Natascha Ladek -- Hollywood Wigmaker

As a wig maker, one of the Black Panther movie's standout moments for me was when actress Angela Bassett, in her role as Ramonda, Queen of Wakanda, appeared on the big screen with her long, thick platinum dreadlocks.
Throughout the movie, Bassett's character wore a cylindrical hat which was inspired by the  traditional headdress  of  the married Zulu woman. When the scene switched to Bassett,  sans hat and with her locks flowing down her back  as white as the snow behind her, it was pure magic for me.
Sure every movie needs actors, stunt men and a score, but to instantly change the look of any actor or actress  requires make-up and a skilled wig maker.
Natascha Ladek, the creator of the Bassett's  Ramonda wig, inspired me so much that I made my first dread lock wig in the months after Black Panther -- you guys can refer to my blog about it.
All these months I have been trying to connect with  this awesome wig maker. This past week I was finally able to connect with her . And, just as I suspected, Ladek ,  has been very busy.
Born in Austria, Vienna, Ladek  told me that she went to beauty school at age 17 and after three years  graduated as a hairdresser/wigmaker.
"That's your title when you complete beauty school in Vienna."
Ladek  could have easily landed a job at the opera in Vienna but at 20 decided to move to Los Angeles, California where she apprenticed with a wig maker for three years. She also got the opportunity to work on movie sets as a hairdresser.
It was the movie Selena, which starred Jennifer Lopez, that made those in the industry sit up and take notice of Ladek's work.
"Working on shows and movies helped me get my name out as a wig maker. In my first big movie , Selena, I made all the wigs for Jennifer Lopez," Ladek said.
Her wigs were also seen on the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Brad Pitt, A Wrinkle in Time - Reese Witherspoon and Blindside Sandra Bullock.
"I also worked with Sandra Bullock on Ocean's 8 and Bird Box."
Ladek's small screen work include Days of Our Lives for which she won an Emmy in  1997 and 1999 for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Drama Series Days of  Our Lives (shared with Rod Ortega, Garry Allyn, Fabrzio Sanges, Kelly Muldoon) - 1999 and (Terrie Valazquez Owen, Thomas Real) - 1997.
It was Camille Friends, who Ladek met 25 years ago while working on a show together, who made it possible for Ladek to work on Black Panther.
" I love working with Camille. She created the concept of Angela's look.
"The dreads were pre-made (since it would have taken even longer than 4 weeks to make. "
Ladek  explained the wig making process she used for the Queen Ramonda  dreadlocks:  "I took a section of the wig hair and put it through a thick sewing needle and attached the dreads to the wig row by row-- about 100 of those, and it was fairly heavy."
"The wig took about 14 days to make and the dreads another week or so. All in all, the whole wig took a little over three weeks to create."
Ladek said she didn't get to see Bassett's reaction to the  dread lock wig once it was put on her head,  but says: "I was told she was very pleased."
Ladek whose  movie credits  also include The Help, Tower Heist (Ben Stiller) , The Experiment (Forest Whitaker), Resident Evil - Retribution (Milla Jovovich) and GI Joe Retaliation, said she has worked on several Marvel movies since Black Panther but that she wasn't sure if it was because of her work on the blockbuster movie or her reputation as an emerging  movie wig maker.
Look out for Ladek's wigs in the 2019 movie Judy, which stars Renee Zellwegger -- who Ladek has worked with for the past 11 years  and in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood which stars Brad Pitt and Leonardo De Caprio.
 Whether you're interested in movies or wig making , follow Natascha Ladek on Instagram @wigsbynat to see more of her wig making.

Nastascha Ladek's dread lock wig worn by Angela Bassett in the movie Black Panther. 

Jennifer Aniston became a brunette thanks to a Natascha Ladek wig in the movie Horrible Bosses 

That's Ladek's wig that Reese Witherspoon is wearing in the movie A Wrinkle in Time 

Wig maker Natascha Ladek with actor Sylvester Stallone who is wearing one of her wigs.

Brad Pitt is almost unrecognisable in this black wig designed by Ladek for his role in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button 

Essiwigs - In the news today !

Honeys. How are we? Just passing through on this blessed Sunday to share with you some good news. My wig making journey was featured today in the Express Newspaper. You now know why I haven't been in this space a lot , right? I have been busy working my 9 to 5 and making wigs. I am no millionaire, yet ! Ha! But I always believe that slow and steady always wins the race.  Be sure to click on the link and read. A small fee is attached to read it all so thanks in advance for your support. Will blog again real soon about the dreadlock essiwig I am wearing in this pic.  yes , it's a wig! Dish later.

https://www.trinidadexpress.com/features/local/big-wigs-from-small/article_bdc3f298-7c05-11e8-a92e-27beaa313eff.html

Simply the best -- Our top 2017 celebrity hair extensions

It's that time of the year again ladies. No, not just the end of the year,  but my annual presentation of the best celebrity hair extensions of  2017. Usually I list my picks of the worse but I wanted to focus on the positive this year. The list includes one naturalista, which was deliberate because she is a faithful hair extension wear. That said, I wish you all the best for 2018. Let's get the show on the road.

