I was randomly contacted by a reader a few weeks ago who wanted to share a positive review of their FeatherLite wig. Coincidentally, I had just emailed their owner to request an interview and to get more information about the brand and AW's email came on the same day, which was extremely ironic and unplanned!
Review of a FeatherLite Wig AW, Toronto, Canada
I heard about this company wig from another sheitel macher in my city who really spoke highly about Isadore Sternhill. I went to Isadore who took one look at me and pulled out what she thought would be perfect for me and it was! When my 6-year-old daughter saw me wearing it the first time, she said it looks like a princess sheitel! It has the most sleek and shiny hair, guessing about 18 inches long and the colour is probably about an 8/6. The price was $2100. It barely needed any cutting – just side bangs and the ends trimmed. I’ve worn it both up in a ponytail and down. It is almost a year old and the color is the same as when I bought it even after wearing it the whole summer and over a few weeks in Miami!
I have a big head so Isadore stretched the cap for me over a few wash and sets and it is very comfortable and lightweight. I’m the type who takes of her sheitel in exchange for a prettied bandana as soon as I walk in the door but this sheitel I leave on and forget I’m still wearing it.I’ve received excellent customer service from Isadore as well. She takes the time to show me “tricks” like the best way to “fold” a sheitel for travelling so it takes up as little space as possible and sewed in new clips for me when mine started to bend. She even suggested to me to just wash the sheitel myself to save money since it’s so easy to handle since it dries straight and just needs a bit of flat ironing.
Chavi: What is the hair texture like? AW: Smooth and super sleek. It's a fine hair.
Chavi: Does the hair frizz?
AW: Not at all!
Chavi: Do you use any hair products on it (aside from shampoo and conditioner)
AW: nothing! In fact Isadore recommended to not add anything as it may weigh down the hair.
Chavi: Does it ever get knotty?
AW: Never knotty. Occasionally tangly in the back when it's due for a wash but probably bc of my winter coat.
Chavi: Would you recommend to a friend?
AW: Yes, and I have already! My mother even went to take a look!
Chavi: Do you feel it was a good value based on the price/quality ratio? AW: Definitely. I was told a comparable Shevy would be $3000.
Chavi: How do you compare this wig with other wigs you've owned? Is it the best, your favorite?
AW: It is by far my best and I've been wearing wigs 10+ years.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Toronto-based Isadore Sternhill, high-end wig maker (sheitel macher in the most literal sense) and owner of FeatherLite Hair Systems. She specializes in wigs made of unprocessed European hair. She answered my tough questions about "virgin hair" and wig making. More about Isadore's experience can be found here in this Forward article. Enjoy, Chavi
Virgin European hair EHH, is the most expensive hair available, why is it so hard to find wigs made of Virgin EHH?
It is not that it’s hard to get Virgin European hair, it’s more complicated and labour intensive to make wigs out of virgin hair. It’s important to understand how regular wigs are produced before one can understand how virgin hair wigs are produced. For regular wigs, the factory receives a large quantity of hair, sorts the course hair from the fine hair, and groups hair according to general hair colour. Any differences in texture are corrected and made uniform by chemical processing and the hair is dyed to meet demands for various popular colours. The procedure for making virgin hair wigs is significantly more complicated. Firstly, you can only put hair together that is very similar in texture. If there is more than a slight difference in texture this can cause knotting. When working with wavy hair, each ponytail has to be grouped according to wave pattern. If a tighter wave pattern is mixed with a looser wave pattern the result will be frizzy. The matter is further complicated when dealing with curly hair. The second consideration when working with virgin hair is matching colours. There is almost always hair left at the end that cannot be matched or grouped into bundle to be blended together. This hair will sit around until enough hair of the same texture, wave pattern, and compatible colour can be found to make a wig.
Is it hard to find virgin hair in ash tones? A lot of my readers want light ash brown, ash blonde and even dark brown without hints of red?
Hair may grow out of our scalp ashy, but as the hair grows it tends to become progressively lighter and warmer toned as you move down towards the ends. Since hair is normally collected by cutting it from a low ponytail at the nape of the neck, the ashy roots are not included. Secondly, virgin hair reflects what is available in nature and some colors/tones are more common than others. It is harder to find ponytails that are ashy from the roots to the tips. Virgin hair wigs are almost always more ashy on average than dyed wigs. For instance, a colour 8 in a dyed wig will look auburn while a virgin hair wig comparable to a colour 8 will just be a lighter shade of brown.
Is it true that its impossible to find blond virgin hair in long lengths?
Its hard. The wholesale hair industry is dominated my extension makers so much of the longer blond hair never reaches the wholesale market.
How do you make your wigs to prevent knotting? Is it true that processed wigs might knot less than virgin hair wigs? I wouldn’t say that there is a definitive answer to which type of wig knots the most. The factors that produce knotting in virgin hair wigs are totally different than the factors that produce knotting in processed hair wigs. Its actually normal for virgin hair to knot to some degree specifically because the cuticle is still intact. Because the cuticles from different ponytails of hair can be different shapes and sizes, and multiple ponytails of hair have to be combined to produce 1 wig, the cuticles from different ponytails will catch on each other whenever there is friction. Processed hair will have a tendency to knot if the chemical process was left on for too long or if the concentration was too strong for the specific texture of hair it was applied to. Static is also a factor that can produce knotting in processed wigs and less so in virgin hair wigs. Whether or not a given wig will knot, processed or virgin, depends on a large variety of factors and is, to large degree, unpredictable. There are steps in the production process that can be taken to reduce the chances of knotting which involved highly skilled work and experience with hair. Again, this is harder to apply this level of attention to detail and expertise when wigs are being mass produced and there will be a lot more variability in this case. As far as virgin hair goes, there are various hair coats and treatments that can be applied to the hair to minimize knotting in many cases when it does occur. These treatments are less effective on processed hair.
