“Don’t look on hair loss as a negative! Embrace the inevitable and use the opportunity to have some fun!”
If you have always had darker hair now is your opportunity to splash out and go blonde! Your skin-tone will, of course, dictate the shade of colour.
With winter around the corner wigs can add sparkle and glamour whilst keeping your head lovely and warm! When you no longer have a use for your wig please consider donating it to a cancer support group for distribution to cancer survivors in need.
What face shape do you have?
Scrape hair back off your face. Stand in front of a mirror and, with a bright lipstick, trace the shape of your face onto the mirror – OR –
Take a brightly coloured permanent marker and outline your face shape on a recent front-on head and shoulders photo.
SQUARE
You have a Square Face Shape if your face is as wide as it is long. Strong, defined angles at the jaw and forehead are key characteristics.
Avoid: a blunt, jaw-length bob with a squared off fringe.
Go for: styles that soften the angles. Age appropriate, layered, longer lengths are a good option. Fringe should be wispy and curve subtley to frame the face. A layered bob that ends above or below the jaw line.
Colour: low-lights (instead of a solid, dark colour).
OVAL
You have an Oval Face Shape if you have wider cheekbones and narrow down to the jaw line and forehead.
Avoid: adding too much bulk in the form of a thick fringe and styles that conceal your face.
Go for: super-short, added volume, length, sleek … according to your mood.
HEART
You have a Heart Face Shape if your face is narrow at the jaw line and wide at the cheekbones or forehead.
Avoid: adding bulk to the top of the head with a short, heavy style. Severe, scraped back looks will also emphasise the narrow chin and broad forehead.
Go for: a style that will create volume around the bottom of your face. A short bob will add width to your jawline, thus creating balance to a broader forehead.
Colour: Darker roots gradually lightening to a single shade lighter at the bottom will give the illusion of depth at the base, and narrowness the top.
ROUND
You have a Round Face Shape if your face is as wide as it is long, with soft curved lines at the chin and cheeks. What differentiates a round and square face shape is the roundness, or softness, of the features.
Avoid: styles that enhance the face’s rounded shape and emphasise the width across the cheeks such as short crops with fullness at the cheeks, or a rounded ‘bubble cut’ style framing and ending at the chin.
Go for: a style that lengthens your face and makes your face look slimmer. Straight hair styles that are longer than the chin area are ideal.
Colour: a lighter top into darker sides will give the illusion of height and depth on the crown of the head.
RECTANGLE
You have a Rectangular Face Shape if your face is longer than it is wide. There are basically two types: angular (rectangle) or rounded (oblong).
Avoid: Long, and especially, long straight styles. Avoid a fringe if you have a small forehead as this will merely put emphasis on the length of the rest of your face.
Go for: volume, volume, volume! Go for styles that add width and fullness to emphasise horizontal lines. Layers starting from above the ears will achieve this desired fullness. Short, cropped styles ending at the ears will do the same.
Colour: Lightening the tips of layers will add to the width of a style.
DIAMOND
You have a Diamond Face Shape if the widest part of your face is at your cheekbones, and you have a narrow forehead and jaw line.
Avoid: width at the cheek area. A super-short, cropped bob is to be avoided at all costs.
Go for: a red-carpet ‘up-do’ works for you. But since you won’t be red-carpetting on a daily basis, a style with volume in the upper and lower sections of the face with a broad, thick and voluminous fringe is a plus.
TRIANGLE
You have a Triangle Face Shape if your jaw is substantially wider than your forehead.
Avoid: width at the cheek area and chin. A super-short, cropped bob is to be avoided at all costs.
Go for: a style with fullness and volume in the fringe area. The style should thin out toward the bottom of the face or, alternatively, ‘modify’ the shape of the jaw by wearing the hair forward instead of behind the ear.
Not Sure?
• The aim is to achieve the illusion of balance. If one part is broad and the other narrow, reduce width at the broad or add width at the narrow. Create horizontal width (to add volume to a narrow area) with layers and volume through ‘curls’.
• Soften angles with soft layers or waves. Tight curls and perms are out-dated!!
• Add vertical height to give the illusion of length to a round or square face.
• Unexpected angles and proportions such as an asymmetrical style or cut, an off-centre parting and a textured, curved fringe will distract from obvious differences in proportions.
WIG WISDOM
Human hair wigs are expensive, must be styled daily and are high maintenance. They are much heavier than synthetic wigs and more expensive. They usually require trimming and styling before they can be worn and are treated as you would your own hair. With every wash it needs restyling. Store on a wig stand or over a round object.
Synthetic wigs are easier as they hold the basic curl and style after washing. A good one will last two years with proper care, will not absorb odours and will be extremely light. They can be shampooed and dried naturally and cost less than human hair wigs. These are ideal for people on cancer treatment.
- Synthetic wigs require washing after 10 – 12 uses
- Try not brush your wig. For straight styles run your fingers along the length or comb gently. For curly wigs shake for a few seconds and then finger comb
- Store on a wig stand or over a round object
- Avoid extreme heat! Kettle steam, cooking and hair stylers cause damage.
WASHING YOUR WIG
1. DO NOT try to use normal shampoo on your wig!
2. Use a wig brush to gently brush the wig.
3. To a sink or bucket of lukewarm water add one tablespoon of wig shampoo. Completely submerge the wig and jiggle it gently for about one minute. Do not rub!
4. Rinse gently in cold, clear water.
5. Use either conditioning spray (see below) or wig conditioner. To a sink or bucket of lukewarm water add one tablespoon of wig conditioner. Completely submerge the wig and jiggle it gently for about one minute. Do not rub! Use your fingers to gently work the mixture along the hair. Do not rinse.
6. Lay wig flat on a towel and pat with towel. Do not squeeze or wring! If you use conditioning spray apply now and gently work through the hair.
7. Hang on a doorknob to dry out of direct sunlight. (Styrofoam heads may stretch the cap). Gently finger comb into style.
Written by Petra Laranjo