Wig Care for Irish Dance Wigs

For those of you new to Irish Dance wigs or who just want to know how to care for the one you have this is a great resource.

This taken directly from Emerald Key's Facebook page. 
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Emerald-Key/202321746476843

Hi Friends! I get a lot of questions from folks about the care of our wigs so I thought I would start a thread on here. Feel free to ask away.

Let me just state for the record that no wig was ever really meant to be Irish danced in! And NO wig after being worn will ever be out of the bag perfect again. There is no such thing as a wig that is "frizz free"! Every wig needs to have some maintenance... done on them from time to time. How much care you give them will determine how well they look and how long they will last. Generally, the bigger the curl and the bigger the wig the more care you will need to give them. There is no spray or conditioner that is a magic fix, you just have to trim the frizz, split the curls and re-curl them every time they are worn. Head bands, sequined dresses, bobby pins and friction from bouncing around on the stage all take their toll.

There are many wigs and wig vendors in the world of Irish dance and many offer a very good product for a reasonable price. A more expensive wig does not always mean the quality is better or that the wig doesn't need care. Some wigs are "treated" at the factory which does help the frizzing for awhile. Our Maeve Jr and Maeve Sr wigs have this treatment but I'll be honest, it doesn't last forever. Personally, I think it has to do more with the style of the wig. The tight ringlet style wigs need very little care, the loose curls need more, bun wigs need less than a full long wig etc. I happen to be very proud of our wigs. I think they are a very good quality, have great style and a reasonable price! :D They are also very easy to care for if you just take a little time to do it. Don't be afraid to really get into what needs doing! Show the wig who is boss!! Practice is Key!

For a split curl wig, start by cutting away some of the frizzies so that you can actually get into working the actual curls themselves. Split curls have a tendency to "sausage" together when dancing. The curls gravitate to each other so you need to split them apart. If you don't, your wig will start to look lopsided and longer because the big sausages are heavy and drag the curls down. The over all volume will look smaller as well and you will start to see the woven cap underneath and that really looks bad. If you can see inside your wig through the cap to your natural hair, you have passed the point of no return. Please buy a new wig!

Once you have split up a large clump or sausage, take hold of a curl and starting at the base of the wig pull down on it using your thumb nail to scrape the hair itself (from the base of the wig to the end of the curl). You are combing out the curl using your thumb and forefinger. Your thumb nail scrapes against the hair, breaking off all the frizzy bits and pulls and stretches the fibers back together. The curls are a little like curling ribbon but instead of using scissors you are using your nail. Do this several times until the curl is smooth and then starting at the base of the wig, wrap around your finger. This takes a little practice because if you wrap it too tightly, it will be hard to get off your finger! The curl should just bounce back into shape when you release it. Cut off the very end of the curl if it looks uneven. Then, on to the next one...

Don't be afraid to cut out a curl that is beyond repair and to trim random curls that seem to continually grow. Curls at the base of the wig that are coming into contact with sequins or rough fabric at the shoulder can be very tough to work on. Keep trying, you will be surprised if you do.

You might wonder if it is necessary to use a spray treatment of some kind on your wig? No it isn't. Wig conditioners can make the re-curling process more pleasant because they do smell nice but I personally, I prefer to work on a dry wig. It's up to you. We sell a nice product that is available on our website and many people swear by it. It's nice to spray the wig with it after you have "fixed" it, but spraying alone won't get rid of the frizz and/or matting nor will prevent it from happening in the first place. Avoid using hair spray or luster sprays as this makes the wig sticky and tacky to the touch and can actually create more matting and clumping. Use only a wig conditioner that is made for synthetic hair.

Hope this helps a bit?

Please remember if you are ever at a feis and we are there, do not hesitate to ask us for help, no question is too silly! We stand behind our wigs and we want you to be happy wearing them and to always look good! We are always happy to show you how to apply and care for your wig! Come see us!

Feis Review: Grand Canyon State Feis

Spent the first weekend of June at the Grand Canyon State Feis in Scottsdale, AZ.  Overall this Feis was great based on our experience.  The Champions danced on Saturday and the grades, adults and figures danced on Sunday. My daughter rocked it!  She moved her Light Jig to prizewinner and her Reel to novice. Very proud of her hard work.  Now on to the review.

The Hotel/ Venue:  The feis was held at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas.  Nice hotel overall.  We arrived on Friday evening and the room that we were given had a broken air conditioner.  Not something that you want in Scottsdale during the summer.  After calling to report the issue they sent someone to check on it and also brought my husband a bucket a beer.  He enjoyed the beer.  They weren't able to fix the air conditioner so they moved us down the hall.  The only issue was Sunday.  Our maid service did not show until 5:30pm, otherwise the stay was problem free.  The restaurant served a buffet breakfast.  My daughter loved the waffle bar.  The food was good and the service was great.  We also enjoyed the pool. The pool area has hot tub and baby pool as well as a regular pool.  The pool side bar and grill will serve you meals around the pool which is nice when you want to eat dinner and kids want to play. 