How long are virgin-hair wigs expected to last? That depends entirely on the frequency of wear and whether or not the hair is being styled or worn in its natural state. I normally recommend that clients purchase a wig with a natural texture that is as close as possible to the texture the client wants to wear. So, for instance, if you are going to wear your wig straight a lot, don't buy a curly wig just to have the versatility of being able to wear it curly a few times. This will most definitely decrease the amount of damage your wig will incur over time.
What are other benefits of buying a virgin hair wig over a processed wig?
1.The colour will always be the most natural looking because it is natural.
2.The colours are almost always more ashy than dyed wigs and will tend to reflect less of a reddish tone in the light.
3.The wig will not develop a "hallo" or red at the roots over time, and will not become lighter at the roots than it is at the bottom. It is a natural tendency of hair to be lighter at the ends than it is at the roots, not the other way around. In fact, I always have to repeat to new customers who are used to buying wigs darker to accommodate for the eventual colour change, that they should just get a wig in the colour that they want. If you're waiting for it to change colour its not going to happen for a very long time if ever. I find that people with darker hair find a lot of relief in this. Blond hair, which has a natural tendency to highlight in the sun, will do so over a larger span of time than a dyed or bleached wig when exposed to intense sun light. Some blonds will have this tendency more than others based on the specific biological makeup of the hair. It will most definitely not turn orange or red though. That is not a tendency virgin blond hair.
4.You virtually eliminate the need of having to dye the wig over and over which can add up over time. The colour also becomes less accurate the more times it’s dyed. If you do choose to dye the hair, however, the most accurate colour can be achieved when starting with virgin hair. It is much harder to achieve a specific colour with hair that has been previously dyed or processed. Keep in mind we do not recommend that you dye your wig. Once the wig is dyed you will always have a problem with colour change from that point on.
5.The hair wont do anything your own natural hair wouldn't do. The way that you see it in its natural state when it hasnt been styled, is the way it will look if you get stuck in the rain.
6.You can wash it your self, if you have some degree of facility with hair. There are no specifications about water temperature, or special products. The hair is simply ultra high quality hair in its virgin state. I would recommend asking your sheitelmacher for some minimal instruction or pointers if you have never washed a wig before, such as "don't brush the wig upside down while wet", but for the most part washing a wig involves basic common sense and can truly be learned by anyone. I provide a brief tutorial on how to wash your own wig for anyone purchasing a wig from me in the store
Now some questions about your brand and the services you offer. How are your wigs produced? Are they hand-sewn, machine sewn? closed wefts, open wefts? do you make full handsewn pieces.
The standard cap of our home brand is a hand sewn multi-directional silk top, with a closed wefted stretch back cap. The silk top is made lager than most companies in order to accommodate deeper hairlines and deeper side parts. The cap is produced with a strong emphasis on detail to ensure a high level of craftsmanship. It is made to contour the head very well and eliminate points of tension around the head. We make hand sewn pieces by custom order only.
Do you make wigs in different sizes? I have a lot of readers who have trouble finding size small and size XL?
Occasionally we get some small or XL pieces, but the majority are size mediums.
Do you make headband falls, hat falls, toppers?
Yes, by order
Who are your main customers? for example, is it mostly Jewish women looking for sheitels, or do you do a lot of business in bulk hair and extensions to non-Jewish customers?
Mostly Jewish and non-Jewish women looking for various types of wigs and hair pieces made specifically of virgin hair. We are a popular choice for integration systems such a illusion falls and toppers as well.
UPDATE: 8/31/2012 Wig is still looking great. I washed it and the hair is still sleek and shiny!! The color has not faded yet. I am very happy with the hold up. I wear it a few times a month. No knotting problems!!!
*****ORIGINAL POST*****
I spend a lot of my free time thinking about sheitels. Why? Because sometimes I have to wear one on my head. (and I blog about them) When I contemplate why I wear a sheitel, and take away the religious reason for doing it, I realize I do it to have good hair.
But I digress, this is a review of a Milano Collection Wigs Ponytail Wig.
Wig Info:
Brand: Milano Collection Wigs
Style: Ponytail
Color: 10/6/8
Price: $600 but Milano runs frequent sales & coupons
Size: XL
Originally (when I was first married) I wanted a sheitel that looked exactly like my own hair. After years of searching and never finding "my hair" I gave up. Instead I decided to buy wigs that look good and to purchase hair that is fashionable and beautiful. For example, right now it seems that everyone wants perfectly straight sleek hair for everyday management, and I bought a wig with the perfect "Keratin-treated", hair that looks as if I stepped out of a salon or was genetically blessed.
But I realize there are some downfalls to having a wig made of what appears to be "chemically treated hair". Why is the wig straight? Because it was chemically straightened
Why is the wig such a pretty shade of light brown? Because the wig is made of dyed hair.
How long will it last? A year, if I'm lucky...
and this last question is the DOWNFALL of processed wigs. Because they are so beautiful when new in the salon, yet their life span can be so short. Why? Well this wig is made of processed Asian hair (possibly processed low quality European). Asian hair typically doens't grow in 10/6/8 color... so it was originally 1B, 2 or 4 and then it was dyed. Then it was straightened for uniformity. So this hair has gone through a lot. Therefore it will dry out and oxidize faster than wigs that have undergone less processing.
