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)

The Best and Worst in Hair Extensions 2016

Honeys, hi again. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and you are ready and roaring for 2017! As I do on the last day every year, or at least I try to be consistent (doesn't always happen) , I look back at celebrities with hair extensions that made an impression on me and these who, well, didn't.

Thebomb.com  (HOT)

Gabrielle Union - GabbyU's long micro-braids really made me feel to endure nine to twelve hours to get the style. (Well, not really lol). But who wouldn't entertain thoughts of wearing braids again after seeing the Being Mary Jane actress wear her braids in a bun one minute, up and down the next and elegantly to the left.


Tami Roman - If you're a fan of Basketball Wives of LA, you are already familiar with Tami Roman's  hair extension game. With an official virgin hair collection that bears her name, Tami has no other choice but to bring it when it comes to her hair extensions. I am loving this kinky curly on her. How about you?


Taraji P Henson - As the Lyoness of The Empire,  Taraji P Henson never disappoints in her role as Cookie Lyon and always keeps it 100 with different hair extensions . She wears 'em long and straight, short and curly, big and kinky. When you're not watching the chemistry between Mrs Lyon and her beloved Lucious, check out her mane!

April Furman - You Tuber April Furman is well subscribed on the channel and  for good reason. Furman, who posts as Ms MuffinsIsMyLovers, not only reviews wigs sent to her by hair companies, she also makes them for her Gone With the Wind online wig store. Furman is mad talented with  her colour work and is the mistress of wig slaying ! Check out this red wig that she created.

Sanaa Lathan - I swear , apart from gaping the very yummy Michael Ealy during the movie Perfect Guy, my eyes were on Sanaa Lathan's  hair extensions. Big, bouncy and beautiful, that's the girl's mane game and I am a huge fan.

Bombed! (Not)

Reign Edwards -  Reign is a beautiful  young actress who stars on the Bold and the  Beautiful as Nicole Avant. It's a pity though that the stylists on the show can't get her hair extensions right. It doesn't help that they put on weighty extensions on her thin hair. The colour and texture of the extensions are also off and it is easy for those who don't know about hair extensions, to see where Reign's hair ends and the extensions begin. I wish they would just give her character  a full lace wig or a lace front wig, end of.

DJ Duffey - Another Basketball Wives of LA reality show actress, DJ Duffey really rocks those finger waves on the show. Her hair extensions , well that's another story.  Check out this wreck job. It's time grown women abort their baby hair plans, especially on hair extensions. Baby hair is for babies!!

Lil Kim - When BET honoured here for her contribution to rap, I didn't hear a word Diddy said in his tribute to her. That's because I was so distracted by Kim's greasy, tacky and stringy extensions. Someone needs to hook Kimmy up with Bey's hair person. Or better yet, give me the job!! :)

Essiwigs - the launch

Honeys!! I hope all is well with you guys. I have some good news to share with you -- I finally launched Essi's Heads Up, albeit low key and on Facebook and Twitter. You guys all know how busy I have been making wigs for my growing clients. I decided to take it a little further to offer my custom-made wigs to a wider market. I have also included BSS products and my custom-made clip-in- extensions.
I invite you to interact with me , ask any questions , order your wigs and clip-ins -- all  at my new digs https://www.facebook.com/essisheadsup/
Here's a sample of my clients, not the mannequin (lol),  wearing their Essiwigs.

