Everyday life with wigs

[DeeDee]

Hi folks, as someone who went bald before they were 20, it took me a while to come to grips with the concept that wearing wigs wasn't just putting on another costume. I hid behind my baldness as an obvious marker of my masulinity.

My family and friends all know that I am (to quote one of them, "bald as a coot") but I know I would have to feel super confident in myself to walk around as a bald woman and after the initial shock they are all actually quite jealous of my ability to change my hair style and colour depending on the situation. I am trying to prepare for the day, hopefully soon, when I live as myself all the time.

I ignore the hairnets because they achieve nothing for me and simply place the wig straight on, because it's been my experience that once the back is tucked down at the knape it won't come off in a strong wind if it is tightened properly, but they can and do get itchy after a while which sees me going to the loo to take it off and readjust.

 

My questions are more about day to day living full time.

 

Do you put your wig on as soon as you get out of bed, and take it off just before sleeping?

Do you keep it on around family/friends that have known you as bald, or remove it when relaxing?

What do you do for sports/gyms/beaches/swimming?

How do you cope with hot summers and sweating?

Do you wear hats or beanies over your wigs and how do you remove them in public without that awkward slippage moment?

Do you have multiple "everyday" wigs so that you do not change your hairstyle too frequently?

Do you display your wigs on stands or keep them folded in the bags they came in?

Do you have a "hair care" routine?

 

I'm sure I had other questions, but these are the ones I could remember off the top of my head (sorrynotsorry) so please feel free to add questions to this as well as answers. 😊

[KathyLauren]

I, too, need a wig when I am out in public.  I don't wear one at home.  My wife is used to how I look without it, and not wearing it avoids the wear and tear, and the discomfort.  When I am working outdoors, I wear a hat.  Our neighbours are good friends, and I don't mind appearing bald-headed in front of them, if they show up unexpectedly, though I prefer to wear a hat or wig if I know they are coming.

 

Generally, hats and wigs don't mix.  I have one summer sun hat that I can wear over a wig, and one winter knitted beret that I can remove without disturbing the wig by turning it inside out.

 

I have wondered what those of us who are thin on top do at gyms and swimming pools.  So far, the opportunity hasn't presented itself.  I will watch this thread for suggestions.

 

[Niamh]

On those days I present as a woman (about half the week) my wig is the last thing to go on after I have got up, had breakfast, showered and applied makeup. Doing makeup with a wig on is just not feasible.  Going to bed is a reverse of that process. 

 

I keep a wig on throughout the day until bed time including when I am at home.

 

While I am not bald I don't have much hair and I keep it short at around Grade 3 cut so I also don't wear any wig caps. However for my more expensive wig which is actually more scratchy than my cheap ones I use a wig band to keep it in place and it stops the itching. Something like this...

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreamlover-Elastic-Headband-Adjustable-Velour/dp/B07TQCJ2MZ/ref=dp_prsubs_3?pd_rd_i=B07TQCJ2MZ&psc=1

 

I tend not to participate in sports/gyms/beaches/swimming activities when being a woman (actually I probably don't participate much in them when being a man either!) Were I to do so however I would probably look at getting a wig from this site... https://www.headscarvesbyciara.co.uk/gym-swim-headband-wigs

 

I have no problem with my head getting too hot in a wig in summer. I have to wear a hat even if I'm not wearing a wig as I burn too easily even with the hair that remains. I actually find the far cheaper wigs I get from Amazon to be less itchy and scratchy than the more expensive wigs I've got. Once I find one I like I buy 2 or 3 so one can be washed and dried while I wear another.

 

My active wigs live on some lightweight stands, but others live in their original bags.

 

There is a very good post on this site for keeping care of wigs...

 

https://www.transgenderpulse.com/forums/index.php?/topic/78605-sallys-wig-care-regimen/&tab=comments#comment-704860

 

 

[Charlize]

I made the decision to simply wear a wig most of the time.  I do take mine off before going to bed.  I found that shaving my head helps keep my wig secure and in don't have bits of remaining hair "pop" out.  

My family and friends with the exception of my wife haven't seen my chrome dome for many years now.

 When swimming i basically keep my head above water not that i have the opportunity to swim very often.

 I cope with seating by simply being uncomfortable although when working outside on the farm i sometimes use a bandana wrapped around my head and a sun hat instead of a wig.

I have used the same style and color of wig for years now.  i simply like the look. It feels like me.  I have good wig and a work wig of the same style and rotate as needed.

My wig gets dropped in an open box at days end.

I wash my work wig pretty often as it needs that.  The "good" one less often as washing seems to remove some of its style.

As to having it come off with a hat.  I use a scarf wrapped around my head when using my motorcycle.  It looks cute and keeps the wig secure.

Hope that helps.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

 

[Sally Stone]

Dee Dee, there are quite a few women who are bald; it's not just the trans community.  You should visit a support site for bald women or one that supports women with alopecia.  A really comprehensive site is:

 

https://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org/

 

Searching here might answer some of your questions.  