Ponytail wigs differ from normal wigs in a few ways. The bottom few wefts near the nape of the neck are sewn upwards since its intended to be styled in a ponytail. Secondly, they typically are made with less hair so they have a thinner appearance and look less bulky around the cap area when the hair is pulled back. Third, many companies use lower quality hair on their pony wigs because... they can - the sheitel is styled with the hair pulled back. So typically there is no need for the wig to be made of the most gorgeous hair or to have the most natural looking wave pattern in the world.
I bought this wig at the Milano Collection LA Showroom during their Pesach sale. This wig was considered a "pre-cut" so it only qualified for the $50 discount. Since I have a large head, most wigs do not fit me right, but this was a XL cap and it covers all of my hair. Pony wigs have more clips and combs than a regular sheitel. There is a comb near the forehead, and one near the nape, and 2 clips near the forehead and 2 near the nape. Additionally there are two clips that can attach the wig to the top of your head, but I have not used these yet.
I have no doubt that this wig is extremely processed. When I walked into shul wearing it, one of my single friends, who has had every hair straightening treatment done under the sun, immediately started debating whether she thought my wig had been Thermal Reconditioned (Japanese Straightening) or had the Keratin Treatment (Brazillian Blowout) done while feeling and examining the wig up close. It is clearly stick straight and does not have much body to it. However, it is the kind of perfectly straight hair that everyone who does all of these straightening treatments on their hair wants. No frizz, just perfectly straight smooth hair. In fact, I almost feel guilty attending mommy/baby classes in this sheitel because it looks as if I spent hours blow-drying and flat ironing my hair, and I wonder if the moms think that I have time to do that.
I find the sheitel very comfortable because it is large enough and because it is lighter than a regular sheitel that would have thicker hair and more wefts of hair overall. I wear this sheitel in a pony and also down. I think it looks really good down, its just perfectly sleek and straight. When wearing half up you have to be careful because of the thinness it could be possible to see the wig cap if you have the top layer in a certain configuration. Although the bottom wefts are sewn up and I can feel them going outward when I touch the back of my head, but the naked eye cannot detect this. I have a friend with a Milano pony who wears her wig down all the time and its (the bottom wefts being sewn upward) never been an issue for her.
So far the wig has not been knotty at all. The wig cap has a feature that you can actually open 3 hooks to create a hole in it, which allows for someone to pass their own hair through, if they wanted to blend it into the pony, or if you want make a little more room in the cap.
I think this color really brings out my blue eyes and I think I can wear a larger range of colors and brighter colors when I am wearing this hair color. However, the downside to the color of this sheitel is that my other wigs are closer to the 16/10 or 12/8 range, and look notably different. Also, I wore this once on a Wednesday and now I have to wear it every Wednesday (or a hat/scarf) so my clients do not notice that my hair suddenly changed colors, textures and lengths.
I want to keep readers posted on this sheitel as time goes by. I bought it Pesach 2012 so its about a month old now, and I haven't washed it yet because I wear it about 2x a week. I think that the less I wash it, the longer it will last. When I do wash it, I'm going to be extremely gentle and use high-quality salon shampoo intended for treated hair, ideally sulfate free.
The reason I went with a 10/6/8 is because I had been trying on all sorts of wigs at Milano Collection and realized that this color looked really good on me. The friend who was with me, liked this one the best and encouraged me to take the risk. I have to admit I love the way it looks, but its always strange to wear a color that is different from the hair growing on my head. However, we will see what color this ends up after it oxidizes and we will see how the hair holds up after 525,600 minutes.... how do we measure a year?...
... in sheitel wear & tear
So as of a month old I rate it the following:
Skin Top : B+
Cap construction: B+
Hair Quality: B-
Comfort: A
Durability: To Be Determined
Value: A- (when on sale)
On a side note, since I only needed a bang trim, I only had to pay $25-35 for the cut at the Milano Showroom in LA, which was a big plus for me. I plan on doing follow up reviews on this wig as it ages.
A loyal AskChavi reader wanted her chance to write a review of one of her sheitels. I conducted an interview to find out more about her Michal Wigs fall which was purchased in 2008. Michal Wigs are known for their affordability. The Michal Website says that they use quality European Hair and are able to keep the prices down by providing factory-direct wigs. There is only one US distributor and wigs can be ordered directly from her, or purchased at sales which are run across North America in people’s homes and synagogues. With prices from $325-$650 its intriguing for wig-wearers to wonder what a Michal is actually like. Today AskChavi brings you the exclusive information provided by one of our readers and Michal owners. http://www.michalwigs.com/
Wig Info Brand: Michal Wigs
Wig Type: 17’’ fall
Color: #01B
Price: $425, longer falls are $475
Chavi: Michal Wigs is not one of the “high fashion” wig names tossed around in Brooklyn, how does its hair quality compare to other brands?
F: On a scale of A-F I, rate the hair quality an A based on its affordable price, but a B+ compared to “dream sheitel” (*SEE FOOTNOTE*) I wore this piece every weekday for two years and during that time the wig would look like virgin European Human Hair for the first two weeks after a wash and set, by week 3 a decent quality human hair wig and by the end of week 4 the hair looked ratty and needed another wash/set. The fall is now four years old and the hair looks very decent after a wash/set but starts to look a little ratty in the back a few weeks later. Overall, it still looks much better than most other four-year old sheitels that have seen this much use, so I’m not complaining!
Chavi: What is the hair texture like? F: The hair is thick and straight, which is similar to my own hair, so I was very happy with the texture. However, someone with whispy hair may not find the texture to be a good match. I never tried curling the hair so I do not know whether or not it holds a curl/wavy style.
Chavi: Does the fall have a skin top?
