my parents said they might help me. I haven’t gotten up the nerve to schedule a consultation, or even go to a wig shop, yet. But coming here every day, seeing everyone’s posts….I’m slowly trying to screw up the courage!
You, Y, and everyone else who posts about how they love wearing hair give the rest of us hope. Please do post a pic if you get brave enough!
Big Hugs, Angie
Phillygrl,
thank you so much for your kind words. I thought I would cry when I shaved but it really was enough and more than enough. It’s strange, everyday I would think – maybe one day it will just all get better – my mom says I look healthier with my head shaved if that gives you any indication of the Homer Simpson hairdo I was “working towards”. I have twice did the scalp inspection since the shave and yep – crapadoo still happening. It’s funny – perhaps it was just a habit.
You know, the stress reduction has been immeasurable. I am now not satisfied with the wig I have – I want THE wig and now that is where my journey will take me over the next few months. It was critical for ME to shave because going through the hair loss under the wig would of still been nagging me. It was just right for ME.
I feel the same as you about the women on this site, I care about them SO much.
I’m feeling that you are different lately in that I mean, toes on the edge of the diving board. I read once that if you are so consumed by something you should imagine to yourself what the worst outcome could be of that situation and then prepare for that outcome today.
Much love your way.
Lina
Angie,
First, I am so sorry for your autistic daughter, I’m sure she is a wonderful girl but it must constantly weigh on you as a mother. I don’t mean this in any disrespect but it is things like this that should make us feel grateful with what we have and that we are only experiencing hair loss. But before I come off sounding so “smart”, I said to my sister I would trade all my pain (prior to spine surgery) for good hair. Imagine living a bed-ridden life? This hair loss thing runs so much deeper than hair.
It fundamentally broke me and on top of alot of other things it brought me to a recent meltdown this summer and I finally had enough – it was my start on this new journey.
Angie, if you can do anything to feel better and a family that will support you – piss on the hair, wear some, shave it, keep it the way you have. You have bigger things, we ALL have bigger things than to let our hair punish us. My heart aches a little more each time, when I hear the all too familiar pain coming from my sisters here.
I have read so many stories of inspiring women on this site who have accepted, laughed and moved on, counting their blessings and maintaining their sanity – I wish I was one of them. I hit terrible lows, and after all this time I am in a much better place and working towards their inspirational words. I may take two steps back, but where they were all backward steps, I make some forward ones these days.
Hugs to you,
Lina xxoo
Lina, you sound…it’s hard to describe. At peace, I would say? You really, truly, do. I only hope someday I can get there.
I called a wig shop today, as well as a hair replacement center. I’m getting my feet wet, doing my research, and trying not to have a nervous breakdown over it all.
My daughter is beyond challenging. She is non verbal, and barely potty trained. She gets violent sometimes, despite being on medications. It is the single hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in life. The hair loss is NOTHING compared to the mental anguish of waking up with a broken heart every day….knowing your child isn’t going to get better, and there is nothing you can do about it. Some kids with autism improve over time, she isn’t/hasn’t been one of them. 🙁 Now that she’s getting older, it’s getting harder.
You’re right about the hair. It shouldn’t control us, yet somehow it does. Who decided hair was so important, anyways? I have a theory – I think our species is still evolving, have you ever seen an alien with hair? Lol. Think about it! 😉
Anyhow, I care deeply for all the women here, too. It’s so nice to be able to talk to people who “get it”.
So, so happy for you, Lina. I truly am! Here’s hoping you find the PERFECT wig, very soon!
Hugs to you,
Angie xoxo
Angie,
My heart goes out to you and your daughter. My dearest Angie, you do not deserve or need the added stress of hair loss. I am so happy to hear that you got your feet wet. Just remember, if you go somewhere that specializes in hair loss with wigs, or toppers or what have you, they know you aren’t calling to buy a car right? Just because we feel like we are the only ones suffering – they wouldn’t be in business if that were the case!
You deserve as less stress as possible, some peace and enjoy your daughter. Your energies are for her, don’t give them to that keratin on the top of your head – she doesn’t deserve it (after all, she is the one leaving you).
I’m at peace with the decision of shaving, not meadow skipping, singing a song, but I know it was the best decision. I can feel my chest lighten. Stress can make us sick and how can we not be stressed everytime we take a shower – it’s a vicious circle.
I like your alien theroy – you haven’t lost your sense of humor and that is super.
I wish peace for you and hope to see you here again soon.
xo