Wig Out!
Thanks to celebrities like Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Li'l Kim and Tyra Banks, a new string of contemporary wigs – from the popular Florence Human Hair Wig to the Chanel Wig – are moving into the fashionable mainstream.
But Tracy Downey, of Cincinnati, was way ahead of this fashion trend as she started wearing wigs years ago when she was diagnosed with Trichotillomania, a condition that results in hair loss from areas of the body, usually from the scalp. But, Downey says, wigs aren't just associated with illness anymore.
"They're a fun way to change your look, and there are a lot of great wig shops here in town," she says. Ava Maria Rose, an Oxford-based Miami University student, agrees saying that she'd rather throw on a wig than spend time fixing her hair every day.
Most wigs aren't returnable, so make sure you try before you buy. Downey says some places charge $1 for a wig cap to try on wigs, and there is also usually a limit – typically three – of wigs you can try on. "I highly recommend trying them on, because something cute on a wig model may not be cute on you," she says. "Some are really 'wiggy' looking, have a cone head aspect or in my case, a lot of them are just too big for my face and take over!"
Also, if you do have an hair-loss related illness, call to make sure that shop has a privacy area. "I have found that to my surprise many places do not have a private area to try them on, which is difficult when you have Alopecia or cancer," says Downey. "It can be uncomfortable."
Downey provided this list of local shops that carry wigs. "The top one is my favorite place to go because they are usually fashionable and affordable," she says. Wig shops in malls have a nice selection at a reasonable price point, according to Downey. Some of the other shops carry top-quality wigs, but are at a higher price point.
STAR WIGS AND BEAUTY SUPPLY
11475 SPRINGFIELD PIKE
SPRINGDALE, OH
(513)771-5773
ROCKEYS OUTLET
1106 W. KEMPER RD
FOREST PARK, OH 45240
(513)648-9190
HAIR AND BREAST PROSTHESIS
630 NILLES RD
FAIRFIELD, OH
(513)829-8988
GILDAS HAIR STUDIO
740 NILLES RD
FAIRFIELD, OH
(513)829-2221
WWW.GILDASHAIRSTUDIO.COM
MIDDLETOWN NATURE OF BEAUTY
400 S. BREIEL BLVD
MIDDLETOWN, OH 45044
(513)420-1623
ALLUSIONS HAIR RESTORATION STUDIO
MONGOMERY STATION
BUILDING B
SUITE 5A
9200 MONTGOMERY RD
CINCINNATI, OH 45242
JADE WIGS
102 W. 7TH ST
CINCINNATI, OH 45202
(513)621-4576
SUN WIGS CO
614 RACE ST
CINCINNATI, OH 45202
(513)421-8993