F: No, but skin tops were not considered a "standard" fall feature when I purchased this piece in '08. It is possible that Michal carries skin top falls, but I have never asked.
Chavi: How do you rate the durability?
F: For price A / Compared to “dream Sheitel” A – After 2 years of regular weekday use the hair quality was pretty much identical to the time of purchase. The hair is starting to look less “new” but it is still very good. The hair needed to be dyed once every 10-12 months, but I live in a sunny region and it is common for sheitels in my color range to need a dye job that often so I'm chalking the oxidation up to standard wear and tear.
Chavi: How do you rate the cap construction and quality? F: For price A / compared to dream sheitel B+ – The cap is built (but doesn’t feel!) like steel, and is the sturdiest mass-produced wig cap that I have ever seen. After four years of regular use, the cap is still in like-new condition. The very top of the fall has a patch that is thinner than the rest of the fall, which didn't bother me given the price (and the fact that the patch was covered by a headband/hat/bandana).
Chavi: Does the cap fit you well, is it comfortable? F: I have an XL sized head and ordered a standard size fall, so while the cap does not fit me well this is because I ordered the wrong size. I would not hesitate to order a Michal with a larger cap. The cap starts to get itchy about 3.5 weeks after a wash and set, but I usually wash it every four week so this wasn't a huge problem.
Chavi: Does it give you headaches? F: Yes, but this is because I purchased the wrong size cap (see above). The headaches are from a tight cap and not from the weight of the hair -- the hair is actually very light, which is impressive considering that it is a thick fall.
Chavi: Does the hair knot? F: Yes, but the hair was close to 17" when I first cut the fall and knotting is common at that length. The hair did get knottier in weeks 3-4 after a wash/set. (As I wrote above, the hair looked and felt custom for the first two weeks after a wash/set when I originally purchased the piece.) I cut off several inches a few years ago (one inch to deal with two years worth of split ends, and the rest for a style change) and haven't had any problems with knotting since that big snip.
Chavi: Have you ever washed it yourself? F: Yes, every time other than when I took it in to get cut (once when I got it originally cut after purchase, again at the 2 year mark to take care of split ends).
Chavi:
How was the Michal/Sheitel Macher customer service? F: Excellent! I emailed Michal's American distributer several times with questions, and each email was answered promptly. She mailed my wig as soon as she received payment.
Chavi: Would you order from them again? F: Definitely! I highly recommend Michal to anyone looking to purchase a dark colored in this price range. (I do not know how their hair quality is for lighter colors, which are more heavily processed.)
Chavi: Did you get what you expected in terms of quality? F: I got MORE than I expected in terms of quality. I expected the fall to be getting ratty (but still functional) at the 2 year mark; however, at that point cap and hair were still in like-new condition (with the exception of some split ends, which are standard wear and tear on a regularly worn sheitel). The fall is now four years old and still in very good condition.
Chavi: Do you have any other thoughts that you would like to share with the AskChavi Audience: F: Michal is considered a "low end" brand, and given their pricing it isn't hard to imagine why. I was not looking to spend a lot of money on my weekday fall, and because was twice burned by another "low end" brand I decided to try Michal. This fall is a very realistic looking piece, and while the hair quality and overall appearance are not comparable to the high end brands, all in all it is worth much more than the few hundred dollars that I paid.
When purchasing sheitels made out of processed hair it is very important to bear hair color in mind. Most low end companies heavily process coarse dark hair to create a "European" look. With dark hair (my color) the processing isn't as traumatic as it is with blond hair (which is bleached of all color, and then dyed the appropriate shade of blond), so dark "low end" wigs will generally look much nicer than their blond counterparts. While I enthusiastically recommend Michal's to women with dark hair color I cannot speak to the quality of their light browns, reds and blonds.
All in all I cannot imagine a better quality fall at this price.
Overall Rating (A-F scale) A / (compared to dream sheitel) A-/B+
*FOOTNOTE* - “Dream Sheitel” is the mythical hand sewn wig made out of virgin EHH hair, with a custom-fitted feather light cap that we all dream of and can never manage to find.
Over Passover I had the chance to checkout Milano Collection's Los Angeles showroom. I wanted to share my general impressions. First of all, Milano Collection is one of the first "major Jewish wig brands" to open a dedicated showroom in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has sheitel machers who sell multiple wig brands as well as sheitel stores that carry various brands, but to my knowledge Milano is the first "NY Transplant" salon to open shop in LA.
There was plenty of metered parking available right in front of the store, for the reasonable rate of $1/hour. There is also free street parking available in the residential neighborhoods a few blocks away but be careful because LA has strict parking regulations including some streets that require permits and others that have street cleaning on certain days a week. The storefront had a upscale look to it and displayed a few wigs in the window. You have to ring a doorbell and be buzzed in. I called Milano in advance and let them know that Chavi was coming to the store, believe it or not, they hadn't even heard of me!!! Well, I educated them on who I am and what my mission is - essentially providing wig information to consumers. They were happy to let me come in and take pictures and try on wigs to my hearts delight.
I learned that Milano wigs come in two qualities: processed European and unprocessed European, and that the prices vary depending on length and hair quality. Their unprocessed wigs have codes such as LL-14 while the processed wigs have names like "Reese" and "Giselle". They organized their showroom by grouping the wigs in various color groups. They also had additional wigs in bins below each section. The shop attendant told me that pretty much all of the wigs out on the main showroom floor were considered "pre-cuts" . A few things I learned:
1. Freedom wig caps run really small. I tried to try on a size Large freedom cap and couldn't even get it onto my head. (freedom caps do not have any clips in them)
2. The iFront line has a small strip of lace in the front that is supposed to make the hairline of the wigs look more natural. For whatever reason the lace on the lighter colored wigs was more noticeable then the lace on the darker colored wigs.
