Posts Tagged ‘hair’
Does Alexandra Burke wear a wig?
I honestly thought that when Alexandra Burke was competing on X factor that she had been given a Wig, a Lace Wig to be exact, to wear as she went from really short. As seen below.
Alexandra Burke
To mega gorgeous tresses
Alexandra Burke looking fantastic with her new hair
As you can see the new hair only emphasises her stunningly good looks. Now I was really fooled into thinking that this was a wig and that may have been the best option when you then have a photo taken like this.
Alexandra Burke's new tresses
I absolutely love AB and voted loads of time for her in X Factor. I really hope that she snags this before the damage is too great and after seeing Naomi Campbell’s shocking hairline, that truly shows that you have to give your hair a rest in between wearing hair extensions, especially weaving hair extensions.
I can talk from first hand experience as I had braided extensions in my hair continuously for 10 years and suffered from a weakened hair line at my temples. Now that I wear wigs and have done for the last 2 years, it has helped my hair a lot.
What is an Instant Weave?
A Wig or Headscarf – Which do you prefer?
At Afuro Hair and Beauty we believe that you should give something back to your local community and that is why I volunteer for a few hours a week at the North Staffordshire University Hospital.
This week I was on the Cancer Department and was talking to an absolutely lovely lady, who is slightly bonkers and is probably why we got on so well, called Frances Hibbert. Frances was having Chemotherapy and we were talking about random things. Honest our conversation was as random as you can get. Anyhow, we got onto the topic of wigs and Frances says “Oh no, I’d never wear one of those things!”.
So in between giggles as I’m new to interviewing, we embark on some light hearted questioning:
Mary: So Frances, we were talking about wigs and your personal thoughts about wigs. .
Frances: I don’t particular like them. I think they look like hats or mops on top of heads.
Mary: So wigs aren’t for you?
Frances: Personally wigs are not for me. I’d prefer to wear a hat or a bandanna.
Mary: Why do you feel more comfortable in a hat or bandanna than a wig?
Frances: To me a wig seems big, bulky and heavy.
Mary: Did you try these wigs through the NHS and privately?
Frances: Both
Mary: Human or Synthetic Hair?
Frances: Both. I do object that I would have had to pay for any wig I purchased, which was what I was advised when I firsthad Chemotherapy.
Mary: Where do purchase the bandanna’s from?
Frances: From any local shop. I went to Ascot last year and I wore a long head scarf and a hat with a band around it.
Mary: So you felt good…
Frances: Well I wouldn’t have said that I felt good. I felt better than if I’d gone with a bald head or a wig on.
Mary: I bet you looked really cool as that sounds very stylish and that’s what Ascots all about, style.
I found this conversation very insightful as I’d always wondered why some women wear head scarves as opposed to wigs. When I told Frances that my hair was a wig, she was very impressed. She was also very impressed that my natural hair, al afro or ‘fro as I call it, could fit under the wig, as I did show her a photo of myself without the wig on.Even seeing how good a wig can look, Francis prefers to do without them.
Head scarf’s have always been a fashion item that celebs have been wearing for some time now. Paris Hilton is a prime example, then there’s Halle Berry and you can’t miss out Posh Spice, sorry Victoria Beckham..
I wear wig because I choose to, which is completely different from wearing a wig because you have to. Therefore a wig in the eyes of some people is something that they will never try as it represents something that they do not like.
It’s down to preferences. Some people like Marmite and some don’t…
I would like to thanks Frances for taking a few minutes to talk to me and to have given me an sight to the other side of the coin about wigs… I also wish her well with her treatment and I’m looking forward to hearing from her in the near future!
How would you cut your wig?
I was at a networking event this morning, yes this MORNING at 6.45am! Nuts or genius…..I’ll have to let you know.
Anyhow, after explaining what Afuro Hair and Beauty does, I had many numerous compliments on how lovely my hair looked. Hahaha I just LOVE wearing wigs. Just so that you can also oohh and aahh over my hair I’ve attached a photo below. I’ve also attached a photo of myself wearing the wig before it was cut.
No I don't require use of the loo. It just could have been warmer.
I was unsure at first but I love this cut now
I was explaining that the wig is 18″ long throughout so the fringe was also 18″ and I just went into a hairdressers, Francesco’s in Newcastle under Lyme Staffs, and had the lovely Matt cut it for me. All I said was “I want a fringe but keep the rest of the hair the same” and viola! I have this gorgeous cut.
The rule that I live by when having a wig cut,is that the hairdresser starts off by cutting off a little then working there way up as the hair isn’t going to grow back any time soon.
I have to say that since having my hair cut I have been attracting more attention, especially from the male of the species but I’m not complaining!
