Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

Let’s talk about another trend in the beauty industry. This time it’s hair and big bountiful “Barbie” hair to be exact. This is THE look for this summer. This can be terrifying for those with less than impressive locks.

Hair extensions to the rescue! If you are going to go the route of hair extensions, due your research, all are not created equal and some can actually damage your hair! Who’s wearing extensions these days? Probably lots of women in Hollywood–think Jennifer Aniston, Elle Macpherson, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell to name a few.

With hair extensions, it’s kind of like plastic surgery, you are not supposed to notice them. A great set of extensions can do as much for you as lipo or Botox according to one of the celebrity stylists. They make you look younger, sexier and even thinner.

Today’s trend is to use subtle extensions to add color or volume rather than unrealistic lengths. The look you don’t want is theatrical waist long hair that looks cheap and dated. The cool thing about extensions is that they are versatile: you can instantly add a fringe, double the thickness of your real hair and correct a bad haircut.

Since extensions can damage your hair if not done right, it’s important that you have them done by a professional. You can get traction alopecia if too much extension is put on too little hair. Also, it’s not good to leave them in too long. They may last for six months but it’s best to take them out in three. From personal experience I can tell you this is important unless you want major “mats” in your hair!

Go for the best you can afford, extensions are pricey. They are made from human hair so that they blend with your real hair. Great Lengths are the Rolls-Royce of hair extensions, these would be my recommendation. They are less likely to shed when brushing as other brands will. However there are tons of extensions on the market today. If you want to do it yourself, there are even clip on extensions on the market.

So, if you have short hair and you want the “Barbie Hair” think about hair extensions. Today, the possibilities are limitless. Go ahead, flaunt your new crop of extensions, only your hairdresser will know they are not the real deal!

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.

OK, you have made the decision that you need hair replacement. Hopefully you have talked with your doctor and your insurance provider to find out what, if anything, is covered. At Fantasia, we always tell our clients, be prepared to pay for the entire purchase yourself and be pleasantly surprised if your insurance carrier pays anything. We always provide our clients with a receipt for a full cranial prosthesis. It is important that you submit this to the insurance company along with the prescription provided by your treating physician.

Do your due diligence in finding a reputable salon with experience in working with wigs. If you go cheap, such as in the mall stores or catalogues, just know you get what you pay for. It is not possible to take a cheap wig (under $200.) and make it look like your own hair. At Fantasia, we work with select Wig Vendors who have quality products which we know we can fit and customize to the individual. Should you decide to purchase a $100. wig somewhere and call Fantasia to have it customized, you can expect to pay $125.-150. to have the wig “tweaked” if in fact it can be done. Don’t assume any hair stylist can cut and fit a wig. There is an “art” to working with wigs, we have been doing it for 46 years!
When you purchase your wig at Fantasia, we will customize it for you. If we don’t get it exact in the first visit, you can come back until it is precisely what you want. We don’t charge you for multiple visits. We also have the products for caring for your purchase, whether it’s synthetic, human hair or Cyberhair.

There are various ways in which wigs are constructed which affects the fit and the price. At Fantasia, we have a huge inventory and our professional wig consultants will show you all of the different options available.

What’s it going to be? Synthetic, human hair or Cyberhair? It’s going to depend on you, your lifestyle and your reason for purchasing a wig. Typically if someone is experiencing temporary hair loss, they are more likely to purchase a synthetic wig. Today’s synthetic wigs can look amazing! Sometimes, when money is not an issue, clients will go with human hair or Cyberhair on the assumption that they may want to wear the wig even when their hair comes back.

If you have bald spots or thin spots, perhaps there is a better solution for you than a full wig. During your consultation at Fantasia, we will present all of the options to you so you can make the best decision for you!

The hair replacement specialist as Fantasia will educate you and answer all of your questions. How is a wig anchored to the head? What about fasteners and straps? Are tapes uses? How can I be certain the hair is going to stay on my head if I’m caught in the wind? We will answer all of these questions for you. There are custom fit caps which will help smooth out any remaining hair underneath the wig. We will teach you about that.

Most importantly, at Fantasia you will be given instructions on caring for your wig to get the most wear from it. You will be taught how to wash the wig and what products you should be using on it. The professionals at Fantasia want you to be excited about your new hair. We have been in business for 46 years and referrals are a huge part of our business. It it important to us that you leave happy!

Amy’s Presence, a line of Cyberhair wigs, got it’s name from Amy Gibson. Amy is an actress who began her show business career when she received a starring role in the daytime drama “Love of Live” at age 13.

