A Wig Story

On a recent business trip to Detroit, I found myself surrounded by wig stores, nail & hair salons, check cashing services & bulletproof glass. While asking a native Detroiter about all the wig shops, she said, "Well you know, you've got to take care of the temple!"

That got me thinking. In a town facing major urban decay, economic decline & just all-around getting a bad deal, that makes sense. If your house is rundown & you drive a clunker, the one thing you do have is your body - your temple - your 'self'. You take it with you wherever you go. Personal style & expression becomes a priority in that climate.

So, I took a series of photographs to celebrate that truth. Can plastic/styrofoam mannequin heads & fabricated hairdos serve as the vessels to help us understand what a sliver of the culture of an area like Detroit is like? Can we find humanity in a wig shop?

Appreciation goes out to:

Ethel @ Juno's Wig Center
15334 Grand River Avenue
Detroit, MI 48227

Ryang CHA Wigs [Pronounced "Yong Ja"]
15234 Grand River Avenue
Detroit, MI 48227

Thank you both for opening your shops to me, answering my questions & allowing an outsider to enter your world & tell your story.