Buying Your First Wig – What You Need to Know

If you’re looking to buy a human hair wig for the first time, it’s important, is to have at least a fair idea of the basics before you get started.

If you’re looking to buy a human hair wig for the first time, the idea of going along to a shop and trying on a selection, as if they were a pair of shoes or sunglasses, is about as unrealistic as it is daunting. Yet if you or your loved one is losing hair, perhaps because of medical treatment, you’ll also know that the chance to feel a little normal – and even look great – is more than welcome, and well worth the trouble it might be to get shopping around.

What’s important, is to have at least a fair idea of the basics before you get started.

Synthetic wig or human hair wig?

It used to be the case that human hair wigs were your only option if you wanted a high-quality piece. While human hair wigs remain the best and most (reassuringly) expensive choice, modern synthetic wigs can now also be fantastic quality. Real hair wigs, though, are still incomparable for the most natural feel and look. They require more maintenance (more of that below), but they will also last longer, and can be cut and styled – just like your real hair – in a way that synthetic wigs cannot.

How to maintain a human hair wig?

Just like real hair (well, they are real hair) human hair wigs need regular wig maintenance: washing, conditioning, combing and brushing. In fact, because your scalp isn’t there to give your wig its natural, beneficial oils, they also need regular hydration. Hang your real hair wigs on a wig stand each evening, take good care of it as per your wig provider’s careful instructions and recommendations, and they should last a good 3 years, depending on how much use they receive. Protect them from harsh conditions, such as sandy beaches with salty air, sport and traffic fumes, and they’ll retain their shine and bounce for even longer.

What’s a lace front wig?

Lace front wigs are especially fantastic for those who like to have their hair up so that the hairline is exposed. This is because of the lace mesh that adjoins the wig to the face, blending the wig along your natural hairline for a super-realistic effect that is virtually impossible to notice, even close up. One brilliant secret on the theme of blending is a to use a used teabag to help with the slight tonal difference between the lace front and your skin complexion. Gently dab the teabag along the hairline and lace front until just the right skin tone is achieved – no-one will ever know!

What’s the right size and shape for me?

Consider that there are 4 basic face shapes and each one has its own characteristics and best-fit hairstyles: oval, round, square, heart. Oval-shaped faces have pronounced cheekbones and narrowing jawlines and are the most versatile of the face shapes, suiting most hairstyles. Round faces benefit from geometric cuts with slender sides and fringes. Square faces like height, exposed foreheads and angled cuts to break up the naturally strong bone structure. Heart-shaped faces love strong fringes, bob cuts and curls about the ears.

Buying a first wig can be stressful for adults and children alike, but with the right positive outlook, it can also be fun and a huge, and very welcome, confidence booster – so happy wig hunting!