This is a hard question to answer, but it’s even a harder question to ask. Its very difficult for a woman to accept the fact that she needs a hair system to help with her thinning hair, and can spend years first avoiding the question before even answering it. This is not unusual. And I have had many clients that have come to see me for an initial consultation and then come back several years later saying that now she is ready. And that’s okay. You go at your own pace.
What I would like to do is help you determine what hair system design is best for you; your look, your lifestyle and your budget.
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Will it look natural?
This is the first question everyone asks, and the answer is, “Well, that depends.” There are a lot of hair systems and wigs and extensions out there that decidedly do NOT look natural. This can be due to several reasons; bad quality hair, too much hair, styling malfunction, bad fit. These are the things that you want to avoid because you need to realize that these can and do look amazingly natural. You have seen these natural hair systems, but you have not noticed them.
I have said for years that it is difficult being in an industry that, by definition, no one see your good work. And you have seen mine. There are several very prominent Canadian women that wear my stuff when they are in the news or reporting it and the public have no idea. This could be done for you as well.
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Will everyone know that when I start wearing it?
If you are going from hardly any hair to a lot of hair it can be difficult to hide. But most women that come to see me about a hair addition design only want 10 to 20% more hair. Now make no mistake, that 10 to 20% makes a difference. But not something that stands out. And many clients will ease the transition by wearing her hair up or in a ponytail for a week or two before wearing it down.
You actually will be very surprised at how you get away with it (there are other strategies but that is not for a public forum). So donât let this stop you. The longer that you leave it, the more worried you will become as the transition phase will become more apparent to you.
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How can I tell what design is right for me?
The first thing you have to determine is whether you want to have something that is ‘permanently attached’ or ‘daily wearâ?
The second thing is do you want virgin hair or processed hair?
Permanently Attached vs Daily Wear
A permanently attached system will stay in place for 3 to 5 weeks depending on how fast your hair grows (among other factors). Then you must return to the salon for the system to be removed and re-applied. This is a time and financial commitment so you have to decide if this is worth that investment. It depends on you.
There are several different methods of attachment and each salon has their favourites. You have to find one that is comfortable and secure. What you should be aware is that most permanent systems use processed hair that has had the cuticle stripped to avoid tangling. This takes away from the natural look and behaviour of the hair. Make sure that you see a sample to determine if the hair quality will give you the look that you want.
A daily wear system is something that you can remove and apply yourself. Most take it off at night and put it on in the morning but you can wear it (or not) whenever you want. This is actually the more popular of the two. These can be made in both processed and virgin hair.
Virgin Hair or Processed Hair
All my postiche/toppers are made with virgin hair and there is nothing more natural looking. Again, make sure that you see samples to determine if you like the quality. In any case I would avoid synthetic hair as it does not have a good look and only lasts for a few months and for these reasons I do not discuss it.An extra bit of advice; go shopping. I do not mean that in the sense that this is a bargain hunting exercise because getting the cheapest thing out there is definitely going to make sure you will not like it.
But look at different designs and ask questions. Get a feel for the salon and what they have done before. Ask about how they stand behind their product and what happens if something goes wide. Bring someone with you if you think it will help. A friend, sister, hairstylist, husband. This can help you immensely in making they right decision.
Know that hair in general is expensive. And good hair is really expensive. But you can get an amazing look that will give you a boost every time you look in the mirror. There are thousands of women out there that will swear to this. And each and every one of them felt the same way you do now.
Michael Suba
President
Continental Hair
Itâs 9 am on a Saturday.
Regular crowd shuffles in…
We start early on the weekend because many of our clients like to have their wigs and hair systems made nice on their day off. This morning I had a client that has worn one of my postiche (topper) designs for many years bring in her sister. My client had just received her fifth postiche earlier in the week and she was very happy. All she could do was tell her sister how happy she was going to be.
Her sister, like her, is suffering from female pattern thinning, but it’s become so thin she can’t cover it any longer. Her sister was so encouraging that I could hardly get a word in. But she is right; she’s going to love it.
