Ways To Minimize The Appearance Of Thinning Hair

Hair loss can be a devastating experience for many people. Our society today puts great emphasis on personal appearance and those with hair loss often feel unacceptable.

There are several ways to treat the appearance of thinning hair. Wearing a wig or hairpiece is one way, using a “shake on” hair product such as Toppik, or a “paint on” product such as DermMatch is another, but the most dangerous way is to use hair extensions.

There are several different ways to apply hair extensions to your hair, sewing the extensions onto corn row braids, clipping the extension onto your own hair with small comb clips, applying glue to a “weft” and gluing it to your scalp and hair, and using glue to glue small sections of loose hair extensions onto your own hair. All of these methods have one thing in common; all put more weight on the hair shaft than that hair shaft was grown to handle. This is not a good thing, and why, you may ask? Because you are risking pulling your hair out by the roots. This condition is called Traction Alopecia and is frequently a permanent loss of hair. Your hair is already thin, so why would you risk making the problem worse by using extensions?

There are those who don’t want to wear a full wig, and for those, there is another option called an “integration wig”. This type of wig is made so that the wearer can pull their own hair through spaces between the wefts and blend their own hair with the integration wig. This is a very safe method to add volume to your own hair and you can do it yourself!

Please watch the videos at the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwDPdOVeRuA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueInauf8kWo

After watching, if you have questions, please feel free to email me at

kbelk@belkwigs.com

Thanks for watching!

Kimberly

What shape am I?

Once upon a time, a good friend got her hair cut and I just couldn't bring myself to tell her that the style she had chosen was simply not right for her face. We've all had that experience at one time or the other. We see a style in a magazine, or on a favorite celebrity, and think to ourselves, "wow, if my hair was cut like that, I'd be just as attractive as her!". Sometimes it works out, often it doesn't. So how do you know what style will look good on you? Read on!

First, you need to know what shape face you have. To determine your facial shape, comb your hair as straight back on the top and sides as possible and secure it with a headband or bobby pins. Take a close-up picture of yourself with a digital camera and upload it to your computer. Print the picture and outline the edges of your face at your hairline with a marker. If you don't have a digital camera and can print the picture out, simply stand in front of the mirror, about a foot away, and draw the outline of your face on the mirror.

Once you have your drawing, compare your facial shape to the drawings below, or you can visit our page at Belk Wigs Online FAQs


OVAL FACE Oval is considered by many to be the ideal, most versatile facial shape. This shape can wear any design with flair and just about any style will suit this balanced shape. An "updo", or any other style that pulls the hair back, shows off the oval face best. A classic style for the oval face is center or just off center parted, and shoulder length. For those who prefer short hair, layered styles with curls and a close longer neckline flatter the oval shape.


SQUARE FACE You know you have a square face by its angular jaw and square brow, and the jaw and brow are nearly in width. Soften the edges of the jawline and minimize the squareness of your brow by wearing hairstyles which emphasize the mid-line of the face. Directing soft, wispy bangs (never heavy or straight bangs) and soft waves at the temple will soften the squareness. Long hair should fall to, or past the shoulders and have some layers with loose curls or waves. Styles that direct hair forward onto the face will reduce the sharpness and the length should be just below the chin line for those preferring a shorter style, or as noted about, fall to or past the shoulder. A beveled edge to the ends will allow the hair to turn under at the bottom and give a more narrow look to the jawline. If pulled up, play with wisps of hair around the face, especially at temples and at jawbone. For a short style, keep hairstyle round and soft with height at the crown. A mid-length, shag, fluff back or curly style works well with square faces

ROUND FACE This face has more definition at the cheek line extending back towards the ears. Styles that flatter this shape create an oval appearance, lift and narrow the face. This can be accomplished by styles that have height at the crown to create length to the face. If the style is short and above the chin, an off center part with wispy bangs to the side works best. If the style is below the chin line, a center part without bangs is best. Styles that are below the chin should be styled close to the face.
Keep sides close to the face to promote height at the crown. Avoid straight bangs and pulling hair straight back. A gamin (boy cut), shag, or mid-length style looks great with this facial shape.



