Topper Info and Review of Aura Topper

This is my first post featuring topper wigs since starting AskChavi in 2010.  Toppers go by many names: kippa fall, half fall, integration piece, closure.  This is a "Clip-In" topper (because it has clips) as opposed to a bonded topper (which would be glued in).  Toppers and Wiglets are popular pieces for women who suffer from Alopecia (medial hair loss) because often their hair loss can be partial, and looks like thinness or balding, and hence a full wig is not needed. Toppers are lighter and more comfortable than full wigs because they contain less hair, and because they do not stretch over the entire head.  

Kippa Falls (as they are referred to in the Orthodox Jewish Community because the cap is the size of a kippa or yarmukle) are also becoming popular in the Modern Orthodox Jewish community.   Many MO women are committed to always covering their head, whether with a hat or scarf.  Wearing a topper or sheitel or band fall satisfies the requirement to cover their head and also allows them to blend into professional environments or formal social occasions where hats or other head wear are not common or socially normal.    Some Orthodox women only cover their hair at synagogue, so a topper is a less intense way of wearing a wig that still covers as much or more as they would cover with a hat, scarf, doily, etc.

A caveat with toppers: they will take more time to put on because they must integrate with your real hair.  Its ideal to have a topper the same color and texture as your hair and that it is cut in a way that meshes with your own hair length and style.  For example, my hair is really wavy and frizzy and currently dark blonde, so it looked a little silly when I threw perfectly sleek brown hair over it (as seen in the pics).  However, when done right they can look COMPLETELY natural, and I think its much lighter and more comfortable and should be considered as an option for women who suffer from painful wig headaches.  

The Piece:
SavvySheitels.com let me borrow a topper to review.  They manufacture Aura Wigs.  This is a light brown European Hair piece which I believe has its cuticles intact based on the feel and sound of the hair when I rubbed it.  There is no color number but it is close to my 6/8/10 wig.  The hair feels very sleek, did not knot the entire time I handled it, and the skin top looks very realistic.  There is variation in the hair color, so it looks like a natural shade.  It is neither ashy or very warm, but a medium toned light brown.  

Savvy Sheitels is offering $150 discount on all custom pieces over $700 (to AskChavi readers!).  The toppers can be viewed here - You just have to enter the code TOP150 at checkout.  This piece shown is available for sale as well.  I am just borrowing it in order to make this review.  They can manufacture a custom piece to match your hair color and texture, which I recommend highly when it comes to wearing toppers.

How to style Full Bangs on a wig with a Blowdryer

Here is the latest wig styling video.  In this video we are showing how to style full bangs (full fringe) on a wig (sheitel).  This wig is a Blush Pony Wig, which is made of processed hair. This can work right after a Wash and Set, or you can touch these up later. Bangs need to be re-set more often because people tend to sweat around the hairline.



I hope you find this helpful!  You will need a large round brush and a blowdryer in order to do this at home.  It also helps to have a spray bottle to slightly dampen the hair for touch ups.

