Hair Loss Wigs

Perhaps you suffer with diffuse hair loss and have tried wigs, wiglets, extensions and any number of other remedies with no success. Have you ever heard of integrations?

A hair integration is not a wig, hairpiece or extension. It requires no surgery. A hair integration blends an individual’s hair with an integration hair system to create fullness, volume and length. It is for individuals with thinning hair or hair loss who want to make the most of their natural hair. An integration system is designed with a cabling system what provides durability and security while providing a comfortable fit. Best of all, integrations are easy to put on, are secure and versatile. And, they stand up to a busy, active lifestyle and are completely undetectable.

Typically integrations have a feeling of life and realness you have never encountered before in any tpe of hair replacement. The color is matched to your own or whatever shade you feel is most flattering. The styles in which you can wear your hair are almost unlimited.

To put it simply, hair integration can make you look as if you never started losing your hair in the first place! Many clients feel as though they never had a hair loss problem to begin with!

How does it work? The integration is created by sewing strands of the finest human (or synthetic) hair precisely matched to the color, texture and length of your own hair, onto a sheer nylon or polyester web-like cap. Using a tail-comb, your own hair is then drawn through the web to blend in with the added hair for a full, even hairstyle.

If this is a new concept for you, and you like the sound of it, call today and schedule a consultation with one of the Hair Solutions Specialist at Fantasia. If you are looking for something so light you will never know it’s there, and something which will make you feel like it truely is “your hair”, this might be the perfect solution for you!

Who told us that it is normal to lose 100 hairs per day? In every book I’ve read on the subject, that’s what they say. And, some say normal hair loss is 100-150 hairs per day. Because that’s what I have read, I have never questioned it and have repeated it many times. I must tell you, no matter how much I have read it and re-written it myself, I have always thought that I must not be normal because I am certain I do not lose 100-150 hairs per day.

It seems like, the number 100 for normal hair loss was picked out of the air. Maybe it came from the assumption that the average head has 100,000 hairs, 10% of which are in the telogen, or resting phase. This means they are no longer growing and are getting ready to fall out. But, they are going to take about 100 days before they hit the shower floor, curl up in the sink drain or wrap themselves around the bristles of your brush. So, 10% of 100,000 is 10,000. Divide that by 100 days and, you get a loss of 100 hairs per day, the magic number.

All of this math is based on…..nothing. First of all, it’s never been proven that we even have 100,000 hairs. The number has just been passed down with no one ever questioning it. So, a professor of dermatology at Penn State College of Medicine, came up with a quick and reliable way to figure out if you are experiencing abnormal hair loss. He and his colleagues studied hair loss in 60 men, half age 20-40 and half age 40-60. All of the men studied had healthy heads of hair and no signs of going bald.

They were given identical combs and told to shampoo every day for three days. On day four, before shampooing, they each combed their hair forward over a pillow case for 60 seconds. Then, they counted the hairs on the pillow case.

The average number was almost identical for both age groups: 10.2 hairs on the pillow case for the younger men and 10.3 hairs for the older group. And, when the same men repeated the drill six months later, the counts remained the same, indicating they were in no immediate danger of balding.

It doesn’t matter what kind of comb or brush you use as log as you use the same one, says the professor. And, make sure it’s clean when you start. The range of hair loss in the study was 0-78 hairs for the younger men and 0-48 among the older men, though most lost about 10 hairs in the 60 seconds of combing.

The number of hairs on your pillow matters less than that the number remains consistent. Do this exercise three days per month, and track it for six months. If the numbers of hairs shed remain consistent with each 60-second comb-out, you’re probably not “over shedding”. But, if there is a big increase, you might want to consult a dermatologist for an evaluation. As we have discussed, there can be many factors for hair-loss including thyroid issues, low iron levels and elevated stress levels.

So, I may have to re-think things before writing again that normal hair loss is 100 hairs per day!

If you are a practicing Jewish person, you probably know what a shaitel is. For those outside the Jewish faith, I thought you might finding learning about a shaitel somewhat interesting.

For Jewish women, the uncovered head from the earliest of times was considered immodest. Married women covered their heads to as not to draw the attention of other men. By covering her hair with a wig, the married woman makes a statement: “I am not available, you can see me but I am not open to the public. Even my hair, the most obvious and visible part of me, is not for your eyes to see.”

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible but inconspicuous, yes she is attractive but she is unavailable.

