Anika Thompson, who owns Ryan Foster Inc. in Germantown, refuses to do the applications in her salon. The bonding adhesive can be damaging to the skin and scalp, and sometimes, Thompson says, when the wig comes off, the hairline comes off as well.
But even more damaging than losing hair from a bad application is the loss of self-esteem that can come from wearing someone else's hair on your head for months at a time, Thompson says.
"These women come to me with wigs they have removed. ... [and now they have] no hairline," Thompson said. "The skin on their face is broken out from the adhesive and their own hair is matted and broken off from rubbing up against the stocking cap."
Still, there are people who say the lace-front wig gives them courage to express themselves.
Tuere Brown, 37, had a miscarriage that she said caused patches of her hair to fall out. The Southwest Philadelphia mother wanted a look that wouldn't stress out her hair and would appear natural. So she chose an off-black bob with chestnut-brown highlights that falls just above her shoulder.
"I feel great with it on," she said. "It looks how I used to wear my own hair. I love it."
Is a Lace-Front Wig for You?
This Sunday, Dayna Cherry-Smith will host Diva Cherry's Secret Is Out Hair Event: A Lace-Front Wig Seminar from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 1305 Walnut St. in Center City. Tickets are $10. For information, call 215-871-3611.
For information on lace-front wigs, check out these Web sites:
www.divacherrylacewigs.com
www.celebritylacefrontwigs.com
www.mylacefrontwig.com
- Elizabeth Wellington
Andrea Wright shares her experience with lace-front wigs in a video interview at
Contact fashion writer Elizabeth Wellington at 215-854-2704 or ewellington@phillynews.com. To read her recent work, log on to http://go.philly.com/elizabethwellington.
