Wearing a wig for the first time can be a scary experience and fill even the most confident person with dread. Our wigs for beginners guide answers some of the common questions we get asked on a daily basis and with the right advice, wig wisdom and style know-how, you’ll be stepping out in your fabulous new wig in no time. Sit back, relax and read through our top tips for first-time wig wearers so you can achieve your very own effortless style and wear it with show-stopping confidence.
Best wigs for beginners
Wigs for everyday use:
If you are wearing a wig for the first time, you may want a subtle transition from your natural colour and style. Choosing a wig that is close to your natural colour and cut initially can help you feel more comfortable in your new wig until you feel more confident experimenting with new and different styles.
Our lovely Lizzie shares her own personal wig journey and how she loves to try out new looks as often as she can, encouraging other ladies to change your wig style with confidence. Once you have purchased a wig, you can ask your stylist to cut the wig into a shape which complements your facial features and give you a look that makes you feel like ‘you’ again.
Lace front wigs:
If you like to wear your hair away from your face, a lace front wig is a perfect choice. The hand-tied, delicate finish allows you to part your hair in whatever place suits you best and the superfine front section provides the all-important undetectable hairline. A lace front wig is also great for ladies suffering from complete hair loss as many of our range are fitted with a non-slip poly strip, which is discreetly fitted into the front of each cap for reliable staying power day after day.
Experimental wig wearers:
If you like to experiment with different styles, hand-tied wigs are a great way to change up your style without comprising on the look and feel of your wig. Each individual hair is lovingly hand-tied onto a soft mesh cap to provide a super-comfortable and super-soft fit. There are no wefts and no mechanical stitching used to imitate all-over natural hair growth, even if you look really closely! So play around with the style of your new wig as if it were your own natural locks!
Sizing up wigs for beginners
When it comes to size, the average is our most popular choice. Around 90% of customers opt for an average cap size which has a circumference of 22”. Even if you don’t fall into this exact fit, all our ladies wigs come with adjustable pull straps which give around an inch either way so your wig can be tightened or slackened to fit snugly on your scalp. Take a look at our wig size guide to explore our full wig size range and how to measure yourself for the perfect fit.
| CAP SIZE | CIRCUMFERENCE |
|---|---|
| Child/Petite | 19″ (48.3cm) |
| Petite | 21″ (53.3cm) |
| Petite/Average | 21.5″ (54.6cm) |
| Average | 22″ (55.8cm) |
| Large | 23″ (58.4cm) |
Putting on a wig for the first time
First and foremost, you’ll need to prep your hair if you suffer from partial hair loss or still have natural hair to cover. We have a full guide on how to hide natural hair under a wig but here are some of our top tips.
Short hair:
If you have very short hair, simply brush the hair away from your face and pin in place towards the back of your head. You may want to spritz with some hairspray to keep this in place, taking care not to get any hairspray on the wig.
Long hair:
If you have longer hair to conceal, tie your hair into two French plaits tight against the scalp and cross them over just above the nape, securing them at the top and bottom with clips or kirby grips.
Putting on a wig cap:
1. If you are wondering do I need a wig cap, and decide the answer is yes, place the wig cap on your natural hairline and stretch it over to the back of your head.
2. All that’s left to do is tuck away any stray hairs into the cap and secure in place with clips or kirby grips.
Our Steph gets down to the nitty-gritty of wearing a wig and shows you how to put on a wig cap if you want a little more guidance.
Putting on your wig:
1. Now it’s time to put on your wig. Unwrap your new wig hold it up in front of with both hands, ensuring that the label is at the back.
2. Tilt your head forward and place the front of the wig on the front hairline, then slide it on from there.
3. Adjust until your new wig feels comfortable and sits comfortably with your natural hairline.
4. You can now secure it firmly in place with wig clips or wig tape.
One of our lovely guest writers and devout wig-wearer Lila, reveals how to put on a wig at home and shows just how easy it is to rock a fabulous style in a few simple steps.
