Tips to select the perfect wig for you

Finding a wig doesn't have to be overwhelming. If you are losing your hair due to cancer, alopecia, chemotherapy treatments or other medical conditions, or if you simply want a new look, this buying guide will help you to choose the right wig for you.

The encouraging news is that no one will be able to tell that you are wearing a wig. Typically when women start wearing their wig for the first time, their friends will tell them how great their new haircut looks, not realizing it's actually a wig. If you have always wanted a different hair style or colour, there couldn't be a better time to experiment. Maybe you have always wanted to be a redhead. Or maybe you always wished your straight hair had curls. With wigs, the options are limitless.

Although many women do not choose to wear wigs by choice, they do find that there are unexpected benefits. One is that your morning routine is much, much simpler. You will also save money on hairstyling, cuts and colouring. Best of all, you will never have a "bad hair day."

Step 1 - Size (it does matter!)

We can't stress this enough, but the size and fit of your wig is the most important factor to get right. That is why we like to offer every client a free personalised consultation and fitting service (this can be done in person or by video).

With our expert help, you can be sure that your wig won't move around or give you a headache.

Most women (90-95%) will wear a medium sized cap. For those who do not wear a medium, the majority will wear a petite cap. A small percentage of women will wear a large cap. We recommend going up to the larger size if your measurements are in between sizes.

Cap Size	Ear to Ear	Front to Nape	Circumference
Ultra-Petite	12 3/8 – 12 5/8	13 – 13 ¼	20 ½
Petite	12 7/8 -13	13 3/8	21”
Petite/Average	13 ¼	13 5/8 – 13 7/8	21 ¼ “
Average	13 3/8	14 – 14 ¾	21 ½ “
Average/Large	13 5/8	14 ½ - 14 ¾	22 ½ “
Large	13 7/8	14 7/8 – 15 ¼	23 “

To achieve accurate measurements, it is best to have someone else help you. The tape measure should be snug but not tight or pulled when the measurements are taken.

Forehead to Nape

Start the tape from the centre of the front of your hairline, to the hairline at the nape of the neck. If you have little or no hair, lay your index, third, and ring finger flat against your forehead just about at the brow bone. At the top of the three fingers would be a good straight point. Measure until about an inch below the small bone at the bottom of the skull.

Circumference

Start the tape at your hairline at the centre of your forehead. Run the tape around, behind the ears, passing your hairline at the nape of the neck, and back up to the middle of your forehead.

Ear to Ear

Lay the end of the tape about a half inch above your little crease (where glasses rest) at the top of your ear between the ear and the head. Bring the tape across the top of your head to meet the other ear, without touching the ear, at the same point.

Step 2 - Hair type

Alternative (Synthetic) Hair

Our most popular wigs are made from high quality synthetic fibres.

Many people who have not seen a high quality synthetic wig think that they need a human hair wig to get a natural look. This is not the case. High quality synthetic wigs (like the ones we carry) will be virtually indistinguishable in appearance from a human hair wig.

Synthetic wigs have the benefit of retaining their shape, are less expensive than human hair and require very little styling.

Synthetic hair cannot be coloured or exposed to extreme heat sources. This means that care must be taken when putting your casserole in the oven or barbecuing. It also means that you cannot use a curling iron, flat iron, hair dryer or other heated styling tools on the wig, unless you choose a heat stylable synthetic wig.

Heat Defiant Synthetic Hair

Wigs made from heat resistant synthetic hair are designed to give you the power to reinvent your look every day. You can straighten, crimp and curl your heat resistant synthetic wigs just like human hair.

Heat stykeable wigs are great if you like to change your look frequently, but they do require more work and maintenance than conventional synthetic hair.

Human Hair

Our human hair wigs are top quality.

Most of our human hair wigs can be coloured, trimmed and styled to your exact requirements. We work with one of Auckland's leading hair salons to produce an end result that looks so good, you will be amazed.

Human hair does require a little more care and is more expensive than synthetic hair, but it does last longer and allows you more flexibility to style it yourself.

Step 3 - Cap type

Classic Wigs

These are machine made wigs with traditional wefted rows of hair that are sewn together. Most of our classic wigs are "capless," allowing your head to breathe. They will have teased fibres at the hair roots to conceal the cap underneath. Due to the construction, the part is stationary and therefore classic wigs will offer less styling versatility. Classic wigs provide a very natural and affordable look that has stood the test of time.

Monofilament wigs

More expensive than classic wigs, monofilament wigs go the extra step to make your hair look completely real. Each hair is individually placed on a transparent mesh cap (instead of in rows), making it look like your real hair is growing from your scalp. Monofilament wigs are ideal for cancer patients or women with full hair loss due to alopecia or other conditions. They are truly convincing replications of your natural hair growth. The part can be moved, allowing greater styling versatility. Monofilament wigs will have varying amounts of monofilament construction.

Lace front wigs
Lace front wigs can be on classic caps or monofilament caps. Lace front wigs feature individually tied hairs on very fine lace around the hairline. This allows you to pull your hair back from your face for a natural look.

Step 4 - Style

Once you have decided on your size, your hair type and the cap type(s) you would like to consider, now you can have fun. Browse through your options and decide which style you like. For women who have very long hairstyles before their hair loss, it is often best to go a bit shorter. A shorter wig will be easier to manage, and less of a transition once your hair begins to grow back.

It is important to choose a style before you choose a colour because each wig will only come in a selection of colours from the full colour range.

For helpful information on choosing a wig style that is flattering for you find your face shape.

Step 5 - Colour

Each wig comes in a selection of colours. Most individuals find that it is best to match their natural hair colour. If you are experiencing hair loss, it is very helpful to cut a lock of hair for colour matching to your wig. Many of our customers choose to send us hair swatches, allowing us to help select an ideal colour match. There are a number of other useful tools we utilize in assisting our customers. For example, instead of hair swatches, customers will frequently send us photographs of themselves.

Our hair swatches are small samplings of a full wig. Like all swatches, they only give you a small representation of what the colour will look like.