Cheap hair ...good hair -- Sensationnel Ultimate Too Lovely WVG

Hey lovelies! It's been a while. Trust all is well. I have been so busy making wigs and things for my growing clients. I am grateful to God for this talent honestly because not only do I love making wigs , it has also become stress relieving !
I wanted to share my latest hair find with you if only to show you the possibilities you can achieve with .... how do I say it? Cheap or inexpensive hair .
I know that Remy and Virgin hair extensions are all the rage right now, and I love my Remy hair too, but what of those who can't afford high end hair -- like the student, the single mother  who wants wear a weave and still have money left over to feed her babies? Or how about that career woman who loves hair extensions but has other priorities like buying her own home or a car? I think you catch my drift.
I settled on this hair Sensationnel Ultimate Too Lovely WVG  a blended weave (which means human hair and synthetic) after walking around the hair store for a while. I was working with a tight budget and all the hair extensions that appealed to me were too expensive.
I was prepared to just walk out of the store empty-handed when my eyes fell on Lovely, not for the right reasons though.
I remember thinking that although I loved the way the hair looked on the model on the pack, I didn't like it for me. Something about the wave  never appealed to me.
My challenge was to make it pop. If you know me and my love for hair extensions, you would know that I never let cheap hair or the style bug me. Once the price is right, honey I make it work.
I chose the 1b 350 (black and copper red) because I have been feeling red and colours  in that family for a bit.
I bought a dome cap and it took me a week before I finally sat down to make this wig. Confession : I was dealing with buyers remorse !!!  Still,  I was determined to make this purchase count.
Since the pack of hair came with no closure, I had to make my own. I chose to do an invisible side part which i achieved by sewing the hair in a one  slanted direction at the top. It turned out surprisingly well considering that this was the first time I was trying this pattern.
The hair is sixteen inches and even though I wanted to cut it some at first, once I put it on I decided to keep the length. I razored the front though  -- really didn't want all that hair in my face!
I put it on with a little makeup and I have to tell you that I am in love with this hair. I love the colour on me and the hair is so light that I almost forget that I am wearing two packs of hair.
This hair retails for 17 US and 14 US in some places. It sheds a bit so do look out for that.
I hope that this blog entry drives home the point that whether your hair is cheap or expensive,  your goal should be to make the best of your purchase -- this include maintenance of the hair. For now the hair seems to love the World of Curls activator gel. You may have your own activator product in mind so give it a shot.
Let me know if you tried this hair and how it worked for you. Your feedback on what I did with this hair is also welcomed.  Cheap hair? What cheap hair?

The weave package 

My wig made with the Sensationnel Lovely weave

The year of the wigs ... a look back

I didn't blog as often as I would have liked to; but 2015 will go down as the year when I switched from hair weaves to wigs.
Now hear me hunnies, I didn't go to my local BSS (Beauty Supply Store)  to buy these wigs, I actually started making  my own. This turned out to be such a win win for me -- I got to create and wear wigs that reflected my own personal style and my own hair got to breathe again.
I experimented a lot with my wigs and even transformed one of my old store-bought ones from straight to wavy - hey hair must never be boring!
I also made wigs for a few women who were drawn to mine. It's a different feeling to make wigs and see them enhance the beauty of other women. I have to tell you that it felt really good to put the completed wig in its clear plastic pouch and present it to customers in a stylish bag.  Women appreciate things like that.
One customer, who requested one of my custom wigs for her Christmas dinner , said she looked in the mirror and was in awe of the woman she saw staring back at her.
"I don't usually look this glamorous," she told me via WhatsApp. My friends were so surprised."
Two other customers were pleased to report that their  husbands were pleased with their new look with one joking that her husband didn't even realise it was a wig until she took it off.
From my own collection of wigs -- a modest five, I get to have different looks to match my many moods and evolving dress style.  The hair I use for my own wigs range from remi to blends (human and synthetic fibres) and human hair. You'd be surprised at the difference a wig makes to your appearance --whether the look you're going for is exotic, sophisticated, girlish, businesslike -- as the photos of my wigs show. And it really doesn't matter if the hair is synthetic or human - just maintain it as you would your own.
My latest wig , as in two days ago, was made using  the colour 4/27  (brown and strawberry blonde) in  Outre's First Lady hair extensions. I absolutely fell in love with this hair and its movement after a client bought it to have her wig done. Hers was a mix of  1b and 99j (black and dark wine).
The hair is light - even with two packs -  and is pre-bumped, giving the most gorgeous swoop bang.
It would be nice to tell me what you think of the First Lady hair extensions if you have tried it before.  Feedback is always welcome.
Have a happy and hair extension filled 2016 hunnies. Rock that hair like your own.

The latest addition to my wig collection - made using Outre First Lady hair extension 

I made this wig using Freetress Attrak hair . I really wanted some red hair . This didn't disappoint. 