How I lost my Baby Weight

I wanted to write about my postpartum weight loss after two close pregnancies. I am 5'9'' and have always had an athletic/broad yet curvy build.  My skinny high school weight was 155.  When I got married I was 157 size 8/10.   I am now back in the 150s but feel more in shape and toned than before. I feel really good about the way I look and am fitting into size 8.
 When I got pregnant in 2009 with my first child, I was already about 10 pounds heavier than my "wedding weight" (168 & size 10/12) and I had a desk job, ate whatever I wanted and hence I gained another 35 during the pregnancy.  I believe I clocked in over 200 near the end, scarily.  The biggest shock was coming home from the hospital and seeing that the scale read 198 (my baby was under 7 pounds).  I was essentially 30 pounds heavier than the weight I got pregnant at and it was scary to accept that.
In the beginning its really hard to lose any weight between not sleeping, nursing, not nursing, stress.  I did take a lot of walks and eventually I started working out a little bit, but I did not have a normal routine.  I became more aware of what I was eating and eventually lost about 28 pounds in 11 months.  I hadn't yet reached my pre-pregnancy weight when we decided to try for another baby (11 months postpartum), and thankfully I became pregnant right away at 171 pounds.   
During the second pregnancy I was much more active.  For one, I was chasing a toddler around.  Secondly, I wasn't working a full-time office job so I had more time to take walks, go to the park, exercise, etc.  I also became extremely lactose intolerant during my second pregnancy, so much so that I decided to stop eating dairy all together.  I tried to be more aware of what I was eating and ate much healthier during the second pregnancy.  As a result, I gained less than during my first pregnancy (under 30 pounds).  My weight right before delivering was 198.  As was my luck I delivered a baby over 9 pounds and so when I got home from the hospital I was already 186 or so.
I started going to the gym when my baby was 6 weeks old and starting taking the Les Mills Body Pump Class. Body Pump is a group exercise class centered around weight-lifting.  Participants use a barbell with adjustable weights during the following tracks: warm up, squats, chest press, back (clean&press), triceps, lunges, shoulders. The class finishes with an abs track on the floor and a cool-down/stretch. 
I also joined the website SparkPeople in February 2012.  I like Spark People because it has an excellent food tracker program and phone app.  When you join you put in your starting weight and goal weight and goal time, and it calculates how many daily calories you can consume to meet that goal.  They also have great workout recommendations and demonstrations available on their site. My first weigh in was 178.
I tried to go to Body Pump three times a week, but realistically I made it two times a week.  My weight on May 10, 2012 was 173.  I continued Body Pump through the summer and people at the gym started commenting that I had lost weight.  I do not remember weighing myself then, but I believe I was around 167 by August when we went on vacation in Israel.  I remember actually losing weight in Israel mainly because we were eating healthier and I wasn't snacking.  Being lactose intolerant meant that at every amazing dairy cafe we went to I ordered salad.  Plus, it was so hot and humid that I didn't have much appetite.  When we got home I had broken my bad snacking habits, such as eating nuts at night.  After Yom Kippur on September 28, 2012 I weighed 163, but then I gained back to 167 by the end of Sukkot (hard to avoid chagim gain)
However, after the Chagim (holidays) ended I decided to step up my workouts a notch, by committing to Body Pump 3x a week and to be more aware of my diet.  I started increasing my weights more aggressively in Body Pump, which I felt made a big difference.  Also, a friend and I started an "accountability" diet where we had to share our daily food journals with each other and report to each other if we gave into our temptation foods.  I started to change dinners a bit by making large vegetarian soups (bean and barley, split pea, vegetable tomato etc.) instead of turkey/chicken with rice etc.  I was the most successful when I made large soups in advance because then I would eat the soup for lunch and dinner for the next few days instead of snacking before meals.  I realized that I tended to eat too much in the middle of the day because I didn't have time to make a proper lunch with two little kids.  Having the soups available made a huge difference.
I was stuck at 163 for a long time, but eventually I broke through the 160 barrier and got into the 150s!!  I was so proud of myself, my clothes started to be too big and I actually got to go shopping for SMALLER clothes.  I was amazed when I went to Ann Taylor and grabbed size Large tops only to realize that they fit like bags on me and I had to ask for Mediums.  It felt amazing!

In Body Pump I am currently adding this weight to the barbell:
Warm up: 7kg
Squats: 22kg
Chest: 10kg
Triceps: 7kg
Back: 12kg
Biceps: 7kg
Lunges: 10kg
Shoulders: 7kg bar, 2.5kg free plates

So yes, I lost 30 pounds of baby weight in a year with virtually no cardio (a few classes and runs here and there) and not following any "diet" however I will share some bulleted suggestions now. 

• Try to eat as naturally as possible.  Vegetables, Fruits, legumes, lean meats, fish. 
•  Do not drink any caloric beverages (soda, juice, energy drinks, sweetened coffee/tea).
• Avoid Processed foods: cakes, crackers, chips, cookies, candy.  Even bread should be eaten in moderation. (check serving sizes)
• Build muscle.  Muscular people burn more calories.   That means, the more muscle mass you build, the more calories your body burns while doing nothing.  
• Weight training burns calories.  The sore and achy feeling that muscles have on days between workouts means that calories are burning. 
• Keep a food journal - it REALLY helps.  I still have off days, and writing down my consumed foods and calories helps keep me in check.  
• Have an at-home workout option.  There were some days where I couldn't make it to the gym: sick kids, lack of time, etc. and it was helpful to have a workout video at home that I could do on those days.  I like Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred and Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 The videos incorporate weights in the moves.  The videos are only 25 minutes, which is good if you are in a hurry, but I feel one either needs 6 days a week of 25-30 minutes or 3x a week of 50-60 minutes to be effective.  I just did week four of Ripped in 30 last night and it was challenging but very doable for me.
• Working out gives me so much energy.  It makes me happy, helps me sleep at night and I feel amazing.  

