Your First Wig: A Simple Guide to Getting Started

September 15th, 2026 | 17 min read | By: Emma

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Jump to: Step 1: Think about what you want from your wig Step 2: Find your wig size Step 3: Synthetic or human hair? Step 4: Don't let wig construction confuse you Step 5: Choose a style you feel comfortable wearing Step 6: Finding your colour Step 7: Decide on a comfortable budget Step 8: When your wig arrives

What's In This Article

If you’ve never worn a wig before, knowing where to begin can feel a little overwhelming.

There are different fibres, cap constructions, colours, sizes and styles. Suddenly you’re faced with terminology you’ve probably never needed to understand before.

So, first things first: you don’t need to become a wig expert to find the right wig. That’s our job and we are here to help.

At Simply Wigs, we’ve been helping people choose wigs for many years, including thousands of customers who were buying a wig for the very first time. Some are choosing a wig because of hair loss, chemotherapy or alopecia. Others simply want to change their hairstyle. Whatever has brought you here, we’ll help you take things one step at a time. There isn’t one ‘perfect wig’ that suits everybody. The right wig is simply the one that feels right for you.

(Originally published January 2022. Updated September 2026.)

Step 1: Think about what you want from your wig

Before looking at colours, brands or cap constructions, ask yourself a much simpler question: What would I like my wig to do for me?

Perhaps you’d like something very similar to your own hair. You might want a completely different style. Maybe comfort is your biggest priority, or perhaps you’re looking for something that’s incredibly easy to look after. There is no right or wrong answer. It can help to think about:

how often you expect to wear your wig
whether you want something similar to your usual hairstyle
how much styling you’d like to do
whether weight and coolness are particularly important
your approximate budget
whether you would prefer synthetic or human hair

You will not have all the answers yet. But they simply give us somewhere to start.

Step 2: Find your wig size

Getting the size right is one of the most important parts of choosing a comfortable wig.

When you look at all our available wigs you will notice that most wigs are Average size, but Petite and Large sizes are also available.
A wig that fits correctly should feel secure without feeling uncomfortably tight.
Once you know your size, you can concentrate on finding a style you love!

Step 3: Synthetic or human hair?

This is one of the questions we’re asked most frequently by new wig wearers. And neither is automatically “better”.

Synthetic wigs – Modern synthetic wigs can look remarkably natural. They arrive pre-styled and normally return to their original shape after washing, making them particularly easy to look after. They can be an excellent choice for everyday wear and are available across a wide range of prices.
Human hair wigs – Human hair offers wonderful movement and styling flexibility and can provide an incredibly natural appearance. However, human hair wigs usually require more styling and maintenance and tend to cost considerably more than synthetic styles.
Heat-friendly synthetic wigs – You’ll also see heat-friendly fibres. These give you some additional styling flexibility while retaining many of the advantages of synthetic hair.

Our answer? Choose the fibre that works best for your lifestyle rather than assuming the most expensive option must be the best one. You can always read our guide to Syntheic vs Human Hair

Step 4: Don't let wig construction confuse you

Lace fronts. Monofilament tops. Hand-tied caps. Wefts.

It can sound complicated. But the construction simply affects things such as how the wig looks, moves and feels.

Wig feature	What does it mean?	Why might you choose it?
Wefted	Hair is attached to strips of material with small spaces between them.	Lightweight, breathable and usually more affordable. A very good choice for many everyday wig wearers.
Lace Front	A fine, sheer lace section sits along the front hairline, with hairs individually attached.	Creates a very natural-looking hairline and can allow you to wear the hair away from your face.
Monofilament Parting	A fine mesh section is used along the parting, with hairs individually attached.	Gives the appearance of hair growing naturally from the scalp where the wig is parted.
Monofilament Top	A larger mesh area covers most or all of the top of the wig.	Provides a very natural scalp appearance and often gives you more flexibility when choosing where to part the hair.
Hand-Tied	Individual hairs are tied by hand into a soft cap rather than being attached in traditional wefts.	Allows the hair to move more naturally and can feel beautifully soft and comfortable against the scalp.
Double Monofilament	Similar to a monofilament top, but with an additional soft layer underneath.	Particularly soft against sensitive scalps and can be a lovely option for people experiencing complete hair loss.