5. And now you’re ready to step out with style.
Just remember to stand tall and be true to yourself as you debut your new look.
If you would like any more information about choosing a wig or wearing your wig for the first time, contact our lovely team of wig experts who will be more than happy to help you take the first steps on your wig-wearing journey.
Comments (32)
Hi Lois, thank you for your comment.
Ellen Wille wigs are known to be on the smaller side, and we do have a small selection of ‘mini petite’ available on our site too.
If you do wish to discuss this further, please get in touch with our fabulous Customer Service team on 01484 844557 or through [email protected].
Many Thanks,
SW Team x
Which are the best petite wigs for a small head please. I wear petite wigs , one with Velcro and one with a bra type strap but the wigs feel too bulky near the occipital bone. Any advice please?
Hi Valerie, if your head is itching at the front where the lace is, we would recommend using comfort lace to reduce itching. If it is your whole head, a soft bamboo wig cap could help with this. I hope this helps.
I find when wearing a wig my head feels uncontrollably itchy, any tips ….please
My comment is based off Marcella’s comment above. Im 42. I colored & bleached my hair all my life. I already had very fine straight caucasian hair. I bleached my hair 1 time to many. It started breaking off . Everytime i brushed it was snowing hair. I cut it very short. But i missed my long hair. Ive always changed my look a lot. I love to stand out and be creative. I tried a couple wigs but it didnt last. I ended up getting synthetic locs with a single loop and tieing into my existing hair. After sometime i started making my own synthetic dreadlocks. I have wornthem for 5 yrs. I have loved every second of it! The positive attention ive got, standing out, changing it up with beads and colors. Plus the length and thickness! BUT sadly me not braiding it in or having anyone help me. I just tied my hair around each dread to hold them in. It has destroyed my natural hair. As if it wasnt damaged enough. My real hair has continued to break the past 5 yrs. And thinned much worse. I am now faced with taking my dreads out and going back to wearing a wig. Hopefully my real hair thickens up and grows back out eventually. Its devastating to me. Bc i got so used to having thick dreads. Instead of thin fine hair. But now its much worse. I also feel my dreads have defined me. I feel like 2 different people with and without them. Very confident with and so unsure of myself without. Now i dont know how to prepare myself for this other person i have to become.But i never planned on wearing the dreads forever. So hopefully these beautiful wigs will help the transition go much smoother. I realize this post was a couple yrs ago. But it helped knowing im not alone in how i feel. Thanks for the advice. And be strong ladies and men as well 🙂
Larry B,
I have a huge scar on the top of my head and hair won’t grow there. I’ve embraced both the bald head and the wigs. I even have fun with switching wigs when someone isn’t looking just to watch the confusion on their face! ?? I have some stories I would love to tell you. These lovely folks have permission to pass you my contact info.
I am feeling so down because of the thinning of my hair. Ten years ago, I loss my hair to chemotherapy. It was twenty-two inches. After a year post chemo, my hair started to grow back. The hair grew back with length, but very thin. So, I began to get hair weaves to add fullness to my hair. Then, I was diagnosed with diabetes and am now taking anti diabetic medications, which I believe is thinning my hair even more. I believe between the perm, hair weave and medications, my hair is thinning. I decided recently to give my hair a rest with the perm and weave. I purchased a lace front wig, but am not happy with the grids in the part. It doesn’t look natural, but obvious that I am wearing a wig. I feel demoralized and feeling down because of having to now wear a wig. Any recommendations? I need some hope and up lifting. Thank You!!!
Hi Deanna,
If you feel unsure about the security of wearing a wig then please read this article here. Our staff are always on hand to advise, so please give us a call or email us and we will be glad to help 🙂
I have Lupus along with several other disease. I am on immunosuppressive and chemo. My hair is falling out very rapidly. I will be bald by Christmas. I had long red hair. What all goes into getting a wig ie….things needed to secure wig?
I’m losing sooo much hair due to having covid so bad . I heard others are going thru this also. I am looking into getting a wig soon. Just so scared and don’t know where to go. The whole process just makes me cry
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