3. Milano wigs come in various textures but overall the processed wigs actually frizz less than the unprocessed wigs.
4. Pony wigs come in sizes L and XL because for many people its necessary to go up a size in order for them to cover all their hair and make the pony look natural.
5. The stylist recommended washing wigs exclusively in high end sulfate free shampoos since most of them are processed, in order to prevent them from becoming dry and brittle and losing their shine. (I will be recommending specific products in later posts)
6. I look better in hair darker than my own hair, even though my natural hair color is "dishwater blonde". The blonde wigs made me look completely washed out. I suppose if my true color existed it would look good, but its hard to find.
The showroom offers tons of wig services aside from wash & set and cutting including coloring and deep conditioning treatment. Also, the cut price varies on how much one wants cut. I ended up buying something... will post about it later! Can anyone guess which of the wigs pictured in the album is the one I bought??
I hope you all enjoyed the review of the Slip No More which was published last week here. I am happy to announce that I will be giving away two Slip No More headbands to two lucky AskChavi readers. I have a size S and a size M to giveaway.
Here's how to enter:
1. Like AskChavi on Facebook, and/or Follow AskChavi on Twitter and/or post a comment below
2. Post a Facebook status @Ask Chavi saying what you love best about AskChavi or what you favorite post has been or what information you would like to be written about on Ask Chavi. (Examples: I love the wig reviews on @Ask Chavi or @Ask Chavi is the best source for sheitel info on the web!) Keep in mind that @Ask Chavi will bring up a link to my Facebook page which you will select and the "@" sign will disappear.
ii. and/or follow AskChavi on Twitter and mention something great about @AskChavi in a tweet.
iii. and/or post a comment below on why you love AskChavi or what information you would like blogged about by Chavi. Obviously anonymous posts will not be eligible since I will have no way of contacting you if you win.
3. Each separate post is a separate entry. I.e. if you post on Facebook, Twitter and as a blog comment on this page you get three entries in the drawing, if you only post on Facebook you get one entry, etc.
4. Entries must be posted between 4/3/12 and 11:59 pm PDT on 4/17/12
5. Winners will be selected at random. Shipping will be provided by AskChavi within the United States. The first place winner selected will have their choice of either S or M size band and the second winner selected will receive the band which was not selected by the first place winner. Two winners will be selected, so if you win the "first place" prize your name will be removed from the "second place" drawing.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the AskChavi Giveaway, you must be: [1] a natural person legally residing in, and physically located within (have a US address!), the 50 United States[2] 18 or older
Rules:
* You must have a US mailing address to win.
* The prize is not exchangeable or refundable for cash.
Its pretty unbelievable that I went this long without ever trying a wig-securing headband. I figured that I was satisfied with the "status quo" of using clips mainly because my wigs never came loose and because my clips never hurt my head because I never clipped them too tightly (or at all). However, I was sent the Aishes Slip No More Headband to try and I am excited to share my experience with you.
I know I mostly blog about wigs, but I actually spend a lot of time not in a wig, but in scarfs, bandanas, hats and snoods. As it turns out Slip No More works great on them all. For example, I wore the Slip No More Headband under my pre-tied bandana at the gym, and I'd hate to say that there have been times where the bandana had slipped back or even fallen off in the past when I was doing work on the floor. I take Body Pump so for three of the tracks we are on our backs: chest press, triceps and abs so its important that my head-covering stays on. With the Slip No More under my bandana I had no fear about it falling off. In fact, the bandana stayed exactly in place, secured.
The Slip No More worked great keeping an Israeli-style tichel on. I was in disbelief that I had never thought of it before. In fact I think it will help people keep on tichels in multiple layers which can be weighed down from their weight. Tichels tend to slide back in general if you have smooth hair and this really helps. Results with a loose beret: great (pictured left). Amazingly it kept on a pre-tied tichel that ALWAYS slipped back because of its small size and material. Now I can comfortably wear the pre-tied pictured below that I have always liked and bobby pins never kept on. I have a large head and the size Large band fit me appropriately. The velcro closure is about 1.5 inches wide so there is room for a slight size adjustments.
I used it with my old Milano Sheitel while outlet shopping which is now styled in a pony tail. One of the worst thing about shopping and trying on clothes is pulling crew neck tops over a covered head because usually my wig gets pulled back or my tichels fly off and get stuck inside the shirt. However, despite a lot of shirts coming on and off my wig stayed put. It was cool not to have any clips secured to my hair. Obviously I had to smooth down the hair that kept get frizzier and frizzier... I'm sure you ladies know what I'm talking about.
The only hair covering which I will not continue to use the band with is ironically falls (3/4 wigs). I found that the band added a little extra height underneath the fall which made the fall look less natural. Falls have a tendency to look fake because of their usual thickness contrasting with the flatness of ones real hair pulled back tightly. I tried both the "Bump Fall" and a "headband fall" styling and both were less comfortable with the Slip No More on. I will also attribute this to the fact that I never snap my clips closed when I wear my falls so they fit really comfortably anyway.
I am really in love with the Slip No More when it comes to hats, scarves, full wigs and every other head covering on the planet. I think the band could be helpful to people with no hair or thinning hair since they may not have enough hair to clip wigs to. This headband will allow them to purchase "sheitel" type wigs rather than wigs that have to be bonded like lace front or vacuum. Keep in mind that I purposely left the band showing in all the pics above for this blog posting but I do not recommend showing the band in general, though because of its dark brown color from far away it would really look like someone's hair unless you have light blonde or light red hair.