How to Style Sheitel Side Bangs

After many requests, I am finally able to bring you the next wig styling video. This video is all about styling side bangs and we show you two methods: Blowdryer and Curling Iron.  There will also be a video on how to style a full bang.

Product Review: The Hair Grip

I was sent "The Hair Grip" to review and decided to make a video review which can be seen below. The Hair Grip can be used to secure your wig, scarf, hat, etc. snugly to your head without requiring clips or barrettes.

Overall I find it to be a very useful product for anyone who wears accessories on their head, whether for fashion, health or modesty reasons.  The Hair Grip comes in Black, Brown and Tan, to best match your hair color or the color of your accessory.  The band is comfortable and secures all types of scarves, hats and sheitels.  In the video I demonstrate how to use it with a sheitel, with a tichel (cotton scarf) and a silk scarf with both a 3/4 fall and a full sheitel.



To order please visit the hair grip store.  If you decide to order, I would appreciate if you could enter "Ask Chavi" in the instructions field during checkout so I can get a referral credit.

Aura Wigs 2 for 1 Sale Offer

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to pass along information about the Aura Wigs sale.  I hope to review one of these wigs soon.  But it seems that you can order a custom wig through them with a custom cap size, so it could be good for people with unusual shaped heads or L or S who have trouble fitting into a regular cap.

Thanks,

Chavi

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2013 AURA BOGO Sale at AURAwigs.com

Order one AURA Custom Wig at the Full Custom Price & get a second one (of equal or lesser value) FREE!!!

• Buy 1 Longer Wig & Get 1 Shorter Wig
• Buy 1 Straight Wig & Get 1 Wavy Wig
• Buy 1 Formal Wig & Get 1 Casual Wig
• Buy 1 Wig for yourself & Get 1 Wig for a friend!

PLEASE NOTE: This offer may not be combined with any other offer, coupon or sale. It applies only to full priced Custom made to order Real Custom Wigs atwww.AURAwigs.com.

USE THIS REFERRAL CODE AT CHECKOUT TO QUALIFY: askCHAVbogo

Order online and pay for the higher priced Custom Wig. To order your second wig please contact AURA Custom Wigs by email - AURAwigs@gmail.com - with details about your second order.

Pay 1/2 NOW and the balance in 2 months!

See complete instructions for the 2013 AURA Bogo Sale:

http://www.aurawigs.com/bogo.html

This does not apply to existing orders.

The 2nd wig is free. However professional services that are added after the wigs are made (such as cutting, styling and coloring) must be charged for each wig.

All custom wigs ordered in this offer will take 8-10 weeks to be custom-made and shipped.

NOTE: If AURA has a similar wig "on hand", you may request that instead of waiting for the custom wigs to be made. However you must still pay the Full Custom Wig price (NOT the Wig Sale price) to qualify for the Buy One Get One offer. AURA cannot ship any part of your order until the full payment has

Incredible Sheitel Colorist in Los Angeles

One of my favorite things about running AskChavi is getting to know various people in the sheitel and wig industry.  Recently I was contacted by Brian, a sheitel colorist in Los Angeles and I was blown away by pictures of his work that I felt I needed to share this information with my fans.

Brian operates a private salon in West Hollywood (Los Angeles) in a discreet location.  He specializes in coloring wigs and sheitels but colors hair as well.  I had a conversation with Brian to learn about his background and firmly believe that he provides a great service to his clients.

Brian was passionate about hair and wigs since he was a young boy and started as a colorist at the prestigious Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon when he was 18 years old.  In 2001 he started working in the wig industry when he was employed by a wig-maker who specialized in custom virgin European hair wigs for cancer patients.  He worked there for 7 years until they closed down.  In 2009 he decided to go freelance by growing his business from a few faithful clients and has expanded since then.

I asked Brian why so many sheitels oxidize and go brassy and he said is has to do with the factory dye process.  In fact, most of the mass-produced wigs these days are dyed in a production line method where all of the hair is dipped in acid-based chemicals to remove the pigment, and then afterwards the desired color is added.  He said this color can only last a few washes before it starts to turn brassy or fade.  He said that some factories actually use Fabric Dye like RIT because the dye lasts longer, however this kind of color has repercussions on how it reacts with normal hair dye, such as hair turning pink etc.

