Stylist Spotlight: Peluka Salon

The hairdresser. It can be a terrifying experience for any woman going through hair loss. Will there be judgement? What will they think? And HOW do you find someone who actually knows how to work on your topper or wig? Working with alternative hair is a little different than traditional hair styling. Especially because the results are permanent (once a wig is cut, it's CUT! No growing it back).
Peluka Salon is a hair salon who truly gets it. They've helped hundreds of Lusta girls to customise their piece and are breaking the stigma on wearing hair. We got the opportunity to chat with Francesca, the woman behind Peluka. Read the interview below:
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Peluka Salon
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Who is Peluka Salon and what do you do?
We are a team of hairstylists and one wig wearer, determined to make alternative hair less 'hush hush'. Working with clients in a salon environment, we provide hair loss solutions you can feel confident in. Alopecia, cancer treatment, thinning hair; none of these should prevent the luxury of 'having your hair done'. Peluka Salon is dedicated to providing expert solutions for those dealing with hair loss. Founded by myself (Francesca), a wig wearer (Alopecia Universalis) and my husband Matthew, a hairstylist, together we pride ourselves in understanding your individual needs. We strive to create a salon experience where clients feel pampered, cared for and supported. Peluka Salon is based inside Six Salon Services, a vibrant salon in Leigh on Sea, Essex, UK. Providing alternative hair solutions both online and in salon. Offering consultation, fitting, cutting, colour and maintenance services, our clients do not have to purchase from us to access our specialist services such as cutting and colouring.

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Peluka Salon
Francesca & Matt
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How/Why did you start offering stylist services for alternative hair?
As a wig wearer myself, I struggled to access any services to customise my wigs. The wig salons I visited seemingly would only sell me the piece, or if they did offer to cut or thin, it was very limited and more of a 'one size fits all' approach. I felt very acutely that the services I encountered were not client centred, at Peluka Salon we see a wig or topper as a starting point, it HAS to be customised for the wearer. In those early days, I was made to feel less than, that even by requesting an 'off menu' cut or colour I was being difficult. After all, how dare I suggest that I deserved a service that is not dissimilar to having my bio hair cut and coloured? In short, it was infuriating and very emotionally damaging.
The turning point was meeting Matthew, a hairdresser, I asked him to "do something with this wig, I don't care what, just make it cool". He had little experience with wigs, but approached the challenge with ease, cutting my frumpy wig in the most fun bob with a heavy fringe then coloured it a dark chocolate, Uma Thurman style. I remember feeling for the first time in years that I was having my hair done, not my wig, it's a very important part of the experience, a semblance of former normality. The rest as they say is history!
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Peluka Salon
A Lusta piece customised by Peluka Salon
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What is the biggest challenge working with alternative hair?
We work with a very wide range of brands, each of them having their own quirks and challenges. When cutting, we have to be mindful of how a particular piece is knotted, is it hand tied or wefted? How dense is it? Is there a lot of weight around the front? Cutting techniques are different to bio hair as it lays and falls differently, so each piece needs to be carefully assessed before we begin. When colouring, we always need to colour and bleach test as it can be so unpredictable, even when working with the same brand, factors such as the variances in the hair used to how the original colour has been achieved. Many 'factory colours' use textile dyes which are very hard to predict, and very often blondes that have been treated this way simply won't lift or they don't pull any tone. Trying to get ash tones in these circumstances is our nemesis.
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Peluka Salon
Matt from Peluka Salon
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Why do you think the service you offer is so important?
It's a necessity, we are working daily with emotionally vulnerable clients, the least we can do is provide a service which makes them feel seen, heard and understood. Alternative hair is such a huge investment and without access to maintenance services, it is impossible to maintain the longevity of a peice. I see too many women come to me after having struggled with a piece that is in desperate need of a colour and/or cut, sometimes even the smallest changes make a huge difference to how a piece works for a client. It is very rare for a piece to work straight out of the box. Everyone deserves a personal bespoke service.
What do you love about working on Lusta pieces?
We have been fortunate enough to have been entrusted with many Lusta pieces, we have become quite acquainted with their quirks and features. We always find the hair quality and density is consistent which makes it easier for us to predict what we can achieve. We often get beautiful clean lifts from the virgin brunette colours and can even work with more ash tones on the blondes without them pulling green! Oh and they hold a curl so well!
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Peluka Salon
A Lusta piece customised by Peluka Salon
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Have you seen an increase in alternative hair wearers?
What we love is that the message is clearly being heard, we don't need to suffer hair loss, we don't need to apologise or feel embarrassed for seeking help and alternative solutions. So it is not that there is necessarily an increase in need, but certainly an increase in those accessing help. Companies, such as Lusta, do a wonderful job of normalising hair loss, we are in a very different space then even 7 years ago when I first lost my hair. We have an amazing social media network which brings people together, providing valuable information and support, showing that we are not alone.
What’s your favourite style to do one a piece?
If you have been following our feed, you will know that Matthew and I LOVE a shag! Ha ha! We absolutely love it when a client wants an edgy cut and a daring colour, and why on earth not? Alternative hair can be whatever you want it to be, hair has always been an extension of a personality, that needn't change whether it is growing for your scalp or not.
If you're searching for an experienced alt hair salon in the UK, Peluka Salon really understands hair loss and will help you create the hair of your dreams!
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2 comments

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Marilyn

I love that alternative hair is becoming more and more socially accepted. Social media is where I have learned so much and appreciate the alternative hair community that continues to help and support all of us as we navigate hair loss. Francesca, it’s wonderful what you do and I hope more stylists take on this challenge. Especially now when so many purchases are done on-line. There is a need!! I luckily bought a wig out of California (I’m on the East Coast of the US) and they were able to find me a stylist that’s only a 2 hour drive from me. Note: Since I’m just starting this journey, I plan to try a Lusta wig in the future!! Can’t wait!

Mary

Francesca is so helpful. I hope her business goes from strength to strength