• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Weave

Wig Out: Charli Penn On Why I Wear Wigs (and Embrace It)

I’m not hiding; I’m having fun! And, you should try it too.
Wig Out: Charli Penn On Why I Wear Wigs (and Embrace It)
Getty Images
By Charli Penn · Updated October 27, 2020

The biggest misconception about wig wearers, like myself, is that we’re hiding something. False! My natural hair is happy and healthy beneath it all and growing stronger every day. I embrace wearing wigs because it gives me the flexibility, the comfort and the fierceness that my busy lifestyle requires. When I was a teenager, I was all about Saturday mornings in the doobie shop; roll, wrap and go was my religion. But then when I got to college in Atlanta, my hair was no match for the humidity and the late night party scene. I hated knowing that dancing my heart out on a Saturday evening meant that my wrap would be non-existent by sunrise. I felt like I was wasting money getting my hair done and I couldn’t afford to look a mess throughout the week. I didn’t have the answer, but one day while shopping for a new brush in a local beauty supply store I noticed a wig sitting on a mannequin that looked just like my relaxed hair – length, color, style and all. I flipped over the price tag and it was only $20. (Cheaper than a wash and go, hello!) I had to try it. I put it on and I was instantly addicted.

Just like that, I could wake up, shower and make it to class on time and skip all of the hair drama that usually made me late. I could sweat it out in the daily sun or on the dance floor and never have to worry if my bangs were still bumped. It was a life savor. I rocked my signature look for a while but then curiosity led me to try on all types of cuts and colors in the shop. The prices for synthetic wigs, which last about a month, were unbeatable so I started trying new looks on for size. I called them my $25 makeovers. It was so much fun. The next thing I knew, I was showing up to class looking the way I felt – I had a wig for every mood and occasion. Plus, I could take it off when I walked into the door, and clean, condition and scratch my heart out without worrying about messing up the next day’s style.

Since college, I’ve jumped back and forth between wearing wigs and my real hair relaxed, depending on how much I was juggling at the time. I’ve had over 40 wigs hanging around in my closet at different points in my life. I’ve bought them all – human, synthetic, hot pink. As a little girl I loved playing dress up, and this feels like the grown and sexy version of that. Being a full-time editor keeps me busy, so I admit, the wigs are the norm these days. But you know what? I love them. I can channel my favorite hair divas in an instant and keep my hair healthy in the process. About three years ago, I did the “big chop” and cut all of the relaxed hair off. My hair has grown tremendously since then and I love the fact that even though I’m changing my styles like the weather, my hair’s still healthy underneath.

Wigs are gaining a better reputation, but they till get a bad rap. I laugh when people ask me if I’m bald underneath it all or if it feels like I’m wearing a hat. Nope, and nope! Don’t believe me? Give it a try. I try to encourage more women who want to have more flexibility with their hair to give wigs a go. As long as you’re putting in the work to keep your hair healthy and you’re willing to spend the cash, you might find that waking up with a new look can be just as freeing and fun as embracing your natural curls. It was for me.

Charli Penn is the Relationships Editor for ESSENCE.com and a marriage blogger who enjoys taking in a breathtaking city skylines from a rooftop bar, online shopping and changing her hair like the weather. She’s a proud member of #teamlonghairdontcare and a wig enthusiast. Say hello below!

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now