The wig, or shaitel, achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all of her hair while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks with out compromising her privacy. And, even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at her real hair. She has created a private space and only she decides to let into that space.

The word sheitel, is Yiddish for wig or half-worn wig.

So, if you ever hear the word sheitel, you know what it means! And if you have ever been curious as to why some Jewish women wear wigs, now you know!

When the heat is on, which wig would be the most comfortable to wear? A synthetic wig, a natural human hair wig, or a combination of both synthetic and natural?

What’s the answer? It all depends on personal preference. Today with the open caps on wigs, it really come down to the appearance of the wig, the styling and shaping of the haircut. The trick is to shape and style the wig to frame the face so that it looks like real hair.

Synthetic wigs have a lot of positive attributes. They hold their style. The fibers don’t fade in the sun or turn colors and they are an affordable choice. So much so that you may want to buy two, one to wash and one to wear. If you feel really bold and daring, buy two different colors to have fun and totally confuse you friends and family!

While all wigs can be somewhat hot and itchy in the summer, there are lightweight synthetics available. There open-cap construction allows the head to breathe and heat to escape, so they are cooler to wear. Standard synthetics can be worn with a mesh wig liner that’s like a fishnet stocking. This type of liner helps keep your head cool.

Some women prefer the look and feel of human hair wigs. The hair in human hair wigs may be soft and silky or more coarse. Human hair is heavier than standard synthetic and often sewn on full lace caps which can become hot. The fibers are just like the hair on your head. So, in summer humidity, the wig may get flat or frizzy.

In time, human hair wigs can lose their luster and become a little dull looking. It’s because they lack the natural oils that usually sustain the human hair growing on your head.

Both type of wigs have Velcro adjustments to hold them on securely. You will probably sweat under these adjustments. For comfort, try a little cornstarch-based baby powder or a cotton liner.

Wig experts say to wash the wig (with suggested special shampoos) as often as you would wash your own hair. You can do this at home, or at select salons such as Fantasia, where the wigs are shampooed and styled in a private room, then fitted and blow-dried on the head.

On extremely hot days, you may want to go without your wig and opt for turbans or hats. Choose cotton scarves and turbans to absorb the sweat and keep you cool.

In the comfort of your own home, you may want to wear nothing on a hot day. Just remember, should you go outside, your scalp is not used to the sun and can burn easily. If you go outside with nothing on your head, be sure to use sunblock or your head, ears and face.

Most of all, no matter what your choice, enjoy your summer!

I’m not saying or suggesting you would ever want to do this but, if you did want to look unique like Amy Winehouse, you could do it with the help of a fancy dress wig.

Wigs can be worn for fun and fashion, not just for necessity. Typically you can find inexpensive wigs at the mall in the novelty shops or in some salons. You should probably know because they are synthetic they can be hot, depending on the amount of hair.

Wigs can be a fun way to change your persona. There are always 60’s and 70’s parties going on where a wig would come in handy. You can go all out and be the life of the party. The last 50’s party I went to I wore a bee hive wig in addition to white  glasses which had major wings on the sides, a pink prom dress and some chalky pink lipstick and, ta dah, it was back to the 50’s!   It was a hoot. One of the guys had on an Elvis type wig with very extreme side burns.  He also doused himself with English Leather cologne which was a tad nauseating! But, a great time was had by all!
Wigs are still a hot item. Wigs for fashion, wigs for parties, wigs for hair loss or wigs simply for a great change of style - instantly! Wigs for holidays such as Halloween, Christmas or other occasions. And you don’t have to spend a fortune on them which is why they continue to be so popular.

Today, the younger set who frequent the clubs are having fun with Afro wigs, red, pink, purple and blue party wigs, 70’s wigs, beehive wigs, mullet wigs, Cher and Abba wigs just to name a few.

So, when you are in the mood to show your alter ego, be it Amy, Cher or whomever, do it with a wig!

I’ve written before about Amy Gibson, of Amy’s Presence Wig fame. I’ve learned more about her and thought it would be fun to share her story.

Amy has an impressive resume as an actress. She had a long stint as private dectective Collette Francois on the long-running ABC soap “General Hospital.”

As a teenager, Amy was diagnosed with alopecia areata totalis; an auto- immune disease which caused all of the hair on her head to fall out. Amy understands how women feel when they lose their hair, that’s why she created Amy’s Presence Wigs.

