Buying a wig: The Ultimate Guide

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Buying a wig for the first time and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Welcome to Wig 101

When I was about to buy my first human hair wig I felt really overwhelmed. I was ordering online and terrified to make the wrong choice. I had all these questions like;

What if the color doesn't look good on me?

What kind of cap construction should I get? 

Hand tied vs wefts? What does that mean?

Should I buy a silk wig or a lace wig? 

What don't I know that I should?

In this post I'm going over all the things that I think are important for you to know when buying a wig prior to heading to "Check Out"

Tip 1: When buying a wig: Return policy

Hugely important...Wigs can be so so so expensive.

For me, when I first try on the wig I always make sure I keep the tags on.

What if you receive your wig and you realize the color isn't what you hoped for, or the cap doesn't fit your head correctly? For more tips on getting your wig secured to your head, check out my post HERE on wig wearing tips. 

Before purchasing any wig take a look at what the website says regarding the return policy. Some places require any returns to be postmarked 5 days after the delivery date. If you're planning on taking a trip somewhere and you aren't back when your wig is delivered this can be a huge headache... 

I travel a ton for work and so I make sure if I'm ordering a wig, I can time the delivery to make sure if something does go wrong I don't miss the window for a return. 

Also, some vendors will require something like a 15% restocking fee. Be aware of any charges that make take place when returning. 

Tip 2: When buying a wig online--How to choose hair color?

One of the reasons I love wigs is being able to switch up my hair color without damaging my bio hair.

For my first wig purchase I went with a dark brown colored wig with highlights. This was very close to my bio hair. You can see it featured on my instagram: @masteryourhair

Now that I've been in the wig game for a bit longer I have ventured out into medium brown to darker blonde wigs. If you're debating on what color to choose for your first wig I'd suggest going with a color you will feel most comfortable in...

When viewing online colors may differ from one monitor to another. I've been noticing many wig websites are now featuring indoor images of their product in addition to images of their wigs in natural light. If you're shopping online, check to see if there are any images in natural light because this may change the coloring of the wig completely. 

If no photos are featured on the website you can always try contacting customer service to ask for images to be sent to you.

The website you're buying from may offer color rings as well where you can check out swatches of the various wig hair colors. Check for this option to get a better feel for the color before you order.

Tip 3: Buying a wig: Lace tops, lace front, french top---Say what?

Let me start off by saying I'm a huge fan of the lace front, lace part wigs. Here I'm breaking some of it down but there's a ton of info out there. Be sure you review the details of the wig. 

Front hair construction: Often times you will see "swiss lace."Swiss lace is a thin soft, semi-durable lace that allows your scalp to breathe while creating a seamless transition to the front of your wig.

Top of cap construction:

Lace top: The knots are tied directly onto the lace and are are visible on the top of the wig. Below I've linked the concealer I use to hide the knots of my lace top wigs. You can also have the knots bleached but this may cause the wig to shed more, reducing the longevity of the wig. 

• The lace top does not look as realistic as the french top. There are some wigs where the entire top is constructed of lace which allows you to part the hair in all different directions. This may reduce the longevity of the wig. 

• The lace top wigs I have purchased, just have a lace part. I purchase low/medium density wigs because I want them to contour closest to my head and look the most realistic.

• In my opinion lace top wigs are very light weight, and easy to add volume to
  

• French top-This type of top incorporates two layers of material to hide the knots in between layers. This makes them undetectable and is the most scalp like. These types of wigs are usually more expensive. In my experience, these wigs feel a bit bulkier due to the double layer of material and are a bit more difficult to add volume to. But the cap construction makes this wig very durable and great for longevity.
  

Tip 4: Buying a wig: Cap construction

When buying a wig, you also want to take a look at the way the cap is constructed. Cap construction can impact your comfort level when wearing the wig, and how secure the wig is on your head.

If you still have quite a bit of bio hair then you may want to choose a cap that can be secured with a wig grip and clips. I've linked the wig grip I use below.

Some caps will also come with silicone lining inside the cap. This type of lining secures any wig in place without the use of clips or combs and is suggested for full hair loss.

Freedom lining inside caps secures any wig in place without the use of clips or combs. This is suggested for full or partial hair loss.

PU lining protects any wig with PU tabs to adhere to double sided tape or adhesives. This is suggested for full hair loss when adhesives are used.

Tip 5: Buying a wig: Is the cuticle of the hair intact?

When I've been online browsing different wigs I always look for an intact cuticle, this will influence whether the hair gets easily tangled. 

Unprocessed hair still has the cuticle intact. So it has not been chemically processed and each strand of hair is facing the same direction, causing way less tangling. 

Tip 6: Buying a wig: Hand tied vs machine wefted

Hand-tied hair moves the most naturally. It looks the most realistic and this is because each hair strand is individually knotted and tied to the wig cap.

A closed wefted cap in the back not only contours to your head but helps create a durable construction that will last longer. Hair is sewn on tracks that are then sewn onto the back of the wig. 

The wigs that I have purchased are usually a mix of both of these with the hand-tied areas more focused around the top of the wig to create the most natural look.  

Tip 7: Buying a wig or a hair topper: How are they different?

I still have a good amount of my bio hair and loved wearing hair toppers. Hair toppers offer various amounts of coverage. These are great for adding extra volume and will require some blending with your bio hair. 

A wig on the other hand offers full coverage, where your bio hair is concealed completely. Wigs can also come with ear tabs and a nape, if you need more hair around the side burn area or would like to wear the wig up in a ponytail.  

I eventually switched to wigs from hair toppers because I wanted to try different colors and lengths without having to match these to my bio hair. I like the idea of being able to "throw it on and go" without having to blend my bio hair. I love how quick it is to put on a wig and the confidence I feel with one on. 

I hope you found this guide to be helpful! Be sure to subscribe to make sure you never miss a post!