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.
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
I am looking to buy a wig. I had a very hard labor with my youngest(2 surgeries, one to take her out and the other to remove my uterus, which had been covered on the outside of it by my placenta, and various parts of internal organs, which the placenta had attached to. 1 was 9 hours, the second over 18 hours long) Because of the stress my body went thru, my hair went white along the front, and is a lot thinner. I had wanted to try out the anime silver hair look, but since my hair had been dyed red, was waaaaay to expensive to do in a salon($1,400.00 and 5 trips) so I tried on my own. Burnt the long end of my hair…. it was down to my butt. Now its barely touching my shoulders.
I MIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS my long hair. But, I also fear looking dumb, or having it fall off or something. I wanted to try the lace front, but doing it on my own seems like a disaster just WAITING to happen. It’s kinda daunting really.
I just got my new short wig in i have short hair it is synthetic do i need to get wig shampoo it is cute but it feels so much thicker i am 62 my neighbor did not know it was a wig loll she said you got highlights i said its a wig she said could not tell i tightened it up but it moves what can i use to stop that it has bangs too i do like it but i have to get use to it and buy a wig head too to keep it looking good .
There is adhesive your daughter can use that holds pretty tight. It’s called “it stays body glue”.
My daughter has severe trichotillomania. Shes pulled almost all the hair off the top of her head and around the edges. She still has long hair on crown of head that we use to make an appearance of a pony tail along with a ton of topiks powder and spray. But she is getting very close to needing a wig. She’s 15 and a basketball athlete. She keeps her hair in a pony tail at all times. Is a wig a realistic option for a teen athlete? I’m so worried it will come off in a game or be so sweaty and itchy it’s distracting. Thank you for help! She’s Asian with very straight black hair, in case that makes a difference in some way.
Hi,
I am 54 and am losing my hair due to alopecia and kidney disease. I don’t consider myself a vain person but I don’t care for the scalp showing through my hair. I’m the only one bothered by it. My kids (grown) tell me to get a wig. My mother always wore one. She had alopecia, too. I’m conflicted. One the one hand, I would like to buzz my head and rock the baldness. On the other hand, I’d like to just look nice and not really stand out as “that bald lady.” Your website is very positive and affirming and I appreciate that very much.
I am not a young lady. I have been colouring my hair for a long time.And now started loosing hair alot, very soon I will go bold. So I decided to wear a wig for my age. Looks natural and same as my hair. I need you advice what suits me as I have never worn before. Thank you.
It depends on a number of things, such as how active your life style is, your personal taste such as preferring long hair or short, and the kind of time and effort you want to put into “doing” your hair in the morning. Do you like change — be a brunette if you’re tired of being a blonde. I have a wardrobe of different wigs, so some days I sport red hair, sometimes I wear brown hair, and on some days I prefer to be bald. Only you can decide what’s best for you, and how you want to present yourself in public.
Hi. I have fine thin hair from Hashimoto’s disease. I cut my own hair, it looked worse, so I buzzed if all off with clippers. What kind of wig might work for me? TIA
There are many ways to keep your hair in place under the wig, here are a few ideas:
• French plaits which are then folded across at the back to keep the hair as flat as possible.
• Wrap around technique (wet hair is wrapped tightly around the head and secured in place with bobby pins)
• A low ponytail/plait at the nape which is then folded up at the back (as flat as possible) and secured with bobby pins
A wig cap should then be placed over the hair and secured in place with bobby pins/hair grips before the wig is placed on to the head.
Youtube is good for tutorials too ?
There are many ways to keep your hair in place under the wig, here are a few ideas:
• French plaits which are then folded across at the back to keep the hair as flat as possible.
• Wrap around technique (wet hair is wrapped tightly around the head and secured in place with bobby pins)
• A low ponytail/plait at the nape which is then folded up at the back (as flat as possible) and secured with bobby pins
A wig cap should then be placed over the hair and secured in place with bobby pins/hair grips before the wig is placed on to the head.
Youtube is good for tutorials too ?
My sister hasn’t worn a wig before, but she has really thick curly hair. Any advice on how to hold it back when wearing a wig?
What i do and found very helpful is instead if putting the wig through those little adjustable strap areas I interlock the two straps then it fits perfectly I and makes the wig look more real
Thank You for that comment!
I suffer from loss of hair on my
edges. This has encouraged me
to get a wig. Thank you again!
Aaaaaahhhh! Help! I want to wear a wig b/c my hair is still waiting for the salons to open(Covid 19?)..I’ve never worn one before and I’m afraid it will fall off..I appreciate any advice…thanx
Ashlee
I hope things are going better for you, my sister. Blessings.
I just start wearing wigs. My only problem is my head is small and most of the wigs seems to be big. I adjusted the wig and put the clips in my hair but it still fill loose because of the thinning of my hair.
i am affraid i ordered my first wigs. mt head is flat in the back and i cant wear a head band for that reason. i have dread loks i am thinking of transitioning, (the reason for the wigs) the wigs suit my personality (i feel) i am worried about them slipping up the back. Oh, the reason for the transformation, i had cancer =. even though i didnt loose all my hair it did thin and i am loosing some of my dread locs because of that. i really don`t want to loose them i feel emotionally attached to them it will break my heart to loose them. they in some way define me. i want to try the wigs but i dont want it to make me look crazy. like i am trying too hard. alot of people wear wigs i just dont want it ti be to obvious like i am some some 57 year old lady trying too hard. and also i dont like to lie and i am not a fake personso i will keep my dreads until i feel comfortable with the transition. i just dont want it to slide up the bace beczuse of my flat back of my head. it is inherited my nana had it too.
Hi Lula,
We would love to hear your story and if you would like to share it with the community then please send it into us 🙂
I’d love to share my story, I think it would help so many.
Hi,
I’m working on a book about baldness and the social and emotional impact that comes with losing your hair. It will be an anthology and I’m looking for contributors. It will be a non profit project. Any money that may come from sales will go to paying expenses in producing this book, and any other money will go to charities such as the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
I’m looking for personal stories and essays about topics associated with hair loss such as wigs, relationships, coping skills and embracing baldness. It would be wonderful if friends, family and stylists would like to contribute as well.
If you think your clients (or you) would like to share their stories please let them know about this project.
Thank you.
Good for you! I’ve almost been at the end of the line with how I look after chemo. After 3 years my hair is about 4 inches long. NOONE cares or understands. I have had wigs and pieces and no one will even highlight my hair for me. I say whatever makes you feel better! So happy you found a wig you liked and your friend too.
I have lost most of my top crown of hair and was very demoralised. A friend who also had similar problems made me shut up when she turned up to a do in a wig. She looked fabulous, I hadn’t seen her for a time and thought she had undergone some very expensive hair therapy!
I went straight out and bought a wig! I now enjoy going out, have lost 4 stone in weight and am on to my 8 new wig!
What took me back was all the compliments I got about my nice hair! I have always honestly answered that it isn’t my hair but a wig and explain that I suffer from hair loss. On two occasions this has been met with a response that they had a family member who also had hair loss problems and wouldn’t consider wearing a wig because they thought everyone would know! I like to think that I may have encouraged these people to take the plunge and feel better about themselves!