[besson3c]

If not, do you know anybody that wears one?

What is the proper etiquette for wigs? Do you just pretend that the person isn't wearing a wig, or is it polite to ask them about it? Is it polite to pretend that you don't notice, or does that make the person wearing the wig feel like a freak? Do wig owners wig out when you ask them about their wig?

Wigs are fascinating to me, but I've never quite got a handle on them...

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

If not, do you know anybody that wears one?

Don't wear one, don't know anyone who does.

What is the proper etiquette for wigs?

To not wear them.***

Do you just pretend that the person isn't wearing a wig, or is it polite to ask them about it?

If you know them, you should make fun of them. If you don't know them, it's proper to laugh behind their back.***

Is it polite to pretend that you don't notice, or does that make the person wearing the wig feel like a freak?

People wearing a wig already know they look silly, you don't need to remind them of this fact.

Do wig owners wig out when you ask them about their wig?

Generally, yes. They don't like to be reminded how silly they look.***

Wigs are fascinating to me, but I've never quite got a handle on them...

Neither have wig wearers.

***Caveat, if the wig wearer is a woman who lost her hair due to disease or chemotherapy, the above do NOT apply to them. For men, man up and go Mr. Clean.

[lexapro]

My sister wears one, for religious reasons.

[besson3c]

Really? What religion tells women to wear wigs?

[Railroader]

I'd hate to be a woman who had to wear a wig due to medical reasons. I'd also hate to be the kind of person who made threads making fun of people who had to wear wigs. That would certainly be one insensitive person.

[brassplayersrock²]

first thought when I saw the thread:

[Andy8]

Just say no to wigs.

[Doofy]

I saw the word "wig" and the mad Canuckistani and I immediately thought of the word "merkin".

[besson3c]

I know somebody that has a wig in many different hair lengths sizes, but I've always wondered how they still fastened to securely and whether people who wear them worry about them falling off.

Wigs are mysterious.

[besson3c]

Also, you know how all fashions come and go and sometimes we get repeats of old fashions?

Do you think that some day people will be wearing white powdered wigs again? It would be no crazier than people with pants that are falling down and their underwear showing. I think that some white powdered wigs are pretty, and these are different, because it's obvious that they are wigs, unless you are really old.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I saw the word "wig" and the mad Canuckistani and I immediately thought of the word "merkin".

High-five.

I saw the title, and the poster, and intended to post:

"A merkin. Only on Sundays."

Ah well.

[brassplayersrock²]

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Really? What religion tells women to wear wigs?

The Jewish religion.

Originally Posted by besson3c 

It would be no crazier than people with pants that are falling down and their underwear showing.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by analogika 

"A merkin. Only on Sundays."

For religious reasons (the priest checks).

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

For religious reasons (the priest's chicks).

WhatwhatWHAT?

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Really? What religion tells women to wear wigs?

As Laminar mentioned, many Jewish (married) women wear wigs. The religious idea behind this has to do with modesty. If you think that men are equally turned on to fake hair (it is often real hair, but you know what I mean) as real hair and are wondering how a wig contributes to modesty, fear not, you are not alone. Many Sephardi women do not wear wigs for just this reason (they wear hats instead).

My wife for example chose to wear hats instead of wigs however she only does so in synagogue and at religious events, she doesn't wear them on a day to day basis even though many orthodox women do.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I'd hate to be a woman who had to wear a wig due to medical reasons.

I'd hate to be ANYONE who had lost his/her hair for medical reasons, whether from the disease itself or from the treatment (like chemo or radiation therapy).

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I'd also hate to be the kind of person who made threads making fun of people who had to wear wigs. That would certainly be one insensitive person.

Being curious isn't necessarily "making fun" and that's certainly not the case in what I've seen in this thread. But it could be a very fine line in some situations.

Favorite, related story: a classmate of mine showed up after spring break with no hair. He said he'd shaved his head in solidarity with his aunt, who was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, and her whole family had in some way participated. I didn't think this guy was at all soft, and he really proved me wrong. Moral: don't prejudge anything. Moral 2: hair is just hair; enjoy it if you have it, don't sweat it if losing it is part of getting well.

[AKcrab]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

... don't sweat it if losing it is part of getting well.

What if it is a part of getting old?

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by AKcrab 

What if it is a part of getting old?

That might be something different. I know a lot of guys who just shave it off instead of doing the "gradual loss" thing. As for me, I'm almost 50 and while I'm a little thinner on top than around the sides, I've been this way for quite a while, so if I do go bald, I don't think it'll be soon. Thus I can sympathize but not necessarily "understand."

