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Permalink Reply by Tanya on February 19, 2016 at 10:36pm

Do it when you're ready. It's not exactly something you can undo if you decide to shave it off. If it's constantly falling out, it might just be a constant reminder. Every clogged shower drain can make it seem like it's affecting EVERYTHING in your life (It's not, but that's something you'll learn for yourself).

If you feel like you still get some use out of it, wait a bit longer. If it's making you miserable, I say, out of sight, out of mind.

P.S. Wigs don't have to look terrible. As with all things, there are DOs and DON'Ts that will make your experience easier, even if you don't get the expensive ones.

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Permalink Reply by Tanya on February 20, 2016 at 12:41am

Shine. While healthy hair is supposed to be shiny, it's not the same kind of shine that comes from smooth synthetic hair. Give it a gentle wash before you wear it to mess it up a little, and try to pick one out that doesn't look too much like plastic.

Texture. If it's too perfect, it will look out of place. Pick out a cut that looks natural, and hair that's not too straight. Synthetic is thicker than human hair, so even if you had straight hair, a straight wig can look a little too "Barbie"

Colour. One solid colour is a dead giveaway that your hair is not natural. Pick out a wig that has natural looking highlights. Pick a colour that's close to your natural colour, so it matches your skin tone.

Shape. Don't get a wig that has too much hair at the crown. If the hair is coming from an unnatural place, it doesn't look quite right. Get something that covers the hairline of the wig as well, because the edge of the wig won't look as smooth as a natural hairline.

Style. I would recommend starting with a short wig. They're cheaper and they're easier to take care of. Make sure you get something age appropriate. Consider your face shape. If you're ordering online, remember that the model might not have your round cheeks or big forehead, so mentally you need to extrapolate what that wig will look like on you.

Size. Make sure the cap is not too loose. You don't want to feel like you're in a hairy Rastafarian beanie. The cap should be roughly the same size as your head. you can take it in a little bit yourself if it's slightly larger.

Care. Don't use hairspray. A little tiny bit in an emergency is okay, but it will build up on both human and synthetic hair over time. It will eventually turn your wig into a thing that's not even good for scrubbing toilets. Don't use your normal hairbrush on a wig. Especially the kind with the little bumps at the end of the bristles. Those will ruin a synthetic wig if used repeatedly. Use special wig shampoo on synthetic wigs. For human hair, you can use regular shampoo and conditioner (for coloured hair would probably be best, since your wig is most likely dyed.)  Keep your synthetic wig away from heat, like the hot air from the oven when you first open it. Your wig will probably come with a set of instructions. Follow them.

You can also take your wig to a stylist, just make sure they're comfortable with working with wigs. You can cut a synthetic wig, but you can't change the shape of the hair. So, a wig that curls inward, won't ever curl outward, because the shape of the synthetic hairs is already set. Human hair can be styled as normal. Make sure that however you cut it, it doesn't expose the cap underneath. and that patches of your skin don't show through.

A bit of the process is trial and error. Start with something that's decent quality, in the $200 area. You'll need to learn what you like and what you don't like, how to take care of it, and what looks best on you. I went through several wigs with their own pros and cons. Your mileage may vary.

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Permalink Reply by Tanya on February 20, 2016 at 1:09am

Take a look at these two examples. 

http://www.uniwigs.com/synthetic-wigs/40016-lana-synthetic-lace-fro...
This woman's hair starts 5 feet above her head, she's obviously not a blonde, her eyebrows and complexion suggests that she would have reddish-brown, auburn, or at least strawberry blonde hair. The hair is mostly the same tone, very shiny, very straight. The cut doesn't compliment her face at all, this belongs on a little boy, probably named Tommy, whose mom uses a bowl to cut his hair once a year.

http://www.wigs.com/kristen-by-jon-renau.html
This on the other hand, frames the model's face well, has dynamic colours, isn't as top-heavy. Look at the images in the user responses. Most of those women don't even look like they're wearing a wig. It looks great on most of the ladies there. The exception of course is the older woman with the platinum version of it, with the braid. Our hair ages with us, and it's obvious that grandma wouldn't normally have the smooth shiny childlike bob that she's wearing.

I don't mean to sound critical. We all want to look young and pretty and perfect, but to blend in with the "normies" we need to be honest with what we're supposed to look like, and pick the most flattering hair in that range.

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