(All) About Wigs


(All) About Wigs - our small wig ABC

Index

Real hair

Colours

Dyeing

Manufacturing

Shine

Durability

Cutting

Wearing a wig

Styling

Real hair

What's better synthetic or real hair?

Unfortunately we can't give you a definite answer to this question. Surely there are people, who will only choose real hair for aesthetic or health reasons. Ethically this is a non-issue – no one is forced to give up their hair. Many women in more rural areas in central China or the north east of China (which are the areas we're getting our hair from) intentionally grow out their hair, until they fetch a nice price for it. The longer and healthier the hair the higher the price, naturally – and the longer the hair of a wig, the higher the price. The price of a very long real hair wig is almost not justifiable in comparison to a high quality and beautiful synthetic wig with the same length. On the other hand: hhorter real hair wigs are not so much more expensive than synthetic wigs. And for short wigs, the level of care, wear due to rubbing and felting is not very high for both human hair and synthetic hair wigs.

Don't you notice right away, that a synthetic wig's hair isn't real?

The difference between real and synthetic hair is getting harder and harder to spot, even for experts. That's what the wig industry has been working on the past decades. So you don't have to worry, when you're showing off your new wig. That your synthetic wig, or your clip in extensions aren't real won't be noticeable at the first or second glance. Most important is that you feel comfortable with the wig style and colour you chose, that it fits your personal style. If you feel comfortable with your new style in front of the mirror, you'll transport that feeling outwards and look confident – and no one will even consider that you're wearing a hair replacement. On the other hand some wigs are meant to get attention – dazzling and extraordinary hair creations. We also love and sell these kind of wigs.

Colours

What can I do if the hair piece doesn't match my natural hair colour?

Unfortunately you can't dye synthetic hair. To dye your own hair in exactly the colour of the hairpiece is extremely time consuming and a bother and we don't think you want to do that. What you can do is to simply send the hair piece back, if you're not satisfied with it. If you add a (not too small) strand of your own hair, when returning the your hairpiece, our staff will be happy to find a perfect match and send over your personal colour code for further orders. This colour code will help you make better purchase decisions than just comparing your hair colour to our photos. Even though our photos are professionally made with optimal light conditions and with the actual product, different screen settings and light conditions can have an impact on how the colours compare to what you had expected. Because of that we're always adding the colour code to every product.

What do the letters in the colour codes mean, for example 27T613?

The letters in the colour codes indicate two things: first they show you it's a mix of colours and second they show you how the colours are mixed. The “T” in the middle of the colours 27 and 613 indicates that the colour in front of the letter is the colour that dominates the hairline and top of the wig. The number after the letter T becomes more dominant in the middle and tips of the hair. The letter H indicates highlights in the colour following the letter with a base of the colour in front of the H. If we're using a “/”- symbol in between two colour codes, two or more colours are evenly mixed. The Y – especially popular with wigs in the ombre look – indicates that colour of the hair not just mixed from tresses in different colours, instead every single hair is dyed in two or more colours already – this more complicated and price intense process allows for a much more sophisticated and beautiful look.

Dyeing

Can you dye synthetic hair?

In general: no, you can't dye synthetic hair with normal products from a drug store. As natural as a synthetic hair can look, it's missing the human hair's surface structure to keep the colour in the hair itself. Try to get a wig as close to your own hair colour with the help of the colour codes – that's even safer than looking at the photos. If the end result doesn't need to look natural you can also use colourful powder or coloured hair spray for a temporary change of colour on synthetic wigs.

Can you dye extensions and real hair wigs?

