The 2 Beauty Tips That Could Change Your Life

-              Biostimulators Injectable treatments like Radiesse, Sculptra,and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) all prompt the body to ramp up collagen production and restore volume loss.

Prefer a DIY approach? Susie Felber, 54, a marketing agency chief creative officer, artfully ties scarves around her neck to camouflage any “budding sag.”

Entrepreneur Susye Weng-Reeder credits facial yoga, gentle neck and under-chin massage, neck- and chest-opening exercises, and general stress reduction with keeping her lower face looking younger than its 55 years.

Or be inspired by tech company founder Ruth Jennifer Cruz, who couldn’t care less about jowls “because I view aging as a natural system update, not a bug requiring a patch.”

A new way to wig out

Growing up in the 80s, the word “wig” conjured images of Raquel Welch in a feathered helmet. It was the hair equivalent of shoulder pads — obvious and in your face.

Fast forward to today and, thanks to countless Bachelor contestants, hair loss influencers and the one-and-only Moira Rose, women are talking more about thinning hair while proudly rocking incredibly natural-looking hairpieces.  

“Alternative hair used to have such a stigma, and for good reason,” says Clementine Bastos, founder and CEO of Goldylost. “The pieces were bulky, shiny, and nothing like real hair. But now, with high-quality human hair, natural colors and new ultra-thin cap materials, the hair genuinely looks like it's growing from your head — even up close.” Bastos calls wigs, along with their smaller-sized counterparts, toppers, “quiet confidence tools for women of all ages.”

Hair toppers, clip-on hairpieces that provide coverage for thinning areas at the crown, are best-suited for “people in that sweet spot” between being able to use subtler options like clip-in extensions or scalp fill-ins and needing a full-on wig, says Haven Whiteman, resident stylist and hair extensions expert at Luxy Hair. Because they cover about 25 percent of the scalp, you’ll still need a decent amount of bio hair (meaning your own hair) to blend in with your topper.

That said, if the hormonal changes of perimenopause (or stress, COVID or GLP-1 use) have thinned your hair so much that your bio hair would look obviously different from the healthy, silky strands of a topper, you may want to experiment with wigs, Bastos says.

A few of her tips:

-              Understand your options. Look for a company that offers consultations (in person or video) and ask about cap constructions and hair densities, both of which “can dramatically change how natural a piece looks and feels.”

-               Start small. Start small (maybe you do try clip-ins or a topper first) and wear it around the house before venturing out.

-              Remember you’re not alone ... although that fear is very normal, Bastos says. “Most of our clients tell us they were terrified to try [wigs]. But when they finally do, they say, ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner?’” Join and follow a few wig-wearing Facebook groups and Instagram accounts for pointers and a sense of community.

“When I lost my hair,” Bastos says, “I stopped enjoying so many things I used to love — dressing up, doing my makeup. I’d spend hours trying to do something with my own hair, and felt awful when I looked in the mirror. Wearing a wig changed everything. It gave me back the freedom to enjoy getting ready, to feel beautiful again, and to show up to things without all the anxiety. It’s not just about looking good — it gave me back a piece of myself.”