By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things, a wig store at 100 S. Main St., is now offering private appointments, custom wig fitting and cuts for women struggling with hair loss. All that is thanks to a merger with a wig store in China Grove.

Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things is merging with New Hair, at 1002 Power St. in China Grove.

Formerly known as Becky’s Hair Solutions, the business has been in China Grove for 35 years. New Hair has been in its current location for the past four years, Karen Ridenhour, owner of the store, said. The store is now closing its doors.

Although Ridenhour wanted to close the store and do something different, she wanted to pass on her services and clientele to a business that would have the same care and empathy that she had when dealing with clients.

She spent an hour at Timeless Wigs, observing how Dileika Wilson, co-owner of the store, interacted with customers.

Wilson thought it was a little weird at first, but afterwards Ridenhour talked to her about merging the businesses.

“I think it’s a great thing for Salisbury,” she said.

Ridenhour’s business specialized in custom wig fitting and cuts, as well as private appointments for those suffering from hair loss. Now, she is training Wilson to do the same.

Wilson said she is able to service clients looking for private fittings right now and she has already started adding Ridenhour’s wig inventory to her own.

“Karen’s really doing a warm hand-off,” Wilson said.

Ridenhour said she is referring all of her clients and the medical facilities she works with to Wilson.

One of the biggest deciding factors in Ridenhour’s decision to merge the two stores was that Wilson is a six-year breast cancer survivor. She said she knew Wilson would be able to empathize with clients.

Wilson said while some people do not care if anyone knows if they wear a wig, others are not comfortable removing their wigs in front of other people. Wilson said there are those who do not even like to look at themselves in the mirror without their wig.

“Women really struggle when they lose their hair,” Wilson said.

The store has two fitting rooms that will now also be used for private wig fittings.

Wilson said she is happy she can offer the community inventory from OK Wigs, the wig store that previously occupied the space, the new styles of wigs that she and her mother and co-owner Marva Wilson ordered for the store, and new inventory from New Hair. She said New Hair’s inventory is higher-end and medical grade quality.

Wilson said clients do not have to go to Charlotte or Lexington to buy their wigs; the store can service anyone from those who are suffering from any type of hair loss to those who just wear wigs as an accessory.

“We’re covering the gamut,” she said.

The store also offers wig services, like washes and roller sets.

Wilson said she is excited about the new things the store is able to offer after just a little more than a month of being open.

“We’re just excited about the opportunity to expand our reach,” she said.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.