This is the second part of tips from expert shaitel macher, Gitel Rosenzweig. In the first “Advice From a Shaitel Macher”, Gitel shares tips for choosing a stylist and a wig.

In this portion, you’ll see how much you should really spend on your wig and more advice on purchasing one:

-How to budget:

Mothers making weddings always ask me: “Why should I spend tons of money if she doesn’t really know what she wants?” My answer is the same every time: “Getting cheap wigs is an expensive lesson in what she doesn’t want!” Expensive wigs have the potential to change with the ties and with the kallahs taste over time. I do believe you get what you pay for and mothers who’s budget properly will be giving their daughters a higher probability of being and staying happy with their wigs for an extended period of time.

Again, research is so important here, but everything you hear has to be taken with a grain of salt. People love to brag about what a great deal they got on their wig, but when asking around about prices remember to check if the cut was included, as that can add a couple of hundred dollars to the price. The current going prices for “virgin” (unprocessed) european hair are from $1200 (shortest) to $3000 (very long) depending on length. There are more expensive places where you are paying strictly for reputation and slightly cheaper, but as a general rule, if you find something for less, its for lesser quality hair. Those lesser quality wigs can include more processed european hair or asian sources, which might be an appropriate texture or budget for some. As a general rule, they are not a compromise in contructiona nd can often be found in many size options so the only real compromise is the quality and the life-span of the hair. These wigs are often advertised for $400 (shortest) to $1000 (long) but can also go up to $1500 for really long lengths or once you’re finished with the fit and cut.

Obviously these price ranges are extremely wide because they carry a lot of variables: of course the length will affect your prices, especially in more expensive higher quality hair, but also prices are going to vary from hat fall to full fall to full sheitel based on the amount of hair included in the wig. The most important thing to remember when budgeting is to keep an open mind and finish your research before you decide a final price.

-How to choose a wig:

The biggest considerations for a kallah (in any price level) must be: color, fit and texture. Kallahs who have never colored their hair often have notoriously colorful hair because their hair gets to see the sun through many seasons and takes on different shades and natural highlights. The best color to match for these kallahs is usually not their darkest root color, as that will make her face look pale and washed out or even witchy and overwhelming.  The lightest color found on their heads, ususally the tips of their ends, is also not going to look good, but will be too light, look oxidized before she even gets married, and be too huge a contrast to her hair in six months when her hair starts getting darker.  The best color to look for is a match to the middle color, most often the color directly surrounding her face, or immediately near the eyes and cheeckbones. A talented colorist can take a wig that is an exact match to the root color and make some very subtle thin highlight which can simulate the lighter areas of her head without looking streaky.  Girls who have colored their hair are actually a little less color sensistive, as their color goes through different shades and grows out occasionally, so that any of the many colors they have experienced, plus a little highlighting will probably blend with their own hair just fine.  Reds and blondes are often the most color sensitive and ususally have the hardest time finding an exact color match so they take the most searching. 

How a wig fits is to be considered next on the list, but this is not limited to simply small, medium and large caps. While kallahs have to go through the transition to wearing something on their heads daily, they will definitely be miserable if it is just plain uncomfortable.  There are several different types of construction, with some on stretch nets with machine sewn hair or hand tied strands and other vaiables. Each different manufacturer may offer different types, and some distinctly shaped heads may need one type of cap, while other shapes and sizes may get better coverage from and entirely different construction.  If a kallah is just not finding anything that feels right to her, it might pay to research how the wig is constructed and find other manufacturers who offer other options. 

Finally a wig must be similar to the texture of the kallahs hair.  girls who have very straight, thin fine hair will just never look right in a wig with thick wavy hair.  It will always be overwhelming and even considered frizzy to her.  Unless she is terribly sick of her hair and has been trying all of her life to fix, perm and fill up her own hair to make it what its not, she will never quite feel like herself.  The same goes for girls who have terribly curly hair: they will only really love a very straight wig if they have been relaxing and fighting with their curls for all their lives.  Finding a wig with a similar texture to your own hair will also allow you to get it cut similiarly to your own cut, as hair of the same texture will behave similarly with the same layers. 

(Gitel is the one who put these feather hair extensions in my wig! Read more about it here!)

About Gitel Rosenzweig: Gitel has been in the wig styling business for over 10 years working with all types of wigs, including her own special line of custom designed wigs and falls. Using only the finest hair and years of experience, she works with every individual face to make you look your best. Gitel Wigs is located at a convenient location in Flatbush. She can be reached at (718) 758-1022 or (347) 262-7443.