[Carolyn Marie]

I put my wig on after getting dressed, and take it off at bedtime and put it on a wig stand.  After a walk or when its hot, I'll take it off in the house until I can cool off and dry my head.

 

On windy days or if I'm doing something like riding in a boat, I wear a hat with a strap so I can be sure the wig will stay on.  The thought of it flying off into the ocean terrifies me.  . 

 

I do exercise with the wig on, but I have yet to go in the water with it.  I think it would be fine for wading in a pool or sitting in a Jacuzzi, but I think my swimming days are over.

 

I have two wigs of different styles, and switch them when one gets dirty or sweaty, or smells like BBQ ribs.    I wash them about once every two weeks.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Billie75B]

I am so glad this topic has come up as I to am hair challenged and have been trying differant styles trying to find something that looks natural on me. 

[Charlize]

i had to laugh at the barbecued ribs comment 😄

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Carolyn Marie]

Just one more general comment:  since 2020 I have experienced very long delays in obtaining new wigs on order, due to supply chain issues.  Many if not most wigs come from Asia.  In one case it took four months!

 

Carolyn Marie

[Jackie C.]

8 hours ago, DeeDee said:

Do you put your wig on as soon as you get out of bed, and take it off just before sleeping?

Do you keep it on around family/friends that have known you as bald, or remove it when relaxing?

What do you do for sports/gyms/beaches/swimming?

How do you cope with hot summers and sweating?

Do you wear hats or beanies over your wigs and how do you remove them in public without that awkward slippage moment?

Do you have multiple "everyday" wigs so that you do not change your hairstyle too frequently?

Do you display your wigs on stands or keep them folded in the bags they came in?

Do you have a "hair care" routine?

 

Well for me...

 

• Yes.
• Yes.
• Gyms yes. Swimming no. It makes my dysphoria shut up. I HAVE used a bandana instead but I don't like having my bald head on display.
• Sometimes and I'm really dexterous.
• Yes.
• They're on display in the bedroom.
• Yes. Once they start to get dirty, I wash and condition them.

 

Hugs!

[Sally Stone]

I wear synthetic wigs exclusively and I have taught myself how to get the most out of them.  Bottom line, you have to treat them with a lot of care.  Here are some of the things I do to prolong the life of my wigs:

• don't use product on them
•  brush or style with your fingers or a wig brush (one that doesn't pull the fibers)
• let them air dry before putting them away
• detangle (very gently) before putting away - I use a warm air brush
• I found one style I really love - so bought several of that wig in various colors

I don't think synthetic wigs would a good choice for swimming or working out.

[DeeDee]

Thanks for all the answers and advice ladies. I appreciate the insights.👩‍🦲👱‍♀️

[Kelly2509]

OK since this is something I have just recently begun and got a lot of tips from the specialty salon I got it at, here are some thoughts:

 

I don't currently wear mine all day, but that is mostly a logistics thing.  It's dead of winter here and my winter hat is snug to the point where I can't put it on or taker it off without taking the hair with it so I usually wait until I am done walking the dog, shoveling snow, etc.  So i wear mine about half the day currently, but ask again once the weather warms up (I plan on living in it!) 

 

As for care, I was told at the end of the day to give it a spritz of synthetic hair detangler and slowly run a wide tooth comb through it in small strokes from the bottom up and then store it on a stand that will allow it to air dry.  I was also given a synthetic hair-specific shampoo and conditioner and told I should wash it once every 7-8 days assuming I would be wearing it all day every day.  Mine is also a topper and involves a lot of my own hair, so when I put mine on I have a serum that I put on my fingertips and basically finger-comb my hair and the topper together to blend them better.

 

I can wear it for sweaty things like working out, mowing the lawn and so on, but it will mean needing a wash sooner and cause more wear and tear so currently I'm opting for hats and whatnot for things like that.  She did say that eventually once this one gets more worn out and needs to be replaced she can recondition it so that I could have the new "good" one and this one can be the "rough service" one.  That kind of setup will extend the lives of both since my first one will have a second lease on life and I won't be putting the new one through as much which will extend it's lifespan as well.

 

For swimming I was told that bonded systems are fine for just about anything (she mentioned one gal who is a scuba diver) but those are very expensive.  For the synthetic option I went with swimming is a no-no.  I usually use a balaclava that i got at a running store and wear it like a swim cap.

[Jamie68]

Thanks. Some great tips here. I'm a newbe to wigs. ❤️

[VickySGV]

6 hours ago, Kelly2509 said:

slowly run a wide tooth comb through it in small strokes from the bottom up

 

I no longer wear wigs much, but from the days I was wearing them, (and still do when I wear one) this is the care technique I was taught for them. My instructor on wig care for synthetic wigs had us take the wig by the BACK of the wig cap and had us go from ends of the fiber to the cap ans then holding it at the forehead piece and doing the ends to cap routine and then putting on a good wig stand.