Brian is a self-proclaimed color correctionist (and I believe it based on his photos) and feels he can fix any color problems including fabric dyes, cap stains, brassy tones etc.  He said he is a specialist in every color but most passionate about working with blond shades.    Brian uses a special high-end line of hair products that are ammonia and peroxide free.  He said color can last up to 12 months, but some vibrant shades will only last 3-6 months depending on how much someone washes and wears their wigs.  Brian knows how to work with over-processed and over-colored hair.  I asked him to provide a few examples of jobs he has done just to show the variety of his work:

1. Red Heads: he had a mother and daughter client who both have bold apricot-color hair, and he has been able to make them happy with their sheitel color.  When I asked what is the best color for redheads to start with, he suggested something as close to possible to their desired color, for example a virgin golden brown wig.  The closer the color to the desired, the less chemical process needed. 

2. 2-Toned Sheitel:  A client had a high-end wig which had been sent back to the manufacturer to be repaired.  Her skin top was completely re-created with new hair but was attached to the bottom wefts of the original wig.  The trouble was, the wig was two-toned.  The top was blonde, and the bottom layers were so dark and brassy and Brian described them as a barbeque color.  With a lot of work Brian was able to get the dark color blonde and integrated the two colors together to make a really nice sheitel.



Brian has worked with a lot of kallahs (brides) coordinating and integrating their wigs that they first buy upon getting married.  Brian has had a lot of girls come in extremely unhappy with their first wigs.  He works with their wigs to get them to their desired color.

Brian's work is very affordable and he guarantees his work.  If his customer is unhappy after a few weeks he says they can bring it back and he will keep tweaking the color until they are happy.
Brian said, “I may not be the best colorist in the world but no one can do a sheitel better than me”.  He believes his craft is so unique that he can spot his work out of a crowd from across a large room.

LA Ladies: Give him a try!  To all my other readers, he has a PO Box and is happy to do color work through the mail.  He does not cut.  He only does color.  I hope he realizes that his number is going to be ringing off the hook soon =)

Brian
(310) 499-6836

Brian Sheitel Colorist Los Angeles

Ombre Effect Sheitel

Sheitel trends in the US tend to follow trends in the regular hair industry.  Usually wig styles err towards the slighly more conservative, but certain "risky" styles have persevered.  For example, a few years ago women were buying really short bobbed wigs while Victoria Beckham had the style.  However the trend ended, her hair is now longer and many sheitel companies are liquidating their very short wigs because they have many left over that no one wanted to buy full price. 

Following hair trends can be risky for the wig wearer.  Cut the wig too short, and there's nothing you can do to grow it back.  Add bangs? Once bangs are cut, there's no going back.  (A temporary option for bangs is to actually buy a separate bangs piece and clip it in when you want to wear a bang/fringe style)
Then there are hair color trends.  For years the only types of hair color were solid (full wig dyed) or highlights/lowlights (thin strands or thick chunks colored a different color).  Now the color-blocking trend in fashion as crossed into the sheitel industry:
Ombre Hair.  Ombré is a French word meaning gradient, and was a method for dying fabric so the color ranges gradually from light to dark.  When done right this method of hair color can mimic nature, in that the ends are lighter than the roots and gradually change color as if you hair has grown that way.  It allows for more time between appointments, as opposed to the "dark roots look"  that many women with colored hair have.  Ombre done right can be amazing and truly a work of hair coloring art. 

I think it looks most natural when the gradient range is limited.  For example, a dark brown #2 might naturally range to a reddish #6 but its unlikely she could have had naturally light blonde hair.  I think this style can look very natural on dirty blondes whose hair can naturally get lighter in the sun.  However, doing any color on a sheitel is risky, considering most sheitels are made of dyed hair nowadays so they may not react properly to the chemicals.  And once the trend is over, correcting the color will cause even more damage. 
The ombre dying process takes skill.  The color (or lift) at the ends has to be applied the longest, to get the lightest color, while the pieces in between should be applied for varying times as to make a natural gradient.
But here is a picture of the ombre sheitel which was spotted in the USA.  What do you guys think of the trend?

Wig with Ombre Effect

Chavi crashes Shaina Wigs sale

Shaina Wigs came to town.  I decided to go to the sale to see what Shaina Wigs had to offer.  The representative brought SO many wigs to the sale.  Unfortunately, since they were brought from NY they were mostly in suit cases so it was hard to find stuff, and I couldn't even see everything unless I wanted to sift through multiple bags.  