I created this wig using Freetress Equal Jamaican Bundle Wave 

For this wig I used Beverly Johnson's Spanish Wave weave 

For this wig I used Sensationnel's LIVE Brazilian Keratin Remi Ombre. 

Vivica Fox Hair Collection's Cornrow Cap

A weave /wig cap with cornrows attached and called the Cornrow Cap  is what the Vivica Fox Hair Collection is teasing as a coming soon product. And hair weave wearers are understandably excited about it.
The cap, which was originally designed for Cancer patients,  is expected to also find favour among  weave-wearers with  alopecia (hair loss) and those with  very short hair

who still want a sew-in and I guess even those with a braiding challenge.
As a hair weave wearer I can tell you that I started doing my own sew-ins because of the too-tight cornrows put in by my former hairdresser for the tracks. The  last time she did my sew in ,  I left her salon with a massive headache (caused by the tight cornrows).
At least with this cap , wearers wouldn't have to worry about that! Best of all, the cap can either be sewn to a perimeter braid or taken off if the wearer only wants something temporary.
I am just a wee bit concerned about the spacing between each track; which some may find too close or not close enough! We will see.  I am also thinking about how secure this cap will be for the wearer who has no hair. No one wants to wear a cap that can slip off easily.
The Cornrow Cap also features braid patterns like the horseshoe and straight back which will make it easy to incorporate lace closures. The caps come in small, medium and large sizes for comfortable fit and should also impress those who are into interlocking and the popular crochet braids.
The Cornrow Cap is expected to be in stores in the next two months according to the Vivica Fox Hair Collection's Facebook page.  I can't wait to see how it will be received.

Beverly Johnson Spanish Wave Weave - Another homemade wig story

I love that my friends know and appreciate my  hair extension passion  and indulge me once in a while. This past week, a colleague brought me a pack of hair which she had in a  barrel at her home. Her sister sent her the hair four years ago and she discovered it while looking for a purse. The hair was still in its original package and my friend , who has natural hair , was happy to pass it on to me, since she has no plans whatsoever to try hair extensions.
I was game. Four year old hair? This I got to see.
When I pulled the hair out of its pack, the smell was like brand new weave extensions. Ohhhkaaaay, it certainly passed the fresh hair test.
 I took the hair home , washed it and had to decide whether I wanted to do a sew-in weave or a wig. You know by now that I am resting my hair from the traction caused by sew in weaves, so my decision to make a wig didn't take me too long. Then again I am really getting addicted to making my own wigs. The major problem though is that I fall in love with them so much that I wish I could wear them all - AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!
Seriously though, the Beverly Johnson Spanish Wave Weave hair reminded me a lot of Remy hair. It was soft, full and had a natural look.
I got together my tools - dome cap, needle, thread, mannequin , the hair and I started on my sew-in wig. Three hours later - and with just that one pack , I was finished. To close off the wig I used a hair closure that  I bought for another wig which worked well to cover the space left by the lack of hair at the top (two packs would have been ideal... if I bought it).
Since the hair was ten inches long, I choose not to cut it. I used the razor on the closure hair in order for it to blend with the Spanish wave.
I have been wearing the hair for three days and I love that the Spanish Wave is low maintenance and still soft. I  use a wig brush on it sometimes but basically combing through with my fingers is all it needs.
I have not used products on this hair just yet since I want to see how well it performs without it.  Experience has taught me that less is more when it comes to putting product in hair extensions.
In the US the price of the Beverly Johnson Spanish Wave Weave ranges from $23 to $60 depending on the length and the vendors.
If you want an easy-breezy,  very low-maintenance hair, give this one a try. As for me, I think I  just discovered another favourite wig!

The finished look 

Getting ready .... Dome cap, mannequin (that's another wig I made and blogged about recently ), the pack of Beverly Johnson Spanish Wave weave hair,  needle and thread. 

