You may not know Christal Schanes, but if you’ve watched TV shows like Saturday Night Live, Poker Face, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, or The Heart She Holler  the past decade, you’ve seen her handiwork. She has also worked on feature films including "Killers of the Flower Moon" and various Broadway productions. This Emmy-winning wig/hair artist has built a career designing realistic wigs, hair products, and prosthetics for the entertainment industry. 

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Since 2012, Christal has passed on her expertise to the next generation as Wig and Makeup Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2012-2023) and educates through IATSE, Reel Works and Stockade Works. She has also led various master classes including at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

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In 2016, Christal focused her skills even further, creating the WIGwell initiative. Connecting with a local hospital in her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Christal created custom wigs for women facing medically related hair loss at no charge to them. Today her UNCSA students are part of the endeavor, learning the artistry of custom, medical wig making while positively impacting the life of a client of our community.

These efforts through CHRISTAline Studios is largely dependent on client sponsorships and companies seeking a new social responsibility.

 

Through CHRISTALine Studios, Christal is expanding the WIGwell initiative’s reach, using 20% of proceeds of each product to help fund medical wigs and enable women in challenging circumstances to retain dignity, confidence, and the freedom to tell their stories on their own terms.