Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Linda Rollins on March 16, 2011 at 10:55am

Wow Pat, really, although I've only had mine about 5 months I'm not loosing much hair thank God!!!, i don't brush it at all, i use a wide tooth come to get the tangles out then a smaller tooth to comb it. I also bought some wig spray to give it a little luster at times. I still need to get it cut again because its just too much hair for me, especially in my face and I don't like using hair spray to hold it because i know that will make it break. I know i should wash it weekly as indicated but i'm just not use to doing that yet, because you know real black hair doesn't get washed that often so its going to take some getting use to. Its definately an investment, i agree 100%. Not sure what other advise to offer you except maybe stop brushing it.

Permalink Reply by Sequoia a.k.a. Cookie on May 30, 2011 at 4:30pm

Hmmm, When I had a full head of hair (years ago) I washed my hair weekly, either myself or my mom. Only time that didn't happen was when I had went to the beauty salon and it was styled in some up due that couldn't be wash. Otherwise it was. When I started seeing a dermatologist about my hair loss, I washed every day (as they suggested). Didn't help obviously. :/

Permalink Reply by Sharon on March 16, 2011 at 12:41pm

Hi Pat I can certainly understand your concerns as our daughter has had the same thing happen........she is 14 and her first freedom wig is now in for it's second repair!..............she has had it just over 2 years =( We figured out that because she has grown so much during this time that when she laughed it felt like the suction was breaking and she would push down on the top to reposition it which in turn caused mechanical breakage.........I understand your frustration as apart from the cost for Nicole it was more the stress of having to send her only freedom piece back and having to go into her old hairpiece which she was NOT happy about. Hopefully she has stopped growing now and will take better care of her new hair piece..........I do find myself nagging her when I see her resting her head against the couch or lying on the floor (which is sad because I feel these are things that everyone else does hence I try not to remind her too much........she knows)

Some things we do like brush our hair back we do without even knowing........perhaps ask someone to observe you during a day to see if you do anything that you are unaware of. Nicoles hair pieces also loose the lustre of their original colour it is like normal hair it happens, when that does happen we get a colour put through it (one of the things we love about freedom hair =)

Anyway take care I hope it all works out for you.
Cheers Sharon

Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on March 17, 2011 at 5:21pm

Hi Pat

I can fully understand how distressing this is for you. When you get a Freedom hairpiece it really does just become part of you (a necessity).

I would like you to ring your IA (is that Debbie) and have another chat. As it is so important that Debbi and you are able to work out what may be causing the issues you are having. If you can find out the cause then Debbi can help to make sure this doesn't happen any longer. Debbi is such a good IA I'm absolutely sure you both can get to the bottom of this problem. Which will alleviate the worry you are currently having.

Pat, have you received the DVD explaining mechanical breakage. If not ask Debbi to send it to you as I think it helps explain things and may help you get to the bottom of this problem

Please don't be unduly worried as once you and Debbi have worked out what may be causing the problems your hairpiece can be sent in to be restored (talk to Debbi about what this would mean to you and your hairpiece :)). Do you currently have just one Freedom hairpiece at the moment? As Sharon has said... this can be an anxious time if that is the case.

Feel free to pop in and contact me if you are still concerned after chatting with your IA.

Rosy

Permalink Reply by Carmen West on March 24, 2011 at 10:02pm

Hi Pat,
As a hairdresser that cuts ans styles vacuum hairpieces, some of the pieces lose hair, even when you are being gentle with the piece. I have seen a Gripper Secure that looks great and no tape or glue, you can even swim, they don't seam to have this problem. Now for your problem with dull looking hair. When you shampoo, fill the sink with tepid water and add the shampoo to water. Clean the vacuum from the ends to the scalp. Then rinse thoroughly. The vacuum pieces need to rinsed and rinsed to make sure you get all the shampoo out. If the shampoo is not rinsed out and the hair dries it looks dull. Now that you have done that, it is time to condition. Again you need to fill sink with tepid water add some conditioner to wet hands and work it from the ends but not all the way to the scalp leave on 3 to 5 minutes, use a wide tooth come to detangle. Again, rinse, rinse, rinse. Shampoo and conditioner that is not rinsed makes the hair dull. I like to use the DermOrganic products Shampoo, Masque and the leave in Argan oil. This is the rule, ends to almost the scalp. I sometimes wonder if the shampoo and conditioner can cause the hair to soften and come out of the vacuum. The last repaired vacuum I cut back into a style the lady told me it took 6 months to get her piece repaired. Hope some of this is helpful to you,
Carmen West, Hairdresser

Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on May 29, 2011 at 9:46pm

Carmen

You are a hairdresser and also a Sales Representative for the Gripper hairpiece. I don't believe those that wear Freedom hairpieces have used your services, so I'm not sure if you are really qualified to comment on this type of hairpiece.