Just in case your wondering this is the Sleek 100% Human Hair Lace Front Wig – Diva in colour 1B.33 available from www.afuro.co.uk
I was also asked if I was wearing the wig when it was cut. I realised from that questions that people may take there wig, unattached to your head, to the hairdresser and have it cut.
An important point I’d like to raise is that when you have a wig or hair extension cut, you MUST ensure that the wig or hair extensions are re-fitted in the correct place it was cut in. I’ve made a boo boo with putting this wig back on in the exact same position as it was cut in. I’ve come to realise that I should make sure that the wig is on straight before it is cut……I’m only human…Oh well you live and learn and live to tell the story!
I personally I think it’s best to be wearing the wig when it cuts so that it can be shaped to your face. If you take the wig in and it’s cut on a stand then how can it be cut to compliment your face? That could be the reason why some wigs are slightly obvious looking than others.
What do you think? What would or do you do? Have you taken your wig in and had it cut? Was it a good cut?
Where can you buy Wigs?
As I’m a big fan of wigs I thought that I’d give you the heads up on where you can go to buy them….
Now for some self promotion!! Lol.
www.wig-tastic.co.uk is brought to you by Afuro Hair and Beauty who has launched their brand spanking new website: www.afuro.co.uk.
Afuro Hair and Beauty sells Wigs, Hair extensions, Hair Accessories, Make-up and will be adding new items on a regular basis.
To celebrate the launch you will receive 5% off your first purchase. Yeah that’s right, money off..Whoa Hoo..Sorry the excitements is getting to me.
I would love to hear your feedback.
Mary
How to attach a Lace Front/Full Lace Wig PT:2
Now we come to the cutting of the wig itself. I was told to cut the lace back, please see photo of mannequin with Full Lace Wig, and to leave about 2cm of lace around the edge. By leaving that lace around the edge everyone can see it even if it is Swiss Lace. As you are paying £150+ for this lace technology which is meant to be virtually undetectable then why show everyone the lace?
Excess lace on a Lace Wig
Lace visible on the Lace Wig
A really good tip is that when you are cutting the lace around the hair line of the wig only cut a 1-2cm with each snip. This is so that you don’t do what I did and cut loads of lace off in one go then realise that you had cut too much. When you cut a little at a time you have time enough to see if you have made any mistakes. Plus you’re not left with a £200 Lace Wig that now does not fit your head……Hey I make the mistakes so that you don’t have to.
Anyhow as you will see from the photo below I was in shock at how amazingly awful I looked……I’ve never shown anyone this photo before and I’m guessing you can see why.
Yep..I couldn't believe how bad it was...
My own attempt at attaching a Lace Wig
Please compare that this photo to my own attempts of attaching a Lace Wig.
Anyone can attach a Lace Wig as all it takes is practice, patience and determination. You’ll need these qualities if you are attaching a Full Lace Wig as the back is slightly tricky when you’re doing it by yourself and using a mirror. As it is the back of the head if you do make a mistake no one is going to see. It took me a good few attempts to work out how much adhesive to put on in that area. I found that, for me, I needed to put on more there than on the rest of my head.
It all depends on your own body chemistry how much glue to put on. All I can say is that trail and error is the key to success.
Then again if you don’t have that then seek out a good professional.
How to attach a Lace Front/Full Lace Wig: PT1
For me it’s been trial and error when it’s come to getting the application of these wig correct. I am nothing if not a perfectionist. So I’ve been through the fires of trying new types of double sided tape. I was very wary about using liquid adhesive however it’s good to use if you use it correctly.
The glue will damage your hairline if you apply it directly to your hair and hairline. How do I know? In my never ending quest for perfection I decided to pay a “professional” to attach my first ever Full Lace Wig.
Now remember I had been putting on my Lace Front Wig myself for several months to this. Now there are a few pointers I want you guys to know so that when you’re hunting for a “Professional” to also attach your Lace Wig you know what to look for.
- The “Professional should be wearing a Lace Wig or at least have good photo’s of themselves wearing a Lace Wig. When you book your appointment ASK!! If they are good they will have no problem with this and plus as they want the business they should accommodate you in this. I know I would…
- When you see them with the Lace Wig on/photo’s see if it looks natural. If not then I’d go elsewhere as this shows that they haven’t got a clue on how to attach the wig correctly. This could mean that they do as poor a job on your hair as they did on their own.
- See if they have photo’s of past clients as well. They usually will and then at least you have an over few of their work.
By doing the above you will probably avoid the mistake that I made.
