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.

Bald Girls Do Lunch Goes to the Head of the Class at Shevy Salon Workshop!

This Sunday, November 14, from 1 to 5 pm we’re opening up our salon to sponsor a special benefit for Bald Girls Do Lunch®, the only nonprofit created specifically for women with alopecia areata. The event, called WIGS 101, will be a one-of-a-kind workshop and an opportunity for guests to meet and mingle with each other while we teach them how to choose the perfect wig, answer their questions and take the mystery out of wearing a wig.

Shevy will be on hand to demonstrate the newest technology and materials from the inside out and celebrity hair stylist and wig-cut expert Antonio Diaz will join her to offer on-the-spot mini consults. Women will discover how to measure for the perfect fit and find easy shortcuts for updating their color or cut in time for the holidays. Beauty stations will be set up throughout the shop where guests can browse the extensive Shevy collection and a makeup artist will be available to teach women how to create stunning brows with the new Bald Girls Do Lunch® Brow Kit, designed and created by its founder, Thea Chassin.

The afternoon event will also feature complimentary van shuttle service to and from the salon, a buffet brunch, beauty gift bags and the opportunity to win complimentary wellness services from local practitioners of ayurvedic and nutritional counseling, energy healing, reflexology, yoga, astrology and more.

There’s still time left to join us!
To RSVP, contact info@baldgirlsdolunch.org or 800.578.5332
View the invitation: http://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org

“Oprah’s On” to ShevyPro — and We’re Delighted!

Have you seen the November edition of O The Oprah Magazine yet? We have — and we couldn’t be more excited. ShevyPro wigs received a glowing endorsement and high praise from Oprah’s talented personal hairstylist and tastemaker extraordinaire, Andre Walker. There it is on page 32 — and you heard it from Andre first!

The Shevy blurb is in response to the September issue entitled The Makeover Issue! Transform Your Look, Luck. September often signals a time of transformation and it was also the debut of a stimulating new format for O. I was drawn to Oprah’s radiant cover look and instantly picked up a copy for my train ride home. Once I began to flip through it, I found a lot more than refreshing fall fashion and beauty. There were insightful articles on topics ranging from health and relationships to spirit, food and entertainment. On page after page, there was an underlying theme of change from the inside out.

But what is change? It’s a word that Shevy Emanuel, the dynamic founder of ShevyPro wigs and an accomplished and creative hairstylist in her own right can relate to. As the owner of Shevys Salon in Brooklyn, (with a location in Israel in the works), every day she encounters women from all walks of life who wear wigs for a variety of reasons. Many have found their way to Shevys as a result of hair loss or thinning due to medical conditions.

Shevy understands the power of the word transformation when she talks about the excitement of knowing she’s making a woman feel whole again. “Many women with the autoimmune disease alopecia areata feel not only a loss of femininity, but a loss of self, when they lose their hair,” says Shevy. “Women may cycle through stages of hair loss and need to be comfortable in their wigs all the time, whether in business or more intimate settings.” The fact that she can play a part in making them feel complete again brings her great pleasure. In fact, her generous spirit and concern for the special needs of her clients has found her partnering with another dynamic woman, Thea Chassin, the founder of the nonprofit Bald Girls Do Lunch® — the only organization created specifically for women with alopecia areata.

On November 14, Shevys Salon will host a very special workshop with Thea for Bald Girls and their friends. Shevy will lead WIGS 101, an all-afternoon event that provides a sneak peek into the world of specialization and education in a friendly, fun, and unintimidating environment. Attendees will take away new insights such as: what to look for, what to ask, and other essentials like fitting a wig on a bare scalp, finding the best cut and color for their particular features and more.

Thea says, “Shevy understands that all women deserve to live effortlessly without worrying about their hair. Our women need the kind of quality they can rely on day to day. I’m thrilled to be able to bring these two worlds together. I can’t tell you how many times women across the country tell me they felt intimidated into a purchase that is just not right for them. Educational programs like Shevy’s WIGS 101 are greatly needed and deeply appreciated.”

Transformation is often about taking risks and venturing into the unknown. It’s about bringing out the best within each one of us. Sometimes the most radical and profound changes don’t really require a major alteration, just a bit of gentle coaxing and encouragement and a fabulous Andre-approved wig from Shevys!

oprah.com
baldgirlsdolunch.org

A Day In The Life

Although there’s no such thing as a “typical” day at Shevy’s Salon, we would like to reach out and let you know about some recent happenings—especially after the more serious topics we’ve been posting about. We’ll continue to revisit these topics in even greater detail in the coming weeks and months, but as we’re just getting warmed up here in the blogosphere, we thought it might be the right time to take a lighter approach. We received an encouraging comment from an amazing woman, Thea Chassin. She’s the founder of Bald Girls Do Lunch, a non-profit organization for women with alopecia. The name alone conjures a powerful image…imagine, a group of hairless women celebrating together.

Often, these women are complete strangers who are coming together for the very first time to share a meal, some stories, a few laughs, and the common bond of having lost their hair. But there’s also the sense of gaining a newer, richer sense of who they are as women. Many are mothers, sisters, grandmothers—some are granddaughters, or just kids—but each and every one who sits together at a table finds some common ground.

Seeking and finding unity and understanding is important to us at Shevy’s, too, and that’s why what Thea is doing is so reassuring. It’s about communication—getting in touch and staying connected—to who we are as individuals, and also as a community, be it family, friends, or workplace.

That said, there’s never a dull moment at the salon, and as you might imagine, the goings on here are like those that transpire anyplace a large group of women gathers. Every day brings a new opportunity for us to appreciate each other and our clients. In a fast-paced service industry like Shevy’s wig salon, there’s such a buzz all day long that we often forget how much we take pride in making everyone feel welcome and comfortable whether they’re traveling from a few blocks away, or, as in the case of one of this week’s clients—hopping a plane from Vienna for her appointment.

It’s not typical for somebody to travel halfway across the world on a referral, but that’s exactly what happened this week at Shevy’s. A new client was referred by her doctor in Europe who had learned about us from another client of his. All it took was that doctor’s connection and care and the client, an accomplished cardiac surgeon, did what she considered to be one of the most impetuous things she’s ever done in her life.

In the end, she found the experience reassuring. She entered our salon a bit uncertain of what to expect, but after consulting with our top stylists and specialists, she chose a custom design that she’s thrilled with. Sitting in our private client room allowed her the space to relax into the experience, and it turned out to be a truly beautiful one. She felt comfortable and cared for. And it was just as heartwarming for all of us who had the opportunity to meet and work with her.

Find an event near you: http://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org