I will take your post as I hope it was meant (which was to help Pat).

I fully understand the vacuum hairpiece you are working with, and it's inherent qualities are different from the freedom silicone vacuum piece.

Thanks

Rosy

Permalink Reply by Carmen West on May 30, 2011 at 10:45am

My concern is that all hairpieces that are Freedom or other companies are treated correctly. Yes ,I do sell Grippers. But the need to take care of the all human hair prosthesis gently. Since I wrote you last the best way to clean the vacuum piece is not to add the shampoo and conditioner to the scalp full strength. All those hairs are injected and any thing that can soften is not good. Just because I sell for another company, doesn’t mean that I don’t care about other alopecians and how they care for there hairpieces. I have cut the Freedom vacuum pieces. I have been cutting and styling Freedom vacuum prosthesis for a number of years. Please email or if I can be of any help. Carmen West, Hairdresser, cwestgb@aol.com

Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on May 30, 2011 at 3:52pm

As I said, I hoped that your post was a positive one to help Pat with her actual question and you have reiterated that it is. Which is nice.

Catch you at Naaf.

Rosy

Permalink Reply by Carmen West on May 30, 2011 at 4:30pm

Rose, please come by to see me at NAAF. I am raising money for a client to get a vacuum piece. I am selling Headbands from Blair Sophia, the headband you never outgrow. I will also be doing hair cuts for donations of $25 or more while at the Peggy knight Solutions booth. I am hoping to raise $1,000 to Help Andrea Garner, of Dallas ,TX. If we raise more money than expected, there is a single mother in St Cloud, FL for the extra money. If you would like to see the headbands go to www.blairesophia.bigcartel.com .

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Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on May 30, 2011 at 4:54pm

Well, isn't she so precious :) Bless her wee cotton sock. I will definately pop down and say hi Carmen.

:)

Rosy

Permalink Reply by Carmen West on May 30, 2011 at 5:58pm

Look forward to meeting you at NAAF. I live in FL where do you live?

I have been working with alopecians before I started with Peggy Knight Solutions. The on the job training with wigs and human hairpieces since 1965.

See you in a few weeks.
Carmen

Permalink Reply by Joan on July 29, 2011 at 6:36am

Hi Pat, I was reading your post and thought this might help. I don't have alopecia, do have a couple of friends with alopecia. I had cancer and was lucky enough to get a FW, I wore it everyday for 10 months, just loved it. I didn't use a brush on my FW at all, just large comb with wide soft wavy 'teeth' , worked a treat and no hair loss. washed my 'hair' every week using Schwarzkopf Bonacure Repair Rescue shampoo and then the conditioner. Was taught to wash my hair under a spray faucet,or the shower, add a little shampoo to the top and using my large comb, comb the shampoo through, basically told, "let the water do the work", combing under the faucet until all the shampoo is out, towel dry your hair, not rubbing it, just wrap it in a towel and pat it. Leave it for about 5 minutes then take towel off and apply about palm full of the conditioner. Carefully work in conditioner through the hair, not into the scalp. leave for 5 minutes, again rinse off doing the same with the comb under the warm running water. This way you can see when all the conditioner it out, really easy. Towel dry, just wrap it in the towel and pat it to get out the excess water, then I put it on, and I just loved the feel of damp hair round my face again. Always looked good, and when dry, give a quick spray with Schwarzkopf Repair and Gloss Spray.
I read somewhere here on AW where someone said to fill a basin of water with shampoo, immerse in the water and wash it that way, I was taught not to do that, - no need to soak the cap, and the same with the conditioner, You just want to condition the hair, not the base. Anyway do hope this helps, My friend Bev, also washes her 'hair' like me and she has had her 'hair' for 4 years, still looks great.