Over the past year or so, wigs have become a thing – as in wigs are hot ish! Everyone is wearing them – from celebrities to influencers to your girlfriend, and men. I don’t think you can scroll down your Instagram timeline without seeing pictures of lace front wigs, wig transformation videos, or lace front wig ads. YouTube is riddled with wig reviews and tutorials for every hair texture, hairline, and hair length. And more impressive, is the emergence of young business savvy hair gurus who are capitalizing on this wig movement.
If I’m honest, I find the hype fascinating because a few years ago wigs were a no-go for young people – wigs seemed to be reserved “older” women, people suffering from severe hair loss, or people undergoing radiation and/or chemotherapy. Now, there’s a huge phenomenon surrounding wigs… I guess I’m really intrigued by social media and how it can influence the popularity of things. Getting back to the point of this post…
I decided to try the wig thing because I wanted a better alternative to my “work appropriate” weaves and buns. I think we all know looks matter in corporate America, especially when trying to climb the corporate ladder, and I desperately needed something that would allow for styling versatility and help me protect my flourishing natural hair while conforming with the unspoken hair expectations of the corporate world. So, I ordered two wigs: a synthetic wavy wig by the name of Crispina from Bobbi Boss and a sleek straight bob from HairVivi.
Both were a complete #fail! Don’t get me wrong the wigs are gorgeous and of great quality, but wigs don’t seem to be suitable for my head, hairline, and/or face shape. The combination of my beloved widow’s peak and the odd hump at the top of my head forced me to toss these units aside. Click here to see and hear why wigs are not for me.
I’m sharing this wig experience to highlight a few things:
- Wigs are not for everybody! A lot of factors go into making a wig look snatched and slay’d. You have to think about your hairline, presence or lack of baby hair, the shape of your head and the size of your forehead. Simply put, applying a wig is an artform that requires time and practice. So, if you are not willing to invest the time into learning the craft or shelling out the coins to have it applied properly, you may want to steer clear of wigs.
- Wigs can be expensive! Virgin hair wigs are mad expensive, especially if you want to increase the density of the hair, customize the hairline, purchase longer lengths, and so forth. You have to do a lot of research and read tons of reviews to ensure you are getting your money’s worth. What’s more insane is that synthetic wigs can be expensive too! While synthetic wigs have come a long way and are an affordable option, the nice ones can run around $50 a piece and if you have to replace them often, the cost adds up.
- It might be time to break away from the corporate status quo! For the past few years, I have struggled with being “natural” in the workplace. I have been conditioned by law school advisors, mentors, personal experiences, and some of my friends’ hair experiences in the corporate space to believe it is not okay to be a natural in the workplace unless it pulled back in a bun. I have been conditioned to believe that it is hard, damn near impossible, to rise to the top with natural hair. A couple of weeks ago my friends and I joked about how all the women of color at the top have the similar short straight hairstyles. The thought of it was so ridiculous and uncomfortable that we had to laugh, but it’s not funny at all. It’s not fair that women of color in the corporate space have to battle with a superficial dilemma like wearing hair in its natural state or in a manner that is manageable for the person with the hair. It’s unbelievable that we (women of color) find ourselves looking for solutions in wigs and weaves to address a dilemma that is not rooted in our skills or mental capabilities. It’s bizarre and strange, so I decided, in 2018, I’m making a change.
Sorry, but not sorry for that rant! I think I am tired of conforming to superficial standards and ideas of what constitutes professional. While natural hair or ethnic hair choice is becoming a thing, it’s still not the norm and there still needs to be a shift in expectations, especially in the corporate space. I think it’s time for us, black women/women of color, to re-shape and change the way our hair is viewed in the corporate world. It’s time to #embracekinkycurlykoilyinthecorpatespace!
Stay tuned to see how I’ll be driving that change in my life and the Bay.
Xoxo, Shelly B