RECTANGULAR OR OBLONG FACE There are very few differences in width from the top to the bottom the rectangular face; however it is softer than the square face. Width and volume at the sides of the face and near the temples soften the angles in this shape. A low side part with long sweeping bangs to the side look great when just touching the brows and help to shorten a long shaped face. If your face is long, straight bangs, or bangs blended into the sides of your hair will create a shorter looking face. Suitable short styles include the wedge design and short shag. A curly bob style is the perfect look for you! Mid-length shags and page styles that fall at or above the shoulder also soften angles and look great.

REMEMBER...your hairstyle is the frame that displays your face. The goal is to accentuate your best features and minimize by your worst one. Wearing hairstyles that give the illusion of an oval facial shape is ideal.

Thank you for reading our blog today and please feel to visit our website at Belk Wigs Online You may also contact us at cs@belkwigs.com with any questions or concerns you may have about your hair.

Have an excellent day!
Kimberly Belk

Two Wigs Are Better Than One!

I sincerely hope that each of you have had a joyous season. Wow, the holidays have been a whirlwind of activity for me! Busy, busy, busy! One of the nice things about wearing a wig is the convenience when you are crunched for time. It can be a real time saver when you have your hair already styled and all you have to do is put it on and go. It is also a good idea to have two wigs of roughly the same length, style and color. And let me tell you a funny story, at least it’s funny to me now, about why having two wigs is a good idea.

A good friend was having a huge wedding about five years ago and I was rushing to get ready. My wig was already styled, my clothes laid out, so all I had to do was jump in the shower, get dressed, put on my make-up and my hair and go. While putting on my make-up, my wonderful cat Tarheel decided she wanted my attention, jumped up on the bathroom vanity and knocked my beautifully styled wig right into the toilet! Needless to say, I was quite upset and nearly cried. Fortunately, I have several different wigs, and although I wanted to have soft, wavy mid length hair to go with my outfit, at least I had some hair to wear! As I noted above, I can laugh about it now, but can you imagine how horrible it would have been if I had not had a backup wig to wear? You never know when an accident will happen, or you get caught in the rain on your way home from work on the very night you have plans for a special evening out.

Having two wigs is also beneficial to those who want to keep a consistent appearance for an extended length of time. As for me, everyone knows I wear wigs now, but in the beginning, I was embarrassed and did not want a soul to know that I had lost huge amounts of my thick, naturally curly red hair. Therefore, I understand what it feels like to want to keep your appearance as consistent as possible. Having two wigs will not only give you a ready to wear backup in case of emergency, but will also allow you to rotate the wear and tear on your wig so your “look” will last longer.

I hope you enjoyed my story and I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Always,
Kimberly
PS! New Amore Clearance Wigs on Sale! Click here to view these great deals!

Why a Poorly Constructed Remy (or any hair) Wig Is Not Worth It.

We've all made some bad purchases when it comes to hair replacement products. I know I have in the past, and only through some expensive education did I learn how to spot a poorly contructed wig. The first thing I learned to look at, when considering a wig that is wefted, is how well the hair is sewn onto the weft. Are there a lot of stray hairs at the seam? Is the "return", (where the hair is folded over the weft on the underside) even? Is the density of the hair distributed evenly along the length of the weft? Is the stitching along the weft tight, or can hair be easily pulled out?

If the wig has a monofilament top, is the underside of the mono area protected by a second layer of material? The second layer serves to protect the knots against friction from rubbing against your head, which will loosen the hair and cause it to shed more quickly. Is the hair distribution even across the monofilament area? Are the knots visible from the top? Are the knots tight and hold the hair well? What kind of fabric or material is used for the monofilament area? Silk is a very dense fabric and tends to hold the knots more tightly than nylon or polyester. Is the material soft and non-irritating?

Finally, consider how well the cap is constructed. Are the wefts evenly sewn across the cap? Are the vertical lines evenly spaced? Is there any slackness noted when comparing one vertical line against the others? Do the sides sit evenly on your head, or is one side longer than the other? Are there little stays in the sides to help mold the sides to the contour of your face? Is the nape even?

These are all questions to consider when evaluating if a wefted wig is properly constructed. Of course, there are many other types of wig caps to consider and you can view some of these options here:

examples of wig caps

We'll discuss the merits of other types of wig caps in another post. Please feel free to leave comments on your experience and how you judge the quality of a wig!