Feis:  The feis ran 2 days with the champions dancing Saturday and the grades, adults and figures dancing on Sunday. I will report on Sunday as that is when my daughter danced.  If you have comments on the Saturday portion of the feis feel free to leave them in the comments section.  I understand Saturday was running behind and the music competition was held outside the ballroom due to the feis committee not wanting to stop the dancing in hopes of getting back on schedule.  Like I have said before, expect delays and be ready to wait.  It's normal. 

Friday night the feis held ceili dancing with a great ceili band.  Saturday night was a pool party with taco bar and music.  Sunday the feis started on time and ran quickly.  I think it may have even been a bit ahead of schedule at one point on Sunday. The day started with prizewinner then novice soft shoe. Next was prizewinner then novice hard shoe.  This allowed time for the dancers to change shoes. The specials were also held before lunch along with awards.  After lunch figures started off and quickly progressed to 1st feis and 1st feis awards.  Beginner 2 and 1 soft and hard shoe followed the same pattern as the prizewinner and novice dances. Grades ended around 4pm.  Adults danced last.  I have attend this feis over the past 3 years.  This year it ran extremely smooth.  The stage moms and helpers did a great job getting dancers on stage and counting them off.  

Awards:  Grades received nice medals.  Same as past years.  Specials received trophies.

Vendors:   The hotel had a nice cash and carry breakfast and lunch.  Lunch was either hot dog or hamburger.  They also had fresh smoothie's available. 

Inside the feis were a number of vendors: 

Bows 'N Bloom had handmade soaps and hair bows for sale.  All the bows are hand made and custom work was available for order.  We have a number of  her bows and hair flowers now.  This including custom flowers to match our school dress.  Huge hit with younger dancers but I saw some older ones showing off new flowers as well.  She also has "doll and me" matching bows for girls and their dolls.  I also saw a young Prelim Champion with a custom red hair band that was blinged out.  Lovely!  You can find them on facebook.   https://www.facebook.com/bowsbloom. 



Hair roses for adult event.



Irish themed hair bows.



Custom flowers to match school dresses.

  Hand Knit Sweaters and Accessories, had knit work available  (leg warmers, hats, fingerless gloves, ipod holders and custom work.)  This young woman is very talented.  My daughter has matching legwarmers and fingerless gloves.  Items hold up well and look great.  Vendor can also be found on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hand-Knit-Sweaters-and-Accessories/167734973306198. 

Custom fingerless gloves





Ipod holder



Custom sweater



Siopa Brog Irish Dance Supplies was also present with a great assortment of dance supplies and things my daughter just had to have.  I love how they spend time fitting dancers for the perfect shoe.  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Siopa-Brog-Irish-Dance-Supplies/125489337511146. 

Emerald Key had dresses, hair and accessories available,  http://www.emeraldkeyonline.com/. 

Youngblood Haircutters also had wigs and accessories, http://www.irishwigs.com/site/.  



A vendor with paintings, clothing and jewelry was also in attendance.  As always t-shirts were available.  

Raffle:  The reason I am bring up the raffle baskets is that I have never sen so many baskets at a feis.  I didn't win which isn't new but I know several families that did.  One woman won a Swarovski raffle basket worth $1,150.  Shamrock Soaps had a nice basket of Just for Irish Dancer Bath and Body items.  You can find a link to the Shamrock Soaps Blog on this site or look for their items on Etsy.com.



Shamrock Soaps Just for Irish Dancers Raffle Basket

Feis Photographer:  De Danann Photography was the official feis photographer.  I can't wait for the pictures to be posted.  Check out her facebook page to see her work or book a photo shoot.
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/De-Danann-Photography/193376907393407

So overall this feis was great.  Enjoyed the venue, pace of the feis on Sunday, ceili dancing, pool party and vendors.  I expect their were problems with the feis, their always is, but I didn't experience any real issues.  Well maybe one around awards for a 2 hand and an inverted dancer number causing the wrong the dancer to win.  It was quickly resolved since the dancer who was listed as the winner was not in that event.  Simple case of fat fingers.  Will we be back next year?  Yes, this feis is always fun and seems to get better each year.





Memorial Day: A Day to Remember and Say Thank You.

I was reading Irish Central this morning as I do most days.  I found this aticle and thought I would share.

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/A-strong-Irish-presence-among-Medal-of-Honor-recipients-154106605.html#ixzz1wBYXyavU
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This Memorial Day the strong Irish presence among Medal of Honor recipients remembered

Irish heroes lead all foreign-born recipients for America's highest honor

The Medal of Honor awarded to those who "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."

