Keeping Hair Safe Under A Wig?

[MadeiraD]

I'm probably going to start working as a stripper again (so that I can unionize the dancers, working conditions in this city are appalling) soon, and personally I prefer not to have my hair loose in public (and prefer to wear wigs at work anyway, because I don't like to be too recognizable to customers outside of work, I'm sure you can understand why.

What's the best way to do this? Is a nylon wig cap "hair safe"?

[ErinLeigh]

I'm probably going to start working as a stripper again (so that I can unionize the dancers, working conditions in this city are appalling) soon, and personally I prefer not to have my hair loose in public (and prefer to wear wigs at work anyway, because I don't like to be too recognizable to customers outside of work, I'm sure you can understand why.

What's the best way to do this? Is a nylon wig cap "hair safe"?

I would guess oiling the hair and then using a nylon wig cap would be the best bet.
I worked in strip clubs from age 20 to 26 and think its cool you are trying to help the conditions.

Good luck to you. :)

[darklyndsea]

The general consensus about any sort of head covering is that as long as it doesn't move around, it won't cause enough damage to worry about.

[MadeiraD]

I would guess oiling the hair and then using a nylon wig cap would be the best bet.
I worked in strip clubs from age 20 to 26 and think its cool you are trying to help the conditions.

Good luck to you. :)

Yeah the fact that dancers are considered independent contractors and not employees leads to some dang nonsense around things like health care, and maternity leave, and what not, though frankly they should be considered employees and treated as employees, especially considering dress codes.

[Khristopher]

I think the best are the net ones, like this one (http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_216581_2.jpg). Oiling sounds good too. I wish everything goes well!

[Ishje]

The thing with oiling is that if it is hot and you are dancing, it might get itchy.
I have never worn wigs, but I can imagine it does, also I am not sure what oil does for a wig?

If I where you I would use the net covers and then a (thin) nylon cover.
Silk or satin would be better than nylon, but it might be slippery and the wig might not hold.
Unless you use something to hold it like these combs people use for french twists.

I am just thinking out loud, as I said, I have never really used wigs so I know very little about it. :oops:

[Weewah]

Ahh this thread is making me think about taxes >.< I'm a dancer too, we have to pay self employment tax on top of income tax... Every year at this time I get to write a nice generous check like a good upstanding citizen. But I do enjoy the extreme flexibility of the job, even if it means I must figure out my own health insurance, taxes, and retirement fund.

I wore wigs for a while back in the day and my only problem with them is I wore cheap ones that looked fake/got tangly. Hotness/itchiness wasn't really an issue, and I don't remember any of the customers giving a crap that I was wearing a wig, so I think it's a good idea to wear them if you wanna protect your hair. As long as you're not pinning it too tight in the same spots every day it should be good. My hair definitely incurs damage on the job, and no one I work with has any longer than hip length either. I accepted the fact as long as I'm dancing I'm just gonna be regular-length haired lol.

Well, I wish you the best of luck in your unionizing endeavor, and that you can make some positive changes for the women you work with. :)

[MadeiraD]

Yeah I have TBL and pretty much don't like wearing it down in public anymore (I still work in the sex industry and was getting to feel like no part of me was private, I don't have much in the way with modesty, but I do like to have privacy, so my hair is basically what I consider "private" at this point)

[Weewah]

Yeah and getting the same reactions to your hair over and over again would get annoying. It's good to keep something for yourself, and a line that doesn't get crossed so you're still in control.

[sarahthegemini]

What about a satin and net cap? The netting would allow you to pin the wig on and the satin would prevent too much friction.

[chen bao jun]

Yeah I have TBL and pretty much don't like wearing it down in public anymore (I still work in the sex industry and was getting to feel like no part of me was private, I don't have much in the way with modesty, but I do like to have privacy, so my hair is basically what I consider "private" at this point)
Wig issue aside, you don't sound to me as if you are completely happy with the way things are in your life at this point.Just sending you hugs and wanting to make sure you know you do have a choice not to do things that make you unhappy in any way. You do have a right to keep all of your body private if you would prefer. Also, I do think that that unionization alone is not going to solve the problems faced by women in an industry that is entirely based on treating them as objects rather than human beings; is often run using psychological or physical violence or abuse; and preys on women whose life situations all too often include previous abuse that has left them in positions where they feel they have no choices. Just some things to think about--i can tell from your previous posts how intelligent and thoughtful you are.

