Dolly Parton, the legendary singer and philanthropist, has never been shy about her love for wigs. She once famously quipped, “People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don’t know, I’m never there.” With the release of her new book, “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” she recently shared her fashion secrets with Vogue’s senior fashion and style writer, Christian Allaire. Unsurprisingly, the discussion naturally veered toward her trademark peroxide-blonde locks.
Parton candidly revealed, “I started wearing wigs because I quickly realized that bleaching and teasing my hair every day would cause breakage and not look good. It was handy to have several looks that I could just choose from and never have a bad hair day.”
One of the key individuals responsible for ensuring that Parton never has a bad hair day is Sarah Necia Wood, a London-based hairstylist. Wood’s connection to Dolly Parton’s inner circle, which includes her longtime stylist Cheryl Riddle, began through a chance encounter with the singer’s niece, Rebecca Seaver. In 2020, Wood designed a wig for Seaver, who also goes by the burlesque name Truvy Trollop, for a performance on The Graham Norton Show. Dolly was enamored by the vintage brunette wig, and thus began their partnership.
“The first time I saw Dolly in a wig I had cut and styled, I cried,” Wood recalls. More recently, Parton has sported a punk-country wig by Wood while promoting her forthcoming album, “Rockstar,” set to release on November 17th. Wood has also recreated some of Parton’s iconic wigs from the ’60s and ’70s for inclusion in “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.” Wood tantalizingly hints at “something major” on the horizon, though details remain under wraps.
Dolly Parton is not Wood’s only high-profile client. Her flair for vintage styling has attracted the likes of Dita Von Teese and the singer Raye, who is currently rocking a ’92 Linda Evangelista look.
Wood’s journey into the world of hair and retro styling dates back to her childhood. “My granddad was a barber, and we always watched old movies together. I guess he inspired both my career and my style,” she reflects. “I started hairdressing straight out of school at 17, and I had all these tattoos and looked a little different, so I couldn’t get a job anywhere. I ended up setting up shop at home while working with patients with dementia. I would do their hair for them and watch them become calm during the process. It really shaped me.”
For fervent fans who want the Dolly Parton or Dita Von Teese treatment (or simply adore impeccable vintage hairstyling), Wood offers London-based sessions at her studio, aptly named “The Coven,” which exudes a ’70s witchy vibe. Furthermore, you can acquire a wig of your own, shipped worldwide, just as Parton does.
While some may believe that bigger hair brings you closer to God, it’s undeniable that one of Sarah Necia Wood’s wigs will undoubtedly bring you closer to the iconic Dolly Parton.
