Below are the 5 most recent journal entries recorded in conradkirkla819's InsaneJournal:

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
4:58 am	Synthetic Hair The next morning, my scalp was still itchy and red all over where the synthetic wig had been in contact with it. There were even some inflamed bumps along my hair line. I made an appointment with my doctor to find out what was going on. She told me that I had an allergic reaction to the material that was used to make the wig and she gave me some medicine to help treat my irritated scalp. She also told me that the reaction could be a lot worse the next time. My Experience Buying A Synthetic Wig I could not wear my favorite synthetic wig because it was finally showing too much wear and needed to be replaced. I wanted to purchase a replacement synthetic wig through the great online store where I usually shopped, but the brand and style that I wanted was out of stock on that web site. I did not have the time to wait for them to restock because I wanted to wear a synthetic wig to a party that I was going to that weekend. I decided that my only option was to go to a local beauty supply store to find and purchase my favorite synthetic wig. I had heard that the local beauty supply store carried that brand of synthetic wig and I even called to be sure that they had the exact same model that I usually bought. However, that shopping trip was the worst one that I ever experienced. When I arrived there, I did not see a single employee. I figured that they were probably in the back room putting away stock or doing some other work related task. I waited several minutes before I finally called out to see if I could get someone’s assistance in finding a synthetic wig. A gruff looking woman came from the back room and rudely asked why I was yelling in the store. I explained that I was there to purchase a synthetic wig and would like some help finding the correct model because I was unfamiliar with their store. She simply pointed at the far wall and told me that I should look there for my synthetic wig and then she walked back into the back room. I searched for my favorite wig, but could not even find anything by that manufacturer. When I called for help again, the same woman came out and said she was the only one there and she was on her break. She said that it would be about fifteen minutes before she was finished and I should wait quietly until her return. The last friend to speak about her mishap with a synthetic wig was Karen. She sat there quietly for a moment, then took a deep breath and told us her story. She said that she used to wear her favorite synthetic wig on a daily basis, but that came to an end one day when she took her daughter to preschool. She had stopped in to talk with the teacher for a moment while her daughter went to play in the dramatic play area. Suddenly, her daughter came running over with a child’s play wig on her head. She grabbed Karen’s hand and proudly told her that she was wearing a wig, too. Karen told us that she was extremely embarrassed by her daughter’s comment, but the situation actually got worse than that. Her daughter pulled off the play wig and put it in her teacher’s hand and told her to feel it because it felt funny just like the wig that her mom was wearing. My Favorite Synthetic Wig Style If I had to choose my favorite synthetic wig style, I would say that it is the Motown Tress called Rhoda. I like Rhoda because it is rather short, but it is full of nice loose curls all over it instead of being flat on the top of my head. Synthetic Hair (Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
11:51 pm	Synthetic Hair One day when I was looking at wigs online, I saw a guide to finding the right synthetic wig based on the shape of a person’s face. I followed the guide and soon I found out that I should try a short, fuller synthetic wig instead of wearing the long, straight haired wigs that I had been wearing. I browsed through the selection of wigs that I had never considered and found Rhoda. I know that I had seen this particular style many times, but I never really considered it to be something that I would want to wear. It was probably because I knew someone that had styled their natural hair that way and it did not look good to me. I was not certain that Rhoda was right for me, but I ordered one in a color that matched my own natural hair. When it arrived, I asked my best friend to come over and give me an honest opinion about how I looked while I was wearing it. She told me that Rhoda was a perfect fit for the shape of my face and that I should definitely keep it and I should wear it often. What Is A Synthetic Wig Young children will tell you that a wig is fake hair that a person wears on their head. However, they have no idea that there are differences between a synthetic wig and a human hair wig. Before they say something that could be embarrassing to someone, you might want to explain those differences. Of course, you will need to put your explanation into words that are easily understood by your children. It is best to start by giving them a little history as to why some people might decide to wear a wig and let them know that the wearers might be sad if someone pointed out that they were wearing a wig. After that, you can give them some basic facts to compare a human hair wig and a synthetic wig. Be sure your discussion of human hair wigs includes the fact that the hair comes from people that wanted to have it made into wigs and that the people were not hurt when their hair came off their heads. You would be surprised at how many children will think that the person’s skin came off with their hair because they do not understand that the hairs are attached to a wig cap. When you talk about a synthetic wig, you do not need to go through the details of the manufacturing process or otherwise complicate your explanation. Something that might help them understand is comparing a synthetic wig to the hair that is found on some baby dolls. You could tell them that sometimes a synthetic wig will look and feel a lot like the hair on the baby doll, but sometimes it might look more like the person’s own natural hair. As your child grows, you can continue to add details your description of a human hair wig and