Essential Wigs: Orland Park Store Helps Women Feel Whole

Bisi Nwokenkwo always wanted to own her own business but she couldn’t quite decide which direction to go. Then she went to get her hair done.

Thirteen years ago Nwokenkwo and her husband threw a party for their son’s first birthday. She wanted to look nice for the celebration so she made an appointment with a salon in Chicago.  The hairstyle lasted thru the celebration but the next day when she washed her hair there was a huge bald spot in the back of her head. 

“I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do,” Nwokenkwo recalls. “It was terrible.”   Nwokenkwo began wearing wigs to cover the bald spot.

“Even though I knew I was whole as a person, there was still something missing,” Nwokenkwo said.  “Then I thought I can’t even begin to imagine how certain cancer patients are feeling.”

And with that, Bisi Beauty Wig Boutique was born.

Bisi had little trouble finding wigs when she needed them, with an array of options at her local beauty supply store.

“I was able to get what I needed but when you start looking beyond the African American styles, there’s nothing for other ethnic groups,” Nwokenkwo said. “Cancer patients already go through so much.  Then add chemotherapy and the loss of hair on top of it. There’s no place they can go for hair.”

Bisi Beauty Wig Boutique fills that need by specializing in medical wigs. With 10 years of experience as a general practice nurse, Nwokenkwo understands the sensitivity of her client’s needs.

“My boutique is different because my customers have total privacy,” she said.

Bisi Beauty Wig Boutique is an appointment-only location.

“Customers don’t have to worry about anyone walking in on them at a point when they may feel vulnerable,” Nwokenkwo says. “The entire boutique is open to (only) one person at a time.”

With 50 different styles available clients are excited to explore the possibilities.

“They are like kids in a candy store,” Nwokenkwo said with a smile. “They walk in and their eyes just light up.

The boutique, located at 9556 W. 147^th Street, offers various textures, styles and colors.  Most of the wigs are made from synthetic hair or human hair. Nwokenkwo encourages her clients to find a style that they like first. From there, clients can choose from swatches of different colors to find a match to their original hair color. Customers also have the option of having a custom wig made from their own hair. 

“All I need is a small amount of their hair and I can match that texture as close as possible for their wig,” Nwokenkwo said.

The texture is very important because it plays a key role in the weight of the wig as well as ensuring a realistic look.

Wig prices range from $145 to $2000.  Because Bisi Beauty Wig Boutique is a medical wig store, some insurance companies will pay a portion of the price. Nwokenkwo takes the extra step of filling out the paperwork and contacting the insurance agencies for clients that need assistance.

“Not all insurance agencies will cover it but clients deserve to know their options,” Nwokenkwo said.  “It’s the absolute least I can do.”