My next consultation was a woman that drove down from northern Ontario. She had been to several wig salons and said that she then decided to come see me. She is in her late 60’s and has had fine hair for a long time but over the past year it has accelerated. Now she needs a full wig. The salt/pepper colour is expensive in human hair but it is worth the look. But it has to be custom made. She will be back in a couple months to pick it up.
Then I had a young woman with her mother and aunt come in. She had already bought a wig at the Continental Hair salon at Sunnybrook Hospital but wanted it trimmed. I have a policy that all wigs and hair systems can have additional styling and colour work done for no charge for a month after it’s purchased. It’s called “the tweaking time”. She had purchased this wig several months ago but when her mom called me I told her that there would be no charge.
She is in her early 20’s and lost the hair on the back of her head because of radiation treatment. When she had trouble sitting down in the styling chair her mother told me that she had mild cerebral palsy as well.
The wig was too heavy in front. They had been very cautious about cutting the bangs too short so way too much hair fell in front of her face. I took a display wig and put it on her to show her what a layered front bang would look like. She loved it.
When my stylist Vasella layered the front you could start seeing her face. Vasella works slowly and methodically when styling a wig. She makes sure she does not get ahead of her client (or her cheering section). So it took awhile but finally we could see her face. The sloping bang was still long enough to put behind her ear or up with a clip. They were very happy.
When they were leaving the mother tried to give me a $20 tip. I could see that they were not rich and this was more than an empty gesture.
But my policy is always the same: “You donât tip the owner. You already paid me.”
I was just happy the left so happy. The girl was beaming.
The following steps should be followed to ensure a proper and thorough cleaning of your new hair system.
- Gently brush out your system, ensuring there are no tangles in the hair.
- With your index and middle finger in a scissor motion, hold the part line of the system. NOTE: It is important to hold the system by its part line throughout the entire washing process.
- Begin by rinsing your hair system with warm running water. Ensure that you rinse the inside of the cap as well as the hair.
- Fill your sink/basin about halfway with water, adding a small amount of shampoo (use salon or professional quality) to the running water to disperse it through the sink. Make sure there is enough water to fully submerge the system.
- Dip the wig into the sink so that it is fully submerged. Make sure to handle the system very gently, as if you were washing a fine garment. Draw the system through the water slowly, letting the water do the work. Do not agitate or scrub the system.
- Drain the sink and rinse the system thoroughly.
- Fill the sink with water and add shampoo again. Wash the system a second time with just as much care as the first time.
- Drain the sink and rinse the system thoroughly.
- Fill the sink a third time, and add conditioner (use salon or professional quality) to the sink.
- Draw the system through the sink a few times, drain the sink and rise the system.
- Place the system on a towel and pat the excess water out. Be sure that you do not rub or agitate the hair.
- At this point, you can add a leave-in conditioner or Moroccan oil to the mid-shaft through to the ends.
- Brush the system gently to disperse the product and to ensure easy styling.
- Place the system on a Styrofoam head and style as usual.
These steps should ensure a thorough and easy cleaning of your hair system. Remember that the hair system should only be washed every 4-6 weeks with daily wear.
If you encounter a problem with your system at ANY time during the process, STOP and call Continental Hair at (647) 735-5362 or email us at in**@*************ir.com. Our friendly and helpful staff will walk you through any issues and help you in any way we can.
A postiche, also called a topper, is a small hair system or hair piece that clips into your own hair to give your hair more fullness and coverage. It can be ver small so as just to fill in your bangs, or larger if you have more acute hair loss. The postiche sits on top of your own hair and is secured with ‘comb clipsâ which snap on some of your own hair. It is secure and will not fly away even during a workout.