a synthetic wig. My Synthetic Wig Did Not Fit Well I decided to order my first synthetic wig from an online company, but I was not sure how to measure my head in order to get the right size. The room went silent for a split second and then it filled with laughter. Synthetic Wigs Should Not Be Gifts I do not know why anyone would think it was appropriate to give someone else a synthetic wig without first consulting the intended recipient. My sister gave me a synthetic wig for my birthday and I did not know what to do or say at first. Granted, I was going through a phase where I often wore wigs because I did not have the necessary time to fix up my own natural hair everyday, but I had certain styles of wigs that I really liked. The synthetic wig that my sister gave to me was not a style that I would have chosen on my own. To my sister, it was probably a beautiful synthetic wig, but it was way too much hair for me. I tried it on, just to be nice, and I thought that it made my head look huge. Aside from the fact that the style was not right for me, I am very partial to wigs that are made from human hair because I can do so much more with them. The synthetic wig that my sister bought for me would basically remain the same style. I told my sister that I appreciated the gift, but I would rather be able to pick out my own wig. I explained the problem with the style of the wig and the fact that it was a synthetic wig. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 30th, 2011
10:13 pm	Synthetic Wigs The absolute best way to store a synthetic wig is on a wig stand that is the right height so that the synthetic hair fibers do not drag on the surface below it. If the synthetic hair fibers drag on the surface they could become tangled and the style could be ruined. Keeping it at a proper height might be a challenge with a synthetic wig that has long hair fibers. If your wig stand is too short, you can place it on top of a small box or other item that is close to the same size as the base of the wig stand. Although some people prefer to use a mannequin head to store their synthetic wig, this is not always the best choice. If the synthetic wig is slightly damp from perspiration when it is stored on a mannequin head it might not get enough air circulation to dry properly. If a wig stand is not available, it is better to drape your synthetic wig over a tall spray can or other item that holds it at the right height. The synthetic wig and the wig stand should be placed in an area that is clean, cool, and dry in order to protect the wig from dust, heat and humidity. Something else that comes in handy when storing a synthetic wig is a wig chin strap. It will hold the wig on the wig stand even if it needs to be located to a different place in the home. Helpful Products For Synthetic Wig Owners Sometimes a person might have trouble getting their synthetic wig to stay on their head properly throughout the entire time that it is being worn. This is especially true if the person is very active and moves their head around a lot. There are several things that can be done to help keep the synthetic wig where it belongs. Transparent wig tape can be used on the underside of the wig cap to give additional hold. This type of tape is good for people that have tender skin that is irritated by some adhesives. If it is slipping because there is not enough of a tab to stick to the transparent tape, the person can sew in a special tape attachment along the base of the synthetic wig. If tape is a problem, the person that is wearing the synthetic wig could try using a gel band. These special bands are simply placed on the head so that the perimeter of the wig fits right on top. The texture of the gel band causes the synthetic wig to stick in place and it will no longer slide or shift out of place whenever the wearer does a lot of moving around of their head. The gel band is lightweight and comfortable to wear. The salon scheduled a big event to introduce their customers to this new type of synthetic wig. I made sure that I was at the event because owning a synthetic wig that could be styled with heat sounded like a great asset. It would be less expensive than purchasing a human hair wig, but I would still be able to style it like human hair. One of the hair stylists used a curling iron on a straight synthetic wig. As she did it, she talked about the importance of using clips to hold the curls in place while the hair fibers cooled down. She said that the cooling process is what set the curls in the hair fibers. She did just one side of the wig, putting in some loose wavy curls and some very tight twisting curls. After curling and putting the clips in, she set the synthetic wig on a wig stand to let the hair fibers cool down for a few minutes. We were all amazed to see the synthetic wig was undamaged and the curls stayed in place when she removed the clips. Then the hair stylist did something even more interesting. Synthetic Wigs (Comment on this)
Saturday, May 28th, 2011
9:54 pm	Synthetic Wig Of course, I only wear a synthetic wig occasionally, so the three different styled ones that I own will last a lot longer than one that is worn every day by someone else. I also make sure that I take really good care of everything that I purchase. After I wear one of my wigs, I make sure that I properly wash and dry it before I store it. My husband says that I take such good care of my wigs that they are still looking as good as they did when I purchased them. Cleaning Your Synthetic Wig Keeping your synthetic wig properly cleaned is important for several reasons. A properly cleaned synthetic wig will continue to look better and last a lot longer than one that is not cleaned on a regular basis. In addition, if it is left unclean for too long, it will probably begin to smell bad and people will notice it. More importantly, wearing a dirty or sweaty synthetic wig is not a healthy thing to do. Your natural hair and scalp which are trapped beneath the wig day after day for extended lengths of time could develop problems that need medical attention. Regularly cleaning your synthetic wig will minimize any damage that could occur to your natural hair or scalp. With a synthetic wig, you do not need to worry that washing it will ruin the style that