The “Professional” who attached my Lace Wig had also attached her Lace Wig and as she hadn’t applied the liquid adhesive correctly it looks as if she was in a constant sweat. With the liquid adhesive you apply it in thin layers that you leave to go tacky before applying the next layer. When you paint the glue on in one go it turns a misty colour which, when wearing a Lace Wig, especially Swiss, is very very noticeable. The aim of the game is to make this wig look natural..
She had also used the method of spreading the glue onto your hair. Remember this glue can be super strong and can last up to 6 weeks. When you come to take the wig off you will find that getting the glue, and when it’s thick it’s more difficult to get off, will come off with bits of your hair.
Another technique used was that if you left a bit of glue forward of the lace you would plaster the baby hair to it. Having the glue there reflects the light so once again you look like a sweaty betty. The glue doesn’t hold the baby hair there for long anyhow, plus it’s really messy and gets in the hair, as you see from the photo’s below.
Lace Wig Attachment
Spot the glue in the hair
As you can see from the above images the shiny areas on her face is where the liquid adhesive has gone tacky. That is where the baby hair would be pushed onto, with a comb. I understand why this technique is used but I have never used it as I like my lace wig to look as natural as possible. As you can see below.
Rocking my new hair cut!
My new hair cut
People think that you need to go to a special hairdresser to get your hair cut. I went to Francesca’s in Newcastle under Lyme in Staffordshire and had the lovely Matt cut my hair. Matt had never cut a wig before and I am really pleased with the results. The first photo was taken on the day it was cut as I was going to a charity ball that night. The second photo is at Christmas and I had bed hair.
Why? Why is it that when you go to the hairdressers you look stunning then spend hours trying to achieve the same look… Oh it may be because I’m not a hairdresser and that’s what they train so many years for.
One thing you must get and I can’t live without is……GHD’s. If your going to get a wig of any sort get some of those and you can’t go wrong.
What is a…
…Lace Front Wig.
I think a hint of what it is is in the name…The front section of the wig is made of lace then the rest of the wig is machine made as usual.
Why is the front part made of lace? Well the hair in the lace is normally pulled through by hand and also knotted to the laced by hand. When the wig is attached to the head it looks as if the hair is growing out of your scalp. It looks really authentic. Honest. I’ve worn them myself (see below)
Lace Front Wig
Yes I look a little stiff and the smile is forced. That’s what happens when someone has made me have my photo taken. ….I’m not one for having my photo taken, as you can see.
Lace wigs come in all different styles. An example is the that the Lace Front Wig that I’m wearing in the photo is human hair and the lace is a medium brown colour. This wig costs about £150. There are also Lace Front Wigs that are made from synthetic fibres which can start from around £70.
Below is a photo of the cap construction so that you have a good idea of how this works.
Lace Front Wig
I bet you’re wondering what the heck do you do with that bit of extra lace flapping around at the front. First I would put the wig on to see where it looked the most natural and where that is in location to me hairline. Then I would cut it back to where that place. Yep, that’s right. Get a pair of scissors and cut the lace back a small section at a time so that you can correct any mistakes.
Please don’t do what I did and cut big swathes of lace off then release to late that you have cut to much…
I’ve seen articles that say “This celebrity is wearing a Lace Front” and I’m sure some do. Just like Beyonce in this picture. Why do I think that she’s wearing a Lace Front Wig? Well the main reason is that the fall and the fact that she’s only pulled back the hair at the front makes me believe it’s a lace front…..
Lace Front Wigs are one of my favourite wigs. These wigs are also suitable for anyone who suffers from hair loss, such as Alopecia and Chemo, as it looks as if your hair is growing naturally!
Thyroid disease and hair loss.
Starting to lose your hair can be worrying enough on its own, but sometimes it’s a sign of other health problems. Hair which thins evenly across the head, especially if it is accompanied by unexplained tiredness, weight changes and thinning of the outer edges of the eyebrows, can be a sign of thyroid problems. If you suspect this may be happening to you, your doctor can help – but what do you need to know to look after your hair?
How Thyroid Problems Cause Hair Loss
The easiest way to understand what your thyroid does is to see it as a sort of regulator controlling the pace of your metabolism. Sometimes the thyroid can stop working as hard as it should, or it can become overactive, either of which can cause problems. This can be triggered by other health conditions or it can happen spontaneously. It can happen at any age.
Because hair follicles normally work very hard and require a lot of energy, they can quickly start to suffer if your body doesn’t have enough energy because your metabolism has slowed down. The hormonal changes that occur when the thyroid is overactive can also cause problems. Often people find that their hair becomes dry and rough, or that it clumps together more and tangles easily. The good news is that it almost never falls out completely and changes are usually reversible. Read more..
Reason 9 for hair loss…
Having an infection is another cause of hair loss.
