Prostheses and Peace of Mind

The office is the size of a modest walk-in closet, a cozy, intimate space that feels particularly disassociated from everything else.

On tall shelves, disembodied heads line up, each wearing a doo of different length, style and color. Dozens of hair samples hang from hooks just an arm’s length away from a salon chair and mirror. In an instant, Linda Giannechini said while demonstration, curtains can be pulled to make the setting even more private.

Here, in this building, situated just off of Monmouth Street on a narrow path running along side the Dublin House, and this office, tucked away from any prying eyes, women can feel safe. That’s critical Giannechini said, because it’s often at a time when women are most vulnerable.

Alternatives offers cranial prostheses – wigs designed to more accurately mimic the look of natural hair, right down to the realistic-looking scalp – and breast prostheses to women who are suffering or have suffered from cancer.

Giannechini is certified to help a woman pick out a wig, help her maintain and care for it, but the extras associated with her job you won’t find hanging on the wall along with so many framed pieces of paper. At times she’s a reassuring voice, a friend, a counselor, a confidant.

At times she’s the one entrusted with your biggest secret.

“It’s really become more than selling wigs,” Giannechini, who has run this business for 18 years, said. “Besides helping people pick something out, it really is about guiding them through the process.

“Sometimes they come in with a daughter, or a husband, someone for support. Often they cry, but, when they realize how good they can look, afterwards they leave smiling.”

What Alternatives does is pick up where the doctor’s office leaves off. This goes beyond the clinical, the fluorescent and sterile.

Owned by Liz Calandra, who also owns the adjacent Winks, a salon that specializes in eyelash extensions, the business has become an integral part in the lives of many women looking for some sense of normalcy.

Giannechini makes it clear, the women who come in here are strong, and they’re prepared for the fight of their lives. They know what being diagnosed with cancer means and they’re told what to expect when they enter treatment. And even though they’re told of the side effects of cancer treatments, there’s no real way to prepare until it happens Giannechini said.

The process at Alternatives starts with a discussion about what really to expect. From introductory phone calls, get-to-know you meetings, ways to cut your hair as you start to lose it, to what chemicals and hair treatments to avoid while under going chemo, to making that leap to a wig, and finding one that works, it’s all part of what goes on here.

Alternatives also specializes in breast prostheses, providing substitutes for women who have undergone mastectomies.

“We really bond with the clients. We really develop a special relationship with them,” she said. “When you work on such a personal level, they trust you, they divulge information they might not otherwise.”

The spectrum of emotion Giannechini encounters from her clients on a regular basis varies greatly. Often times there’s sadness, anger, frustration. But consultations usually end with thanks, and a hug.

“She can tell them exactly what’s to come, which is something the doctors don’t really get in to, or something they can’t get in to,” Calandra said. “I call Linda the little angel of Monmouth County.”

The emotional toll is something Giannechini isn’t immune to. Over the years she said there have been moments she’s considered leaving the job. The women who come here are often at their most fragile. How sick they are, or how bad they’re feeling is all too evident.

And, as many clients as there are who have gotten better, there are those who don’t.

Still, Giannechini has kept at it. She believes, now, that her roll in the healing process is a crucial one. A woman’s fight against cancer starts strong, but as their hair begins to fall out, thoughts often turn dark. It’s one of the first outward indications of being ill and it can sometimes, Giannechini said, conjure up images of being bedridden and hospitalized.

“Once they’ve accepted the fact that they’re sick they can cope fine with having to go through their treatments,” Giannechini said. “One of the toughest parts is losing their hair. A woman and her hair, it’s something more.”

So, Giannechini does her best to make sure her clients look their best. She remembers how popular wigs were in the 1970’s as obvious fashion accessories, but things are noticeably different now. Wig design has improved, almost to the point that it’s not even recognizable as one any more.

Pulling a mannequin head down from the shelf, Giannechini points out how hair color can be matched identically in most cases. There have even been improvements to scalp design, making it look as realistic as possible.

Often, women are amazed at how they look when they get their new prosthesis, as if they never could have expected a wig to look so good. With several scientific studies providing evidence that positive thinking can actually make a difference in those fighting an illness, how you look goes a long way.

Giannechini also prepares women for the compliments they’ll get.

“Be prepared to tell the truth or say that your sister did it,” she said. “The one thing I reinforce all along the way is the power of positive thinking. How these women feel will speed up the recovery process.”

Alternatives carries a wide selection of wigs designed to fit budgets. Some wigs are comprised of all human hair, others are synthetic, and still, others are human and synthetic hair hybrids. Giannechini said Alternatives will never make a fortune because they don’t push expensive wigs on those who can’t afford it.

They’ve been successful, however, because of referrals they get from other business and, perhaps more importantly, from their clients.

Alternatives has also made it a point of helping those in need, reaching out for funding assistance for clients who may not be able to afford a prostheses, and participating in health and wellness efforts.

Calandra said Alternatives will participate in Pink Bank, an annual eight-day event in Red Bank that promotes breast cancer awareness by encouraging women to get mammograms and raising money to help those without insurance. The event beings April 30 and runs through May 7.

Giannechini said she’s committed to do what she can to help women get healthy and feel better about themselves.

“Women are resilient,” Giannechini said. “They are incredible.”

For more information about Alternatives and Winks Studio, visit their website.

To learn more about Pink Bank visit the organization's website.