More about Wigs
HOW TO MEASURE
Measure your head in three easy steps to find your cap size: petite, average or large.
Fiber Choices
Synthetic, heat friendly or human hair? Compare care, styling and cost to find the fiber that fits your routine.
Choose a color
Find your most flattering shade with tips on undertones, rooted colors and reading color charts.
Strands of Knowledge - Wigs
All About Wigs: A Beginner's Guide
This page walks you through everything you need to choose your first wig with confidence: finding your size, choosing a cap and fiber that suit your routine, picking a flattering color and caring for your wig. If you are just starting out, begin with our step-by-step guide, then explore each topic below.
Start here: How to Choose the Right Wig: A Complete Guide
Your Wig Plan in 6 Steps
- Read the overview: How to Choose the Right Wig covers every decision in order.
- Find your size: follow The Right Wig Fit: Step-by-Step Measuring Guide.
- Choose a cap construction: compare options in Wig Cap Designs Explained.
- Choose a fiber: see Synthetic vs. Human Hair Wigs.
- Choose a color: read How to Choose Your Wig Color and browse our wig color charts.
- Plan your care routine: use our synthetic, heat friendly and human hair wig care guides.
How Do I Find the Right Wig Size?
Most wigs come in an average cap size that fits most adults, and many styles are also made in petite and large. Measure your head at home with a soft tape measure: around your hairline, from ear to ear over the top, and from your front hairline to the nape of your neck. Then compare your numbers with the size chart in How to Choose the Right Wig. Adjustable straps inside most caps let you fine-tune the fit.
Which Cap Construction Is Right for Me?
The cap is the base the hair is attached to, and it shapes comfort, realism and price.
- Basic cap: lightweight, breathable and the most affordable; great for styles with bangs.
- Monofilament top or part: looks like natural scalp and lets you change your part.
- Lace front: creates a natural-looking hairline, so you can wear hair off your face.
- Hand-tied: the softest, most natural movement, and gentle on a sensitive scalp.
Learn more in Wig Cap Designs Explained.
Synthetic, Heat Friendly or Human Hair?
- Synthetic wigs hold their style after washing and need the least maintenance, which makes them a popular first wig.
- Heat friendly synthetic wigs can be styled with low heat for more versatility.
- Human hair wigs offer the most natural movement and styling freedom, with more care and a higher price.
Compare them side by side in Synthetic vs. Human Hair Wigs.
How Do I Choose a Wig Color?
The most flattering wig colors match your skin's undertone and have natural dimension, like a soft root or blended highlights. Our guide How to Choose Your Wig Color explains undertones, rooted and shaded colors, and how to compare shades online. You can also compare every brand's shades on our wig color charts.
Would a Hair Topper Suit Me Better?
If your thinning is mostly at the part or crown, a hair topper can add coverage and volume while blending with your own hair, without a full wig. See All About Hair Toppers or Do I Need a Wig or a Topper?
Feeling Overwhelmed?
Choosing a wig can feel emotional, especially when hair loss is new. Our guide Coping With Hair Loss: The Emotional Side shares support and encouragement, and our private Facebook community, Wig and Topper Help, connects you with people who understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best type of wig for a beginner?
Many first-time wearers start with a synthetic wig in a basic or monofilament cap, because it holds its style and is easy to care for.
How do I know my wig size?
Measure your head with a soft tape measure and compare your numbers with the size chart. Most people wear an average cap.
Do I need a lace front wig?
Not always. A lace front matters most if you want to wear hair off your face. Styles with bangs often look natural without one.
Get Personal Help
Our team offers free virtual consultations to help you choose a style, fiber, size and color. Explore more guides in Strands of Knowledge: The Wig & Hair Loss Learning Center.