The postiche design at Continental Hair is unique in that it is the result of decades of refinement and improvements but it has never lost the one characteristic that makes it look so good: natural virgin, unprocessed hair. This quality hair is the only type that is fine enough and natural enough to blend properly with your own. Since this is the hair that someone else will see it has to be of the most natural quality. This means it is also important to make sure that the colour blend is perfect and that the style is how you want your hair to look. That is why these are custom made. Many times with an impression of the top of your head ensuring that everything is perfectly fitted and designed for you.
The reason that this is such successful design is that it uses the most natural hair and not a lot of it.
The postiche usually lasts about 2-3 years of everyday wear. You usually wash it every 3 -4 weeks. This can be done by yourself or the salon but you must be instructed in how to do this properly. Hot tools and styling products are encouraged as they enhance the enjoyment of your hair.
The manufacture takes 8 – 10 weeks. Our prices start at $2700 and go up according to length and colour. Our average price is between $3000 – $3500 plus taxes. All styling and colour work in the initial fitting is included, as are any alterations for the first month of wear.
Advantages:
- Fantastic natural look.
- Daily wear – you take it off and put it on.
- No maintenance fees, you can maintain it yourself.
- Lightweight and undetectable.
Disadvantages:
- Daily wear – you canât wear it for weeks at a time.
- Custom made – you have to wait for it to be made for you.
- Only enhances your look – a postiche cannot give you a lot more length, it is not an extension. It can only give you more of the look you already have.
Continental Hair is very proud of this design and has women from all over the world that love it too.
If someone you know is going through chemotherapy, one of the things they may want help with is choosing a wig. Here are some tips on how you can help.
I remember when I was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for my cancer. It was back in 1990 but I remember it vividly. I am still grateful for the support and love I received from my family and friends. I see hundreds of women going through this every year and I believe it would help the process go much more smoothly if their friends and loved ones had some guide as to how they could help.
Like most good advice, these tips are not necessarily unique to wig shopping. They’re based on compassion and rationality, which are two qualities very much in demand when supporting someone battling cancer.
Do’s
- Help her to determine a budget and a “look” before you visit the salon. While this is a purchase with a lot of emotion attached to it, you are still shopping. Discuss goals.
- Be honest. If it looks like a tumbleweed wrestling a rat’s nest, then tell her. Nicely.
- Be respectful of the person styling your friend or loved one’s wig, even if you’re a hair stylist. There’s a difference in how growing hair is styled and how wigs are styled. Trying to override the wig stylist makes the process more stressful than it has to be and could result in a poorly styled wig. Try to stay in friend mode.
- Ask questions of the consultant. There are no silly inquiries. Hair is important and expensive. Your friend may not be in the mood to ask so help her out. A wig needs to do three things to be a success: It needs to have good look, a snug fit, and a comfortable feel. Help her keep these things in mind throughout the process.
- Have fun! Remember you are, in a way, shopping for a piece of clothing. Encourage her to try stuff on. Take pictures. It can be a trying time but many patients really do manage to have fun with this! The salon should indulge you to see how she looks as a redhead!
Don’ts
- Change your mind half-way through. If you only tune in to cast doubt when the wig is being styled, your friend will have to start from scratch and the whole process stops being fun very quickly. Be engaged from the beginning.
- Don’t play with your phone. Husbands, please pay attention when helping your wife. This happens only rarely, but as a husband it bothers me when I see it: Stay off your phone. Give her feedback and suggestions. This is important for her because for the next year, she knows she has to wear it, but YOU will be the one looking at it the most. And despite what she might say, she really does care what you think.
- Don’t be competitive. It does not matter that she is not choosing what you like. She appreciates your opinion, but ultimately it’s her decision, as she’s the one living with it.
- Don’t crowd the stylist. If she is having a wig “cut-in” please don’t stand next to the technician styling the wig on her. It can be an interesting process, but it’s distracting to the stylist. And distracting the person styling your friend’s wig does no one any good! Do the salon thing â sit and chat with your friend as she has her hair done.
- Don’t stress. This may be obvious but it’s not always the case. Sometimes you may have to interject and say “Let’s go have a coffee and talk about it.” That’s fine. It can be overwhelming and you are there to help her through it.
