Deciding to wear any kind of alternative hair is a huge decision, and one that can be incredibly daunting, especially when you’re dealing with the additional stress of hair loss. Obviously, you want something perfect first time, that will look super natural and feel the most like your hair, and it’s totally possible! Sometimes, it takes one try to get this and some times it takes a couple, but if you don’t try, then you’ll never know!

Area of hair loss

If you aren’t sure yet whether you should opt for a wig or a topper, or even where to start on thinking about it, it’s important to consider your area of hair loss and what kind of hair loss you have. 

Since there are so many different conditions that can cause hair loss in women, some being permanent and some impermanent or unpredictable, it’s worth considering how your hair may be not only now but a few months to a year down the line, and make sure that you are investing in an option that will work for you for a little while at least.

Toppers

For toppers, it can be helpful to measure your area of hair loss so you can compare that to the size of a base. If you aren’t familiar with base sizes or what a base size is, toppers are a circular/oval shape and the base measurement is measured in inches to the widest point horizontally and vertically from the centre, if you need a visual for this please see the photos below. 

Toppers are measured from edge to edge when the piece is stretched out, this gives the most realistic idea of how the measurement it will be when clipped to the head, as the wefts are stretched slightly when the piece is clipped onto the head.

If you don’t have a tape measure, or you don’t have a particular place where your hair loss/ thinning is concentrated on your head (such as, if you have androgenic alopecia and your thinning is diffuse), it can be more helpful to consider base sizes in terms of how much hair they will provide and to which places, this will always be marked in each listing but typically a 7x7” base will cover over the top and crown of the head and provide a good coverage to the sides of the head and a medium coverage to the back. An 8x8” base typically will cover over the top, crown and part way down the back of the head and will give a good coverage all over. A 9x9” base will typically cover over the top, crown and 3/4 of the way down the back of the head and provide a full coverage all over.

One more thing to consider when it comes to base size is whether you have any pain relating to your hair loss. Toppers aren’t painful to clip in to the hair, but if you already suffer with pain or a painful scalp due to hair loss, it may be difficult for you to clip a topper into your hair, and I would instead suggest a wig. Or, if you only have pain in a certain area such as the parting, make sure you go for a base size that will cover over this area and clip elsewhere.

Wigs

If you have considered your area of hair loss and think toppers may not be enough coverage for you, a wig can be a great option whether you have existing hair or no hair at all. If you already have hair it is super simple to pin your hair up to pop underneath a wig (as shown in the image below.)

Wigs provide a full coverage to the whole head and are typically secured down either using the comb at the front and the clip on each ear tab, a wigrip (which is a velvet strip of fabric that is worn like a headband and secures at the back neck using velcro, this naturally adheres to both the head underneath and the wig, keeping it nice and secure) or wig glue, which most of the time can be removed using water. The type of wig you choose will determine the best method of securing down. For silk top wigs, there is a comb and clips inside the wig, but a wigrip could be used. Lace top wigs are more likely to be glued down at the hairline to ensure a flatter look, but a wigrip with an added transparent lace panel could also be used.

For silk top wigs, there is a comb and clips inside the wig, but a wigrip could be used. Lace top wigs are more likely to be glued down at the hairline to ensure a flatter look, but a wigrip with an added transparent lace panel could also be used.

Wig caps cover the whole area of the head, and currently all Wildflower wigs have wefted sides and backs, this means that whilst the ‘top’ will be hand tied, the sides and back are sewn in strips around the wig. Wefting is great because it is super flat so ensures the wig looks really natural, and it also keeps the cost down for the buyer as the whole piece doesn’t have to be hand tied.

Wigs also have ear tabs, which is a small area that sits just above the ear and contains very tiny, thin strips of wire which helps the wig secure to your head further.

Wigs also have eartabs, which is a small area that sits just above the ear and contains very tiny, thin strips of wire which helps the wig secure to your head further.

Something to consider when purchasing a wig is the front of the piece and whether you would prefer a lace front or non lace front. A lace front is a strip of lace that runs from ear tab to ear tab along the front hairline, where hairs are knotted in to give a realistic transition from the forehead to the wig. 

This is particularly beneficial if you have full hair loss. If you have full hair loss, it is also possible to wear a non lace front wig, as the majority of the time the hair falls a little over the front anyway, and non lace front wigs use under stitched hair which is a small amount of hair knotted slightly under the inside cap to ensure you can’t see the edge of the cap. If you have existing hair, both of these are also an option for you, if you opt for a lace front, you can just tuck your hair away under the cap, for non lace front you can wear the piece the same way, or you can pull some of your own hair out at the front to blend the piece. (in the picture the non lace front piece is on the left, lace front on the right.)

