Should You Get a Wig or Weave?
- Posted on 02 November, 2021
- Hair Knowledge
- By Emma & Stuart
Whether you’re experiencing hair loss or want to add volume, length or thickness to your hair, choosing between a wig or weave can be a difficult choice. When asking yourself, ‘should I get a wig or a sew in?’, it really will depend on the condition of your hair and your lifestyle.
In the battle between wigs vs weave, it’s important to know the differences and explore their pros and cons to make sure that you choose the right option for a natural and comfortable style.
Wig vs weave:
1. Wig:
A wig is a cap made of wefts of synthetic or human hair. Wigs are excellent for those with hair loss as a wig covers your entire head, ensuring you can go about your day with the confidence that any thinning or balding areas are hidden. A wig can be put on and removed daily, giving you the option to experiment with different styles, lengths, colours and wig cap constructions.
Our blog post ‘Which Wig is Right for me’ is brilliant for talking through the differences and pros and cons of the four main wig types: hand-tied wigs, lace front wigs, monofilament wigs and wefted wigs.
2. Weave:
With a weave, your natural hair is braided flat, and then wefts of human or synthetic hair are sewn onto your braided hair. A weave can be sewn in for up to around two months, but you will need to have the weave sewn in and removed by a professional hairdresser. Weaves are great for those who want to give their own hair a break from any weather or heat damage.
Now you know the difference between a wig and a weave, we’ll dive into their advantages and disadvantages.
THE WIGS
Advantages of Wigs:
1. Whether you experience thinning, balding or complete hair loss, a wig completely covers your head and scalp. Knowing that your wig looks and feels great will give you such a confidence boost!
2. Whether you want to choose a wig similar to your natural hair or experiment with a new look, the options are endless! Wigs come in a variety of styles, lengths and colours. As an online store, Simply Wigs try to make choosing the right wig colour stress-free with our colour queen feature.
3. Wigs come in a variety of cap sizes, meaning that you won’t feel any uncomfortable pinches or tightness. Wig caps are great to form a protective barrier between your scalp and your wig, preventing from any friction.
4. Wigs are made as lightweight as possible to prevent any uncomfortable neck ache; they are constructed with your comfort in mind.
5. You’ll be mistaken if you think that wigs can’t look voluminous. If you want to add volume to your wigs, this can easily be achieved through different methods like gently backcombing and various other styling methods for wigs.
6. Human hair and synthetic wigs can be styled to any look you desire. If you’re worried about possible heat damage, look no further than our choice of heat friendly synthetic wigs
7. With a wig, you don’t need to worry about the cost of a hairdresser. You can keep your wig in tip-top condition with the use of wig accessories like shampoo, conditioners and care sets.
8. Wigs can be put on and taken off from the comfort of your home. Whether you choose to wear your wig daily or not, there’s a variety of methods for securing your wig, giving you peace of mind that it won’t slip.
Disadvantages of Wigs:
1. Some wig wearers say that their head can feel hot and uncomfortable. To overcome this, we’d recommend a wefted wig, as the open weft construction allows for ventilation.
2. If your wig appears too perfect and pristine, then it can look unnatural. To achieve a natural look with a wig, we’d recommend choosing a lace front or monofilament wig.
3. A wig has to be applied and taken off daily, although with practice, this process will get quicker.
4. Choosing synthetic wigs or human hair wigs comes with its own debate. Human hair wigs tend to cost more, react to the weather and need washing and styling more frequently. In comparison, synthetic wigs can appear too shiny and have a shorter life span than human hair wigs.
THE WEAVES
Advantages of Weaves:
1. Just like with a wig, a weave gives you the option to experiment with styles, colours and lengths.
2. Once a weave is sewn in, they can last up to two months with proper care; meaning that you don’t have to spend as much time styling it.
3. A weave is a good option for those in warmer climates or the summer months as your natural hair gets a break from any heat, styling or weather damage.
4. If a weave is sewn in well, you have peace of mind that the weave won’t move or slip.
Disadvantages of Weaves:
1. Depending on the type of hair that you have sewn in, weaves are known to be expensive to upkeep. You’ll need to consider the cost of the hair wefts and the cost of the hairdresser to sew it in and remove it.
2. If your hair is braided too tightly, this can be very uncomfortable and can cause headaches. If you often wear a weave and the braids are too tight, this could lead to traction alopecia.
3. Unfortunately, a weave isn’t a suitable choice for those with complete hair loss, as a weave has to be sewn into your own braided hair for it to be secure. Fortunately, there’s a great variety of natural-looking wigs available to give you a fabulous look you desire!
4. If you’re active in the gym, then a weave might not be for you. Weaves don’t react well with sweat as this can produce an unpleasant smell.
5. The weave and your braided hair will need washing weekly or every other week to overcome any build-up of dirt or oil.
6. Your natural hair needs time to breathe. It’s not recommended to wear weaves back to back as this can be very uncomfortable for your scalp. So, if you’re looking for a daily hair solution, a wig is the best choice.
We hope that you now feel comfortable understanding the wig vs weave debate. Our Ultimate Wig Buyer’s Guide is a great resource for helping you decide between different wig styles, wig construction types, and explains how to measure your head for the right size wig. We hope you enjoy browsing our gorgeous collection!
