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

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