Baltimore style hits Broadway in 'Hairspray'

But it is not the world in which the show's creator, John Waters, lived when he was growing up. It is the world he wishes he had lived in. It is a world in which the fat girl bulk hair wins the handsome hunk and gets elected prom queen. It is a world in which a red-blooded American man can put on a dress if he feels like it, and no one will think the worse of him. It is a world in which Jim Crow is no match for a bunch of kids who like to dance. Sign Up For Traffic Text Alerts In other words, it is not reality. But the wistfulness that underlies Hairspray's frothiness is what makes this show so good.Which is not to downplay the other things the musical has going for it: a knockout young cast, an exceptionally tuneful score, a set and costumes designed by two American masters. And of course, wigs.Hairspray, of course, is based on Waters' 1988 cult film of the same name. But the musical's script, written by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, departs from - and improves upon - the original.The plot is far more focused. The relationship between the tubby teen heroine, Tracy Turnblad, and heartthrob Link Larkin is developed for the first time. Arch villainess Velma von Tussle has a new role as a television producer, and she uses it to thwart poor Tracy (who yearns for a spot on a popular dance show) and advance the fortunes of her whiny daughter, Amber.While the musical and movie share a theme of prejudice, in the stage version, Tracy's girth-enhanced mother, Edna, becomes an advocate for Ample Americans. The musical also eliminates scenes from the hair bulk movie that were based on the real-life race riots in Baltimore's Gwynn Oak Amusement Park; on stage, the riot occurs when the kids try to integrate a television dance show.And perhaps it's just me, but the musical's book by Meehan and O'Donnell seems to have even more hilariously tasteless jokes about flatulence, food and what really goes on inside the girls' locker room than the movie script written by Waters.My only major qualm is the depiction of the spunky little white girl as the savior of the oppressed black people. Why does it have to be Tracy who spearheads the protests outside The Corny Collins Show? Couldn't the idea of picketing have occurred to her black friends? The producers seem aware of this pitfall - they go out of their way to stress that the black kids taught Tracy how to dance - but don't step around it entirely.Hairspray the movie had authentic period tunes. But Hairspray the musical has chinese remi 17 original songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman that tickle your ears and melt in your mouth.Not every lyric follows the strict rules of logic; for instance, it simply isn't true that 'time cannot take what comes free.' But overall, they have a refreshing honesty and charm, as when Tracy sings of her hometown:Good morning, Baltimore!There's the flasher who lives next doorAnd the drunk on his barroom stool.They wish me luck on my way to school.Based on classic '60s rock, the score reflects changing social mores and grows in complexity as its characters mature, and as the black and white cultures start to mingle. So, early on, we get a pop-infused girl trio singing the catchy "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now," and late in the second act we have the lovely, bluesy, "I Know Where I've Been."In fact, that song is the emotional heart of the show.Reportedly, the producers considered cutting it because they worried that a serious number about racism would be out of place in the light-as-aerosol world of Hairspray. They made the right decision not to, especially because Mary Bond Davis delivers it as a shiver-inducing triumphal anthem. The song is the grain of sand at the center of the pearl.

