Wigs, Yet Again

[Kati_CD]

I believe I have read all of the comments about wigs on this website.  The consensus of opinion suggests that a visit to a wig store is the way to go.  Unfortunately, for the time being, that is impossible for me for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps, some day...  In the meantime I would really like to find a suitable solution to the wig question.  Despite my rather firm conviction that you get what you pay for, I decided to experiment by buying  a $12 dollar wig at a Good Will store which had a costume section.  The end result was predictable.  Momentarily Halloween came early this year.  I have no desire to repeat that experiment again. 

I would appreciate any advice you would care to render with regard to the price range, online sources, etc. that would yield a better result than my first experience. 

Thanks for reading and in advance, thanks for the help! 

Cheers,

Kati

[Janet_Girl]

There are many sources on-line.  Some cater to the CD community.

[Eva Marie]

There are many sources on-line.  Some cater to the CD community.

If going to a wig store is out of the question, ebay might be an option for you.  There are a zillion wigs there at all price points.

I've bought a few of the cheap ones to find out what style i like and what does and does not work for me. Now that i have that knowledge, i may step up to a more expensive wig next time.

[April Dawne]

You could try www.voguewigs.com or www.wowwigs.com

They both have good quality wigs of different types, styles, and prices.

[Kati_CD]

Thank you to all of you who responded to my query thus far.  Upon reflection I may have been too vague in my initial post.  Are there particular brands of wigs that are better than others?  If so, what brand names should I consider?  How much should I spend for an initial purchase?  Can one purchase a reasonably good wig for under a $100 or should I really be thinking in terms of $200 plus?  What about wigs from CD sources such as the Breastform Store or Suddenly Fem?  Has anyone found these sources useful for securing a reasonably priced wigs of reasonable quality? 

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Kati 

[April Dawne]

Kati, I purchased a wig from suddenly fem, and while I loved their gaffs and pocketbras, their wigs aren't as great. The overall look is good, but they aren't super high quality, plus the cap seemed much too large for my head, so it fit very loosely. My wig from VogueWigs was better quality, and better fit. Human hair wigs can sometimes be bought reasonably priced if you don't want anything super long, otherwise monofilament is good. Of course if you are looking for ultra-realism you can always spend more, but in my experience it's not necessary if you shop around. Do a google search for "human hair wigs" or whatever you are looking for. There are a lot of brands or names out there, I think it all really comes down to personal preference as far as quality, price, and style.

[Kati_CD]

Thanks, April.  I really appreciate your candor.  Your message was most helpful.

Cheers,

Kati

[Cindy]

Hi Kati,

Check out information first on what types of wigs there are (Wiki may help). There are monofiliment, human hair, lace front. I would avoid human hair unless you know how to care for hair. They need to be restyled after washing and 'newbies' may find that difficult. I get mine restyled in a wig shop so may be out of range for you. Lace front means you do not have a fringe. I believe monofilament is about the starting level you should seek. It means that the partings and front area look natural. They tend to sit better on the head. Since the require hand tying of fiber they can be expensive. I'll talk price later.

Style. Your hair needs to fit your face. GGs practice for ages for the look. This is the hardest part of buying wigs away from a wig shop.  Getting a style and colour that suits you takes time. Even colour is amazing. Lighter colours tend to take years off, darker make you leek older.  Hair length is important. My first time in a wig shop they put on a long blonde and then a long black wig.  Every girl wants long hair, she said,  it's not until you see how bad you look that you decide against it. True in my case. That saved $1000.

The wig, your hair, needs to fit into your lifestyle and your feelings.

Price. Be alarmed, very alarmed. In Australia I wear a particular wig, it is $350 each. I have three. In trial and error and fitting and life I like my look. Human hair for the same wig is about the same but more difficult to 'keep'.

I use www.celebritywigs.com.au They have some nice information on their web site.

Oh BTW, wig companies would close without the TG and CD market, save your money and use the 'non-sex site' companies. That is also why the shops don't have a problem. I think the last time I got a wig there wasn't a GG in the place, including the staff

Cindy

[Lyric]

While it's true that a personal visit to the wig store is probably the best way to get the right one for you, there are a good many online resources for the wig shopper online. Google wigs and check the top online wig dealers. Most of them have very useful sections to help the online shopper choose the right color, shape and so forth.

As you are learning, you do kind of get what you pay for with wigs. However, an expensive wig is no guarantee that you won't look like you have a mop on your head. A wig needs to fit your face, your body, your coloration and your personality to look convincing. I always advise online shoppers to check the great and free online makeovers. If you upload a good photo of yourself, you can get quickly get a very good idea of which style ranges will look good on you and which will not. My favorites are the Instyle celebrity makeover at http://www.instyle.com/instyle/makeover/ and the one at Mary Kay Cosmetics http://www.marykay.com/whatsnew/virtualmakeover/default.aspx. Taaz Makeover also has a huge number of hairstyles http://www.taaz.com/makeover.html.

Once you know what styles look good on you, try to find a wig that closely matches one.

One other thing to remember though is wig care. Even the most expensive wig can turn to crap quickly if you don't take super good care of it from the start. Don't pull brushes through a wig, store it on a wig head if at all possible, avoid damaging hair accessories, and learn the proper way to wash your wig.

Lyric