Bargain Jewess

Aviva Rizel has big warm brown eyes and a stylish brown bob with side bangs. She looks like a typical good frum girl but she has a mission. To help every woman out there feel comfortable, and beautiful, while keeping the mitzvah of kisui rosh- Covering ones head.

Aviva’s story is not typical. In fact when I spoke with Aviva she told me her great love is neuropsychology and anything relating to neurons. Wigs wasn’t something she chose, but rather wigs chose Aviva. It started in seminary when a friend begged her to cut her hair. Aviva protested, but eventually using nail scissors gave her friend a haircut. Soon she was cutting everyone’s hair in her seminary. While in Stern College she continued cutting hair, and decided to enroll in Yaffa’s wig training course, so she could truly learn to cut hair and-eventually wigs-the right way.

This eventually led to Swanky Hairy Monsters and then Aviva’s wigs, her current business. Read on for my questions and Aviva’s answers.

Bargain Jewess: Lets start with why Jewish women cover their hair in the first place, give us some biblical sources?

Aviva Rizel: Obviously this is a very large topic with many opinions by many Rabbis, but there are two main sources. One being in Parshat Korach when, Korach and his followers go from house to house seeking men to rebel against Moshe. As they approached On Ben Pelet’s house, his wife stationed herself outside the house with hair uncovered thus keeping her husband from sinning.

The other source is when Sotah is discussed and the text says we remove the hair covering of the sotah. Both of these serve as proofs that Jewish woman have a halachic obligation to cover their hair.

BJ: For me and probably for most readers comfort is super important, what would you say is the most comfortable and durable wig and also how can you make sure you won’t get a lemon?

AR: In my opinion the most comfortable wig is a hand sewn, stretch cap. This allows for the wig to stretch side to side, as well as front to back. Also you want a wide flex comb about four inches at the forehead. This will take the pressure off the rest of your head and for many people they won’t even need to use snap combs. Also Mongolian hair tends to stand up better than European hair with the same hand feel and texture. In terms of insuring that you don’t get a lemon make sure that the company or sheitel macher has a policy that they will fix or replace the wig should it knot, shed or oxidize right away or within 6 months of purchase. In general the longer the wig the more likely it will knot at the nape, especially if it’s wavy or curly.

BJ: What should you look for in a wig?

AR: Look for texture, ie: the hand feel and that the texture whether straight or wavy is what you want. Additionally, make sure the color is right, as well as the hairs being double knotted. Double knots will allow the wig to last longer. Also if you don’t have a vision of what you are looking for, look at precuts.

BJ: Is cut really that important to the look of the wig?

AR: yes absolutely. A good key is cut. Even if you have to wait awhile for an appointment it’s worth it if someone knows what they are doing cut-wise and you have seen their work and liked it.

BJ: As my readers know I’m a big fan of the Yarmulke fall. As a wig stylist what’s your take?

AR: I started carrying them in my current salon. Originally I didn’t necessarily believe in them or feel I should carry them since I myself would not wear them. I didn’t even carry band falls because I worried that people would show more hair than I myself would.

But then a very good friend had a crisis of faith. Her wig was making her hair fall out and her scalp bleed and she was completely ready to stop covering her hair. Then someone introduced her to the kipa fall and she wears it every day and has continued to cover her hair. I realized if I could help someone keep the mitzvah to the best of their ability, I was still helping them to keep the mitzvah even if it wasn’t the way that I keep mitzvah. It’s a great stepping stone in either direction as well.

BJ: Tell us about Swanky Hairy Monsters and how that turned in to Aviva’s Wigs?

AR: when I was starting my business, I called my sister to have her help me brainstorm for a business name. We grew up not in a world where people overwhelmingly covered their hair so wigs to us are kind of weird. So when I asked my sister what she thought of when she though of wigs, she said hairy monster. We both had a good laugh and then we got out the thesaurus and came up with Swanky Hairy monsters. Unfortunately not everyone had as good a sense of humor as we did, so I changed the business name to Aviva’s wigs an enchanted garden of a store straight out of a Midsummer Night’s dream, and moved from an online store to an actual store front at Aza’s Health and Beauty Bar, off of Cedarhurst Ave, parrallel with the tracks.

Contact me WITH ANY SHEITEL NEEDS. I will not push my product on you, I just want you to be happy with the Mitzvah!

You can visit Aviva and see her beautiful wigs at Aviva’s wigs 525 Chestnut Street, Cedarhurst, Tuesday-Friday 10am-3pm, Sunday 11am-3pm, or by appointment call 516-256-WIGS (9447.)

You can also check out Aviva’s website www.Avivaswigs.com

Aviva is really a pleasure to speak to and will truly help you find a beautiful wig that’s perfect for you.

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