I'm looking for a great quality bead and Wig for my Wizard show. It needs to look great close up as I do a lot of walkabout shows.

Colin Dymond
http://www.aceofdiamonds.co.uk

Nothing's going to look "great" close up unless it's a high quality ventilated one. You're typical "santa" beard isn't going to cut it. I found one here http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/KansasC......tail.bok that just might do the job. I'm sure there are professional theatrical makeup shops in London that could get you what you need.

Having worked as Santa in Lapland, the only thing that really works is a human or animal hair beard (ie real hair) that is glued to your face. Expensive, and lots of preparation. Unfortunately I can't point you in the right direction, but a friend of mine created a wizard character, and the beard and wig cost him E800. They look real, even up close.

Tony, Do you have a contact for the great, expensive wig?

You'll probably be able to find what you need in England. If not, I can give you the shop where I bought mine from but it is here in the USA. I love mine, but I did pay $150 for mine, and I think that was with a $50-$75 discount.

Chris

In the Netherlands we have Saint Nicholas (compare with Santa, only beginning of december)

There are professional wigmakers that make fantastic (but expensive) hairworks for the Saint.

If you would like to see pictures of me in my hairdo, pm me with an emailadress.
The pictures are to large for being an attachment.
The version I'm wearing on the pictures costs € 1.295,00. a lot of money but very realistic, even up close.

In the meanwhile you can have a look here.

Picture without mitre (= hat): http://home.wanadoo.nl/frank-jose/mijterloos.html
Picture, more close-up: http://home.wanadoo.nl/frank-jose/telefoon.html

Regards,

Dutch Frank

That is a very nice beard - and a very nice price tag!

Mark

According to the current rate, it's about € 1.130,00 GBP.

It's a great beard, but needs lot of maintenance.

After wearing it, glued to the face with "mastix", it has to be removed very carefully, and thoroughly cleansed to get rid of the glue-residue on the tulle.

I wear the beard about 2 weeks a year, and have it restyled every year by a special hairdresser.
They wash it and get it shaped by corrugation (an old trade to get curls and waves in the hair).
Downside is that moist wheather conditions make the curls and waves disappear in no-time. Lots of hairspray is needed to keep it in shape.

But hey, all for the good looks.

Frank

Yep, that's a lot of money. And a tot of maintainence. I'll keep looking. Thanks

This place does great work I am getting my beard made from them
http://www.proclownwigs.com/Pro_Clown_Store/Santa.html

That's awesome, Frank. And exactly how difficult is it to attach to your face?

That's a matter of knowing what you're doing.

The only glued part is the tulle (Never put glue directly on the tulle, though), a fine thin matte at the edges of the beard and wig. Once you know where the edges will land on your face, it's a matter of glueing one thin layer (on your face !), let it dry completely, then another thin layer on top. When it gets sticky and threading when touched by your finger it's time to attach the beard and wig, by putting it all in its place and gently pushing it in the glue. When dried, the tulle is invisible and the hair seems to grow out of your skin.

Taking it off needs precaution. Don't just rip it off. You will ruin the tulle! Take a piece of cotton, drench it acetone and hold it against the tulle. The glue will resolve at this spot. Then gently go under the tulle edge with the cotton and work your way along the edge to resolve the glue further. This is the (only) way to remove the hairworks from your face in a safe way.

Cleaning the beard and wig afterwards is necessary to get rid of any residue. With a cloth, drenched in acetone, gently rub the tulle on the backside (the side that was attached to your face)outwards, while the beard lays on a towel (face down). This will resolve the glue-residue and work in in the towel.

Phew, quite a story, but that's more or less the procedure.

I hope my english is good enough to understand what I'm trying to say, haha.

Frank