Need help on buying a wig.....

[abd789]

Im clueless, spent a little time on the googles, but looking for good advice. Price is a factor, but so is looks... and Im sure I need a large one.

Any suggestions would be awesome

thanks!

[Mariah]

Some of the things you need to know are the size of your head and head shape because those will help determine what wig looks good on you. I wish I could say this was something that could be bought on the cheap, but on the most part one that is going to look good on you will probably cost more. There are videos on youtube and the like that can help you with it, You can go into a wig shop and ask for help. Once taking that into account it would be best to take your coloring into account. Then based on all that find the style and coloring that best suits you. I know others will be able to help more. Hugs
Mariah

[lana777]

Lace front Lace front Lace front ! lol

they are the only one i would ever consider buying . there are some really good ones on ebay , or if you are on instagram... search up wigs ... lots of great wig artists post them for sale on instagram and they are gorgeous!

[Roni]

Please do yourself a favor and don't consider buying anything that is not lace front and 100% human hair. If you are serious about passing, I promise you investing in a good wig is well worth the cost.

You can get a decent lace front human hair wig for about $150-$300. My advice for you is to go on YouTube and look up African-American hair gurus. They all specialize in showing viewers how to install, blend, and make the wig look as most natural as possible. The majority of black women you see in public are wearing a type of hair system or another, so they typically know more about wigs than anyone. No point in buying a wig if you don't know how to install it.

Some personal advice is to also get a wig that has a "silk top," meaning the wig actually emulates the color of your scalp to make it seem like it is growing out of your head. Silk top wigs typically run more expensive for the very reason that they look more natural.

Also, the most important thing women fail at in making their wigs look natural, and this is the case for many women I have seen here on Susans, is that their wig has NO visible parting that shows the scalp. Nothing screams more "wig!" than that. Basically you will want to get a pair of tweezers and literally tweeze out the hairs from the wig to create a visible parting. You want the top of your wig and parting to look like this:


Please also only buy 60-80% density wigs. 100%-120% density wigs are very full and look wiggish, even if they are human hair.

Last advice, bring your hair to a salon and have them fix it, put layers in it. DO NOT simply buy a wig online, install it, and think you're good to go.

Some good websites for wig shopping: rpgshow.com, bestlacewigs.com

[archlord]

Damn I should have read this before ordering my newest one . I ordered a 18 inch lace front 100% Human hair but 120% density .. The color is 1B# this Time between my to  black wig from picture and my darkest Brown one . Do you think density is something that can be fixed in a salon ??

[Roni]

Damn I should have read this before ordering my newest one . I ordered a 18 inch lace front 100% Human hair but 120% density .. The color is 1B# this Time between my to  black wig from picture and my darkest Brown one . Do you think density is something that can be fixed in a salon ??

Certainly! Bring the wig to a salon and tell them to thin out the hair. Salons have thinning shears they will use to thin out hair and make it look more natural.

[Roni]

Also good on you for getting color 1B. That is about the most natural black colored wig you can get! Remember, remember, remember to ask your stylist for layers! A lot of trans women I've seen don't have layers in their hair and that is how you know, along with the lack of visible parting, that they are wearing a newly-bought wig.

[archlord]

Thanks for those advice Roni . I have spent over 1000$ on wigs yet and none look natural. Hopefully my wig choice + your advices will do it this Time

[Roni]

Thanks for those advice Roni . I have spent over 1000$ on wigs yet and none look natural. Hopefully my wig choice + your advices will do it this Time

You're welcome dear. I would argue that the installation technique as well as cut of the wig, rather than the quality of the hair, actually play more into making everything look the most natural. This is why I believe it is essential for any trans woman new to transition to watch wig guru videos on youtube. I must have watched hours and hours---did I mention HOURS?---of videos to figure out what worked for me back when I was growing my hair out.

Good luck!

[abd789]

Oh My God! Thank you, thats was exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for. And detailed instructions on making it look natural... you rock!

thanks everyone! any more is appreciated

[Roni]

I posted a link to a video you might want to check out. The video is in the "you look fabulous" thread.

[Nyana]

I will have to revisit my wigs I think loll.

Good info thank you very much for your time.!

[lana777]

Also another type I personally LOOOVE are U front wigs . They are gorgeous and allow for your own hairline so it will blend seamlessly depending on which type u get and your own hair. I have even bought a few full wigs and with some effort trimmed out the U front my self and sewn on hair extension clips ( $2 from beauty supply , hair supply or ebay ) and just made my own u fronts out of what I had.

[Tommi]

Roni,

Great advice and thank you for that!  When I am ready to go further, I am definitely going to need a wig, as I'm fully bald on top, so there's nothing I can do there.

[Roni]

Roni,

Great advice and thank you for that!  When I am ready to go further, I am definitely going to need a wig, as I'm fully bald on top, so there's nothing I can do there.

I feel like being fully bald actually helps many people when it comes to wearing a wig. You won't have to worry about tucking and hiding your natural hair. Trust me, braiding your natural hair and trying to keep it all under the wig cap is a grueling process. Also your lack of hair means the wig will stay flat on your scalp and hence look more natural. For people with hair the trick to blending is to leave out some natural hair and then try blending it with the wig hair, however that process itself usually takes a while and if not executed properly can look very unnatural still. The hairline is extremely important in passing and I feel like if you got a full lace wig you wouldn't even have to worry about hairline, you know?

[|BB|]

Great advice here. I got a couple wigs online but realized I didnt like them, then I went to a wig shop, they were very nice and helped me try on many wigs untill I found the perfect one, it has a monofilliment front so it shows some part.
I havent got a full or front lace wig yet as I'm only wearing part time and dont want to bother with gluing on the wig, I just need something I can through on quickly.
I'm trying to grow my hair out now and when its long enough I'll start wearing a lace wig to cover just the front and top of my head and blend it in with the sides, its much more work, but I think it will be worth it, and I can go back to seeing stylists again, something I'm really looking forward to after years of shaving my own head.

[Tommi]

I feel like being fully bald actually helps many people when it comes to wearing a wig. You won't have to worry about tucking and hiding your natural hair. Trust me, braiding your natural hair and trying to keep it all under the wig cap is a grueling process. Also your lack of hair means the wig will stay flat on your scalp and hence look more natural. For people with hair the trick to blending is to leave out some natural hair and then try blending it with the wig hair, however that process itself usually takes a while and if not executed properly can look very unnatural still. The hairline is extremely important in passing and I feel like if you got a full lace wig you wouldn't even have to worry about hairline, you know?

Very good to know!!!

[kelseygal]

I'm hoping my cheapish wig will last until my hair grows out enough to use my own hair (thinking another 6 months)...

So one way I found what style 'fit' me the best was to use one of those websites where you can 'try on' different styles of hair. No it is not exact, yes you will have to use a bit of imagination, but you will find out what works for you and what doesn't. For me, swooped bangs are a must! Too long, and I start to look like a guy, and the same with too short, and anything with too much volume doesn't look so good.  I used taaz (google it)... Good luck!!