#shaitel

Brooklyn Wig shop Celebrates 55 Years

A Midwood wig shop is celebrating 55 years of doing business in Brooklyn.

The owner of Claire Accuhair on Coney Island Avenue says the business has adapted to ever-changing hair trends for decades.

The store primarily serves the Orthodox Jewish community, but people from all over who might be dealing with chemotherapy also visit.

Fashion trendsetters are embracing the look of feather hair extensions - that is, dyed feathers that are applied to hair to create a trendy bohemian look. Bling Strands, a hair extension and accessory company, sent me some of their Fancy Feathers to try. With the help of Gitel Rosenzweig, a gifted and creative wig stylist from Brooklyn, we attempted this trend on my shaitel.

And the results? Why don't you be the judge?

Feather hair extensions are completely safe for natural hair as well as wigs; they can be applied in minutes by your stylist and can be taken out without doing any damage to the hair. Gitel applied these feathers by inserting a lock of hair and the feather extension into a micro-link (with a similar color to my hair) and then clamping down on the micro-link to secure. The micro-link should not be applied directly on top of the head, otherwise it will be noticeable. Removing the feather extensions can be done just by pulling them out, but the micro-link should only be clipped out by your stylist. The removal process takes seconds, so you won't need a long appointment for that.

These high-quality feathers can last for a few months on your real hair. On wigs, they can last much longer since they'll be washed and styled a lot less often. The feathers can be washed and styled with regular styling tools on a medium heat setting. Washing, blow dryers, straightening and curling irons are all fine - but stay away from high heat. Gitel recommends applying the feathers after your wig is styled to minimize possible wear and tear on the feathers.

Placement is something you can discuss in the stylist's chair. Gitel applied the feathers in a few spots on my wig to demonstrate the different looks that can be achieved. If you want a more subtle look, attach feathers towards the bottom of your hair so they'll peek out discreetly. Otherwise, you can place them on the top of your head and get ready for some comments! You can apply just one feather or go all out with a few throughout your hair. Another way to customize this look is through the colors you choose. I prefer the striped pastel colors because they are more subdued. We also tried some bright feathers which I thought made me look too "Teenage Girl Who Works at Hot Topic-ish".

Here is Gitel with a bright pink striped feather.

If you're still having iffy thoughts about this trend, why not think of feather hair extensions as a hair accessory, just like decorative hair clips or feather headbands?

Interested in applying these feathers to your wig or hair? Each feather extension is $10, can be applied in minutes and taken out with no additional charge. Contact Gitel at (718) 758-1022 or (347) 262-7443 to customize a feathered look that you'll love.

If you are a stylist interested in carrying these feathers or other Bling Strands products, visit their website at http://www.blingstrands.com/.

About Gitel Rosenzweig: Gitel has been in the wig styling business for over 10 years working with all types of wigs, including her own special line of custom designed wigs and falls. Using only the finest hair and years of experience, she works with every individual face to make you look your best. Gitel Wigs is located at a convenient location in Flatbush.

                                     Pretty Chavi in a sophisticated DIY Grecian braid

Braids, in their various forms, have been de rigueur for thousands of years. Some styles require an army of servants while others are stunningly simple.

Follow this 4-step tutorial to create a Grecian "headband" braid. This style will work beautifully in your hair or wig:

You can experiment with the width of the braid as well as the number of braids ( to do a double braid, just repeat the process on the other side of the head.)

Some historical inspiration of braids throughout the ages:

Clockwise from top: The original Grecian braid, A Botticcelli girl in her Renaissance glory, 50's farmgirl fabulous and currently on-trend hippie gal.