A family member of mine has started wearing wigs -- and believe it or not, there are some really beautiful ones out there and you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get something that goes really well with the direction you are trying to go. Wearing a wig lets your hair get a rest and allows you to try out different looks without actually having to keep them. I would suggest that those who are looking for a change try some of the wigs that are out there and see where that leads you . . . when I start my new job, I am going to get several so that I can do different things with my hair without putting it through the ringer.
Good luck.