[MadeiraD]

Nah, I love my job. Like seriously, love it. Also frankly, the problems sex workers face mostly come from the social stigma surrounding it, the idea that we are treated as objects rather than people puts us at more risk, not less and is just another manifestation of the idea that women are somehow "soiled" by sexual experience. My clients are about 1000X more respectful than the entitled little men who used to hit on me on dating sites.

Frankly, I care a whole lot more about adequate health care, and safe working conditions than if joe schmo respects me.

I work hard and earn an honest living. I sell a service, just like a plumber sells a service, and I see so many people badmouthing the sex industry in one breath "because it's degrading" and then complaining about how their cleaning lady doesn't work hard enough in the next. From where I'm standing, what I do is a heck of a lot less degrading than scrubbing someone else's toilet.

I am not in need of saving, we do not need your voice as we have our own and they work very well thank you. If you've never been a sex worker I sincerely doubt you understand the actual day to day realities of sex work.

I'm a pro-domme, I'm very happy in my work, I find it, to be honest a profoundly rewarding field, I help people deal with their hang ups, with deep emotional needs, and frankly, I like helping people (I only wish the pay was better),

Obviously I have the right to keep my body private if I wish (economic realities permitting) but that's not really the issue, I've never minded having nude photos of myself all over the internet, it's more of a work/life boundary thing. Like you know how you'd feel if your boss demanded you work through an important holiday? More like that.

[Aderyn]

I second the satin wig cap or a silk/satin fabric of sorts under the nylon wig cap. So long as it doesn't cause friction and isn't too tight, should be fine. I've heard of people just braiding their hair and going without a wig cap and being just fine, as well. :shrug:

[RedNymph]

I hope conditions improve and I applaud what you're doing. I used to work at a strip joint a year ago. The women were wonderful and made the experience a positive one and I loved what I did. But I quit because management didn't make the go ahead on improved conditions that was required by the safety officer. Safety first is a big thing for me so what you're doing is a wonderful thing.

As for wigs maybe try lace front, but I'd probably recommend checking out some cosplay blogs because they are great for wig selection.

[Weewah]

Ok this is long but I wanna voice my perspective. I'm honestly grateful to have the right mindset and personality to be profitable a socially stigmatized job. It affords me a very comfortable lifestyle. It sucks that there's this idea out there that adult entertainers are tortured victims of abuse that can't escape this big evil industry. That's like feeling holier-than-thou and feeling sorry for all bartenders because some bartenders tend to only work in dive bars with crappy customers and mean bosses.

There is a lot money to be made in the adult industry and virtually no barrier to entry, so yes a lot of people with issues or no direction stumble into it, but there is also competition and a whole crapload of work environments to choose from. I can only speak from my experience as a stripper in the U.S., but strippers who know what they're doing will gravitate towards working in big city clubs that bring in many business travelers and bachelor parties. In turn, these clubs have no shortage of motivated strippers who want to work there. In my 6 years of dancing I've never encountered abusive management. We(management and dancers and everyone else working in the club) are all there to make money off the clientelle that come in. One would have to be a real doofus business owner to think it's a good idea to verbally/physically abuse the entertainers... a sad stripper who doesn't want to be there isn't going to be making any money for herself or the club, and will move on to a different place that will treat her better. Also, a sad stripper who lets every jerk customer and hateful acquaintance get to her will end up quitting dancing because she's simply not cut out for it.

Whenever I approach a customer who instantly has a judgmental attitude towards me and starts grilling me about my childhood and home life, I know they're just going to piss me off and waste my time so I just quickly excuse myself and look for another person who is actually there to spend money and have fun. Also if I aporoach a person who keeps complaining about all the rules, I know I'm wasting my time with that person and I move on. There are a lot of people who enjoy going to the strip club and are very respectful. I also like hamming it up on stage doing pole tricks to my favorite music under the blacklights and strobe lights, it's a fun atmosphere that I enjoy. Of course there are some nights that suck but who doesn't complain about their job sometimes?