The pack of Spanish Wave Weave 

New wig - Big, curly, handmade

Hey lovelies. I know that it has been a while. I promise you that I have a good excuse. The last time I posted in this space I told you that I was resting my own hair  from the  hair weaves. I have to tell you  that the  rest - from the traction of the braids in my usual sew ins - has  done my real hair well. It is not only healthy but thick! Still I love my extensions, as you well know. I have been spending my time away from you making wigs!
Thankfully my mummy is also a hair extension diva so she has been blessing me with a lot of hair goodies to work with, like this beauty I am sharing with you today. When the hair came it was pretty but I was unsure about the small tight curls. In fact that was the only reason I left the hair in the bag so long before I finally got the urge to make it into a wig.
I used about one bundle to make this wig - it's a little I now, but over the years I have learned two things - tight curls can transform into big curly hair and spacing between tracks is important!
I used a dome cap and again I chose to do a sew in of the hair rather than stick it- which I know is easier but, well,  force of habit.
It took me about two to three hours to create the look I wanted and after I put it on I shaped it using the hair shaping razor. The result was exactly as I envisioned; and that's what I love about making my own wigs. The colour of this wig is a 4 /27 and , as you can see, once I took the wig brush to it - it was fire! The volume is amazing .
What do you think of this look? Be sure to let me know.

One wig - Three different looks

When I first bought the Freetress Human Hair wig Kay, I was so in love. Short, with a swoop bang,  asymmetrical and long at either side, this was my perfect go to wig for when I don't want to fuss about hair or make-up but still maintain some level of cute.
After a few washes, Kay really changed on a sister. The form it had when I just bought it, was lost and it just looked like a raggedy old wig. What's a girl to do? Throw it out ? Depends on the girl. I know that this girl don't waste hair!!!
I pulled that bad girl from my bag of wigs and decided to give her a fresh start. I sewed in  four rows of curly hair weave pieces and left the bang intact and voila , a new wig was born.
Weeks later I had second thoughts about my newly created wig. Whenever I washed it , got  poofy like those tired 80s jherri curl hair weaves that I hate so much.
Again I was faced with the decision to either toss it or upcycle it. I chose the latter.
I got down in my hair bag again and found a pack of Milky Way Weave Master Yaky weave in the colour 1b/350 (copper and black for the newcomers).  I bought that hair on sale that I never got to use it... until now.
I took my time and removed ALL the hair on the Kay wig, since an old wig cap is the best to work on for a great fit. I put the now "bald" wig cap on my mannequin head and did a complete sew in- using the beehive sew in technique.
The result was amazing. I loved it so much that I wore it to church service this morning.
To think this was a wig that was about to be tossed! See what you can do with a little imagination, and of course, a love for hair extensions !  One wig- Three different looks .

Top Left , Original wig Kay, Bottom left,  Kay with curly tracks sewn in, Right , Kay transformed. 

Bobbi Boss Bonela wig - DIY project

Hey all. How's it going today? Remember that Bobbi Boss Bonela Brazilian hair I blogged about not too long ago? Well it is now in a wig. No, not from Bobbi Boss; but my own hands.
I took down my weave last weekend and decided to treat my own hair for a minute . You know I always stress the importance of taking care of your own hair, no matter how super cute that weave hair might be.
 I have observed a lot of young ladies with too-long weaves and when the wind blows, no hairline. Ladies that's not right at all. Your first hair love should be the one growing from your own head and not the one you buy at the store!
Okay so back to my wig.
 In order to treat my hair I knew that I had to wig it . A weave wouldn't allow me the access I needed to get to my own hair as often as I wanted.
You know how much I love that Bonela hair. Even after a few washes, it still rocks. I bought the Magic DIY wig cap at my beauty supply store  and,

using the same hair and a closure , created this wig that you see . I love her!!! I have learned so much from my last wig experience. Check back a few blogs for the wig I called Essiba.
Unlike this wig, Essiba featured bangs and I had to make my own closure in the middle. I didn't wear her much because I bought the wrong wig cap and it kept slipping off my head.
Thankfully,  this cap is thick and  fits, not tight   on my head.
I know that most DIY wig makers are using hot glue to get their hair on to the wig caps,  but  for this wig I chose to do a  complete sew in. It was time consuming but so worth it! Now I just

 have to find a name for her. Essiba reloaded,  perhaps?