An Afternoon Shared From the Head and Heart

Last Sunday’s WIGS 101 workshop co-hosted by Thea Chassin, founder of Bald Girls Do Lunch,® and our very own Shevy Emanuel, was a hit! Although Shevy hosts high-profile seminars at her salon all the time, this unique event was a new and different opportunity for everyone involved. As the only nonprofit created specifically for women with alopecia areata, Thea takes her event planning and outreach seriously. Her goal, above all else, is to support and educate women who are suffering from alopecia. The broad range of personal responses and experiences that crop up are as unique and varied as each of these women: Some are going through a phase of hair loss, while others are experiencing regrowth or might lose their lashes from only one eye. The irregular effects of the condition are often a cause of extreme stress, so it was important that we could provide a relaxing place where everyone could come together in a safe, judgment-free zone.

Some women were outspoken and confident while others were more reserved. Several had dramatic, colorful personal style and really played up their femininity while others were more casual, or confessed to being stuck in a style-rut and were seeking ways to freshen and modernize their look.
When the workshop began, and the women were gathered around the central styling station, Shevy expertly turned wigs inside out to explain the differences between caps, lace fronts, machine vs. handmade pieces as well as the care of a fine natural hair wig. The intimacy and excitement that sprung up at that round table was positively inspiring. And after a series of Q & A moments and shared stories, the guests were invited to look through the gallery of wigs and get inspired. At this point, Antonio Diaz joined the group to offer his expert advice on styling and color and generally keep things lighthearted and playful as he selected pieces that many women confessed they would never have chosen for themselves, but it was just the right wig. It was an absolute joy for us to watch!

There were two mother-and-daughter duos at the event. In the first, the mom was just beginning to lose her hair and wanted a sleek and sophisticated style that she could wear over her remaining hair so that she didn’t have to rely on the upkeep of the extensions she’d been wearing. The second duo was a loving mom who brought her adorable pre-teen daughter to the event. This quiet girl was completely bald, and as Shevy confidently and caringly measured her and let her try on pieces, she sat up a little bit straighter in her chair with every change. (Shevy’s daughter Ricky who is about the same age as this guest watched her own mom with anticipation and curiosity and a lot of respect as Shevy found the perfect wig for this little girl). It was one of many touching moments shared throughout the afternoon.

There were other empowering and interactive moments, including a Brow Station where women could have their brows painted and set with a brand new kit developed by Thea herself. The application is natural and wont flake, melt, or wipe off which is an added bonus for women who want to maintain an active lifestyle and don’t have the time to fuss over reapplications or worrying about fading.

The day was truly designed to open up our salon to the needs and desires of Thea’s guests — and in the end, it really opened us up to the concerns and conflicts that many of you are confronted with on a day-to-day basis. We’re eager to hear from those of you who came out to the event, please let us know how we can continue the dialogue or serve you better in the future.

The Response Has Been Off The Hook!

A ringing phone is a familiar sound here at Shevys salon. Drop in for an appointment, to pick up a piece or to browse our wig gallery on any given day and you’ll quickly be pulled into the excitement.

Since our mention in the November edition of O The Oprah Magazine, we’ve been answering calls from as far away as Seattle, California, South Carolina and everywhere in between. The response has been incredible! We’re getting real time feedback from real women all across the country and it’s been a joy to speak with each one of you. Everyone has a powerful personal story and a desire to put her best self out there and live effortlessly and confidently.

We heard from those of you who were ecstatic over the discovery and wondered where we’d been all of your lives. There were serious calls, too, and plenty of thoughtful ideas about the kinds of products that wig customers are looking for but can’t seem to locate in many markets. But most of all, we were encouraged by how discerning and honest all of you were. This makes our job so much easier and it establishes a valuable level of trust.

Our spectrum of customization and the quality of natural European hair that is the Shevys signature blew many of you away. We’re here to work with every one of our clients to custom match a color or style or even suggest a complete makeover — just like Oprah did when she donned that sleek cropped look on the cover of her magazine a couple of months ago. At the salon, we’re reminded every day that the best wigs and hairpieces give a woman a beauty and confidence all her own no matter what she’s enduring. When a woman feels complete and comfortable, everybody can share in her peace of mind.

