I need some help ladies,
I'm an older gal start in my transition, and need some help on purchasing a wig. I have a lot of male pattern baldness and do not have the funds for hair transplant. So I have been researching wigs online and have noooooooo clue as to what I'm looking at. I may be wrong but my assumption is that real hair wigs are better than synthetic. So going by that logic, I am interested in a human hair wig but the problem is, what's the difference between Remi hair and European hair? The other question I have is it at all possible to put your hair up into a ponytail wearing a wig? I'm so lost on this and have no idea where to turn so I'm hoping some of you ladies that have been through this are ready, would be able to help me with this.

Hugs,

Melissa Ann

I never could figure wigs out either

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I do have a fair bit of experience wearing a wig, so maybe I can tell you a bit.

Quote from: MelissaAnn on September 15, 2014, 11:42:15 AM
So I have been researching wigs online and have noooooooo clue as to what I'm looking at. I may be wrong but my assumption is that real hair wigs are better than synthetic.

I'd say there's no doubt human hair wigs are better, but they're far and away more expensive--which is why I've never had one myself.  You need to bear in mind that wigs don't last forever.  A few months maximum would be what you'd get out of one, and it depends on how often and how long you're wearing it.  If like me you're wearing one all day, every day, then that's going to cut into its lifetime.  This is why I don't go for a human hair wig: it's not just that I'm always short of funds.  I just can't put a lot of money into something that's not going to last very long anyway.

Quote from: MelissaAnn on September 15, 2014, 11:42:15 AM
So going by that logic, I am interested in a human hair wig but the problem is, what's the difference between Remi hair and European hair?

Sorry, this is one question I can't answer for you.

Quote from: MelissaAnn on September 15, 2014, 11:42:15 AM
The other question I have is it at all possible to put your hair up into a ponytail wearing a wig?

My understanding is that synthetic wigs cannot be styled.  Only human hair wigs can.  You can perhaps put a synthetic wig up in a pony tail, but I wouldn't imagine you could do much with it than that.

I really don't know what to tell you.  With wigs you have to shop around, experiment, look for something that works for you.  Quality varies enormously, of course.  There's no telling how much money I've wasted on wigs that simply didn't work for one reason or another.  As things stand, I know of two models that work for me and I'm sticking with them.

My criteria are (1) something that looks natural, looks good;(2) one that feels secure--i.e., it sits well on your head and you can be reasonably sure it isn't going to blow away; (3) one that's of at least reasonably good quality.  I usually pay in the €80-90 range.  I think this is probably a minimum that will meet my criteria.

One little problem I have is that I'm a natural redhead and insist on being a redhead.  This limits my choice a great deal since red simply isn't a very popular color.  If you can do with a different color, then you'll have a lot more choice.

There are lots of shops that sell wigs on-line.  Just google "wigs online" and you'll find them.  Good luck!

Synthetic wigs are less expensive and last a long time if you care for them properly. You'll have to replace it eventually as nothing lasts forever. A nice synthetic wig looks just as authentic as an expensive human hair wig it's just a matter of finding a good one.

You could try this website, lots of very nice synthetic wigs. Some are a little pricey, but with everything you get what you pay for.
http://www.godivassecretwigs.com/

They even have a Youtube channel with tutorials for anyone who needs some tips or advice about their wig!

BY THE WAY.
If you are wanting something extremely cheap but wearable...I would just search on Ebay. Lots of the cheap wigs from China are actually pretty decent. You just gotta search and seek.

Good luck!

The biggest difference for human hair vs synthetic really comes down to durability.

Synthetics require some special care for styling and cleaning.  Human hair is what it is... Real hair.  So you can clean it and style it as you would your own hair.  Cheap synthetics look cheap and synthetic.  I got lucky with 1 particular cheap wig I got on eBay, but it started falling apart quickly and I couldn't find an adequate replacement.  Lucky for me I have a pretty full head of hair and with coming out to all the important people in my life, they won't keep badgering and pressuring me to cut my hair.  As for ponytails?  I never could figure out how to do it... The main problem is the exposure of the bottom of your hairline when pulling the under hair up... Maybe like a half pony... I just can't figure out the full pony.  But then again, my hair JUST grew long enough to do a real one... Albeit small

Quote from: HeatherR on September 15, 2014, 04:21:15 PM
Cheap synthetics look cheap and synthetic.

Yea....but that goes for a cheap human hair wig too. Any cheap wig will look well......cheap  I seen a really nice human hair wig on this one website but it was like $900  I found a synthetic alternative that looked almost similar for about $300.

If you have the money for top notch human hair wigs then I say go for it. Must be nice though 

One more option depending on how much hair you have. Like I have nice hair but its not quite long enough to make me happy but I don't think it will grow much more without hormone assistance. So for me extension are a good option and you can find some prestyled and usually cheaper than a full wig. This isn't always the best option due to getting excessive quantity or the potential for tangling plus you can't play with your hair as much without fear of knocking it out.

Thank you all for the replies. You have been very helpful

Hugs

Melissa Ann

A good starting place would be to go to a local wig shop that is trans-friendly.  They will help you find a look that works for you, and they'll have different options (human hair, synthetic, etc.) to fit your budget.  While it's true that human hair is more desirable, it's not necessarily true that all synthetic wigs are garbage.  Some are more realistic and more durable than others...for both HH and synthetic.

I will say this, you're definitely going to want lace front and at least a partial monofilament top.  Both make the hair appear more lifelike.

When thinking about price, remember that most women get their hair cut and dyed every 6-8 weeks, and they'll spend $100 (give or take) each time.  So figure that women have a yearly budget of $800-1000 for hair maintenance...not including product.  So, as someone mentioned previously, you may need to buy a new wig every 4-6 months.  But even if you're spending $500 on a wig, then you're still spending about the same amount of money on hair care.

Paula Young has thousands, quality operation, reasonable prices, they ship kinda quick. Lots & lots of cis women wear wigs.

I got a real nice synthetic wig from China off ebay for a very reasonable $25. Before I started getting my hair back which now is almost as long as my wig is, I was going to have it styled to wear. Now tho, my own hair has came back and thickened so I decided to leave my wig as-is and use it on special occasions. It's care is very easy and it got here in about 10 days as well.

I'd check into ebay on the wigs from China. The one I have quality wise I would compare to one that runs around $75-80. here in the US. Maybe worth a shot.

Ally

I think that another difference may be that a human hair wig can be straightened, styled and dyed unlike synthetic.

I wore a synthetic wig while my own hair was growing out and it looked nice...it was just, well more limited than what I could do with it if it was my hair or human hair wig.

I remember not even being able to brush it different ways that I wanted to