Just as Amy’s acting career was really taking off, she began experiencing bald spots due to alopecia areata. Back then, not much was known about alopecia and Amy had to find ways to cope with losing her “crowning glory”. She had to keep her secret from cast members, friends and the press for fear of being ousted from an industry which places such importance on beauty and hair.

Over the next 17 years Amy starred on many shows including “The Young and The Restless”, “The Facts of Life” and “Happy Days”. All the while Amy was scouring the globe trying every treatment imaginable and searching for answers to her problem. Amy became a star on “General Hospital” at a time when her body was rejecting treatment and she lost all of her hair within a three week period. Determined that “the show must go on”, she created techniques to allow her to live like every other woman who loves to swim, work out, go dancing and engage in intimacy. Amy was not going to allow hair loss to rob her life.

The Amy’s Presence line of wigs is a culmination of Amy’s lifelong search. Cyberhair is the world’s most technologically advanced patented hair. It is virtually indistinguishable from human hair. It is light as a feather, soft and silky, with rich hues and subtle, shimmering highlights that never fade or change color.

With Cyberhair, you can live life to the fullest! You can work, sleep, swim, exercise, and enjoy romantic moments without worrying about your hair. Amy’s presence is an everyday wig that fits your everyday life. Cyberhair has “style memory” so it requires no styling and only basic maintenance to keep it looking great.

Additional features of Amy’s Presence are: Two cap styles, the Action Cap and the Ultimate Cap, both super lightweight cap construction for the ultimate in comfort and secure wear-ability; hand tying with light, refined materials that conform to the head for an individually customized fit; and subtle colors, hues and highlights that you have to see to believe. Amy’s signature features are: extended ear tabs for natural appearance and loops for scarves and eyeglasses. Additionally, there are specially formulated shampoos, conditioners, protectants and styling aids all specifically formulated for Cyberhair and Synhair.

Fantasia is privileged to be one the few salons in the Upper Midwest area offering Cyberhair and Amy’s Presence. Of course we carry a full line of the above mentioned products for proper care and maintenance of the wigs. Call today for more information and to schedule your consultation.

The main stigma regarding wearing wigs is left over from the old school. Let’s face it, we have truly come a long way with regard to hair replacement for women (and men for that matter!) The days of the beehive monster cap wig are gone, may they rest in peace. They did not look real, and perhaps they were never intended to look real.

Today, those facing hair loss for whatever reason, have so many choices when it comes to wearing wigs. Some women wear wigs for fun rather than necessity and have a wardrobe of them, just like shoes and purses. These days, your hair can be changed to match your outfit!

In days past you pretty much had to buy “human” hair for a wig to look realistic. Not so today. Synthetic hair offers very competitive and in many cases superior looks. Cyberhair would be a good example of a product superior to the real thing. If you are going be wearing wigs; make certain you are aware of the care instructions. At Fantasia salon, you will be informed as to care required for the different hair replacements options as well as the attributes of each. For example, some synthetics may not last as long as human hair and; make sure you stay away from heat if you are going to wear synthetic. This would probably not be a good choice for a baker. It sounds funny but Fantasia receives calls from women after the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays wanting to know if we can “fix” their wigs. The wigs are such a part of them that they forget and stick their head in the oven to check the turkey or ham. Oops!

An important tip when purchasing a wig is that you spend as much money as you can. This is one area where you definitely get what you pay for. If you buy cheap wigs, people will most likely know you are wearing a wig as it’s difficult if not impossible to get them to look right. If you purchase a cheap wig in the mall, don’t assume a salon specializing in wigs such as Fantasia, can make it look like a master piece. We carry quality products not found at the malls for a reason.

Take your time when purchasing a wig. If you have a fan club or significant other, bring them with you and allow them to help you make your selection. At Fantasia, we have private consultation rooms and encourage you to bring family and friends so they can be involved in the process. We find this is especially important if one is going through treatment for cancer. Our support team are compassionate, caring professionals who will guide you in making this important purchase.

When you leave wearing a good wig, cut properly to frame your face; no one needs to know unless you tell them. All wigs sold at Fantasia are cut and styled to fit the individual regardless of the price of the wig. From our lower priced synthetics, to Cyberhair to human hair, each one is custom fit. (A word of caution regarding Cyberhair, special sheers are required for cutting. It is important to only allow a trained salon profession to make any modifications) Obviously because Fantasia sells a lot of Cyberhair; our professionals are highly skilled in customizing them. Just because your friend is a hair stylist, does not necessarily mean they can work with wigs. Fantasia’s wig specialist have years of training as there truly is an art to customizing wigs.

Don’t be terrified of having to wear a wig. Have fun with it! Perhaps you’ve always wanted to be a blonde or a red head? Who says your wig has to look just like your own hair? It just has to look good!