Your wig or hair is one of the most prominent features on your body. It’s one of the first things people look at. And even if no one else ever saw your wig, it’s vitally important for you to love the way you look and feel great about yourself. There are multiple important factors that should be considered in order to choose the right wig for yourself. From your own personal preferences and favorite styles to where you’ll most often be wearing your wig and your favorite types of activities, make sure you think carefully before you purchase your wig. Taking the time to consider all of those factors will help ensure that your wig delivers everything you deserve.
Measuring Your Head for a Wig
You could have the most elegant, stylish wig, but it won’t look or feel good if it is not the right fit. So, one of the most important elements of choosing the right wig is first measuring your head before you buy. You will need to use a tailoring tape measure to get the most accurate measurement. Start by beginning with the tape measure at the front of your hairline. Then, wrap the tape measure strip behind your ear to the nape of your neck around to your other ear until the tape meets again at the front of your hairline. Try to measure up the beginning and end of your tape measure so that each end meets up exactly. Overlapping too much will cause your overall measurement to be too large, leading to an ill-fitting wig. If you’re having trouble measuring by yourself, try to get a friend or family member to help you.
Ninety-five percent of the population will fit the average wig size, so if you still don’t feel you’re getting an accurate measurement, you can elect to get a wig with an elastic or cloth material that stretches and fits the average head sizes of 21.5 to 22.5 inches. The elasticity of the material not only helps ensure a snug fit, it also makes for more comfortable wearing. In addition, you can also look for wigs that have adjustable tabs at the neck, which allow you to adjust the cap of the wig by approximately 1 to 1.5 inches, promoting a comfortable and secure fit. It’s also important to note that wig cap sizes can vary significantly from one brand to the next. So, just because one size of a particular brand of wig fits you perfectly does not mean that same size will fit you as well in another brand.
Choosing the Right Color Wig
Now that you’ve finished with the fundamental step of measuring your head for your wig, you can next move onto the more fun part of selecting the best color wig for yourself. Today, there are countless types of wig colors to choose from. You can even find options for custom coloring.
It’s important to note that choosing the right color wig isn’t always as simple as choosing your favorite color. For example, you may love a certain color, but that does not necessarily mean that color will best complement your skin tone or eye color. In this situation, it’s referred to as color temperature, ranging from cool to warm temperature colors.
Generally, Black colors range from 1 to 1B, browns from 2 to 12, and blondes from 14 to 26.
Platinum colors are blondes with less warmth in them. For example, 613 is a golden platinum that’s an ideal balance between blonde and platinum. Platinum colors range from 22 to 23, then from 101 to 104, which have more ash in them. The grey family goes from 34 to 60. The red family of color is split between natural reds and vibrant reds. Natural red colors can range from 27 to 33, with the more vibrant options for reds ranging from 130 to 134. While they are typically universal letters and codes, be sure to note that the letter and number code may vary from one manufacturer’s color key system to the next.
To help you make this decision, you can look into borrowing a color ring from a wig company, going to a local beauty supply shop for a color ring, or checking to see if you can get free wig color swatches. Some people have even purchased the cheapest wig they could find, and then tried different dyes on patches of it to establish which one will look best on the premium wig they decide to purchase after. Similarly, if you’ve been using a custom hair dye for years, and want to continue using it, you may choose to select a wig with a neutral tone, which will allow you to apply your own hair dye at home and achieve the color you’ve come to love.
You will also want to pay special attention to the type of lighting you’ll most frequently be in. For example, lighter rooms or sunnier areas will bring out hues of color that you perhaps weren’t anticipating. Look for colors that will best complement the type of lighting you’ll most often be in. The texture and thickness of a wig can also make the same color look different from one wig to the next. Thicker wigs typically make colors look darker due to the concentrated, focused pigments.