Let's face it: We're biased about wigs in this country. Say the words "fake hair," and what do we think? Paris Hilton, Donald Trump, and those really bad Halloween costumes that never turn you into the sexy witch the plastic bag promised.
But thanks to regular exposure on Sex and the City, as well as the popularity of salon extensions, it's clear that wigs are seriously in. No one knows that better than Joe Baker, owner of the four-year-old Wigs Too boutique on Odana Road. Baker had worked in the nonprofit sector in Madison for years, and decided to abandon his career in favor of his independent wig shop. "I was looking for a niche," he says, "and at the time there wasn't anywhere in Madison to get good hair."
Baker quickly ended the wig drought in town, developing Wigs Too into the place to buy replacement hair. In fact, an inventory of 35 at the store's opening has since jumped to over 200. From cancer and alopecia patients to identity-seeking teenagers and well-styled drag queens, "there is no 'average customer' at Wigs Too," says Baker. "And we certainly don't discriminate."
When it comes to his products, though, Baker has a discriminating eye. Lining the shelves are full wigs of both synthetic and real human hair, half-wigs (essentially, extensions without the time, money and mess), costume wigs, and hairpieces. Prices range from $37 to around $160, so it's possible to walk out without feeling like there's a giant, hairy hole in your pocket. It's also a blast to try out some new 'dos just for fun.
Baker and his staff are as friendly as can be, and I guarantee they'll treat you like the sexy witch you are.
Wigs Too, 6713 Odana Rd., 827-5846, 12:30-5:30 pm Mon., 10 am-7 pm Tue.-Fri., 10 am-5 pm Sat.
