After buying a cheap wig for my Monica costume on Halloween, I got to thinking about getting a new wig. I had purchased two wigs from a mail order place many many years ago. Not knowing anything about wigs, I just tried them on, and was totally dissatisfied. They looked just like wigs and bad ones at that!
Well, the costume wig that I paid $20 for at the costume shop looked less like a wig than many that I have seen. So, of course this got me thinking that I needed to buy a decent one, that and the fact that my hair just keeps receding, no matter how hard I think about it!
Well, where to go. I called many places and most of them wanted a non refundable fitting fee, or would rather not have men in during business hours. On a whim, I tried one more after making one appointment. I called Eldorado. I explained that I was looking for a female wig for myself and did they have any problems with fitting me? The owner, who I was talking to, told me no problem at all and when did I want to come in for a fitting? I couldn't believe it! I was treated with respect and asked to make an appointment at my convenience. And what? No sitting fee? Book me for this Thursday at 1pm! Needless to say, I canceled the other one.
When Fran & I arrived at Eldorado, we were seated in the male fitting room. When the owner himself walked by, he took us to a female fitting room and told us he'd be right back. We chatted a bit about wigs in general and the pros and cons of the various types. After determining my needs and price range, he did a color match. He explained exactly what he was doing and why at each step of the way. It was time to look at the catalogs. The wig that I finally chose was a special order and he told me that it would take about a week to get in.
He then asked me a little bit more about my lifestyle. It seems that he has a rather large transgender and female impersonator clientele and wanted to know if I was into that sort of thing. I told him basically that it wasn't a lifestyle thing with me, just an occasional fun type thing. (I know, I chickened out, but hey, I don't really know this guy!) Anyway, we let that go and got down to pricing. I was surprised, pleasantly so.
I paid my deposit and he said he would call when the wig arrived so I could make an appointment for the final fitting and styling. That was when he told me that most of his transgender clients come in for the fitting and styling after hours on Thursday or Friday.
A week or so later, he leaves me a message and tells me we're ready. I called back and asked about appointments. It seems that the only open ones were for that Friday, (I was traveling that day), and the following Monday. I asked if the evening appointments were for the comfort of his other clientele or for me. When he told me that his concern was for me, I asked about the Monday afternoon appointment. He said fine, I said fine and we were set!
Monday rolled around and I arrived looking to be dazzled by my new wig! Well, I was very surprised when out of this tiny box, my stylist drew out this tiny little road kill looking clump of hair... She explained to me that they all look like that and not to worry, she'd fix me up. Well, we got the final fitting done and then we talked styles. I asked her to thin it first, then we'd go over the fine points.
Thinning, is an understatement for what takes place when you get a new wig. It looked like more hair was on the floor than was ever on the wig. But when she turned me to the mirror and asked how I wanted it styled, I knew right at that moment, that it was all going to be worth it! Even unstyled, it was beautiful!! She began styling the wig and telling us everything she was doing and why. (not that we would do it ourselves one day, but it was nice knowing the "hows" and "what fors"...) When she finished, it was time to get it steamed to get rid of the rest of the box creases. A couple of minutes pass and then she brings back my wig, places it on my head and scrunched it a bit here, pulled a bit there and I was a beautiful woman, with a full head of gorgeous, luxuriant hair.
Well, I didn't want to take it off, but seeing as how I was DRAB that day, thought it best to place it in the travel box to go home. That is how I got my new wig. If anyone in my area wants the number for Eldorado, just give me a holler. They do fine work and carry wonderful products.
