So, you're thinking about wearing a wig for the first time, huh? Welcome to the club, newbie.
We've all been there, standing in front of the mirror with a wig in hand, wondering if we're about to look like a rockstar or a poodle having a bad hair day. Don't stress, though - we've got your back.
We've rounded up the top 10 questions asked by wig rookies, and we're here to spill the tea. From "Will it fly off if I sneeze" to "Can I sleep in it" (spoiler: please don't), we're covering all the bases. By the time we're done, you'll be strutting your stuff in your new 'do like a Hadid sister at a Victoria's Secret show. Ready to become a wig wizard? Let's go.
1. Will People Be Able To Tell I'm Wearing A Wig?
This appears to be the biggest fear of virgin wig-wearers and we totally get why.
Advances in wig construction over the years have ensured that, with the correct application, a wig should be virtually undetectable.
The premium synthetic fibres used in good quality wigs have been developed to feel and flow just like human hair. Wefted wig caps and skin top part lines have been developed to create the appearance of hair growing from the scalp, enhancing the natural flow of each strand.
Red carpet appearances, music videos and Instagram selfies regularly feature a host of celebrities who are renowned for their love of wigs. The ever-changing and dramatically different hairstyles sported by stars including Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, Zendaya, Beyonce, Kim K and Rihanna have, more often than not, been attributed to an edgy wig.
We get that your weekly shopping list doesn’t likely include a custom Ferrari or the latest Birkin Bag (oh to be a Kardashian), but you genuinely don’t have to shell out serious dollar to achieve an A-Lister worthy, ultra realistic look.
Having said all that, here's the real scoop: most of our customers couldn't care less if people know they're wearing a wig. Plot twist, right? Turns out, wigs have gone from hush-hush to hot topic faster than you can say 'is that your real hair?'
These days, rocking a wig is about as scandalous as wearing false eyelashes or getting a spray tan. It's just another tool in the beauty toolbox, folks.
Our customers are out there living their best lives, swapping hair colours like they're changing socks, and casually dropping 'oh, it's just my Tuesday wig' into conversation.
The secret's out, and guess what? Nobody bats an eyelash. So whether you want to keep your wig under wraps or shout it from the rooftops, the choice is yours. Either way, you're in good company in the wonderful world of wigs.
Nail the 3 ‘Ps’ and your wig will be indistinguishable from a natural head of hair.
2. Does Wearing A Wig Prevent Hair Growth Or Damage Your Hair?
We’re not sure where this wig myth originated and it is categorically one big, fat untruth.
Hair follicles are not affected in the slightest whilst wearing a wig and will continue to function perfectly normally.
To prevent hair static and potential breakage, be sure to wear a wig cap to protect your natural hair from rubbing against the base of the wig. And of course, always practice good scalp hygiene with washes as per your normal routine.
3. Are Wigs Hot Or Uncomfortable?
There are a few things that COULD cause a wig to become uncomfortable, 2 of which are easily resolved with the use of the multipurpose wig cap.
Firstly, if the ends of your natural hair are not tucked away behind a cap, they can poke into your scalp and cause irritation.
A build up of the natural oils produced by the scalp that permeate through the hair could occur inside the wig with prolonged use, causing itchiness. Your wig cap acts as a barrier against these oils, preventing a build up and keeping the base of the wig fresh and clean.
The majority of quality wigs will be constructed from a breathable cap, specifically designed for maximum comfort. Strips, more commonly referred to as ‘wefts' of hair are sewn in sections along the internal cap, creating an ‘openness’ to the base.
This not only encourages air circulation throughout the entire cap, but also means that the base of the wig is super flexible and lightweight – you can literally scrunch it up in the palm of your hand. No stiffness, no weight, no irritation.
4. Are Wigs High Maintenance?
We routinely hear from customers that the exact opposite to this wig myth is in fact the case. One of the benefits of a synthetic wig is that it never loses the style (unless you actively change it). This eliminates the hassle of regular colouring, curling, straightening and generally manipulating your hair so as it sits and looks exactly right before running out the door (most likely minutes or hours late).
Synthetic wigs do not need to be washed very often and the process is pretty simple. Read our guide to washing a wig here.
Storing your wig in its box or on a hanger when not in use, applying sprays to combat frizz and gently brushing through the hair lengths with a wide tooth comb after every outing is pretty much all you need to worry about in regards maintenance.
To revitalise a wig that has been worn multiple times and is suffering from neglect (hey, we’ve been guilty of it too after a heavy night) there’s a Hogwarts-worthy magic potion that we credit with completely transforming the most disheveled of wigs into a ‘like new’ condition. Ok, the ingredients aren’t that magic but the results most definitely are: Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and fabric conditioner, spritz onto your wig and leave over night.
Bright and bold coloured hair, pretty pastel locks, subtle ombre lengths and even perfectly trimmed bangs can be incredibly difficult, damaging, pricey and time consuming to maintain (particularly as the trends change so damn quickly). Switching between significantly different hairstyles can be achieved in minutes by the wise wig wearer.
Isabelle wears the Manic Daffodil Lace Front Wig and Mystic Island Wig.
5. Can You Style And Restyle A Wig?
As explained, a pre-styled synthetic wig = zero styling hassle but if you are feeling creative and want a change, there are numerous ways to modify the style and look of your wig over and over again.
The quickest, yet highly effective way of changing the design of your wig is to move the part line. This is easily achieved with a lace front wig by creating the part with a comb (as you would your natural hair) and using a hairdryer to flatten and set the surrounding strands.
A lace front wig also allows for the hair lengths to be pulled back and away from the face. Add ponytails, braids and top knots or arrange the hair into a ‘half up, half down’ do.