Oprah.com

Living with alopecia

“Accept yourself for who you are, no hair and all. But, get yourself some nice hair!” — A personal account of living with alopecia.

Q: Thank you for taking the time to talk to Shevy’s. To start, you’ve had alopecia since 1974 but didn’t start wearing wigs until many years later. Will you tell us about your decision?

A: I felt I needed to be honest about who I was then, at that point in time. However, the styles available were really terrible for a young person who wanted to be hip and fashionable—wigs were marketed to older women in those days.

Q: There’s a lot of information out there about alopecia and other medical hair loss conditions, but there’s also a lot of misinformation. How does someone make their way through all of the conflicting messages and get the facts?

A: I’m not sure the facts and details about which condition you have really matters to a woman who is losing her hair—all you know is that you’re losing it. I guess that a dermatologist would be the first place to get answers, as a simple blood test can confirm if you have alopecia, female pattern baldness, stress related baldness or something more serious.

Q: Have you ever been part of a support group, chat room, or other awareness organization? What is a day in the life like for someone who may have just been diagnosed, and how did you deal with the news in the beginning?

A: I’ve never been interested in being part of a support group. I was a young girl when I was diagnosed—just a teenager. It’s extremely difficult for anyone to be diagnosed with alopecia, but as a teenager it’s very hard. I wore hats and scarves outside, but couldn’t do so in school. I was a patient for the NYU Medical Center’s Dermatology Department and was a guinea pig for Rogaine, which was called Minoxidil back then. I also took the Propecia pill before it was approved and additionally I would receive more than 100 shots of cortisone at a time, weekly, into my scalp to promote hair growth. The Rogaine and the cortisone did stimulate some hair growth, but it was really just “baby hair”.

Q: You’ve always been a bit of a style rebel—I know you’ve had a long career in the fashion industry, and were involved in the downtown music scene in the 80s—how has that influenced some of your choices and decisions when it comes to how you want to present yourself to the world?

A: I was very much the punk rocker in those days. I was influenced by people like Patti Smith and eventually was drawn to the English punk rock scene. When I lost my hair, I felt I couldn’t be authentic if I was wearing a wig. My look was completely accepted when I was out clubbing and also at fashion school and related social settings when I was out and about on my off time. I worked in fashion retail and manufacturing but when I was looking for more job opportunities that would advance my career; I was confronted by a manager who told me I should get myself some hair in order to move ahead. It was hard to hear those words, but eventually they proved quite true.

Q: Have you ever worn a Shevy’s wig? Would you try one, and what might influence your decision?

A: No, I’ve never worn a Shevy’s wig before, and I would say that price would definitely influence my decision to try a new brand. I’ve worn natural hair wigs before and have paid top dollar for them so I understand the allure.

Q: How often do you buy wigs and how do you make your decisions?
Do you stick to a certain look, or do you mix it up and change styles and colors and lengths frequently?

A: I usually purchase a new wig every 12-18 months. I’ve tried many different styles, colors, lengths and hair qualities over the years and discovered that I personally prefer synthetic hair wigs, since I wear them every day. I find that the upkeep for a synthetic hair wig is also best for me. I prefer that it’s “wash-and-wear” with little styling required for it to look good. I tend to stick to the same basic look and would think that most with alopecia do, since you really would prefer that no one knows you’re wearing a wig.

Q: Do you think more women are open to the idea of wearing wigs and hairpieces for fashion and fun nowadays?

A: Yes, absolutely, especially since it’s very mainstream now. Most of Hollywood wears extensions of some kind in their hair, as well as wigs, and celebrities and starlets are being more vocal about it now than ever before.

Q: What is the most amount of money you have spent on a wig? Was it worth it?

A: The most I’ve ever spent was $3,200 for a human hair wig. At the time, I had a health insurance plan that covered the cost…it was certainly worth it! It was the right hair at the right time and it was the first wig I ever wore that made me feel like myself when I closed my eyes—after five years of wearing wigs.

Q: What else would you like to share with us? Any advice, thoughts, and words of wisdom you can leave us with?

A: Accept yourself for who you are, no hair and all. But, get yourself some nice hair!

For more information, please visit http://www.naaf.org/site/