These days, you will find Amy in Palm Desert with a makeup artist and stylist offering makeovers to women suffering from hair loss. She also travels introducing her wig designed for women who just want to look like themselves again.

Amy started her acting career at age 13 on a soap opera “Love of Life”. It was a hair stylist on one of those shows who first noticed an unusual bald spot. Shortly there after, Amy was diagnosed with alopecia areata totalis. She was shocked. At the time of her diagnosis, the only treatment was cortisone shots. She endured these shots for 15 years.

When Amy was cast on “General Hospital”, after having been on “The Young and The Restless”, her condition went from bad to worse. She had a negative reaction to the cortisone and stopped taking it, with devastating results. Within three weeks she lost all of her hair.

As a result, she was forced to consider wigs. She approached the producers of her show with a novel idea. Since she played an undercover private investigator, why not have her continually look different by changing wigs? The producers loved the idea but there was one problem. Imagine performing a love scene and the actor you are playing against raises his hand to touch your hair….Amy had to figure out a way to tell them that she was wearing a wig without freaking them out!

Today, Amy is expanding. She plans to open new studios in other cities such as New York. She also works with a Los Angeles area hospital to provide wigs to women undergoing chemotherapy. Because Amy’s company is small, she provides a couple of wigs each month. Amy says she’s hoping to finding an angel who will help finance her work with cancer patients.

“I’m here to give women back their freedom to be themselves,” Amy says. A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. When it’s lost to illness or other natural causes, Amy wants to help.

We all know by now that smoking is a bad thing. It causes cancer, heart disease, increased respiratory illness and a whole host of other health problems. And yet, many still smoke. If you can’t quit for your health’s sake, what about for vanities sake?

Perhaps we need to focus on the hair rather than the health? Scientists have thought for some time that cigarette smoke might accelerate hair loss and premature graying. The connection was largely attributed to toxins in smoke that can harm the hair follicles and damage hormones. (remember, hormonal problems can cause hair loss) According to epidemiological studies, that appears to be the case. A report in the journal BMJ looked at more than 600 men and women, half of them smokers. After controlling for variables, the researchers found a “significant” and “consistent” link between smoking and early graying.

Last year, another team studied the link in a group of 740 men in Taiwan, aged 40-91 years. This is important because Asian men generally have low rates for hereditary baldness. After controlling for age and family histories, the researchers found a greater rate of hair loss among the smokers, a risk that grew with increasing smoking.

The question then, is the link a result of tobacco toxins directly affecting the scalp, or is the smoking causing disease which speeds aging? There are now several studies suggesting that smoking can lead to premature graying and hair loss.

Smoking is more than a smelly, bad habit. Again, if you can’t quit for health’s sake, how about for vanities sake?

Hair serves a purpose far greater than it’s biological function of keeping the head protected and warm. It’s about who we are; it makes a statement and allows us to express our personality. We can have fun with it, and knowing our hair looks good allows us to feel good about ourselves.

Women in particular enjoy their hair! They can change it by coloring it, and cutting and styling it differently from time to time. If a woman’s mood changes, she can simply change her hair. If a woman’s self esteem is in the tank, she can head to the salon, get a new “do” and feel ready to conquer the world! Let’s face it, having great hair just makes you feel great!

Hair styles can be mesmerizing. Whether it’s long, short and spiky, bouncy, dark and sleek, blond, each can be beautiful hair. It’s not simply hair, it’s art and expression. Celebrities such as Cher, Madonna, and Jennifer Anniston know this. Their hairstyles helped to make and keep them stars. Even sports figures impress us with with their hairstyles. Remember the “Dorthy Hamil” look? Dorthy was an Olympic figure skater in the 1970’s who made the “wedge” hair style very popular.

Worldwide, women realize the effect of hair. Hair is not just an accessory; it’s a working tool for women. No other accessory says so much about who we are. Our hair must look good for us to “feel” good. Women have a need to know that we have a tool that can be our best in every situation.

What is is about beautiful hair that drives women into salons? What do we notice about hair? It’s shine-healthy hair gleams when the light catches it. Color, and not just one color, but many colors blended together to create a beautiful head of hair- exciting colors such as reds, blonds, rich brunettes and others. The texture of the hair encompassing the the movement, body and density is something we notice that speaks of beautiful hair. Is the hair straight, wavy, curly or kinky? Hair runs the gamut which is probably just one more reason we are so enamored with it.