Theoretically: yes. But practically you will face some problems. Most of the available and somewhat affordable human hair wigs and extensions on the market right now, are made of Asian hair. To offer the variety of colours in demand on the European market, the hair is already dyed. Especially when it comes to the lighter nuances the process is quite aggressive, and harms the natural hair structure. Repeated dyeing is not just harming the hair, it can also produce weird and unwanted mixes of colour. If you think about how much you payed for the wig, this might not be a good idea. In general you shouldn't try to dye a wig that's already been dyed into a lighter colour, but you can dye it darker. We also offer wigs with the colour code 0. The 0 indicates natural, un- dyed hair. This colour might not look amazing in the photos, but you'll have no problems dyeing these wigs exactly the colour you want. But keep in mind that the process of bleaching will still be aggressive and harmful for the hair.

Manufacturing

What are the different types of wigs?

We distinguish between tress wigs made with a sewing machine and wigs with handtied parts on lace. Tress wigs can have a wide span of quality – from cheap party tress wigs for Halloween and Carnival to high quality, naturalisic looking wigs both of synthetic and human hair. The manufacturing and comfort of the wig cap, will also differ according to the intend purpose. The use of hair tresses is the most common and popular way of manufacturing wigs. On the other hand there are wigs that are tied by hand, at least partially – lace wigs, monofilament and partial-monofilament wigs take a much longer time to make and required a more skilled workmanship. You'll find a detailed description on this topic of manufacturing methods here.

What is a butterfly clip in hair pieces?

The so called butterfly clips or claw clamps are the most common and popular clips to attach hair pieces (piggy tales, braids) to your own hair. The clips big teeth, which are hidden in the hair pieces hairline, can be spread by pushing the wings of the clip. Then you'll place the clip on your own braided hair, the teeth of the clip sitting just behind your bobble. The new, longer and more voluminous braid will then sit on your own smaller braid or bun.

Shine

The hair piece or wig is too shiny in comparison to my real hair – what can I do?

Just use a sponge to apply some powder on top of the wig, that will lessen the shine.

Durability

How long can I keep my wig?

This largely depends, besides your own care and intensity of use, on the length of the wig (or hair piece). Short wigs can be used daily for several months, longer wigs will show signs of wear after a couple of weeks. A common sign of wear is slow felting of the tips and lengths, regardless of the material being synthetic or real hair. The problem originates from the hair rubbing on your shoulders and back, which is roughening the hair and makes it look brittle. The longer the hair, the more significant the effect. This effect is intensified if you wear the wig while working out or dancing. While the surface of your own natural hair is usually well protected by fats from the roots, special hair care developed for synthetic hair to work particularly against this very effect. These care products, shampoos and balms are constantly being improved. If you don't have care products like this, or you think they are too expensive, we can give you a little tip for synthetic wigs: fabric softener. Leave your wig, or the felted parts of it, to soak in a warm water bath with a bit of fabric softener. After air drying the wig's felted spots should be easier to comb and softer again. To comb the wig's hair, don't use a brush, but just like with your own hair, use a wide comb, and carefully starting at the tips, slowly working your way going up. At some point the signs of wear will be so significant, that a new wig or hair piece becomes necessary.

Should I take off my wig when I go to sleep?

Yes, that would be good. And you will notice it's not just a question of comfort. If you place your wig on a wig stand and take care of it for a couple of minutes, it will look much nicer for a longer time - it doesn't matter how long it is, if it's synthetic or how it was manufactured. But if you find yourself in an extraordinary situation, when you can't or don’t want to take your wig off, you can wear it during the night.

How often should I wash my wig?

That depends on your own hygiene standards – in general: if you've been sweating a lot, like after a party, like when the wig smells of smoke, you should wash it. In any other case: you don't need to wash the wig often. Of course you can try to lessen the effects of washing (like the felting of the wig) by using special wig shampoos and balms, but even if you follow the care instructions, it will still be stressful for the wig's material and manufacturing.

How can I fix a matted wig and make it look nice and sleek again?

Add a little shampoo or fabric softener to lukewarm water and soak the wig for about 10 minutes (don't scrub it). After air drying the wig's felted spots should be easier to comb and softer again. To comb the wig's hair, don't use a brush, but just like with your own hair, use an anti- static ridge starting at the tips, carefully going up.