Switch up your wavy wig for a smooth, sleek look with a flat iron, use wands and rollers to add beach waves or princess curls to your straight wig.
For special occasions, festivals and exceptional selfies, check out our How To Style A Wig Guide.
Isabelle wears the Copper Leaf Lace Front Wig Saida wears the Spring Crush Wig.
6. How Do Wigs Stay On?
The vast majority of wigs today are described as 'Glueless' (which is literally just a term people use to mean 'you can wear this wig without wig glue'.)
Huge gusts of wind, partaking in the latest dance craze, bending over, performing a diva-style hair flip – none of these things will encourage your wig to shift even remotely.
Wearing a wig cap will ensure that the wig doesn’t slip and slide against your natural hair plus all of our wigs feature adjustable straps (similar to a bra strap) that will tighten the wig to fit a child size head if required.
The wig base actually moulds to the shape of your head, owing to the flexible and breathable nature of the cap.
Our lace front wigs boast added hair combs to keep the all-important hairline in place, and if you could be described as suffering from a touch of paranoia, a couple of bobby pins behind the ear or some extra hold gel at the underside of the lace will give you piece of mind.
Our performer customers utilise a dab of eyelash glue around the ears and got2b Glued Gel along the hairline for sweat-proof solutions during high-intensity shows or events.
7. Are Human Hair Wigs Better Than Synthetic Wigs?
It is pretty widely accepted that both human hair wigs and synthetic wigs have their advantages.
Human hair wigs can obviously be maintained exactly as your natural hair. Washing, styling, brushing and drying these wigs involve the same process and the same products, and the look and feel is beautifully natural.
Just like your own hair, over time and with continued styling, human hair wigs tend to become dry and brittle. (That silky, lustrous feel achieved with the aid of a silicone coating applied to the hair by the manufacturer, disappears after the first wash.)
This time frame is shortened quite considerably for cheaper human hair wigs. Long lasting human wigs are going to set you back several hundred if not thousands of your hard earned pounds.
Bright or pastel coloured human hair will of course have to be dyed – upping the cost and shortening the life span due to the initial treatment.
On the flipside, synthetic wigs require a gentler hand when it comes to washing and styling, however synthetic hair is significantly more lightweight and cooler than the human kind.
Manmade wig fibre is available in every colour imaginable and will never lose the vivacity of the shade.
The popularity of synthetic wigs has inspired a vast improvement in the quality of the fibre used, so much so that good quality synthetic hair feels and flows as if it were the real thing.
Lastly, the best synthetic wigs cost a fraction of the price of human hair wigs. Ideally, switch between multiple synthetic wigs to increase their longevity and decrease your own boredom!
Looks like real hair to us ↗↙
Elisa wears the Barbarella Wig. Morgan wears the Cocoa Passion Wig.
8. Can You Use Heat On Synthetic Wigs?
This wholly depends on the wig and the fibre it is made from.
Kanekalon synthetic fibre is often used in better quality wigs. It is super silky and gorgeously soft, but it does descend from a form of plastic, and plastic melts. Having said this, we have used heating tools on Kanekalon hair without issue.
The trick is to use the coolest temperature possible and don’t hold the ceramic plate or wand on the hair for too long. We recommend performing a strand test and be aware that Kanekalon will not respond in the same manner as human hair. Tight, ringlet curls will be hard to achieve. Using steam to straighten the hair or rollers to add a wave will work too.
‘Heat Friendly’ or ‘Heat Resistant’ synthetic hair is just that, meaning you can style the wig with any heated tool. Again, it's best to start on a low temperature to avoid that over processed look resulting from heat damage.
However, unlike its human counterpart, synthetic heat friendly hair requires heating for only a few seconds and then cooled before the curl is released. This can be achieved by holding the curl or wave in your hand, waiting for it to cool and then releasing it.
Our full Hot-Tool-How-To Guide can be found in our dedicated Caring For Synthetic Wigs section.
Check the 'details' tab on each of our styles to determine if the wig is heat resistant or Kanekalon.
9. Are Wigs Only For Dress Up?
Amazingly, there is still a percentage of people who have no idea that their fave celebs are rocking wigs daily and that the picture they presented to the hairdresser is not natural hair.
The popularity of everyday fashion wigs has exploded of late and full wigs are becoming just as sought-after as the well-established hair extensions and clip in ponytails.
The one-piece hair addition means no fiddling, no need to blend and none of the hassle of colour matching – you don’t even need to have clean hair! (Hey, we’re busy.)
10. Can You Wear Wigs Every Day?
Abso-flippin-lutely!
Welcome to the wig wardrobe, where 'bad hair days' go to die. The secret sauce? Rotation, rotation, rotation. Keep two or three of these beauties in your collection and play musical heads.
Monday? Blonde bombshell. Tuesday? Redhead realness. Wednesday? Channel your inner brunette. By giving each wig a little vacay, you're reducing wear. Plus, this wig-switching dance means less washing (for the wigs, not you - please keep showering), which is like a spa day for your faux locks.
Your style game will be so strong, people will think you have a glam squad on speed dial.
Lucii wears Poison Pop, Pink Rebel Lace Front, Lolli Pop and Mystic Island.
Bonus Question: Can You Sleep In A Wig?
So, we asked AI what a wig model would look like if she slept in a wig (seeing as we have no hard evidence of the result.) Disappointingly, we're not mad at this look and have to admit to actually loving it, just a bit.
But no, we would never recommend that you sleep in a wig. Pillow static, sweat etc = frizzy, tangled mess.
Still scratching your head with questions? No worries, we've got you covered like a perfectly placed lace front. Shoot us an email and let's get those burning questions answered.
