Need Advice on hair

[ChrisG]

I am looking for advice on hair. I have read about wigs but I was thinking more along the lines of hair extensions.What are some thoughts.

Thanks
HUGS

[DonnaT]

You'd need long hair to add extensions to, whether permanent or clip-on.

Then they'd have to match, color wise.

Even clip-on extensions take time to get right.

Seems a lot to go through, when a wig would be quicker.

[Michelle Diane]

Donna gives sound advice. I looked into growing my hair to below shoulder length and having extensions put it. After hours of trawling the net I gave up. I'm growing my hair out at the moment but years ago I wore a wig over short hair. The benefit of wigs is you can have many hairstyles and colours without effecting you own natural hair with colourants, mousse, hair sprays etc. True they take some time in putting them on correctly but once on and given a quick brush you can't tell any difference.

If you don't want or can't have long natural hair, wigs are a girls best friend.

[ChrisG]

Thank you.
I have lots of gray hair (@ 42 started graying at 18) was thinking of getting a dye job. As for length my hair seems to grow almost to my shoulders then starts to curl back up. I thought extensions would be cheaper.

[Michelle Diane]

As for length my hair seems to grow almost to my shoulders then starts to curl back up.

I feel your pain, mine does exactly the same thing How I envy woman with long straight hair. A few years ago my wife was out of town so I tried her heated straightener...yeah that worked well but the time I walked from the master bathroom to the living room it was curled again.

[Emily]

I thought extensions would be cheaper.

Extension can get pricey! Plus as Donna mentioned - getting the colour right, which means finding an exact (or very close) match and/or dying... Can get time consuming too. Get a wig - put on and enjoy instant hairdo!

[Michelle Diane]

Does anyone else experience the rush of donning a wig? Let me explain. Before I met my wife I lived alone and could dress whenever I felt like it. I would be sitting at my dressing table putting my makeup on and it never felt like Michelle looking back at me. Due to the uniform regulations of my job then I cut my hair to a short back and sides. It wasn't until I put my wig on, a blonde shoulder length one that I felt complete and saw Michelle looking back at me.

[Anthony Simon]

I'm not clear what your intention is, Chris. The thing is you said you have no intention of passing as a woman. Yet, as Michelle's answer indicates, maybe the keying difference between men and women is the way they wear their hair. I do want to see a woman looking back when I look in the mirror - so my situation is different from yours - but my conclusion has been that extensions are likely to be a false economy.

Michelle - there's no doubt of the power that a good wig has to change your appearance. My whole background, and now my current experience, has conflicts about it. Like one time I remember an aunt trying to get me to wear her wig in front of her children. I knew I was being set up - like she was going to have some fun at my expense - so I put it on backwards, which got me out of that.

But, when I look in the mirror now and see a woman looking back - which, like you say, is the change when the wig goes on - I kind of pooh pooh it and go "well that's only an effect and really, probably, I don't look like that".

[Ramona]

For me growing out my own hair has been the best thing for me
As it is still short but long enough to style it some. I don't like wigs

[Michelle Diane]

Well I've finally admitted defeat. Despite growing my hair down past my shoulders I've decided to get it cut. Just having long(ish) hair I found it wasn't enough I wanted it styled more feminine with waves or curls and bangs. There is only so much you can do with heated curlers and hairspray.

My wife's stylist is coming next Thursday and I've thought about asking her if she can give me a shorter more feminine cut that can be brushed out to something either neutral or guy(ish) for when we go out. We'll see how open she is to the idea of CD/TG before I broach the subject.

[Kelly]

Here a couple of links that I think are helpful. I have shared them before.

http://crossdresstips.blogspot.com/2011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... -hair.html
http://feminizationsecrets.com/3-tips-f" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... hort-hair/

The first is a good site to wander around, lots of interesting stuff. Warning about the second, it is mostly there to market product, but occasionally has some useful stuff (which I think this particular entry does).

Kelly.

[Michelle Diane]

Thanks for the links Kelly, I've been to Fem secrets before so I know what they're like.

I said I was going to ask my wife's stylist for a shorter feminine style but I'm having second thought. She lives in the same village as us and we all know how stylists love to gossip.

[SarahMicheline]

For my penny's worth. I don't have time to really dress a Sarah as much as I like and so a relatively inexpensive wig has to suffice. Nevertheless it is low mantinace, quick to put on and when it gets all knotted up just buy a new one. The look is not always the best but it is always trade off for me at this point in my home life.

[Eileen (SO)]

ChrisG, There must be a wig supplier like our PaulaYoung. My husband buys on sale wigs for $45 or so and for occasional wear they last several years.
That has to be cheaper and easier than extensions that won't look as good.

Eileen

[Emily]

Professionally done hair extensions are pricey and require a lot of maintenance - appointments every few weeks to have them moved, blow dried after every wash...

In comparison, a wig would probably be the better option here.

My natural hair is long - half way down my back, but while en femme, I prefer a wig. Not only does it make my appearance more feminine (IMO...) but it also gives me the chance to try out new styles and colours! Some work - others don't, LOL!

Just keep in mind that wigs will give you instant versatility while having extensions will require extra time to style.