Basically what I'm trying to say is it's a very big industry and people who choose to make money in it don't have to deal with anything they don't want to, it can be as good or as bad as they make it.

[MadeiraD]

Indeed, management is rarely abusive, it's just that management and labour often have conflicting interests (I want paid sick days, management has an easier time if I don't)

[chen bao jun]

Well, I hear loud and clear that you, MadeiraD and you, Weewah, are content with your jobs and life choices. And I can certainly understand why you don't want sympathy and/or judgmentalism, that is just offensive and insulting. However, in case anyone who is 'doesn't have the right mindset' or is 'not cut out for it' as Weewah phrases it, happens to be reading this thread, here are some resources that help with counseling and transitioning to other kinds of work:
evesangel.org (only in the midwest)
xxxchurch.com
stripchurch.com
Someone close to me who has been in contact with them recommended the xxxchurch.com organization from some personal knowledge.

MadeiraD, good luck with finding your wig solution.

[Wavelength]

Well, I hear loud and clear that you, MadeiraD and you, Weewah, are content with your jobs and life choices. And I can certainly understand why you don't want sympathy and/or judgmentalism, that is just offensive and insulting. However, in case anyone who is 'doesn't have the right mindset' or is 'not cut out for it' as Weewah phrases it, happens to be reading this thread, here are some resources that help with counseling and transitioning to other kinds of work:
evesangel.org (only in the midwest)
xxxchurch.com
stripchurch.com
Someone close to me who has been in contact with them recommended the xxxchurch.com organization from some personal knowledge.

MadeiraD, good luck with finding your wig solution.

Those are porn addiction sites with religious affiliations. Are you trying to say that you think sex workers are addicted to porn?

[chen bao jun]

Wavelength, I am not up for an argument with you and I am not into labeling people, been labelled too much myself. I am not trying to say anything, other than what I specifically said. Take it or leave it, if you are not interested in the help the organizations will offer to people who want it, ignore them. thanks. Best to you. Threadjack end.

[MadeiraD]

http://sexworkersproject.org/resources/ In case someone was interested in more secular help, there's this, personally I'm a member of the Indstrial Workers Of The World (Sex Workers are union number 690, and it's a really warm and lovely community, so if you need help or resources it's a great place to go.

Thanks for all the wig help.

[MeganE]

Nah, I love my job. Like seriously, love it. Also frankly, the problems sex workers face mostly come from the social stigma surrounding it, the idea that we are treated as objects rather than people puts us at more risk, not less and is just another manifestation of the idea that women are somehow "soiled" by sexual experience. My clients are about 1000X more respectful than the entitled little men who used to hit on me on dating sites.

Frankly, I care a whole lot more about adequate health care, and safe working conditions than if joe schmo respects me.

I work hard and earn an honest living. I sell a service, just like a plumber sells a service, and I see so many people badmouthing the sex industry in one breath "because it's degrading" and then complaining about how their cleaning lady doesn't work hard enough in the next. From where I'm standing, what I do is a heck of a lot less degrading than scrubbing someone else's toilet.

I am not in need of saving, we do not need your voice as we have our own and they work very well thank you. If you've never been a sex worker I sincerely doubt you understand the actual day to day realities of sex work.

I'm a pro-domme, I'm very happy in my work, I find it, to be honest a profoundly rewarding field, I help people deal with their hang ups, with deep emotional needs, and frankly, I like helping people (I only wish the pay was better),

Obviously I have the right to keep my body private if I wish (economic realities permitting) but that's not really the issue, I've never minded having nude photos of myself all over the internet, it's more of a work/life boundary thing. Like you know how you'd feel if your boss demanded you work through an important holiday? More like that.

Just wanna chime in to say I think your living is honest and is not necessarily degrading by nature. No judgement here and I support your choice. You have a very healthy attitude about it, and sound quite happy with your life to me. I'm sure you'd be happier if the world was more accepting of you, but.... that's true of all of us, yes?