One type of infection is ringworms that infects the scalp. This unsightly and uncomfortable reason for hair loss is a form of scalp infection.However ringworm, despite the name, is a skin infection and has nothing to do with worms. It’s caused by fungus, a bit like athletes foot. This type of infection mainly effects children and can be transeferd by way of contact with animals (eg dogs, cats. hamsters etc).
As it’s a fungal infection this can be treated with anti fungul medication to clear it up.
What are the symptoms of scalp ringworm?
- Commonly, the infection just looks like severe dandruff on various places on the scalp. This may be mistaken for psoriasis.
- Some infections cause patches of hair loss (bald patches) to develop. The bald patches are usually inflamed and very scaly. Small broken-off hairs may remain scattered in the bald patches.
- In some cases several painful pustules (boils) develop on the scalp.
- A more severe infection develops in a small number of cases. This causes a large ‘boggy’ swelling in a section of the scalp, called a kerion. This can be oozing and tender and, if not treated early, can cause permanent scarring and hair loss.
- If you have a severe infection, such as a kerion or pustules, you may develop a fever and the glands in the neck may swell. Read more about this….
Honest to betsy I didn’t know you could get an infection which could cause hair loss. I can’t wait for the 8th reason…..
Why do people suffer from hair loss?
Thinking about having my hair cut really short or close to the scalp made me start to think about women and men who don’t have that option.
Losing your hair is something that can really knock your confidence. When people don’t understand why or know why it is not something that you’re going to enlighten them on. So wigs aren’t just a fashion statement but for some a real necessary…
Over the next few days….OK 10, I’ll be going through the main reasons that people suffer from hair loss.
Reason 10
In most cases the hormone DHT damages hair follicle which causes hair loss.
This is naturally present in men and those who go bald do so because of both the hormone and their genes. In women, hormonal fluctuations could lead to lower than normal estrogen levels. Estrogen is supposed to balance and regulate DHT. With less estrogen, DHT has a stronger effect.
DHT stands for Dihydrotestosterone (Die-hi-dro-tes-tos-ter-ron) an active metabolite and also a by product of the male sex hormone Testosterone. Metabolites are compounds that are crucial for normal growth, physical development and reproduction. Read more..
Does Ciara really have long flowing tresses?
I’ve always thought that Ciara wore some sort of hair piece if not a wig as I could never believe that those long tresses of hers were natural.
Well it seems that she does wear a wig however the long tresses are now supposed to be her real hair….
Ciara …From Wig To Weave And Back Again, The Hair Cut Was Fake!!!!!
We had feeling about Ciara’s wig not looking right, then we just got to the point of we don’t really care. But this is for you CiCi fans not us. Her stylist Kiyah Wright has decided to come forward and speak on the cut that she did on her client. -yawn!
Flip to see what CiCi had to say…..Read more of this story
Wigs really are a fashion statement!
Ok so I’ve been bleating on about how fashionable wigs are. However do you think that they are a fashion statement? Do hip pop stars wear them? Sorry but the answer is gonna have to be a yes..
Charlie Le Mindu Debuts at LFW
Forget tasteful bobs and pretty fringes, the Charlie Le Mindu hair show at London Fashion Week pulled out all the stops to shock and delight the jam-packed audience of hipsters.
Drag Queen Jodie Harsh, known for her love of big hair, sat happily in the front row with her Leigh Bowery look-a-like friend and was seen mouthing the words “fab” as soon as the first model took to the stage. Balancing a giant red square of hair on her head, this Toyahesque, avant garde style started the show perfectly. Read more of this story..
HJi Hearts….Wigs
These days, you’re nothing if you don’t have a selection of change-your-look-in-a-jiffy wigs. From subtle blonde lengths to bright tinsel numbers, they’re the latest must-have accessory for style setters.
Gone are the days when a wig was an item just used to cover baldness, in the fast-paced world of celebrity, you can change your look in an instant, without the need for hair extensions. Read more of the story..
Why do you wear a wig?
I went out with my brother and nephew for a meal and while we were talking my nephew suddenly asked if I was bald and was that why I’d started wearing wigs.
My nephew is only 13 and I have been wearing wigs for about 2 years plus I lived in a different part of the country for the last 10 years so he didn’t see me often. This did make me think of men and women who wear wigs for reasons due to hair loss.
For 10 years I’ve had plaited extensions in my hair which, due to their tightness, has caused damage to my hair line at the temples. The hair there is very weak and a lot thinner than on the rest of my head. When I was younger I always had my hair in a tight ponytail which can up root hair strands. In some severe cases, the scalp injury could develop scar tissue which would make it difficult for the hair to re-grow. That is one of the reasons I wear a wig. The other is that wigs allow you to look fantastic with little effort and in the minimum amount of time.
No sitting for hours in the hairdressers for me!