Review of Claire Contessa: Interview with AskChavi reader "RS".
What made you decide to purchase a Claire? Where did you hear of the brand?
I’d never had a sheitel I liked, so when my daughter became a kallah I asked around and got the most consistently positive feedback about Claire Accuhair. Once I saw what they were selling I decided to get my own for the chassunah.
Claire Accuhair is one of the oldest sheitel companies in the US. Claire herself has an amazing lifestory—she learned wig making while in a DP camp after the war, and started making her own when she got frustrated with what was available for a young kallah in Brooklyn in those days. If you go, try to spend a few minutes talking to her (or even better, sing her a Hungarian song if you know one!). She has a wonderful view of life.
How many other sheitels did you try before deciding on it?
I’ve been wearing sheitelach for almost 25 years—part synthetic to start, and then later Remy hair. I was never really happy with any of them.
What color is your Claire?
6, one needed a little highlighting.
Was it custom made or pre-made?
Now this is an interesting question. It started out as a premade, a Claire Contessa—although completely hand tied and made with virgin (uncolored, untreated) European hair (the only kind she uses). Claire altered the shape of the hairline, since mine is a little unusual, and added a good 2” of depth to the cap, so it ended up fitting perfectly. I’ve never had a custom, but I can’t imagine a custom fitting any better. (see photo)
How would you describe the texture of hair?
It feels like very healthy well cared-for hair. I’ve had it styled silky and straight as well as wavy with body and the hair holds any style you give it. About the only thing you might not be able to do is get a totally stick straight, limp look—unless you want to have the hair thinned out a lot.
Did you have a specialized wig cap size?
Yes, as I said. My daughter had to have hers taken in. They did an excellent job with that kind of alteration as well. The caps start slightly on the large side, I think, so that they can take them in and do other alterations if necessary (which will cost you less than if you had to add hair in to make the cap fit).
Did you purchase it from the Claire salon or from a sheitel macher?
Directly from Claire.
How did their involvement in the sale help the overall kallah experience?
Claire’s daughter worked with my daughter, showing her how to wear and care for her sheitel. I think she had a very positive experience—very different from my travails with my earlier sheitlach!
What was the hardest thing about finding a sheitel as a kallah?
I didn’t have anyone to help me, so I ended up with horrible, ill fitting sheitlach. I certainly didn’t want my daughter to have the same experience, and she didn’t B”H.
Does the cap fit you well, is it comfortable?
Very comfortable. I wear it all day and I find it about the most comfortable head covering I have. When I first looked at the cap I questioned that it wasn’t all stretch, which I thought would be more comfortable. I have a different make of shaitel that had a stretch cap and I find that it slides around a lot more than my Claires do, and it began to stretch out pretty quickly. The Claire cap is not the lightest when you’re holding it in your hand, but I find it more comfortable to wear.
Does it give you headaches?
Never.
Does the hair knot?
Not at all. At most it gets a little tangled if I don’t put a brush to it for the whole day-but NEVER knots .
Do you think the skin top is really realistic?
I find the skin top realistic and it is quite big so you can do a lot with the top, parting in different ways, etc.
Have you ever washed it yourself? If so, did the hair knot when wet?
I’ve washed it myself a few times. The hair doesn’t knot, but you do have to be careful not to pull too hard on it, since it’s hand tied not machine wefted, and the hand ties don’t stand up to abuse as well. (I have always washed my own, but they were all machine wefted.) Claire told me how to handle it (pinned to a head the whole time, and combing the shampoo through) and I can do it, but I prefer to have Claire’s people take care of it. They do a good job, no matter what I ask them to do, and it’s one less headache (so to speak).
What quality hair was advertised to you and do you feel the hair was the same as advertised?
They told me that the hair was good quality virgin European hair. If anything, it was even better than I expected. I’ve had my first Claire for over 1 ½ years now and the hair quality feels just the same; it hasn’t dried out or oxidized at all—the only way I can see that it’s not new is on the inside, where you can see that I’ve worn the shaitel a lot.)
How much did you pay
Each Contessa I bought came to approximately $1,500 including the cut and the alterations.
How was the Claire/sheitel macher customer service?
Really great. I have gone in several times with little things (a piece of hair that’s not falling the way I like it, etc.) and Claire herself has fixed it on the spot. (The first time I went in she begged me to let her do something with the quite inferior sheitel I was wearing—which was NOT one of hers—because she didn’t want me to wear it looking like that. She spent a good 15 minutes patchkying with it—wow, what a difference!-- and wouldn’t take a penny.) They give you at least a month after the styling to come back and have things changed around. I brought mine back in after the chassunah because I’d decided I wanted a more layered look and they redid it for no extra charge. Claire’s is a small place—there are only 8-10 people working there, total (including Claire and two of her daughters)—and there’s a nice family feeling about the place.
Would you buy a Claire again?
Absolutely!
Are you happy with your sheitel cut? Would you get a different style next time?
I have two Claires and I’m happy with the style on both of them. I don’t think I’ll be buying a new one for at least a few years so the styles probably will have changed by then. I can certainly see having one of them recut in a couple of years if I get tired of the style it has now.
How would you rate it on the following scale? A-F
RATING:
Weight/comfort: A
Hair Quality: A
Skin top: A
Durability: A
One of my readers wanted to share her dramatic story of a wig purchase she made online which ended up ending very badly. She purchased a wig from Tidebuy which was advertised as handtied, but in fact the wig was entirely machine wefted and did not even have a multi-directional skin part. It was essentially unwearable because it looked so unrealistic and she attempted to try to return it to Tidebuy. Below is her email trail with Tidebuy showing their complete lack of customer service and their outright false internet advertising.
