Gettin' Wiggy Wit it

posted Friday, 2 September 2005


So I wasn't planning to get a wig at all. I think I am perfectly fine with a hat or a scarf or even going bald (once I work out the tan lines that have built up over 29 years of hair coverage... I do have a tan spot where my part used to run though!)
However, my insurance covers up to $300 for a wig, so I might as well have fun with it, right?
So, Nancy, her brother David and I head out to a place called The WISE center, in East Brunswick. They sell wigs, hats, mastectomy products, etc.... and you have to make an appointment to talk to the wig lady. So I make an appt and we head up there. She is very helpful. The wigs run from $200 - $5000. Synthetic "wash and go" wigs are at the low end and human hair wigs are at the high end. Synthetic wigs hold their style and human hair needs to be washed & styled daily. Now, if you know me, you know that I am not very high-maintenance (at least as far as getting ready is concerned!) on a normal basis... why would I pick a wig that will take time to style. Clearly, the synthetic wig is the option for me (how many times is the cheaper option the one that I prefer!) So I try on a dozen wigs and settle on "Madison" by Louis Ferre, in strawberry blonde. It has a "mono-filament top", which is a nice thin membrane that breathes better than the standard wig. Drawback - she costs $695. Yikes. I am not about to spend $400 out of pocket for a stupid wig that I doubt I will wear.
So we leave and I do some web research... Louis Ferre monofilament wigs seem to cost just under $300 everywhere else... turns out this place is catering not to "general" breast cancer patients, rather they are catering to the upper class breast cancer patients.
The challenge is that many of the wigs I tried on are too big for my head and have way too much hair, so I am afraid to just order on-line... at this point, I pretty much give up on the wig idea.
Then, last weekend, I was down in DC for an ultimate tournament. My shaved head made it's official debut, outside of my closer group of NJ friends, who saw it at the beach this past Thursday (see the "Friends" photo album for pictures from the mean bbq Reavey threw - including a day at the beach followed by a feast of clams, chicken, steak, shrimp scampi, corn, and tomato salad).
Kimberly mentioned to me that Knappy (Sandy's husband, together they make a very active PADA couple) "owns a wig shop". SCORE! I talk to Sandy on Sunday and manage an intro to Knappy. So "owns a wig shop" was a stretch, but Knappy used to work for a wig manufacturer - and has some connections in the business. He refers me to Not Just Wigs, a shop down in Berlin (about 30 minutes from my house). I head down there and talk to Scott, the owner, who totally hooks me up. After several hours of shopping and many many wigs, I leave the store with 3 wigs, 3 styrofoam heads, wig shampoo, spray and "wet-look" spray, all for under $300. And now... without further ado... the WIGS...
(A) STACIE

(B) SANDY (aka Rapture)

(C) AMORE

(D) AU NATURAL

Thanks to Peter Knappenberger, Kimberly & Scott for completing my "wig-drobe"


Comments:

MOM MADE THIS COMMENT,
WOW!!!! I REALLY like the redhead followed by the brunette...not too sure about the platinum blond. When will bald be the style for women???? It looks so neat and easy. Makes your big brown eyes really stand out. (By the way...I hear you found a cleaning person.) Love ya.