How to Apply a Lace Front Wig

Lace wigs are not just for celebrities anymore. Even though many women are buying lace wigs online and in stores, there are not always enough qualified and affordable stylists to apply them. Some women prefer to apply the wig at home for privacy reasons while others do not want to pay for what they can do themselves. Whatever the reason, here is a simple step-by-step guide to applying a lace wig.Application PreparationBefore applying any type of lace wig, you must purchase the proper supplies and prepare your own hair. Supplies include:1 Lace front wig1 Skin toned wig cap or Ace bandage wrap (optional)1 Set of tweezersSalon Quality Cutting ScissorsBonding Agent (Glue or Tape)Multiple hair clips and tiesRubbing AlcoholSkin protectantIf using glue:Powdered makeupQ-TipsSuggested but not required:Knot Sealer product i.e.  Seal the KnotLace Cap Protectant Spray i.e. TDI Lace Cap ProtectantOnce you have all of your supplies, you are ready to prepare your own hair. You will need to wash and condition your own hair before installing the lace wig. To keep your hair healthy and scalp from itching, a good wash and deep conditioner are suggested. Make sure the hair is completely chinese hair dry and moisturized. If you have damaged hair or split ends, a trim is also encouraged. One of the primary reasons to wear a lace wig is promote healthy hair while having versatility.After cleansing the hair and doing any of the suggested hair treatments, you have 2 options. Some women choose to wear a skin toned wig cap under the lace wig for added security while others simply brush their hair back and then apply. If you choose to wear the wig cap make sure that it matches your skin tone. You can braid your hair underneath the cap or just wrap it.A great idea to create an even more realistic looking scalp is to apply Ace bandage. Ace bandage is a very inexpensive athletic bandage for muscle injuries that can be purchased at your local drugstore. It clings to itself so no glue or tape is applied to your hair or scalp. The texture of the bandage gives a bumpy appearance which mimics the scalp appearance underneath the lace front wig. It simply needs to be wrapped around the head either on top of a regular wig cap or directly to the hair. Make sure to cleanse your hairline with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely. If you decided to purchase the suggested products, your wig will last far longer than others. The knot sealer helps to keep your lace wig from shedding during regular brushing and styling.  Spray the product on the inside of the lace wig cap. Let it dry and then lightly blow dry. Next, apply the lace cap protectant. This will keep your lace wig cap strong and last longer. Since lace wears out over time, this is a great way to protect the lace front wig cap. Spray on the inside of the lace wig cap being careful to not get directly on the hair. Spray moderately so the product does not soak through the lace wig cap. Once dry, apply a second coat. Let this completely dry for at least one hour. Now you are ready to begin applying the wig.A lace front wig has lace around the front perimeter of the hair from ear to ear. Depending on the lace wig that you purchase, it may be stretch lace from ear to ear or plain lace. It is suggested that you purchase a lace wig with French lace as Swiss lace is extremely delicate and should be professionally v applied.First, apply the skin protectant to your own hairline. While allowing this to dry prepare the lace front wig. Pin all of the hair back into a ponytail or bun. Any remaining hair near the hairline or layered hair should be pinned back with clips. When applying the wig you do not want to have hair flying in the way or into any bonding material.Next, fit the lace wig to your full lace wigs head. This is the time where you will want to look at all angles and play with the lace wig to make sure it is perfectly positioned to your liking. You should then cut the lace. Make sure to not cut too close yet as you are still just eyeballing the positioning. When cutting, leave about 1 ¼ inches of lace remaining.If the hairline of the lace wig is too thick, take out your tweezers. A thick hairline rarely looks natural and should be altered to adjust the density. Slowly tweeze out one strand of hair at a time. Make sure to not tweeze too many hairs from the same row or section. After every few strands stand back and see if the density of the hairline is improving. This process should take some time. Once hair is removed it can only be professionally reinstalled.After fitting the hair and fixing the hairline, you are now ready to apply your bonding agent and finish cutting the lace. Since you are certain of the positioning and have tweezed out as much hair from the hairline as you want, you can cut the remaining lace. This cut should be as close to the hairline as possible without cutting into the lace wig hair.To being bonding, keep your tweezers out if you are using tape. If you are using long tape stripes, 2 should be enough while 4 stripes should be used if you have the shorter normal tape. Gently lace front wigs flip the hairline of the lace wig back so the inside is exposed.Next, eyeball the area you will tape. If applying the 4 shorter stripes, you should aim for both temples and above both eyebrows. Most tape has 2 paper sheets to peel off. Remove the first sheet by hand and apply. The next sheet can be removed with the tweezers as to not get your hands stuck to the tape. This will ease any frustration and accidentally ruining the tape. Follow this method on the rest of the lace wig hairline with the tape. Once all the tape is applied, readjust the placement so that when you flip the hairline back down, you can press down. Press down the hairline and roll your finger over each stripe of tape to tighten the bond.If you are using glue to apply your lace front wig, the steps are very similar. Follow the same steps until you flip the hairline of the lace wig back. After flipping the lace wig hairline back, apply a thin layer of the glue near your natural hairline. Allow this to completely dry for about 2-3 minutes. On the lace wig cap, apply tape in the same way as previously listed. Using tape in addition to glue helps to keep the lace wig flat and gives it extra hold. Once the glue is dry on your hairline, press down the lace wig hairline after removing the remaining paper tabs of the tape.With glue, you may see a minor shine on your scalp. First, make sure to remove excess glue before attempting to reduce glue shine. Take a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and carefully rub over the glue. For minor glue spots, this should loosen up the bond and be able to be easily removed. Once your hairline is dry, you can apply a pressed powder to reduce glue shine.