You can never have a hair extensions best list  without Queen Bey . I absolutely loved the way she turned the volume on high in this power pony.

 Eva Marcille really enhanced her beauty with this platinum and blonde mix box braids. The outfit she wore at the BET Awards completed her BOHO chic look.

Gabrielle Union had such a good year. She launched her book We're Going to Need More Wine, she had hair bloggers buzzing about her Flawless by Gabrielle Union hair products and she aced the hair game on her book tour.  I just love this halo braid and the length behind.  The look was created by celebrity stylist Larry Sims. Certainly  a look for us to try. Right ladies?

Faux Locs was all the rage for 2017. And honestly I got really sick of seeing it done the wrong way. Actress Meagan Good, however, got the look just right with her small, light locs. Elegance personified.

Famous YouTuber Peakmill really raised a lot of eyebrows, in a good way, with this gorgeous fiery copper wig that she made and coloured herself! The woman is amazing with hair extensions.  Just goes to show you why this Nigerian American beauty is in a league of her own. 

We love that Rihanna is always making a hair statement. This past year she took the faux locs trend to a whole new level!  Her locs were fat, voluminous and authentic looking. And when it got messy, we were so there for it.  

When Sanaa Lathan chopped off her locks for a Netflix movie role, social media went crazy. Some loved it and some  hated it. In the end Lathan's charm and acceptance of her bald head brought naysayers over to her side. Lathan who is no strangers to wigs and weaves certainly fooled a lot of people with this short curly wig (yes it is a wig)  that was designed by celebrity mane-changer stylist Larry Sims.

Solange has been through it all with hair extensions. She has tried a lot of styles over the years but I love her in this kinky curly hair. She absolutely wore it well at Black Girls Rock earlier this year. 

I watch Empire just to see the wigs they choose for Taraji P Henson's Cookie character. The veteran actress who often covers her long natural hair with wigs offset,  went short for 2017 and I can't get enough of it. That she added colour to her coif makes it edgy and trendy! If you're got to go short ladies, this is the way to do it ! 

Sanaa Lathan shaves her head - SO WHAT

The hypocrisy of  some people.  Sheesh. You can't wear a weave because that means you don't like your own hair; if you relax your hair, you are a sell out --  trying to mimic a Caucasian. You are immediately banished from the elite "natural  hair club" where all naturalistas  hold hands, sing kumbaya and trade notes of secret potions that they have concocted in their kitchens to feed their coily hair. Miss me with that.
As a certified hairdresser, coif chameleon and wig maker of essiwigs, I have done it all -- the weaves, the wigs, the natural hair, the relaxed hair, the coloured hair.  I have even cut it all off and started again so I can tell you how high maintenance our coily hair is.  And while I chose to go back to the hair crack, I don't look down on anyone who decides to stick to or go back to their roots. Just don't judge me or anyone else, for the hair decisions we make.
I am online this morning reading the comments left for Sanaa Lathan on her Facebook page following her big reveal video  -- her shorn locks. Some wondered if she was ill (God forbid), others gasped asking why she "went and did that" , one idiot even said she looked like comedian Tracy Morgan! It was mainly men (if you want to call them that) trashing the actress's new look. Most of the women celebrated her beauty. And at least one naturalista (insert eye roll hair) found that black women should return to their roots instead of being enslaved by hair weaves. (Refer to above, miss me with that!! ).
Truth be told,  Sanaa is not sick . Her shorn locks is for her leading role in the Netflix upcoming movie Nappily Ever After. I am thinking that even if she didn't have to shave her hair for a role, it's a woman's choice to wear their hair however she is comfortable -- even if the wig or weave is floor length!!! Even if she wants to wear her hair purple at the back and red at the front.  It is wrong for people to be judgemental about hair, since everyone has a reason for wanting to look a particular way. Everyone is NOT on the same journey.
That said I think that Sanaa's new do is beautiful on her. Few of us can rock a naked head like that. There are also lessons in here for all of us : 1. Hair grows back, get over it, 2. We are NOT our hair 3. Do you, everytime!
Will love to hear your thoughts. Here's the video and some photos of Sanaa's looks over the years . 

So busy and all that ... making wigs of course

 I know that I haven’t blogged for a minute — shame on me. But if you saw the beautiful things that I have been creating away from this space, I am sure that you will forgive my absence.