Tops

‘Top” refers to the part of the wig that sits on the top of the head (this all also applies to toppers), and will provide the wearer with a realistic parting. The ‘top’ is typically 4”x 4”, which measures the length and width of the top which means that the parting will be 4” long and can be moved 2” either side of a middle parting if you prefer a side part. 

Silk tops and lace tops are multidirectional which means the hair can be moved in any direction and look natural, most of the time water is required to change the parting, but all you need to do is wet the hair and re set it in the parting you require and either blow dry or air dry. ‘Tops’ are hand tied, which means each individual hair is hand tied in place, to ensure it looks as realistic as possible.In the image, the silk top piece is on the left, lace top is on the right. Silk top tends to be a whiter base in colour, whereas lace top pieces are transparent.

Lace tops are less densely packed than silk tops, so will have a lower density feel around the hairline and face. Silk tops are much more densely packed so will have more hair coming from the top area. 

Silk tops feature hairs hand tied into layers of silk, the knot is concealed under the top silk layer. Lace tops feature hairs hand tied into one piece of lace, there is no construction to hide this knot so the shorter end comes back as a 'return hair'. Meaning there are shorter hairs at around three inches long throughout the lace top which can add a little more volume to it.

 

Length

When considering length for your wig or topper it’s important to think about your natural hair, particularly when it comes to toppers.

Toppers: As the topper will slip on top of your natural hair, its important to think about the length of the piece in relation to your hair, never go for a topper that is shorter than your hair as your hair will be visible underneath. Always measure the length of your hair and check the measurements in the listing as sometimes pieces can look longer on the mannequin. For reference, I always provide videos of pieces so you can see the pieces on me, I am 5ft1 so typically pieces can look a little longer on me depending on how tall you are.

I usually recommend going for a topper the same length or a little longer than your own hair, but some ladies also wear toppers that are much longer than their own hair. If you want to do this, I would suggest a bigger base size and make sure to check the videos provided to see if you think this would be enough coverage to blend with your hair. I find most commonly if your hair is finer at the ends it tends to blend better with a longer topper, whereas if you have is thicker or more of a blunt cut underneath then it can be more difficult to blend a longer topper.

Wigs are great because you can go for pretty much any length and colour and you don’t have as many constraints than you do with toppers. The only thing to consider would be your lifestyle, as longer wigs can sometimes feel heavier so may need thinning out and layering to feel comfortable for everyday wear, especially if you are not used to having long hair.

 

Colour

The great thing about alternative hair is the ability to experiment with colour! With both toppers and wigs, it isn’t necessary to colour match to your hair 100%, as wigs cover over fully and toppers partially cover. With toppers, if you think you would like to go for a different colour, its always easier to go a little lighter than your own hair than it is darker, as naturally, our hair underneath tends to be slightly darker anyway, so if you are a mid brown its possible to go for a light brown or dark blonde. In my experience, going darker than your own colour tends to be more noticeable, as the lighter hair can be visible underneath.

 

With wigs, you can go crazy with colour! There really is no limit to this, if you are going for a totally different colour for your first wig, it can be a good idea to possibly choose something that is rooted in a similar colour to your natural hair. For my first wig, I chose something that looked the exact same as my natural hair used to before my hair loss, and this made me feel really comfortable and was an easier transition into wigs, so this could be a good option if you are a little unsure about wigs.

Cut

All Wildflower pieces have been pre cut prior to listing to sit and feel natural and comfortable. It’s still a good idea to have the piece further customised by a hairdresser to suit you, but this may not be necessary- it depends from person to person. 

For me, it was quite overwhelming at first to have so much hair coming from having such little hair for years, having my piece layered and cut to suit me definitely helped me feel better and more comfortable. Bear in mind not to get the piece overly layered, or cut away too much, as at first the piece may seem like a lot of hair, but after a few weeks of wearing you may feel more comfortable and wish you hadn’t cut so much away!

Care

Finally, the most important thing that your piece needs is good care. Care is essential to keeping your piece feeling soft and will ensure it lasts as long as possible. Good care is not optional, and if the piece isn’t taken care of properly, it will not last as long as it should. Its important to consider how you will care for the piece and what products you will use when purchasing one, if you need care advice head over to the care article.