I saw wigs in M, L, and XL.  XL fit me the best, but some L were okay.  M was definitely too small for me.  I was mainly interested in seeing what Shaina wigs were like.  Shaina Wigs are made from Mongolian Hair, and the representative was open about announcing that when asked at the sale, which I appreciated.  (some brands are elusive about the origin of their hair) 

I felt there was a wide range in the quality, feel and look of the wigs.  Some looked really natural while others looked very processed and dyed.  Some had a shine to them that was so shiny that they almost looked like synthetics, but I knew they were processed human hair.  I felt the dark #2 wig I tried on looked very good and felt really soft and silky.  However the lighter wigs ranged in quality.  

I think its probably obvious that it would be rare to find a Mongolian person with naturally long blond hair, or even short blond hair.  Therefore, I feel its safe to assume that the lighter colors are dyed.  I tried on a really long ashy light brown wig that was 24 inches.  It was so long that I was almost in disbelief.  People at the sale felt the color looked good on me, but I couldn't get over the uncut length, it would be hard for me to walk around in such a long wig.  Also, there is something about the way it reflects light that I didn't like. 

Then I started to be really into the "Rivkie" color combination fall, which is what they call their mixed blond.  I tried on two different Rivkie falls, one around shoulder length, and the other that was probably about 20".  I liked the shorter one, but it was too small on my head.  I felt the hair quality was much finer versus the long blonde fall that was a little thicker and hence heavier.  The colors were also slightly different, as you will be able to tell in the album below.  

The caps were closed wefts with a large multi-directional white-part top.  The falls did not have a multi-directional cap.  

Their prices are reasonable compared to many other sheitel companies in the NY area.  I didn't ask about warranty, so I have no idea.  They are willing to ship wigs to people around the country, so it could be an option for people who live "out of town".  However, because there is a large range in quality among the wigs I would recommend hand-picking the wig you want after comparing it to others in the same color/length range.  

These type of wigs (factory produced wigs from China made from Mongolian hair) are becoming very common in the sheitel industry and are selling around Shaina's price point.  I get a lot of questions about new wig brands often.  Usually its some sheitel macher who throws her name on a sheitel like these and starts selling a new "brand".  I usually tell my readers the same thing: its possible to find a quality wig at these prices made of Mongolian hair, but you have to pick a good piece since they are all made from different people's hair.  Also, there are so many brands so find a brand that has good quality control and that perhaps has a warranty in the case of a lemon.  

This is a link to Shaina's price page showing the lengths.
These are very long wigs for their prices.  So I guess if you are really particular about length and wear a dark color, this wig may work for you.  Its possible even a blonde could last awhile, but I'm sure as quality varies from piece to piece.  I did not buy anything.  Not because I wasn't tempted, but because I do not need a new sheitel right now. 