Ladies, and all the great guys reading me too, I have been focusing on my wig making. Hopefully, I am getting better.lol.I have been trying new techniques and inventing some of my own, all in an effort to make my essiwigs brand better and eventually, bigger.

You see in my mind, I can't go for big things with my wigs until I tweak the little things. Sure, making a lot of money with my wigs is ideal, but my mind is always on the customer and if that person is happy and comfortable. If not, I will feel uncomfortable and no amount of money will erase that feeling.

In my photos you will see that I experimented with bangs, colour and curly textures. I will love to get your feedback on this fresh bunch of wigs, once you have the time. Feedback is important to me. And if you like what you see and want an essiwig of your own, I am on Facebook. Just search essiwigs. Looking forward to hearing from you guys. Hoping to visit and post in this space more often too. Later then. :)

Another essiwig - Milky Way Que Malaysian Body Wave 7 pcs

Hi honeys. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. I wanted to share with you what I did with my latest find -- Milky Way's Que Malaysian Body Wave 7pcs.

I went to my local BSS in search of blended hair. As you should know by now, blended hair costs far less than human hair. I also wanted a body wave to mimic those virgin hair bundles -- again without  having to pay the high price. 

The sales girl at the BSS assured me that the hair sold so well and that buyers usually return to buy more, in different styles. 

This one-pack solution has different lengths -- two 16 inches, two 18 inches, two 20 inches and a circular closure. I chose the hair in the colour 4/30.

I wanted to make a wig that was suitable for work but with a little bit of glam. Twenty inches, for me was too ridiculously long for the office, that's just my opinion, and so I chose to put the shorter length at the back -- 16 inches and the 20 inches at the top.  

I was never really was a fan of circular closures, so I used one of my top closures -- with the part -- on this wig. The blend was seamless, given that the closure was human hair and the Que Malaysian was not.

I used a spandex dome cap to create this  wig and, any one who follows my blog and my Facebook page - Essi's Heads Up knows, the wig is completely sewn. 

A month after wearing this hair , I can say that I love the way it falls, the texture of the hair extensions and the blend of the 4/30. Tangling is minimum and can be addressed by just running your fingers through.

This hair is so close to human hair that I forgot that it was a mixed blend! The hair also falls like Malaysian  hair, so you might just fool a few people. 

On another note, this hair should be treated as exactly what it is -- non-human hair. That means to lay off of frequent product use and just let it be. I have seen videos of buyers flat ironing the hair, which can be done up to a certain temperature. The beauty for me, however is in the gorgeous thickness of the hair. Flat ironing , it seems,  take that away  for me. Still, to each his own. 

Here is a photo of me wearing my Que Malaysian Body Wave made into a wig. Would love to hear your take on it. 

Braided wigs -- my new hair fix

You know when I am not online blogging about hair extensions I am up to something else hair-related, right? With the launch of my hair extensions business Essi's Heads Up (on Facebook)  and my essiwigs (c) brand of wigs, I have been trying new things with wigs. Lately, braided wigs have been occupying my time.

These wigs, are time consuming , taking about 9 hours to create. I am well aware that there are pre-braided extensions out there that I can just crochet into a wig,  but there is something beautiful and soothing about working those hair extensions to the  end of the braid.  It's equally satisfying to see the plait count increase -- from a single one , to a patch of plaits then just one more to go.

I am usually my own guinea pig when I  design  a new wig. I created the wig that you see here using Supreme Super X in 1B 33 because I craved that wine colour. I created this in one sitting , which means that I didn't do it over three days as I tend to do with the wigs I make for clients . Honestly, I am usually too anxious to try on the wigs I make for myself, to go beyond a night.

I used three packs of hair  extensions to create this beauty and I have to tell you that it was very thick and heavy, unlike the ones found at the Beauty Supply Stores.  I didn't work with the full length of the braid, opting for an 18-inch length which made my wig corporate-suitable.  I tried the wig in different styles -- all down, top up , bottom down, to the side , in a low ponytail. I settled on this style with my the top tied in a knot loosely and the bottom down.

The best part of having my own go-to essiwig(c) is that I can take it off before bed and put it on again the next morning. Another plus? I don't have to take down my braids as I would have if I attached the extensions to my own hair AND my natural hair remains intact (no tight braids pulling on my hairline).

I also created a Senegalese twist essiwig (c) using the pre-braided two strand twists. I completed that wig in half the time I did my braided wig and I was so  pleased with the results.

The best part of making a wig for a client is witnessing their  transformation during try on. The best part of making a wig for myself is being able to produce the a hair piece that is exactly what I want!  Would appreciate your feedback. Don't forget to check out my page and some of my wigs at Essi's Heads Up on Facebook :)

Me, in my braided essiwig (c)

Senegalese Twist essiwig (c)