It can be VERY risky to buy a wig from an unknown online foreign vendor. Sometimes its better to spend a little more to buy something reputable. Nevertheless we can all learn from my reader's mistake and hopefully Tidebuy steps up and takes responsibility for their products. Below is a video showing the wig which was sent and under that is the email trail between my reader JM and the Tidebuy customer service representative.
Date: Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 8:38 AM
Subject: Re: I wish to return items
To: tidebuy <service@tidebuy.com>
Michael,
It seems like you're having difficulty understanding what I'm saying.
It is not (only) that the style that does not match the picture, the
wig was not constructed in the way described on the website. The
webpage says the the wig is constructed by sewing individual hairs
into a single layer of fabric. No part of the wig you sent was
constructed in that way. The wigs sent were made of machine sewn
wefts, a much lower quality process.
I have made arrangements to share my experience with your company on a
website about wigs and will encourage all readers to share this
information with as many people as possible.
If you will not accept a return, please do not continue to write to
me. I no longer have the time or the interest to continue repeating
myself to someone who is either unable or unwilling to understand what
I'm saying. JM
On 2/3/12, tidebuy <service@tidebuy.com> wrote:
> Dear J,
>
>
>
> Thanks a lot for your concern of your order.
>
>
>
> Regarding the wig problem you mentioned, we made it all according to the
> size and color you chose when you placed the order. If the wig goes out of
> shape, it might be caused during transportation. So the hairstyle can be
> changed, you can make it into the one in the picture on our website.
>
>
>
> Besides, the picture on site is processed, but you can make the actual wig
> like shown in the picture with trying using the hair spray or styling gel to
> have a special effect.
>
> Sincerely hope you can understand this.
>
>
>
> If you want any other products, you can provide us a picture, and then we
> can make it according to your request. Or if you have any suggestions or
> ideas, please give us without any doubt. We will adopt it if it is
> appropriate, and we will give you a coupon for return. If you have any
> questions, please feel free to contact us.
>
>
>
> Thanks and best regards
>
> Michael
>
> Customer Service Department
>
> Email:service@tidebuy.com>
> Website: http://www.tidebuy.com>
> Tel: +86-10-62901050-815; +86-10-64477995-815; +86-10-64476833-815
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: JM>Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: I wish to return items
To: tidebuy <service@tidebuy.com>
Is there someone there whose first language is English with whom I may
speak? You don't seem to be understanding what I'm saying.
The product you SENT is DIFFERENT from the product you DESCRIBED on
the website.
If you refuse to acknowledge and correct this then I have no choice
but to warn other customers from buying from your company.
On 1/24/12, tidebuy <service@tidebuy.com> wrote:
> Dear J,
>
> Thanks for concern of your order and we are really sorry for all the
> inconveniences we brougth to you.
>
> I do not understand why you say the wig quality is not good. what kind of
> quality you think it good quality . We could not see any problems from the
> pictures you supplied to us. And we have tried our best to let you happy and
> give you 20USD discount. And we also could keep a good business relationship
> with you in future. We really appreciated your understanding.
>
> If you still have more questions,just feel free to contact us. We would get
> back to you within 24 hours at working days. Thanks so much.
>
> best regards
>
> Michael
>
> Customer Service Department
> Email:service@tidebuy.com>
> Website: http://www.tidebuy.com>
> Tel: 86-10-6447-6833
> 86-10-6290-5773
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: JM Date: Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 6:11 AM Subject: Re: I wish to return items To: tidebuy <service@mail.tidebuy.com> Dear Michael,Today is 7 days after I received my order. I contacted your company about returning the order within a couple hours of receiving it. I am still waiting for your instructions. I hope that this matter will be resolved soon. Please respond. Thank you,J
On Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 4:56 AM, tidebuy <service@mail.tidebuy.com> wrote: Dear J,Thanks for concern of your order and we are really sorry for all the inconveniences we brougth to you.So could you please take some clear pictures for the wig you received, and tell us where is not as described. After we received your pictures,we would contact the supplier to ask compensation for you ,refund or exchange all no problem if there are really huge issue.Looking forward to hearing from you soon.thanks.If you still have more questions,just feel free to contact us. We would get back to you within 24 hours at working days. Thanks so much.
best regardsMichaelCustomer Service Department
For any items, if there is a quality problem and you want to apply for a refund/exchange, please upload some persuasive pictures or video. Once it is verified, you can send the item back to us (customer assumes the shipping cost) only after you get our permission, and we will give you the corresponding comepensation.
When I realized I was going to be having kids just 20 months apart, I realized that I was in for an adventure. I also realized that I would need a double stroller since kids under two years old are not to be trusted to walk around on their own, or be able to walk long distances which is necessary when you love walking for exercise and that I live in a community with an eruv to allow Shabbos walks.
Luckily, or unluckily, there are less double strollers available compared to the almost limitless amount of single strollers on the market, so the choices are narrowed down to a few. Additionally, double strollers are either side-by-side or tandem (front-back). For whatever reason, and I thank him for it now, my husband insisted against side-by-side strollers. He felt they were so bulky, difficult to maneuver through small spaces and inconvenient. While I do think a side-by-side jogger with air filled tires probably has the BEST push of all doubles, it wasn't really an option for us considering we drive cars, not vans or SUVs and do not have a garage to store big strollers in.
We were very intrigued by the idea of a modular stroller, that is, a stroller that can be either a single or a double. Additionally, my husband insisted that we buy a convertible stroller and sell our single (my beloved Bumbleride Indie) to only have one stroller for both kids. After doing hours and hours of research we decided to go with the Britax B-Ready Stroller, Black . I will discuss why I like it, and the things about it I dislike or that I would change.