By

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

 

 

The correct title for the military award often called the “Congressional Medal of Honor,” is simply “Medal of Honor,” and those who receive it prefer to be called “recipients” rather than “winners.”

It is the only US Military Award that is worn from a ribbon hung around the neck, and the only award presented by the President in the name of Congress. It is the greatest award given to American fighting heroes. The Irish own far more than any other foreign country.

As John Concannon, who contributed to the research for the book Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994, noted in an article for TheWildGeese.com "Perhaps the most  remarkable was 'super survivor' Michael Dougherty, from Falcarragh, County Donegal, a private in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry."

He received it for routing a Confederate detachment at Jefferson, Virginia, which saved 2,500 lives by prohibiting the Confederates from flanking the Union forces.

Dougherty and 126 members of the 13th Pennsylvania Calvary were later captured and spent 23 months in different Southern prisons, including the Andersonville death-camp in Georgia. He was the only survivor from his regiment.

His trials did not end there. As Concannon elaborates, Dougherty was heading for home on the steamship “Sultana” on the Mississippi River when the boilers exploded. Of the 2000 passengers, only 900 survived, Dougherty was one of them. Finally, after 4 years, the 21-year-old Union Veteran reached his hometown of Bristol, Pa. That is why AOH Division #1 of Bristol is called the Michael Dougherty Division.

Further AOH divisions are also named after Medal of Honor recipients. The Col. James Quinlan Division #3 of Warwick, in Orange County, NY, for example, is named for Col. James Quinlan, who, also during The Civil War, led the Irish Brigade’s 88th New York in the battle of Savage Station, Virginia.

During the Civil War, 1523 Medals of Honor were issued. A large number to Irish troops from the Irish Brigade, which fought at Fredricksburg and Antietam.

To date, 3,459 Medals of Honor have been awarded, and nineteen individuals have received it twice.  Thirty-three countries are listed as the birthplaces of  the recipients, and Ireland, with 258, has the most by far.  Some of those 258 listed Ireland as their place of birth and even included their county of origin: Cork has 19 Medal of Honor recipients, Tipperary and Dublin each have 11, Limerick has 10, Kerry 8, Galway 7, Antrim and Tyrone 6 each, while Sligo and Kilkenny each have 5.

Out of the 19 men to receive a second Medal of Honor, 5 were born in Ireland. They are, according to Concannon, "Henry Hogan from Clare, John Laverty from Tyrone, Dublin’s John Cooper, whose name at birth was John Laver Mather, John King and Patrick Mullen. Three double recipients were Irish-Americans: U.S. Marines Daniel Daly and John Joseph Kelly, and the U.S. Navy’s John McCloy."

Some modern day recipients are: John King, U.S. Navy, from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, double recipient in 1901 & 1909; Pvt. John Joseph Kelly, Chicago, Ill., received both the Army & Navy Medal of Honor in WWI; Col. William J.(Wild Bill) Donovan, member of New York’s Fighting 69th in WWI;  Audie Murphy, who was turned down by the Marines and the Navy as he was only 5’5 and weighed 112 lbs. The Army accepted him in June,1942, and he became WW II”s most decorated hero; Fr. Timothy O’Callahan, who was not only the first Catholic Chaplain to receive the Medal of Honor, but the first of any faith to be so recognized.

For his gallant leadership and fighting spirit, O’Hare Airport in Chicago was named for Lt. Commander Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare, U.S. Navy fighter pilot. Another well-known facility, McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey is named after Medal of Honor recipient, Thomas B. McGuire, a WWII ace pilot who shot down 38 enemy planes. One of Vietnam’s first recipients was Captain Roger Hugh Donlon, U.S. Special Forces, from Saugerties, N.Y. Another Vietnam recipient was New York Irish-American Robert Emmet O’Malley.
In all, 245 men were awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. Among them were: Major Patrick Brady, Major Kern Dunagan, Captain Robert F. Foley, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas G. Kelley, Spc. Thomas McMahon, Lance Corp. Thomas Noonan, Pvt. Daniel Shea and Petty  Officer Michael Thornton.
There have been millions of Irish and Irish-Americans who have served in our military with distinction. The latest being Col. James Hickey, son of Irish immigrants, a native of Chicago, Ill., who commanded the 1st Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, which captured Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
It would be impossible to calculate an exact number of Irish-Americans on the Medal of Honor list. However, Irish surnames are plentiful. There are 21 Murphys, 20 Kellys(or Kelley), and 8 Sullivans. Names beginning with the Irish prefix “Mc” spill onto multiple pages.

Why I love our Irish Dance School

Why do I love our Irish Dance school?  I have so  many reason but here are my top 5.  What do you love about your ID school?