Hair frames the face and when properly cut and styled, complements bone structure and features. Coloring the hair can totally transform ones appearance. Trained professionals can help enhance the facial features by employing different color techniques. A hair style is most effective when it does not take over the beauty it surrounds, the face.

Healthy, beautiful hair is due to many things. Good genes, good circulation which delivers the nutrients to the scalp, a healthy diet providing the building blocks and a hair care regimen that incorporates good products, tools and techniques. A good hair professional does so much more than simply cut and style hair as they realize it’s a very complex issue and affects a woman’s total self image.

In many cases, our hair stylist is our best friend. When someone tells us how great we look and our hair is wonderful, we have only our best friend to thank!

One of the most difficult aspects of chemotherapy is having to deal with hair loss. Hair loss is the most common side effects of chemotherapy treatment and for a woman, this can be a traumatic thing to deal with. You may not think you hair is all that great or important. But, when you are faced with losing it, you realized just how attached to it you truly are. And in our society which is so obsessed with beauty, this can be a huge thing to face.

Whether or not you will lose your hair during chemotherapy treatments will depend on your hair type and the medications you are are given by your physician. Typically the doctor can tell you in advance it they think you will loose all of your hair.
Chemotherapy drugs are very powerful and patients often experience severe side effects. The most common side effect is complete hair loss. Yes I said complete, it’s not just the hair on the head but the eyebrows, lashes, etc. In many cases radiation is being administered in addition to the chemotherapy and this combination will almost certainly end up killing the hair.

Chemotherapy hair loss can be very difficult to deal with as is can shatter your self esteem. During this time family and friends will surround and support you. You will need them to be there for you to guide you and to lift your spirits. Fantasia has specialized in fitting wigs for chemotherapy hair loss for many years. We have trained, caring staff to work with you during this difficult time. We welcome your support team to come in with you and we have private consultation rooms for you. Fantasia has a huge wig inventory and it’s very possible we have just what you need in stock. Of course each wig is customized so people need not know you are wearing a wig unless you decide to tell them.

The main this for you is that you get rid of the cancer and get your health back. While you may think your hair is the most important thing, there are professionals who can help deal you with that. Your focus should be on getting well. You will get through this and be stronger as a result of it. It’s hard to imagine something so devating could be percieved down the road as a blessing but we hear that time and time again.

Fantasia is proud to announce a new addition to the Amy Presence Cyberhair Collection.  The Color Beautiful Collection is for textured hair.  We know that today’s woman is looking for authentic hair solutions no matter what color, race or age.

The purpose of this collection is to give women of all ethnicity, regardless of their reason for needing alternative hair, the opportunity to feel the comfort, freedom, joy and built in privacy that Amy’s Presence has become known for.   Around the world so many women are enjoying the attributes of Amy’s Presence Cyberhair.

It’s all about choice.  Color Beautiful gives more women this choice.  It’s about shear optimum diversity!  Whether you desire a textured “sleek” look with a small amount of movement or the textured “tousled” look, you can achieve the appearance you have always dreamed of!

Of course the Color Beautiful Collection has all of the same wonderful features that all of Amy’s Presence Wigs have including the Active Cap which offers a natural feeling, lightweight cap with a loose, breathable weave that allows air and water to flow through, and heat and moisture out to flow out. In addition to the super lightweight cap construction the wigs are hand tied with light refined materials that conform to the head for an individually customized fit.  The wigs contain subtle colors, hues and highlights that you have to see to believe!  And there is Amy’s signature features which are the extended ear tabs for natural appearance, plus loops for scarves and eyeglasses.

Amy’s Presence Color Beautiful Collection is the first wig line for women to feature Cyberhair, the world’s most technoloically, advanced, patented hair.

Cyberhair is virtually indistinguishable from human hair, is light as a feather, soft and silky, with rich hues and shimmering highlights that never fade or change color.

With Cyberhair, you can live life to the fullest:  work, sleep, swim, exercise and enjoy intimate moments with out worrying about your hair.  Because of it’s unique style memory, your Cyberhair wig requires no styling and only basic maintenance to keep it looking great!

With Cyberhair, you will feel playful and sexy, with silky soft, irresistibly touchable hair that stays beautiful all night, yet is styled and ready to go in the morning.  To experience Cyberhair, call Fantasia for a consultation.  Fantasia is an authorized Cyberhair dealer.