What this is really about is her privacy for the next 6 to 12 months. This is new and scary so help her by familiarizing yourself with wigs and see that she gets something that she can have confidence in while she is going through her battle. She’s counting on you.
Many of my more recent clients that are undergoing chemotherapy have told me that they have not receiving any hair loss or wig information when they are told about their treatment regimen. I find this odd because it used to be that all the hospitals would immediately give their patients lists of options and vendors to help them with their hair loss and privacy issues. However lately I have been told that at certain hospitals they have not.
This has caused some patients to scramble and be under pressure to find something suitable for them after their hair has started or has already fallen out. This makes it difficult for the patient because as a survivor I can tell you the last thing you want to do when under the effects of chemo is to go wig shopping. It also makes it difficult for the hair replacement salon because we have to guess or go by photos as to colours and styles. This is something that should at least be looked into well in advance of the treatment starting to have effect on the hair.
I have contacted people I know at Sunnybrook and have been told that they do make sure that patients are aware of these issues. I have tried to get in contact with other hospitals but I have not had anyone get back to me.
Maybe they do not know what a nice guy I am. Yet. But I hope that all centres working with patients that will suffer hair loss due to chemotherapy and radiation will give their patients some guidance.
Until then, here are some tips for you or the person you are researching for:
- Start early, but you donât have to make a decision.
You should look around even before you start your treatment. Ask your hairstylist for some advice. Bring someone that can give you support and advice. You do not need to buy anything right away, but donât get into analysis paralysis. Of course, if you see something that is perfect, don’t be afraid to get it. It might not be there in a week.
- Wear your hair the way you want to have it during treatment.
This way you can show the hair loss professional what you want to look like. You can change this if you like. Nothing says that you have to wear your hair the same way, and many have found that they can take advantage of trying something new. But its good to have a starting point. Also, and this is important, you might have a style or colour that does not translate well into a wig. Be prepared to compromise (a bit).
- Try stuff on.
When you think about it, what you are doing is shopping. It’s for something that you never really wanted, but if you think of it as shopping it’s a much more enjoyable experience. Try stuff on. Get back to your roots.
- Check with your insurance.
If you have coverage, find out how much. Usually it is not enough to get a really good wig, but it helps. Also, a medical wig is tax deductible. See if you would be in line for some money to come back to you. You can claim whatever isn’t covered by insurance. But you need a prescription (from your doctor, oncologist, anyone that can write script) and the insurance company will want all originals of the receipts and prescriptions. The CRA will make do with photocopies.
- Get it styled.
Any salon that you go to should style the wig for you. We insist on this and it is always included in the price of the wig. The style is part of the salonâs responsibility. You are buying a look, not a few ounces of hair.
Continental Hair will not style anything that is from another salon or purchased on line. There are reasons but that is for another blog post. The basic bit of advice for this is that you always cut it leaving it 1 cm too long (at least). Especially in the bangs. Length cannot be added to the bangs. And the wig should ALWAYS be cut on your head. Colour and perms etc donât need to be, but any cutting needs to be done with you wearing it.
- Does it pass “The Barstool Test?”
If a bar stool is missing a leg, it’s not able to do its job. It needs all three. Just like a wig needs to have three things so it can do its job.
- Have a style you like
- Be comfortable.
- Be secure.
There are limits to these, of course. Wigs are essentially hats with hair. But it should be a look you are satisfied with, it shouldnât be ratcheting into your skull, and it shouldnât chase the bus when it drives by you when you are on the sidewalk.
Remember, the reason for a wig is to maintain your privacy while you are on this journey. Its nobodyâs business what you are going through unless you want them to know. And one of the best things I can remember about my six months of chemo were the times when I myself was able, for short periods at a time, forget what I was going through and could enjoy moments with my family and friends. Those times were like oases in that desert of a year.
If you have any questions or comments I would appreciate hearing from you. Take care.
Michael Suba
President
Continental Hair Ltd
Toronto
mi*****@*************ir.com