Simply Wigs advice:
Don’t feel that you need every feature listed above. A beautifully made wefted wig may be absolutely perfect for you, while someone else may particularly value a lace front or a softer hand-tied cap. Think about what matters most to you – comfort, appearance, flexibility or budget – and if you’re unsure, just ask us.

Step 5: Choose a style you feel comfortable wearing

When buying your first wig, it can sometimes be tempting to choose something completely different and there is nothing wrong with that. But if you’re feeling nervous about wearing a wig for the first time, starting with a style reasonably close to your usual hair can make the transition feel easier.Think about:

your usual hair length
whether you normally have a fringe
straight, wavy or curly styles
how much volume you like
whether you prefer hair around or away from your face

Most importantly, choose something that feels like you

Our stunning Customers

Step 6: Finding your colour

Colour is often the part first-time wig wearers worry about most and online colour charts can also look intimidating when you see names, numbers, roots, highlights and blends. Our advice is not to get too caught up in colour codes initially. Start by thinking broadly:

Blonde, brunette, red, grey or something completely different?

Then consider whether you’d like your colour to be warm, cool, highlighted or rooted. If you’re trying to match your existing hair, our team can also help guide you. And remember that wig colours often contain several shades rather than one solid colour. This variation is one of the things that helps modern wigs look natural.

If you still can not decide then Email us at [email protected] or call our friendly team on 01484 844557.

Step 7: Decide on a comfortable budget

There are lovely wigs available across a surprisingly wide price range. Your budget may influence the fibre, construction and brand you choose, but spending more doesn’t automatically mean a particular wig will be better for you. For your first wig, decide roughly what you’re comfortable spending and use that as one of your filters.

Our team will never deliberately steer you towards a more expensive wig simply because it costs more. Our aim is to help you find the right wig, not the most expensive one.

Wig type	Typical price guide	What you’re mainly paying for	Good for
Synthetic Fibre	Around £90-£350+	Style, brand and cap construction. Lace fronts and monofilament areas can increase the price.	Easy everyday wear, lower maintenance and a wide choice of styles.
Heat-Friendly Synthetic	Around £150-£500+	A special fibre that can usually be heat styled within the manufacturer’s guidelines, plus cap features and construction.	Anyone wanting more styling flexibility while keeping the convenience of synthetic hair.
Human Hair	Around £350-£2,500+	Human hair quality, length, density and more complex cap constructions.	Maximum styling flexibility and a very natural look and movement.

Simply Wigs advice:
A more expensive wig isn’t automatically the right wig for you. Some of our customers are happiest in a straightforward synthetic style, while others value the extra construction or styling flexibility of a premium synthetic or human hair wig. Decide what matters most to you and set a budget that feels comfortable, we will always help you find the best option within it.

Step 8: When your wig arrives

Important! Your first reaction to a new wig isn’t always your final reaction. the wig you receive may have been carefully packaged for some time, so it can need a little shake, gentle finger styling or adjustment before you see how it really looks. Try it on calmly and give yourself a little time. Then check:

how the cap feels
whether the size feels secure
where the ear tabs are sitting
the position of the hairline
how the hair naturally falls

And importantly, don’t cut, alter or permanently style your wig until you’re sure you’re keeping it. Take a look at our returns information before making any alterations.

What if I still don't know which wig to choose?

Then please ask us.

You are not expected to work all of this out by yourself. You can contact the Simply Wigs team and tell us as much or as little as you know.

You might simply say: “I’ve never worn a wig before and I don’t know where to start.” and that is absolutely fine. We can then help narrow things down by talking about your size, preferred style, colour, lifestyle and budget.

If you still can not decide then Email us at [email protected] or call our friendly team on 01484 844557.

We’re from Yorkshire, and if we don’t think something is suitable for you, we’ll tell you.

Ready to have a look?

Now that you know the basics, the easiest place to begin is usually with size and style. You can explore our wig collection at your own pace, filter the results and save anything that catches your eye. If you find two or three styles you like but can’t decide between them, get in touch with us. We’ll happily help you compare them.