was done by the manufacturer because most of them are made to retain the basic style after washing. Before you begin washing your synthetic wig, you should always read any instructions that came with it. Most of the manufacturers will include instructions that list particular products or methods for cleaning the wigs that they made. It is best to follow their instructions as closely as possible or you might run a risk of causing damage to your synthetic wig and not following their instructions voids any type of guarantee that might be on it. Generally, a synthetic wig is washed in a basin of cool water with a mild shampoo that is specially formulated to clean synthetic hair fibers. After washing it and patting it to remove excess moisture, it is important that your synthetic wig be allowed to air dry on a wig stand. If you do not have a wig stand, you can use a can or bottle that is tall enough to allow the hair fibers to hang down without dragging on the surface below. It is best to avoid using a mannequin head for air drying your synthetic wig because the air cannot circulate as well as when it is on a wig stand and it might not thoroughly dry. Wearing a damp synthetic wig could cause it to stretch out or develop mildew. It could also cause irritation to your skin. Although it might be tempting to fix up the style on your synthetic wig before it dries, it is recommended that you do not use a comb or brush because it could stretch or in other ways damage the synthetic hair fibers. You can, however, use your fingers to gently work on your synthetic wig a little before it thoroughly dries. After it is thoroughly dry, it is easy to reshape your synthetic wig with a wide-toothed comb and possibly a little styling gel or mousse. If your synthetic wig is curly, you should avoid using a brush on it at all. It would be less expensive than purchasing a human hair wig, but I would still be able to style it like human hair. Most of the time, I do not want to buy a synthetic wig because they are not as versatile as wigs that are made from human hair fibers. However, last year I had a reason to purchase a synthetic wig for my daughter. She was playing the part of a disheveled woman in the school play and there was no way that her natural hair would look right for the part. I did not want anyone to attempt anything with her natural hair because I did not want it damaged. Synthetic Wig, Synthetic Hair (Comment on this)
Friday, May 27th, 2011
10:05 pm	Synthetic Hair It could also cause irritation to your skin. Maintenance For Synthetic Wigs Even though a synthetic wig is one of the most inexpensive choices you can make for changing your hairstyle, you should still make sure that you invest some time and money into keeping it in prime condition. By doing this, you will help your synthetic wig stay looking beautiful and it will last a long time before it needs to be replaced. Usually the salon or wig supply company that sold you the synthetic wig will recommend certain products that you will need in order to take proper care of it. If you previously owned at least one synthetic wig, then you will probably have all of the wig care products that you will need to take care of your newest acquisition. However, if you are new to wearing a synthetic wig, it is best if you follow the seller’s product recommendations as closely as possible. Of course, if you are just given general instructions instead of specific brands of products to purchase, then you will need to find everything on your own. This can sometimes be a tedious task because you do not want to purchase products that could have counter effects on each other. To make things easier, there are actually synthetic wig care kits on the market that contain the basic products that you will need. The kit can cost up to forty dollars, but buying the products separately could cost you much more than that. These kits usually contain a shampoo and conditioner that are made specifically for cleaning and conditioning a synthetic wig. Sometimes, there is also a bottle of styling spray or gel that helps keep your synthetic wig style intact throughout the day. The larger synthetic wig care kits also contain a folding wig stand, a wide-toothed comb and a special brush that will not damage the synthetic hair fibers. Solutions To Synthetic Wig Problems There are several problems that a person might encounter when they decide to wear a synthetic wig. One of the main problems that people run into with a synthetic wig is the fact that they are not able to alter the style with heated devices such as a curling iron or a straightening iron. In most instances, the style of the synthetic wig remains the same as when it was manufactured unless the wearer wants to run the risk of ruining it by trying to make any changes. This problem is often alleviated by the person purchasing more than one style of synthetic wig and switching between them to give some variety to their appearance. Due to the fact that a synthetic wig is not as expensive as a human hair wig, purchasing more than one style is feasible for most people. Recently, some manufacturers have designed a type of synthetic wig that can actually be styled with heated devices. It is a little more costly, but many people say that the extra cost is worth the ability to continue to use one wig and just style it differently. Another problem that occurs when some people wear a synthetic wig is an allergic reaction that might cause the hair follicles and surrounding skin to become red and irritated. Instead of paying lots of money for a wig made from human hair or purchasing an unbelievable costume wig, I wanted to have a regular wig that was inexpensive. I found a great synthetic wig through one of the many online stores and ordered it. When it was delivered to our house, I allowed my daughter to mess it up and make it look as disheveled as possible. She rubbed dirt into it and even made the style patchy by cutting sections of hair shorter than the rest. Her drama teacher was impressed with the outcome and the synthetic wig became a part of her costume. Her synthetic wig looked very convincing and made her character so much more believable. At the end of the play, the students received a standing ovation. Synthetic Wigs (Comment on this)