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

As Laminar mentioned, many Jewish (married) women wear wigs. The religious idea behind this has to do with modesty. If you think that men are equally turned on to fake hair (it is often real hair, but you know what I mean) as real hair and are wondering how a wig contributes to modesty, fear not, you are not alone. Many Sephardi women do not wear wigs for just this reason (they wear hats instead).

My wife for example chose to wear hats instead of wigs however she only does so in synagogue and at religious events, she doesn't wear them on a day to day basis even though many orthodox women do.

I read all this and I still don't get it. Is this like the Jewish equivalent of hijab?

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

I read all this and I still don't get it. Is this like the Jewish equivalent of hijab?

Sorry if I rambled and made no sense, but yes it the same idea as hijab but a little less strict and less noticeable to the public I think.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

Sorry if I rambled and made no sense, but yes it the same idea as hijab but a little less strict and less noticeable to the public I think.

Ah. I had vaguely heard about this before, but thanks for illuminating me about this

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Ah. I had vaguely heard about this before, but thanks for illuminating me about this

It is far from the best wikipedia entry out there, but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheitel covers much of what I said.

Now I am curious to know if anyone here knows someone that wears a wig for a reason other than religious or medical purposes.

[- - e r i k - -]

The article linked in the Wikipedia article explains it better:

http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman...r-Covering.htm

By covering her hair, the married woman makes a statement: "I am not available. You can see me but I am not open to the public. Even my hair, the most obvious and visible part of me, is not for your eyes."

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible but inconspicuous; she is attractive but unavailable.

It may be rationalisation, but it makes a bit more sense out of this practise.

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

Now I am curious to know if anyone here knows someone that wears a wig for a reason other than religious or medical purposes.

I know a few judges here that wore them up until 1997.

[IceEnclosure]

I bought this for Halloween but it didn't look good on me, though it looks excellent on my roommate:

[vexborg]

I'm 35 and the hair at the top of my head is quite thin - strangely enough my dad, who is 62 hasn't started to lose his hair yet. Oh well, when I eventually get a full bald spot, I'll start shaving my head.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by vexborg 

I'm 35 and the hair at the top of my head is quite thin - strangely enough my presumed dad, who is 62 hasn't started to lose his hair yet. Oh well, when I eventually get a full bald spot, I'll start shaving my head.

Fixed

[Tiresias]

Very few can pull it off.

[osiris]

No, no wig.

[Railroader]

[turtle777]

I shave my head. So no, I don't wear wigs.

-t

[Tiresias]

Do you shave your head because you are balding or because you like it?

Just curious.

[SebNoker]

I know one guy, but you cant tell unless he told you...Its really hard nowadays as they are so well made.....

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Ben Mines 

Do you shave your head because you are balding or because you like it?

Just curious.

Because I like it.

And it's cheaper than getting haircuts.

-t

[besson3c]

Also, turtles don't have hair.

[Tiresias]

It can be an impressive look. A lot depends on head-shape, however.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Also, turtles don't have hair.

A common misconception

-t

[olePigeon]

What I didn't know was that a large proportion of wig sales go to people who's religion requires that their hair be covered up.

[Naplander]

Most of the black chicks I know wear wigs.

[Big Mac]

I have to say I'm impressed by the high level discussion of the Sheitel. Some of them are so high quality that it's not always clear to me at least that they're wigs, which defeats the religious purpose.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

I have to say I'm impressed by the high level discussion of the Sheitel. Some of them are so high quality that it's not always clear to me at least that they're wigs, which defeats the religious purpose.

You can't have sex, but you can have sex through a hole in the sheet. I think people find ways around the "rules" so they don't look so silly... though sometimes the workarounds are just as silly as the rules.

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

I have to say I'm impressed by the high level discussion of the Sheitel. Some of them are so high quality that it's not always clear to me at least that they're wigs, which defeats the religious purpose.

see

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

The article linked in the Wikipedia article explains it better:
http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman...r-Covering.htm

By covering her hair, the married woman makes a statement: "I am not available. You can see me but I am not open to the public. Even my hair, the most obvious and visible part of me, is not for your eyes."

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible but inconspicuous; she is attractive but unavailable.

It may be rationalisation, but it makes a bit more sense out of this practise.

which explains how it does not (necessarily) defeat the (entire) religious purpose. Of course as I already said I think it does and so my wife doesn't cover her hair (her choice really).

[Doofy]

This "wig for married women" thing is old hat. I suggest a new alternative:

All non-married (available) women should dye themselves green.



You know I'm right.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

which explains how it does not (necessarily) defeat the (entire) religious purpose. Of course as I already said I think it does and so my wife doesn't cover her hair (her choice really).

Wedding rings will generally do the same as covering hair.