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From leFt: mariposa salon & spa stylist Jessica lamarque, missy wilkinson and stylist nehaya yatak show oFF their hairpieces.
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hairpieces are cheap, easy, fun ways to switch up your ’do. By Missy Wilkinson | Photos By Cheryl GerBer
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hen Nikki McCoy gets dressed for work each morning, she picks out a dress, accessories and a hairpiece. “I have my (hairpieces) up on a wall,” says McCoy, a makeup artist at Fifi Mahony’s (934 Royal St., 525-4343; www.fifimahonys.com) who alternates between fake buns, ponytails, falls and three-quarter wigs. “I just choose what hair I want that day.” McCoy says more and more women are opting for hairpieces, influenced by celebrities who don’t leave home without some sort of enhancement to their strands. “If you see a celebrity with gorgeous hair, almost 100 percent of the time, they’re wearing a fall,” she says. You don’t need a celebrity’s budget or top-notch
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stylists to get great (fake) hair. Part of the appeal of hairpieces is they’re cheap (prices start at $5 for a single clip-in highlight at Fifi Mahony’s) and easy to install. “It’s a fun way to try a different look,” says Brenda McField, owner and hairstylist for Mariposa Salon & Spa (3700 Orleans Ave., Suite D, 484-0440; www. mariposasalonandspa.com). McField received lots of compliments when she wore a clip-in bun to a wedding last spring. “Wigs are not just for people without hair any more,” she says. Women typically have two main concerns when donning hairpieces: Will it look natural, and will it stay in? To get the most natural look, make sure the hairpiece’s color and texture matches or blends with your hair, and enlist the help of a professional. Many wig stores,
including Fifi Mahony’s, offer free fittings and share tips and tricks with customers. McField suggests dusting synthetic hairpieces with a tiny amount of baby powder to tone down their glossy sheen. She also razors the ends to give them a more natural, textured appearance. Customers can bring hairpieces or extensions in to Mariposa Salon & Spa to have them styled or trimmed. To maintain hairpieces, comb them out and store them properly when not in use. Every four to six wearings, wash them by hand with cool water and wig shampoo, and do not use heat on synthetic pieces. Finally, a properly installed hairpiece shouldn’t be painful to wear. “Make sure it feels comfortable,” says Fifi Mahony’s stylist Jamie Gandy. “It’s not in right if it’s hurting your head.”