Does she or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser-and the family and close friends of Michell Maisel-know for sure. Yes, the retired Jurupa Valley teacher wears a wig. Not just any old store-bought hank of artificial locks. This one is custom-made with lush human hair and straight, dark brown bangs that sweep across Maisel's forehead. Even bewigged, she can sleep, shower and swim. The price? $100. Maisel is a client at a Riverside salon that specializes in treating hair loss without medical or surgical restoration. Disturbed by what she sees as "epidemic proportion" of balding women, stylist Alicia Thompson decided to devote herself to making them beautiful. What distinguishes her from competitors is she creates the hairpieces herself. Wigs took root centuries ago for aesthetic, stylistic, religious and cultural reasons, made of feathers, horse hair, wool and human hair. Today, partial or full hairpieces are popular accessories, ranging from $50 for synthetic ones to thousands of dollars for wigs made of natural hair. But Diane Kraft, owner of Cameo Wigs and Hairpieces in Riverside for 25 years, said the Internet has shut down many mom-and-pop wig sellers. She caters mostly to baby boomers eager to camouflage their thinning pates. Kraft, who doesn't make the wigs herself, said she has many in stock that run $500 and up. We don't make them but we can special-order them," said Ebony Branch who works at Kathi's Wigs & Beauty Supplies in Colton. The artificial hairpieces last up to 11/2 years; natural hair forever. Thompson, 36, a licensed cosmetologist who lives in Riverside, manages LaJoyce's. Tucked away in a strip mall on Spruce Street, the full-service salon is owned by her, La Joyce Mosley, 72 of Moreno Valley. Since the salon opened a year ago, Thompson has created 30 made-to-order wigs from human tresses, costing anywhere from $85 to $200. Thompson also offers scalp exfoliation treatments to remove medication buildup and nourish distressed hair. "We've dedicated our lives to hair loss," she said. "I see the need in men, women, children. It's universal." According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it's a growing problem, affecting some 30 million women in the United States. Thompson said clients include teenage girls with disappearing hair lines or bald spots " a big as an orange" from tight ponytails. "I have women say, 'turn me away from that mirror. I don't want to see my bald head,'" Thompson said. The causes of female hair loss are many, including hormonal problems, an autoimmune disorder called alopecia, medications, disease, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, birth control pills, unusually high levels of vitamin A or low levels of iron or protein, fungal infections and improper hair care such as brushing wet hair, hot combs, hot curlers, chemical relaxers and over processing. Thompson and her family remodeled a former alarm company store in what she calls "Tiffany Blue" to provide a soothing decor for their therapeutic hair center. She's also installed black-and-white patterned curtains to draw around each of the eight stations when clients request privacy. Shay Turner, 31, a nurse, praises the salon's wigs as "more versatile and more natural" than any others she's tried. "I'm bald around the hair-line because of thyroid disease," she said. "Her wigs are a great way to get different styles that suit your face." Thompson buys Indian Hair by the ounce, 14 to 16 inches long, from a distributor in Los Angeles. She works 3 1/2 hours to shape the head mold, glue or sew the hair to a lightweight nylon cap she makes and finally, bleaches, dyes, cuts and styles the wig to the clients specifications. Although new to the Inland area, LaJoyce's has deep root. Mosley debuted the shop in Lynwood in 1979. She located to Paramount after the salon burned down in 1995 during the Rodney King riots. After the Sheriff's Department bought that building in 2007, the family reopened in Riverside. "I get so many compliments on my appearance," said Maisel. "Alicia is an artist and willing to experiment. She's also very caring about her customers.
LAJOYCE'S - 1735 Spruce st. Ste. "C", Riverside Ca. 92507
INFORMATION :
WIG / WEAVING / EXTENSIONS / & OTHER HEALTHY HAIR CARE SERVICES
CONTACT : 951-680-9422
CONTACT : 951-680-9422 for more infomation.
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