Did you know that wigs and hair extensions are becoming more mainstream–even a fashion trend? I didn’t think about wigs often until one of my Carmel Personal Stylist clients educated me about them. She was relatively young and wore her hair very short. I asked her, “Why don’t you grow your hair out or style it more?” She said, “Because I wear wigs, and they are fantastic! They are easy to style, look great, and fit into my busy lifestyle as a mom of three!” I filed that thought away until a couple of weeks ago when one of my good friends bought a wig. She said she was tired of styling her very short hair and wanted another way to look great. This friend spent $300 for a synthetic wig, and when she sent me a selfie I said, “Oh your stylist did a great job!” When she told me it was actually a wig, I was so surprised! It looked fabulous and just like it was her real hair.
This has me intrigued, and I had to do a little research. Since I have another friend who fits wigs at a retail store in the Indianapolis area, I asked her about it, and she gave me some great background information.
Quick Facts
There are two types of wigs and hair extensions: synthetic hair wigs–generally cost from around $150-$450, and human hair wigs often start at $1,500 and go up from there. Synthetic wigs can look great but should not be exposed to heat such as near the kitchen oven. Both types of wigs need to be washed (and can be styled) with a special wig kit. Synthetic wigs bounce back to the original styling, and human hair wigs can be styled a little more freely. The color does not fade in a human hair wig since they are not attached to the head. Although you may find you need a wig due to health reasons or losing your hair prematurely, wearing a wig can be a joyful and uplifting experience because there are so many good options available on the market now.
Things to Consider According to a Carmel Personal Stylist
Preferences
Know yourself and your preferences. One way to start considering what type of wig you would enjoy wearing is to go through your past photos and look for a photo of you really like of your hair. This would be a good start to decide what color, length, and style of wig you are interested in.
Thanks to my skills as a Carmel Personal Stylist, I can help you decide upon style and color, based on your personal coloring. (This would be a color analysis appointment, reach out to me here for your session: beth@bethdivinestyle.com)
You will want to make sure you get accurate measurements of your head to make sure your new wig will be comfortable to wear and not slip or even fall off. With clear directions, it is fairly simple to measure your own head, or you may opt to have a retail specialist who specializes in wigs help measure your head to find a proper fit.
Cap Features
As you shop, you will notice there are different styles of caps wigs are made with. There are many wigs that look so natural you would never know they were a wig. Some more inexpensive wigs have a cap that might be noticeable if you are in the wind, and it is possible to see the line where the hair is machine-woven into the cap. Some hand-woven caps have features that look natural even if you part your hair or encounter wind.
Where to Shop
When you are shopping for a wig, you will want to do your due diligence to make sure you are buying from a reputable source and business with high reviews from many satisfied customers. You may want to start by checking with your hair stylist to see if she has a good recommendation for quality wigs and extensions.
Many stylists sell quality hair extensions and would be happy to help you try them on for fit and comfort level. Here is a helpful link to research more on wigs if you are interested:
If you are interested in getting guidance on how to find your perfect style, book an appointment with Carmel Personal Stylist, Beth Divine!
Keep it sassy, Indy.
Beth Divine, MA, AICI-CIC
