11 Different Types of Wigs to Choose From

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Wearing a wig for the first time?

If you never have, we understand you may feel a bit hesitant about doing so.

Wigs have been a part of people’s lives for a long time. It was used as early as 2,700 BCE by the ancient Egyptians!

Today, it continues to be used in theaters, festivals, events, films, and disguises today. It’s also used as fashion pieces.

However, it still can get intimidating to use for beginners, especially with all the types of wigs available. If you’re new to wearing wigs, you won’t easily know which one will look good on you.

Or you may also worry about hiding the fact that you’re wearing fake hair.

Worry no more!

Because we’re here to help you decide which wig to wear. We’ve listed down all kinds of wigs, how they’re made, how they look, plus the pros and cons of wearing one.

At the end of this article, we’ll make sure that you don’t just get a wig; you get a wig that’s best for you!

Things to Consider When You Buy Wigs

There are different kinds of wigs. Yes, you must know about their differences, but it’s even more important that you find out what type looks best on you.

Here are the things you need to consider before buying a wig.

Length

How long do you want your new hair to be?

Wigs come in different lengths, from as short as 8 inches to as long as 30 inches.

In thinking which length to choose, determine the purpose of the wig and take a look at your present lifestyle and environment.

Are you planning to use the wig every day? Are you only going to use it for special occasions?

Long hair pieces are perfect for looking glamorous. They also give more styling options. However, they’re not as easy to manage as they can be more prone to tangles.

Short wigs are better for humid areas because just like with real hair, it feels fresher and lighter to have short locks. Short wigs are also easier to maintain.

Texture

Do you like straight hair? Or do you think waves suit you better? How about curly hair?

Hair pieces can also give you options when it comes to hair texture. Like real hair, wigs can also be straight, wavy, curly, or coily.

You can stay close to your natural hair texture, or you can go for a different one. It’s completely up to you.

Face Shape

What type of wigs are best for your face shape?

When you buy wigs online, it’s easy to get attracted to a hairpiece because of how good it really looks on the model.

But sometimes, what suits the model may not look good on you. That’s because people have different face shapes.

Even though you want to try a specific wig style, you have to make sure that it flatters the shape of your head or face.

Here are our suggestions on which different wig hairstyle suits each shape and which style to avoid.

Let’s see how different wig styles can flatter or clash with your face shape.

Color

When it comes to wig color, you can choose whatever you want. Go for fun, bright colors if you want to spice things up.

Or if you’re planning to make your wig a part of your daily life, you can get a natural-colored one.

Cap Size

The size of your wig can also make a big difference. It’s best to get a wig with a cap size that suits you well.

That’s because when a wig doesn’t fit, it’s uncomfortable to wear and can look unnatural.

The standard wig cap size has a circumference of about 21.5 inches. Children’s and adult sizes are also available.

If you can’t fit the wig itself, you can measure the size of your head using a measuring tape. 

Place the measuring tape around your head, starting from the front of your hairline, behind your ear, to the nape, to your other ear, and back to the front hairline.

11 Types of Wigs

What are the different types of wigs?

You might have heard several names of wigs. Is each one different?

The different types of hair wigs vary in how they’re made and how they look. There are various wig cap kinds, and there are different types of human hair wigs and synthetic hair wigs.

Some look more natural, while cheap ones can look obvious up close or from afar.

Other wigs can give you fullness, can be styled, and can transform your look.

Whatever you’re going for, there’s a wig for you. So what type of wigs are there?

Types of Wigs Based on Caps

1. Thin Skin Wig

A thin skin wig is also known as a poly wig or PU skin wig.

The name comes from its scalp base plastic material, which is an extremely thin layer of polyurethane. It’s usually secured with a double-sided adhesive tape for wigs. 

This cap can be pigmented with light or medium brown and can also be transparent. The color blends well with the skin tone.

It has a front hairline that’s undetectable and very soft to the touch.

Additionally, it’s injected with V-looped hair, so there are no visible knots. This makes the hair fibers seem like hair growing from the scalp.

The thin skin wig is best for people with full hair loss.

Pros

• It matches your scalp’s skin tone.
• Hair fibers look like they grow out of the scalp.
• It can be attached securely with adhesive.
• The tape residue is easy to clean.
• Hair can be parted or worn up.
• It lasts longer than other wigs.

Cons

• The base is not breathable, so it’s hot and humid when worn.
• It may look unnatural when you wear it over thick hair.
• The cap doesn’t stretch.

2. Lace Wigs

The most popular choice for wigs is the lace wig.

It has a sheer mesh lace base. The fibers are tied individually to the lace material for a more natural look.

