How to Find a Natural Looking Wig

If you’ve lost some or all of your hair, you may be considering a cheap human hair wigs while implementing growth strategies to help your locks come back faster. Or hey, maybe you just want to try a new fall hair colour without dyeing your hair, or you’re testing an altar ego. Either way, there are thousands of options.

The tricky part? Wigs vary wildly in both quality and price, making the search quite daunting for the uninitiated. Add words like monofilament, lace front, glue, and hand-tied to the mix, and someone who doesn’t know much about wigs can, well, get away.

To demystify the process and help you find the most natural looking wig, we asked the stylists to break it all down for us. This is what they said.

For the most natural looking wig, opt for one made from human hair.

There are two types of wigs: human and synthetic hair. As you can imagine, human hair provides the most natural look, says Rock Paper Salon stylist Fae Norris. Because it is real, it falls and sways in the same way that natural hair does. Plus, it can be styled (blow-dried, curled, or ironed) as usual.

Still, there are different types of human hair. The European, which is slightly finer, is the most coveted and the most expensive, says Norris. Indium, which is softer and has more texture, is also very popular, but a little less expensive. And Chinese hair, which tends to be thick and straight, is the least expensive and the most prevalent, says Norris.

For a high-quality human hair 5×5 closure wig, expect to pay between $ 200 and $ 500 (or more), says Norris. If it’s beyond your price, don’t worry – wigs have come a long way, and you can find a good synthetic option for close.

It should also be full lace or lace frontal.

Both the full lace and the lace front wings have a very natural look, says Cynthia Lumzy, wig colorist and hair ambassador for Design.ME. Although the lace front is generally a bit more affordable than a full lace wig, it can be less breathable and even a bit itchy, Norris says. For the most flexibility, the ability to part the wig in various ways and wear updos, full lace is the best option, she says.

Once you have found your wig, take it to a professional.

After splurging on the most natural-looking wig, you may be wondering why you would have to spend more to style it. Norris recommends taking your wig to a professional stylist to make sure it fits the shape of your face. Most wigs have excess hair and, like natural hair, must be cut and layered correctly.

The typical lifespan of a human hair wig can be years if cared for correctly – about five times longer than artificial hair, says Norris. But proper care is vital to prolonging the life of a wig. Wash your wig every six to eight times with a mild sulfate-free shampoo, says Norris.

Of course, you will also want to store it properly.

Whether it’s synthetic or human hair, one of the best ways to increase the life of a wig is to brush it and then attach it to a wig stand when not in use, Norris says.