Wigs Celebrate Style Along With Faith
April 17, 2009
By Danielle Holtzer
Stacy Spigelman, owner of L.A. Style
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YahooMyWebStacy Spigelman lives and works according to one mantra, “Women always want to look good.” Spigelman puts this into practice in her salon, L.A. Style, which is the headquarters of quality and style for those in need of wigs, scarves, hats and accessories, whether for fashion, religious reasons or out of necessity from medical issues. As owner and operator of one of the few wig salons in the area, Spigelman and her specialized skills are essential for many women.
“Most of my current clients wear wigs for religious reasons,” Spigelman said. “Many Orthodox women wear head coverings, including wigs, after marriage, as a sign of modesty. Only our husbands and immediate family are allowed to see our hair.” As an Orthodox Jewish woman herself, Spigelman chose to specialize in wigs to help women in her community.
After growing up in Pikesville, Spigelman moved to L.A. in 1988 and started her career, apprenticing for two years under an expert wig stylist before attending the Marinello Beauty School. She moved back to the East Coast and wanted to bring the laid-back L.A. attitude to her own salon. “I wanted people to feel comfortable and relaxed in my salon,” Spigelman said. The salon opened in 1995, initially run from Spigelman’s home, before opening its current location on Fallstaff Road.
Spigelman and her four staff members are now settled in northwest Baltimore, just outside Pikesville, where Spigelman says the market for hairpieces is fairly steady. The age range of customers is much larger than one might assume. Married, Orthodox Jewish women as young as 18 are just as likely to buy a wig here as someone their grandmother’s age. Older women are more likely to come in person to have their wig styled than the younger ladies, according to Spigelman. The younger girls will just drop it off with instructions and come back for it later, a practice growing increasingly common in today’s hustle and bustle. Even in a troubled economy, women come in to have their hairpieces serviced, even if they aren’t buying new.
Not everyone is shopping for religious reasons, though.
“I’ve had some that just wanted a hairpiece because they were going on vacation, and wanted to be able to look good at night, after swimming all day,” Spigelman said. “There are also women in the TV and film industry who need to have a wig handy because they never know when they may need to be in front of a camera.”
The salon sells a large selection of different wigs. The lower-end wigs are synthetic, meaning they won’t last as long as a higher-end wig, but they are more affordable. The salon also sells human hair wigs. “Asian hair wigs are considered lower quality because their texture is fairly course,” Spigleman said. “They usually need to be chemically treated to get lighter colors.” The highest quality and most expensive wigs are made from European hair, which is generally purchased in Eastern Europe for the wig market.
With such a wide variety of colors, cuts and styles, it is easy to see how having a wig could simplify things. Imagine getting ready on your wedding day and having your hair done in less than five minutes.
Other women are in need of a wig as a result of medical issues. Although they are not the largest portion of her client base, Spigelman has a special gift for cancer patients. A common side effect of chemotherapy treatment, hair loss is often unavoidable for those fighting all different types of cancer. “We work hard to make our clients look and feel good. For some, unfortunately, that’s all we can do,” she said. “But I believe that looking good is a huge part of the healing process. If you look good, you feel good. The rest is in God’s hands.”
The job, according to Spigelman, is rewarding. “I have run into a few women I’ve helped and they’ve run up to me, hugged me, reminded me who they were and thanked me for what I did for them, years ago,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help women in their time of need.”
In addition to her time spent in the salon, helping women from all over the community, Spigelman volunteers her time for the American Cancer Society, facilitating a monthly “Look Good, Feel Better” session. Held at the Cancer Center at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, these sessions help cancer patients by offering beauty tips to cope with hair loss and other issues from chemotherapy and radiation.
Spigelman and her team impact the lives of many community women in a great way. They help keep women looking good, no matter the times.
Contact the L.A. Style Salon at 410-764-5951. To subscribe to the salon’s newsletter, send an e-mail to sta...@lastylesalon.com. For information on Look Good, Feel Better sessions call the toll-free number, 1-800-395-LOOK (1-800-395-5665).
Nice post.
I say,
Using a good hair salon is key to great hair care. But how do you select the right hair salon from the many choices available?
You can do to guarantee that you always receive the best hair cuts, latest professional techniques and stellar service is to choose the right hair salon. Granted, that is easier said than done. With hair salons on practically every street corner, narrowing down your options to find the right salon can be confusing.
http://kisnersbarbersalon.com