1.  Our school is like a family.  The parents, kids, teacher and champion dancers are all very supportive of each and every child.  In the 3 years I have been there I have yet to see any crazy dance moms, except for me.  (Yes I am working on that, thanks for putting up with me.)

2.  The champion dancers are polite and respectful to the younger dancers.  I have heard at other schools the champion dancers can be very rude and cliquish to the beginner dancers, much like High School Cheerleaders and the Freshman AV team.  Our wonderful champs are supportive and always willing to help refine those tricky steps.  In case you didn't know it, we think you all are wonderful!!

3.  The kids love each other.  I don't think anyone can keep these girls from hugging each other.  It's a love fest at every class and event.

4.  The parents are fun.  A good thing when you see them for hours on end.

5.  Our teacher must love his job to do what he does every weekend.  Enough said.

Feis Review: FEILE RINCE TUCSON

Two weeks ago we attended the FEILE RINCE TUCSON with a group from our school.  Over all we had a great time but it was due to the company not the Feis.  Our girls brought their A game and it showed.  Congrats to each and everyone of you for what you accomplished.  Now on to the review.

The Hotel:  Feis was held at a Holiday Inn.  Check In and Check Out were simple.  The front desk staff were helpful and polite.  My room was clean, in need of some renovation but clean.  A friend said her room was dirty but that was not our experience.  We ordered room service on Sunday AM.  It arrived quickly and was hot, always a plus.  The pool party and BBQ on Saturday night was a lot of fun.  Glad our room was away from the pool due to the loud music.  My girl is young and we need to rest before the older children and young adults call it a night.  On Friday night we attempted to eat at the hotel restaurant.  After waiting 5 minutes for someone to seat us we gave up and went to the bar.  I assume since we saw no staff in the restaurant it was closed.  The were able to pull 2 tables together in the bar to seat our large party.  After a bit of a wait a waiter finally decided he should help us.  When we tried to order he kept walking off.  This happened again when the rest of our party showed up 1/2 way into our meal.  The food was bad.  The kids chicken strips was a breaded chicken patty cut in 1/2, the Mac and Cheese looked like it was the same stuff I pour out of a box and my pasta dish was top with watery sauce that was bland.  One of the moms had a wrap.  She said it was drenched in dressing.  So as you can tell we are not a fans of the restaurant/ bar.

The Feis:  Our girls, beginners, were to start dancing around 9:30 am.  Now like most competitions we expect to show up early and start late.  This Feis was no exception.  I think we started at 10:45 with the beginner dances.  We did enjoy watching the Champion U13 dancers before the beginner dancers.  I think this line up helped our girls see what they can accomplish with work.  Each Feis has good and bad elements.  Based on my experience here is the good and bad.
    The Good:  Check in was easy once we found out were to go.   Awards were excellent.  The glass cactus trophies are wonderful.  The medals are shaped like cactus, very cool.  My daughter loved hers.  The ballroom were the Feis was held was large enough and we had enough room to move around.  Vendors were great.  Lots of shopping available while we waited.  This was a good thing because we did a lot of waiting. 
    The Bad:  This was the Feis that would not end.  Grades danced on Saturday and it was drawn out.  The U13 Champions were late ending which put the whole day behind. That happens and is to be expected.  I think where it started to go down hill was that the stage moms didn't have control over getting the kids on stage and dancing in a timely manner.  Kids were pulled from one stage to the next, they weren't lined up behind those already dancing causing more delays. 
  Another huge issue was the musician.  Believe it or not, he actually stopped playing and said he would not start until the kids were lined up and ready to dance.  This didn't happen once, not twice but numerous times.  My daughter was stopped 4 times mid dance and had to restart once all 3 stages were fully loaded and the lines behind the stage were also in place.  Do you know how hard it is for a dancer at that level and young age to stop and then restart a dance.  She was a real trooper and did her best but you could tell all the girls were off their game each time this happened. 

So will we go back to FEILE RINCE TUCSON?  I doubt we will return.  It's sad the the only reason we will not be back was the musician stopping the dancing over and over again.  This one thing ruined the experience and  messed with the girls concentration. If we see a different musician we may change our minds.

In the Beginning

I have spent way to much time over the past 3 years searching for blogs written by Irish Dance parents.  I have run across several that I have found helpful as my daughter progresses from new dancer to novice.  She is currently working on moving up her final soft shoe dance to novice and learning all her beginner hard shoe dances.  At 6 years old, she has been dancing for 1/2 her life.

My intention with this blog is to share what I have learned and experienced to help newer families with their journey.  I also plan to share my experience with each Feis we attend.  The good and the bad.  No Feis is perfect but when you know what to expect it makes the long day a bit more tolerable.