The Britax B-Ready was released in late 2010 so it is relatively new on the market. It can be used as a single with a bassinet (sold separately) a car seat (sold separately) or the included toddler seat made for 6 months+. Additionally a second seat can be added which can accommodate a child from birth to 35 pounds or a lower car seat adapter bar can be added to allow baby to ride on bottom or for people with twins who need to accommodate two car seats. My LO is only 2 months right now so I have been using the stroller with the car seat on top and my toddler daughter riding on the bottom. The second seat comes with adapter extenders which can be used with a rear facing car seat or bassinet to give more room for the toddler riding below. Although my newborn can technically ride on the bottom with the seat reclined, I felt more comfortable having him on top and having him face me. Once he gets a little older, maybe 4 month, and can sit partially reclined, I plan on moving him to the bottom seat with the obstructed view, and letting my 2 year old sit on top where she can see the world to her heart's content. The top seat accommodates a child up to 55 pounds. While he is still in his infant car seat, I will probably continuing placing him on top whenever we are "on the go" because it is much faster than strapping two kids out of their car seats and into a stroller.
A note on its versatility. Since my older child goes to playgroup most mornings, I am often with the baby alone. Well, I am SO thankful that I have a stroller that can be a single or double because if I just had a double like the City Mini Double I would be going on walks with only one child in a double stroller!!! I just snap the car seat in, and go. BTW I decided against buying the bassinet because I felt he would grow out of it in such short time. Instead I invested in a new car seat (the Britax B-Safe) because it integrates perfectly with the stroller. Also, My tiny Snugride 22 did not fit properly in the car seat adapter (its made for Snugride 30 and other models) and I decided to get a car seat with adjustor straps anyway to make traveling safer and to make it easier to take him in and out of the seat. Also, a few afternoons I was able to walk with just my toddler while my babysitter watched my baby. It was great having that option to easily switch the seat with the "Click & Go" system.
The Fold - The stroller can be folded with the toddler seat in forward facing mode, without a seat on, AND with the second seat attached! That is an amazing feature because it saves time when getting in and out of the car. However, it is EXTREMELY heavy to lift when both seats are attached. I have no problem lifting the stroller alone or with just one seat attached, but both seats attached gets a little crazy I think weighing over 30 pounds. As I'm using it now with the car seat, I either have the double seat on or off so it is really manageable. Also, I am able to fit it in the back of my Pontiac Vibe which has a pretty small cargo space, and still have room for other bags and groceries. I was concerned about fitting other doubles since I do not have a minivan.
Accessories: It came with a great cup holder, a rain cover for the main seat, a cool storage bag that can be used in singles mode and Click & Go adapters which make the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat able to just Click in.
Now I want to talk about what I dislike. The biggest adjustment from my wonderful Bumbleride Indie single, was the difference in weight and the lack of air tires. My Indie only weighed a little over 20 pounds and it would just float around. It was so easy to bump up and down my stairs. The B-Ready is like a behemoth comparatively. It is HEAVY, it is huge. And the strange cheap wheels they put on it could really be improved. COME ON Britax, get with the picture. Your big competitor the Baby Jogger City Select has FOREVER AIR TIRES. Whenever I see them on my friend's stroller I practically drool. I would even buy them as an upgrade. HELLO more accessory money. PLEASE develop them Britax!!! It would make the stroller almost perfect.
The handle is adjustable instead of telescoping. Not a huge problem because it gets tall enough and far out enough that I never kick the back of the stroller even in doubles mode. Interestingly, the BJCS has that rear axle bar which can be kicked, where as the B-Ready does not. Also side-by-side with my friends the B-Ready handle goes as far out as the City Select and even has a slightly taller setting that is slightly shorter in length which I prefer to use at 5 foot 8 inches tall.
B-Ready on Left and City Select on Right
Compared to its rival the Baby Jogger 2011 City Select Single Stroller, Onyx The stroller is easier to steer in doubles mode than the BJCS because the second child rides rear and not over the front wheels. The BJCS can fit two kids to 45 lbs so it might be better for twins, but I think B-Ready is perfect for kids of two different ages. BJCS has forever air tires, B-ready has some weird foam tires or something... sketchy. BJCS has technically more configurations since you can put a bassinet on the bottom etc. I think the BJCS seat reclines flatter than the B-Ready but the seats are both rated for 6 months +. Both Strollers sell the bassinets separately. Britax B-Ready is cheaper! $339 on amazon vs. $499 for BJCS. The 2nd Seat for the B-Ready is only $101 on Amazon Britax Second Seat for B-Ready Stroller, Black now but the Baby Jogger 2010 City Select Stroller Second Seat Kit, Onyx is $159. That adds up to a difference of $220 more to buy the BJCS when buying the strollers for doubles mode.
In Summary: I am able to steer the B-Ready one handed when loaded with both kids at the supermarket while dragging a cart behind me. That alone, is priceless. If you are looking for a full-feature, convertible double stroller with multiple options for configurations with a great push than the B-Ready is a great option. I think it is priced at a good value compared to its competitors. Britax customer service has been amazing and has already sent me replacement parts for a few things which were not to my liking. There is a one year warranty. My only criticisms would be over the stroller heaviness, the lack of forever air tires and that the storage pouch is hard to attach in doubles mode. Also, why not design for the main seat to recline completely flat so that a newborn could sit in it? I still miss my Bumbleride Indie single which I sold on Craigslist, but I have no problem using the B-Ready as either a single or a double and it is working out nicely for us.
Review of a FeatherLite Wig