There are two types of lace wigs.

Full lace wigs have a “cap” completely made out of lace. Because of this, you can part your wig in any direction and style it any way you like. It’s also lighter to wear.

However, a full lace wig is not so easy to wear. The base requires extra care in handling and needs strong wig adhesive tapes to attach to the hair.

One more drawback is it can be very expensive as it’s intricately done by hand.

On the other hand, a lace front wig has lace only on the hairline at the front, unlike its full lace counterpart, creating an illusion of a natural hairline.

At the back, the lace front wig is made of thick material where strands are attached in sections.

This wig is easy to wear and still gives a natural look when worn. Plus, it’s more affordable than full lace.

The downside is that you’ll have limited styles in wearing this because the back and top part of the base will give it away.

Pros

• The lace base gives good airflow on your head.
• It feels light when worn.
• The lace adapts to the color of your scalp.
• The strands move like your natural hair.
• The full lace makes many hairstyles possible.

Cons

• The fragile lace requires careful handling.
• It’s hard to remove wig adhesive tapes from the lace when cleaning.
• The full lace wig is more expensive than many wig types.

3. Mono Wig

A mono or monofilament wig is the most realistic-looking hairpiece. It’s called that way because the cap is made of a very fine mesh called monofilament.

This mesh is airy, comfortable, and almost undetectable because it blends with the wearer’s scalp.

Additionally, the hair fiber is individually tied onto the mesh and comes out vertically so it gives the illusion of natural hair growth.

There are two types of mono wigs:

• Single monofilament
• Double monofilament

The single monofilament wig is made of one layer of transparent mesh.

The double monofilament wig, on the other hand, is double because there’s an additional layer of glass silk. Glass silk is extra fine silk infused with polyurethane. 

Although the double mono wig is thicker, it looks even more natural because the glass silk mimics the scalp skin.

Pros

• It’s great for sensitive scalps because of the breathable top.
• It takes on the color of the scalp.
• The hair looks like it’s growing naturally.
• It’s more durable than lace wigs.
• The hair moves freely.
• You can part and style it as you wish.
• The wig has less volume at the top so it doesn’t look unnatural.

Cons

• It can be expensive because it takes more effort to make.

4. 100% Hand-Tied Wig

Hand-tied wigs undergo an intensive process because each fiber is hand-tied to the wig cap. It’s so laborious, it can take up to 3 days to make.

The mesh wig cap is soft and stretchable. Some hand-tied wigs also use monofilament bases.

A 100% hand-tied wig feels soft on the skin and is lightweight. With the use of products specially formulated for wigs, it’s easy to maintain.

Pros

• It’s ideal for sensitive scalp and total hair loss.
• It has the most natural hair movement.
• You can comb your wig in any direction.

Cons

• It’s the most expensive wig.

5. Combo Wigs

A combo wig is a combination of machine-sewn wefts and hand-tied fibers. It’s an affordable alternative to 100% hand-tied wigs since it’s less time-consuming to make.

In this wig, the hand-tied strands are strategically placed on the most visible areas like the top and front hairline.

It can have a monofilament top base where the top fibers are hand-tied and the back and sides are filled with machine-sewn wefts.

Or for a less artificial look, some combo wigs have hand-tied fibers placed on the crown so the fibers move more freely.

Other combination wigs have a monofilament base with a lace front. This type is more durable.

Pros

• It’s cheaper than 100% hand-tied wigs.
• It’s lightweight.
• It looks natural when worn down.

Cons

• It’s not suited for updo hairstyles.
• It looks less natural.

6. Capless Wig

Don’t get fooled by the name. It doesn’t mean the wig has no cap. It actually does.

This wig is also called a basic wig, wefted wig, or open cap wig. Unlike the first types of wigs we’ve talked about, this one isn’t made of a full base.

The wefts are sewn onto a strip of elastic material. These strips are then placed spaciously apart for breathability.

Moreover, the wefts are styled in a permatease technique, which gives them a teased and voluminous look.

It also has fitted elastic adjustment straps for secure wear.

Pros

• The spaces make the wig breathable and cooler to wear.
• It’s affordable.
• The wig is lightweight.
• It’s easy to care for.
• It’s easy to wear.

Cons

• There are limited options for styling it.
• It doesn’t look as natural as other wig caps.

Types of Wigs Based on Fibers

7. Basic Synthetic Wig

This wig is constructed with man-made fibers that are designed to feel and look like real human hair.

Synthetic wig hair comes pre-styled and ready to wear, and the style can last long, even after washing or even when exposed to extreme weather.