Have a blessed and wonderful day!
Kimberly
www.belkwigs.com

How to differentiate human from synthetic hair

Today's wig manufacturers are very good at making synthetic hair look and feel like human hair. When comparing a synthetic wig with a human hair wig, taking into consideration that both are made on the same style cap, are the same length and otherwise identical in every way, the main difference you will notice is the weight. Human hair weighs more. Think of an acrylic sweater versus a wool sweater... it's the same principle. Acrylic is man made, wool is made from the hair of sheep.

If the retailer will allow this, the next difference is how easily the style can be changed. A synthetic wig will not change the "curl" pattern by gentle combing, but a human hair wig can be changed easily simply by combing it a little. Try parting the wig in a different place. The synthetic wig will resist this change more so than a human hair.

Finally, if you have a really good sense of smell.... wet the hair a little bit. The synthetic will not have an odor at all, the human hair wig will smell like your own, and Yak hair can smell like a wet dog to me!

Synthetic wigs have their place in the wig industry as good options just as European hair wigs have their place. Again, the best advice I can give you is to educate yourself. Really think about why you need, or want a wig, how long you will need it and what you are willing, or able to afford to get one.

For more information, check out the answers to frquently asked questions at Belk Wigs Online

May your day be filled with joy and love!

Till next time...
Kimberly
www.belkwigs.com

What is Remy Hair?

Frequently, I am asked for "Remy", sometimes spelled "remi", hair wigs or hairpieces. This always gets a reaction from me that ranges from amused to angry. Hair replacement retailers will often use this term to indicate that the hair is a higher quality. This is not always true. Some people even think it is a racial term, and honestly, I've never seen someone who is a Remian, have you? Hair used in wigs and hairpieces can come from virtually any race, even animals called Yaks. What the term "remy" really means is that, in the processing of hair to make a wig or hairpiece, the cuticle of the hair has not been stripped completely away and the hair is kept in the direction as it grew on the head of the person from whom the hair is collected. This may or may not be a good thing.

Seen under a microscope, the hair shaft has cuticles on it that resemble how shingles lay on a roof, one after the other, down the length of the hair. When hair is being colored or permed, the cuticle must lift up to allow the color or waving solution to penetrate into hair shaft and effect the change desired. Once the color or wave has been done, the cuticle lays back down on the hair shaft, but not always completely flat, and this is where problems can arise. The cuticle layer of the hair protects the hair shaft from damage due to sun exposure, heat and pollutants in the environment.

Wig manufacturers know this to be a significant problem, and most of the hair used in the industry comes from Asian and Oriental people. The hair is commonly black or very dark brown. So what do the manufacturers do to make it blond? They remove the cuticle, and sometimes the entire cuticle is not removed. Then the batch of "stripped" hair is processed to remove the color, then processed again to become various colors. After the hair is colored, it's made into a wig or hairpiece, and conditioned so that in the store, it is soft, shiny, silky to the touch and beautiful... until it's shampooed a few times and that conditioning done at the factory has been washed away. Without that protective cuticle layer the hair can become brittle and break easily.

There are significant differences in the quality of hair used in the wig industry. The best advice I can give you is to educate yourself. Do not let yourself be intimidated by pushy salespeople who are not willing to discuss your questions or concerns with you. You have the right to know everything you want to know before you make an investment in hair replacement options.

My next posts will discuss how you can tell the difference between human and synthetic hair and how a poorly constructed "Remy" hair wig is not worth the trouble or the cost!

Blessings!
Kimberly
www.belkwigs.com

About Belk Wigs

Kimberly Belk, the chief consultant for Belk Wigs, is someone who truly understands your needs; she has suffered hair loss herself. In her efforts to solve her own problem, she learned about the many options available to treat hair loss, and tried many of those options herself. She wears a wig daily and can personally discuss how it feels to wear a wig.

Ms. Belk is a Registered Nurse. She has been a Certified Case Management Nurse (since 1993-2003) and a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (1990-2005). She has served in various capacities in her greater than twenty-year career in the medical profession, including working with cancer patients in the areas of home health, hospice and insurance case management. Kimberly continues to work as a RN full time; however she devotes as much time as possible to helping those with hair loss issues. Patience with her busy schedule will reward you with her expertise in the area of hair replacement options.

Kimberly has three goals for Belk Wigs: giving thanks to God for His love and support, providing attractive, affordable quality hair replacement options and providing education for those experiencing hair loss. Because of the trials and tribulations she has overcome with God's guidance, Kimberly is an empathetic advocate for you.

Check out our website for really good prices on exceptional quality wigs at www.belkwigs.com