Wigging Out

Sherry Bryant wonders why she ever took things like tossing her blond hair or pulling thick locks into a ponytail for granted. These days, she even longs for bad hair days.

The 44-year-old Las Vegan is battling breast cancer. After eight chemotherapy treatments, she's been left with nothing more than a little peach fuzz where big '80s hair -- as she refers to it -- once fell. Bryant wants nothing more than to capture a new look.

"There's just days that you need to do this," she says, flipping imaginary hair over her shoulder. "And this," she adds, while she simulates running fingers through her hair.

Today Bryant will get to do both. She's trying on wigs and doesn't have to leave her home to do it, thanks to Jane Nelson, owner of Wigs on the Move. Nelson has made a business of visiting women like Bryant every day. After realizing it was too inconvenient and cumbersome to try and load her sedan with wigs to make house calls, she invested in a new R.V. That was in April. Today it's full of 100 wigs and looks like a mobile advertising billboard.

Nelson leaves her salon in Henderson, Tin Star Salon, once a day and slides behind the wheel of her R.V. to give cancer patients around the valley a well-needed boost to their self-image. Bryant is her lucky client today. Not only does Bryant get to do her wig shopping while sipping her own coffee and lounging in her mother's garden, she gets to try on wigs from the Raquel Welch line.

It's the same line that was featured on an episode of "Sex and the City" and comes in so many sought after styles that it's actually made wigs seem hip.

As Bryant slips in and out of styles like "Feisty" and "Salsa," Nelson explains the high grade of synthetic hair, adjustable side straps and panty hose-like structure that makes them mold to your head. Bryant doesn't hear her, though. She's got her mind on hair right now.

She asks her boyfriend, Shane Williams, for his opinion of a sandy blond style with height at the crown. "You look like that lady from 'Married With Children,' " he replies. It's immediately marked off the list. Bryant tries on a few more and gets lukewarm responses.

Nelson helps her into the last look, "Spicy," a light blond, chin length cut with bangs. Her family watches as Bryant turns from reserved and unimpressed to completely smitten. She picks up the mirror with one hand and tosses the hair with her other one. "Wow" is all she can say, eyes glued to her reflection. Then she jumps to her feet and shakes her head out. She's as giddy as a bride-to-be who's just found "the dress."

"When I was pulling out my hair in the shower and when I was hanging on the side of the wall crying," Bryant explains, "I never thought I'd have my blond hair again. Now I do."

Nelson shapes the wig, adjusts the bangs to Nelson's forehead and completes the order. Another satisfied customer.

"It's that kind of reaction," Nelson says, "that makes me feel good about what I do."

For more information about Wigs on the Move, log onto wigsonthemove.com or call 630-WIGS