Cutting

Can I cut a wig by myself?

Yes, you can cut your wig – it doesn't matter if you want to cut the tips and fringe, if you don't like it. If you don't feel too comfortable cutting it, a hairdresser will surely help you.

Attachment

How do I attach my wig, so it won't come off?

Many people probably still have a somewhat warped idea about the perils of weaing a wig straight from old black and white comedies. The wigs you'll buy at our store are full wigs – toupees for the upper head, with clips or adhesive surfaces are marked as such. The hair of these wigs is sewn to a hairnet, which will completely cover your scalp. Party or carnival wigs are mostly made using a lighter net with an elastic band. Wigs of higher quality, like lace wigs, have a more ridged hairnet or wig cap, which have elastic bands, hooks and a small bracket. This allows a firm, adjustable hold on even a very small or hairless head, even though the wig in its standard setting will fit a large head comfortably. You'll achieve much more comfort, especially if you don't have any natural hair, by wearing an inexpensive wig cap underneath your wig – the laces won't be able to irritate your head and scalp and the wig sits more firmly on your head. If you have a extraordinary small head – or if you want to adjust a wig for adults to children – you can further secure the wigs hold by using hair pins.

Can I wear my synthetic wig every day?

Of course you can wear a synthetic wig all day long. You can increase your wearing comfort, especially if you don't have natural hair, by wearing a wig cap underneath.

How can I hide my own hair under my wig?

Just have a quick look at the next paragraph...

Do I need an extra wig cap or hair net?

You don't necessarily need an additional wig cap. But it will make putting the wig on easier and also increase your wearing comfort. If you have long hair yourself, you can distribute it evenly under the wig cap, before putting on the wig. This way you'll achieve an even looking scalp and avoid your own hair peeking out from under the wig. You'll achieve much more comfort, especially if you don't have any natural hair, by wearing a wig cap. The tresses won't be able to irritate your scalp and the wig sits more firmly. Sometimes a wig cap is necessary though. For example when your hair colour differs significantly from the wigs colour. If you have dark brown hair, but want to wear a platinum blonde wig, you should wear a light beige/ blonde wig cap, to hide your dark hair and lessen the contrast. The other way around it's not as important, since darker hair with the same volume and density covers lighter hair much better – but apart from all the pros of wearing a wig cap described above, you can consider wearing a dark wig cap, when having light hair and wearing a darker wig.

Styling

Can I use a curling iron or a straightener?

You should only use these styling products on real human hair wigs, hair pieces and extensions marked as heat resistant – up to 180 degree celsius – since the heat can seriously damage the wig. With most wigs in our selection we recommend not using these products. But you still have plenty of potion to style your wig – read below.

My wig's curls look less voluminous than in the beginning. What can I do to make them look as nice as they did on day one?

One alternative to straighten or curl synthetic hair, is bathing them (or showering them) in very hot, but not boiling water. The temperature should be around 80 degree celsius. If you want to straighten a curly wig, carefully – danger of burns – pour the water over the wig in a bathtub, shower or big sink, where the wig can securely rest on a wig stand. After that you'll air dry the wig, like you would after a wash. If needed repeat the process. If you want to curl a sleek wig or want to improve your already curly wigs curls again, you can use normal, plastic hair curlers and apply the same procedure as mentioned before. If you have a big pot you can also heat water inside the pot and leave the wig in there. But be careful not to let the water boil. After the wig has dryed, remove the hair curlers.

Can I plait a braid with my synthetic wig?

Yes, you can do that without any problems. You should choose a model though, which has more or less evenly long hair, not a layered hair style. But that seems so obvious we almost didn't dare to mention it here. Plaited hair is also a great possibility to style some very lovely waves into sleek hair (and of course also synthetic hair) - simply loosen the braid after w while again or consider even using the hot water technique detailed above while the hair is plaited.

Can I use hair spray to style my wig?

Yes, you can. But we recommend to use a water based hair spray with very little alcohol.