Haircovering in Israel

Sorry for my long summer vacation from posting.  First we had a trip to Israel, then we had Rosh Hashana.. and I am still busy with the holidays until mid-Octiber.  I hope to bring more sheitel Q&A as well as new videos in the coming months!!!
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I was fortunate enough to take a vacation to Israel (Eretz Yisroel) this summer.  As a wig freak, it was a unique opportunity to survey the situation on the ground.  I thought I'd share some observations about Israel in general.
First of all, it seems that high-end modular strollers are the norm here (in affluent urban areas).  I was shocked by how many Bugaboos I saw.  There were also a lot of strollers similar to the bugaboo (bassinet style on all terrain wheels)  by European brands that are not sold in the USA.  So either people spend a lot of money on strollers because they can, or because its a necessity.  I figured it would make sense to have a nice stroller if you are a one or no car family and you spend most of your time walking.  Either way, it contrasted with any idea in my mind about Israel being less affluent then the US, certainly there are wealthy people there now, but I also know that there are very poor people in Israel, I just was not in their neighborhoods on this trip.
Another strange thing that really bothered me was that I saw infant car seats placed in the front passenger seats of cars.  I prayed to G-D that those cars did not have passenger-side airbags.  But even if they didn't, I couldn't comprehend why someone would put their infant in danger like that when there was a perfectly good and safer backseat available in the car.  People are more lax about car seats and safety in general there.  We rented a car but did not pick it up until after our first shabbos so when the taxi driver picked us up at the airport he was shocked as I meticulously installed our car seats into the car.  
Onto the hair coverings.  As a whole, I saw very few women wearing sheitels in Israel.  We went to the Ramat Gan safari and I would say that 90% of attendants were religious, yet I only saw one sheitel in the entire zoo.  (she was Lubavitch)  Most women wore scarves, tichels, mitpachot, snoods, hats, etc.  Maybe it was because it was hot, or maybe its because women in Israel are not as limited to wear only sheitels.  I feel in Israel the general population knows what it means when they see a woman dressed modestly in a skirt with a head covering.  They know she is a religious Jewish woman.  In the United States, especially in "out of town" communities, if you are wearing a scarf people think (g-d forbid) that maybe you have been undergoing chemo treatment.  Sometimes hippie type people would compliment my tichels and ask where I got them because they looked cool and ethnic.  Either way, wearing a scarf makes you stand out from the general population.  Wearing a hat can look normal at certain times of the year, but hats look better with some hair coming out, so either you are also wearing a hat fall or you are showing some hair which many frum women will not do. 
In contrast, in Israel, what type of covering not only says you are a frum woman, but it tells other WHAT kind of Jewish woman you are and tells the observer which community you are in.  For example, I saw some covered sheitels and obviously chasidish dressed ladies.  I whispered to my DH "that is a covered sheitel! they are chasidish" he was like... "so?"
Then there are all types of different scarves.  If you wear a snood with all hair covered, versus showing a centimeter.  A pre-tied scarf accompanied by black attire and tights signifying someone Charedi versus a huge wrapped turbanish scarf with sandals identifying you as a settler perhaps.  Then there are the many women who are dati leumi or dati lite covering partial hair.  I saw everything from short hair out of a hat, to women who just wear a small headband as a head covering.  Some dati leumi wear tichels that cover all hair except an inch or so along the hairline, all these things just identify community and personal standards. 
I saw a few beautiful sheitels.  I was at the kinyon ayalon near Bnei Brak and from afar I saw this beautiful young lady dressed modesty in a skirt and 3/4 length sleeve high neck collar T shirt pushing a stroller and I said to myself, "Is she not covering her hair?" yet I knew that the hair was so pretty it must be a sheitel.  As she got closer I realized she was integrating her sheitel in the most interesting way.  She didn't pull her hair over the top of the sheitel, it was as if an inch of bang was just side parted just the right way to mask the hairline of the sheitel and make it seem like it was her hairline.  I wanted to stop her and ask who her sheitel macher is, but then I remembered that everyone speaks Hebrew and I speak English.
Motzi Shabbos (Saturday night) in Jerusalem near Ben Yehuda/Yaffo street near the new light-rail line, I saw the most sheitels of the trip.  Young women out with their husbands in their sheitels,some pushing strollers,  I thought to myself "I bet they are American and her husband is studying in kollel".  Young married women out together for a girls night out, all sorts of interesting people to watch.  It was a good feeling though, to see all types of Jews, and arabs, out together at the same cafes and restaurants.
While I was in the shop Bandana trying to buy apron tichels, headbands, scarves, pretieds and hats as fast as possible while my husband waited with both strollers outside I felt a serious achdus (Jewish unity-ness) with all of the women in the shop, even though some wore hats over exposed hair, some wore snoods, some wore covered sheitels (a young chasidish girl was trying on pillbox hats on her above shoulder length dark brown sheitel and I wanted to take a picture so badly but realized that is creepy)  As for me, I wore my sheitel (band fall) a total of one time during my entire two-week journey, when we visited distant cousins in kfar Chabad.  I figured it was the most respectful thing to do, considering all Lubavitchers wear sheitels.  I am not sure if the women in Kfar Chabad know about my blog, but its true, AskChavi was there, incognito!  The cousins were so amazed that I knew so much about sheitels and was downright obsessed, but that's another story.  Otherwise, I felt comfortable in scarves and hats throughout Israel, which made me realize that maybe Israel really is home....

"Bandana" on King George in Jerusalem

Wig Review: FeatherLite Sheitel

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.

Interview with Isadore Sternhill

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 sheitel macher 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.

Review: Milano Collection Pony Sheitel

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.

Wig Review: Michal Wigs Band Fall

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.

Milano Collection LA Showroom Tour

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??