Finding My Path: Tips and Tales from a Newbie Blogger

Welcome to my very first blog post! It’s hard to believe that I’m finally here, sharing my journey in the world of wigs and hair care. I’ve always admired the creativity and versatility that make-up and wigs offer, but when I decided to start studying for a new career, I quickly realized there’s so much to learn. Join me as I share my personal experiences and seek your input on what topics you’d like me to explore further!

One of the most exciting things about blogging is the chance to interact with others who share the same interests. I invite you to contribute your thoughts and experiences! What do you want to learn about? What challenges do you face as a wig wearer or maker? Whether you're interested in hair care tips, wig maintenance, or the art of wig making, I want to hear your ideas. Let’s dive into the world of wigs together!

My Wig Journey Begins

When I applied for university in 2015, I was fascinated by special effects make-up and I wanted to become a make-up artist for film and television. My mother was a wedding make-up artist, and my auntie a hairdresser, so I grew up beside independent and artistic women running their own creative businesses which I think influenced and inspired my artistry. I've always been interested in performing arts, starting dance lessons when I was only two years old and performing at local events up until I was 18, so everything was pointing toward this course; Make-up for Media & Performance at the Arts University in Bournemouth.

I remember my first encounter with wig making; it seemed so incredibly long-winded, fiddly and pretty near impossible trying to get one strand of hair to perform correctly with this tiny hook. I was overwhelmed and I have a video filmed by a friend where I say "I just can't do it". But wig-making was part of the curriculum and I had to persevere. It was so important to get the knot of hair tight and tidy and I would sit for hours pulling on the hair after each knot desperate to make it look right.

I can't pin point a specific time where this all changed for me, but working as Head of Wigs for our university's production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was a definite highlight. I had made at least 7 wigs and hair pieces (beards, moustaches, eyebrows) and designed the hair and make-up for several actors, as well as lead a team of make-up artists to apply the make-up on show nights. It was the most stressful end to my degree but a period of time that I would do again and again, I was in my element!

I finally understood the intricacies of wig making and appreciated how much work goes into bringing a character to life. But the skills learnt at uni could only take me so far.

Entering the real world

Upon graduating you think you are set for life and you know all you need to know to start your career but that couldn't be further from the truth. I spent 6 months contacting every wig company, theatre, film studio, you name it until I found an internship at a wig makers in London. I spent a year and a half commuting back and forth enduring fall backs and truths that I didn't want to hear until I embraced that I don't in-fact know it all and there is so so much more to learn. This internship was the best thing that I could have done, not that I had many other options at the time, and looking back at my university course I was a bit disappointed that so much more could have been covered for the heavy debt I'd made by attending. A course specific to wig making, its history etc. NEEDS to happen.

Due to COVID, my 6 month internship lasted over a year and a half, slightly delaying my goals to move on to a 'proper job' but it enabled me to increase my voluntary work with Little Lady Locks and to find a paid role with The Little Princess Trust - which is still, of course, charity work and the payment reflects that. A minimum of two years following uni and still not getting paid well enough to quit my part-time job at Tesco was the last thing I expected to happen! But that is the reality of an up-and-coming wig maker.

Nearly 7 years later, I am a self-employed business owner but I do still work part-time at Tesco. Could it be because I'm too afraid to leave the security of a contract within a well-established household name that guarantees my mortgage will be paid every month? Quite possibly yes, but I know I will get there one day.

Moving Forward Together

As I embark on this blogging journey, I’m eager to connect with all of you to teach and learn more about hair care tips, wig maintenance, and the ins and outs of wig making. Your ideas, experiences, and suggestions will shape this blog into a valuable space for every wig lover.

Thank you for taking the time to read my first post! I can’t wait to see what topics you’d like me to explore next. Please feel free to comment below with your thoughts or questions. Here’s to more tips and tales as we navigate this fantastic world of wig making, together!