It also comes in more color options, from natural to fun shades.

Do they look fake?

Some budget synthetic hair wigs have an unnatural shine that makes them look fake. However, there are ones that are high quality and are made to seem like human hair.

Basic synthetic wigs are also not heat-friendly, so you can’t style them using heat tools. It’s less durable as well, only looking good for up to 6 months.

Pros

• It’s very affordable.
• It’s easy to care for.
• It’s pre-styled, perfect for wash and wear.
• It comes in fun colors.

Cons

• You can’t use flat irons or curling wands in styling this.
• It’s less durable.
• Many basic synthetic wigs look fake.

8. Heat-Friendly Synthetic Wigs

Thanks to advanced technology, wigs made with synthetic hair can now be heat-resistant. You can curl, straighten, or blow-dry them to style.

The hair fibers are specially developed to resist heat damage, but only up to a certain temperature.

We suggest using up to 275𝆩F to be safe. Anything higher than that may melt or damage your wig.

When you buy a synthetic wig, check the label if it really is heat-friendly.

Pros

• It has more styling versatility.
• It’s more realistic than basic ones.
• It comes in many colors.
• It’s still affordable but a bit pricier than non-heat-resistant ones.

Cons

• When worn daily and styled often, this type can maintain its best condition for up to 4 months.
• Though the strands look realistic, heat-resistant synthetic wigs don’t look very natural by the hairline and hair part.
• It can be hard to maintain due to frequent tangles and hair fall.

9. Human Hair Wigs

This type of wig is made from human hair harvested from donors.

It can be styled using heat tools, but we recommend that you use a heat protectant to avoid damaging the fibers.

You can also color, perm, or chemically straighten this type of hairpiece.

Just like your real hair, a human hair wig needs to be washed and deep-conditioned. And with proper care, it can last up to more than a year even if you wear it daily.

Pros

• It can be styled like your own hair.
• It can come in a variety of textures.
• It lasts long.
• The hair looks more natural.

Cons

• It costs more because it’s harder to get human hair supply.
• It’s high maintenance.
• The strands can react to weather and get frizzy.
• Dyes used on it can fade.

10. Virgin Hair Wig

Virgin hair means hair that has never undergone any type of chemical treatments while it was on the donor’s head and until the wig construction.

It hasn’t gone through dyeing, bleaching, perming, or relaxing.

As it’s difficult to get donors with virgin hair, this type can be very expensive.

Pros

• The hair strands are healthier.
• The wig looks better.
• It lasts longer than other human hair wigs.

Cons

• It’s costly.

11. Remy Human Hair Wig

This one is still made of either virgin or chemically treated human hair. The difference is how the hair is gathered.

The term Remy refers to the hair collection.

The wig maker will get strands that go in the same direction, with the cuticles still intact. When we say intact, picture roof shingles that are freshly installed. 

Remy strands are gathered and kept in bundles throughout the wig construction.

Because of this, Remy hair has a smoother and shinier (natural sheen, that is) appearance.

Pros

• It’s not prone to tangling and matting.
• It lasts longer than regular human hair wigs.

Cons

• It is expensive.
• Genuine Remy human hair wigs are hard to find.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a wig and a toupee?

The main difference between the two is the coverage.

A wig covers the entire head while a toupee only covers a certain bald spot.

What’s more, in wearing a wig, special adhesives are optional. You can put a wig on and take it off easily.

As for a toupee, you need a special glue to keep it in place and blend it with natural hair.

What wigs are the best types of wigs for beginners?

The easiest hairpieces to wear are lace front wigs and capless wigs. They don’t normally require adhesives to attach to your head, as the base cap can be fitted securely.

In addition, these types are easy to style on the head.

What type of wig is most comfortable?

The most comfortable type of wig is the 100% hand-tied knot because it feels smooth when worn on the scalp. It’s also lighter in weight compared to sewn-in wefts.

Moreover, the mesh cap is stretchable, so it has a secure but comfortable fit.

Wear Different Types of Wigs Confidently

There are many concerns that come up when you’re choosing your first wig. We know it can be a challenge to pick what’s best for you.

Just remember, for a wig to be effective, you have to choose the right type and style. Consider your face shape, get the most accurate cap size, and pick the kind that would fit your budget and lifestyle.

Lastly, whatever you choose, remember that the key to confidently wearing that wig is to be comfortable in it.

Are you interested in other hair alternatives?

You might want to check these posts:

• 9 Best Shampoos for Dreadlocks
• How Much Are Hair Extensions? The Price for Longer Hair
• The 10 Best Shampoos for Hair Extensions