There’s nothing unusual about a man in the prime of his life seeking some kind of hair replacement. If recently, you’ve found yourself a little bit lacking in the hair area, perhaps it’s time to consider purchasing your first toupee. And that’s exactly what we aim to guide you through, in this beginner’s guide.
Choosing your first wig can be a daunting experience, and the wrong choice can put you off wigs forever. On the other hand, when you choose the right piece, not only will it look like a natural fit, but it will also boost your self-confidence.
What are the benefits of toupees?
There’s a number of reasons why men will invest in quality wigs if their natural hair starts to thin. First of all, it can be a great confidence booster, and restore your natural good impression about yourself. When we feel confident, we tend to be happier, more daring, and generally to lead our best lives.
A wig will also protect your natural hair from further damage from external elements, such as excessive heat, styling products, coloring, and other normal hair care practices.
So how do you choose the right wig for you?
Men’s hair replacement systems have evolved a great deal in recent years. Whereas once, they used to seem fake and unrealistic, nowadays, it can be difficult even for your oldest friends to tell you’re wearing one.
But in order to achieve this effect, you will need to pay attention to some elements when choosing your hairpiece.
1. Pay attention to the shape of your face.
The shape of your head plays an important role in all aesthetic choices, including glasses, hats, and even wigs. We’ve all had that one moment when we got a haircut we’d seen on someone else, thinking it would look great on us, only to find it looks awful. This happens because our face is a different shape, and so isn’t a good match for that particular hairstyle. The same goes for wigs, so you’ll want to figure out your face shape first – are you more of a round face? Square? Oval? Heart-shaped? Each of these face types has its own type of hairdo that works best.
For instance, with a sharp, square face, you want to highlight your strong, broad jaw. An undercut can do wonders for this. A heart-shaped face, on the other hand, will want to balance the large upper half (forehead), while also broadening the chin a little. For this, a quiff hairdo will often work best. You may alternatively experiment with a fringe, as it can often have the same effect. Oval faces, on the other hand, work well with a variety of different hairstyles, both long and short.
So you see, the first step to choosing the right wig is figuring out what would look best with your face shape.
2. Synthetic and natural are both good.
Many people will tell you that synthetic is worse when it comes to a hairpiece. They are, in fact, wrong. In truth, each has its own set of benefits. While it’s true that a natural wig will seem more…well, natural, it will also be less resistant. This means that, if you opt for a natural hair wig, you will need to dedicate some time to styling and arranging it, as natural hair can’t maintain its shape and style for long.
If, on the other hand, you opt for a synthetic toupee for men, you’ll have to worry less about styling, as the synthetic fiber has a higher capacity for keeping its original shape, and look.
Natural hair wigs also have other cons, such as the high price (since they are, after all, created from actual human hair). It will also be difficult to replace, as it can be tricky finding someone with the exact same hair color. Synthetic wigs also have their downsides, such as a shiny, unnatural appearance (particularly cheap wigs), and poor longevity. So in the end, you have to figure out which elements are most important for you, and choose.
3. What sort of life do you lead?
Since you’ll probably be wearing your wig daily, or often enough, at the very least, you need to consider the type of activity you engage in on a regular basis. Are you a runner, for example? Or do you spend the most time at work, in front of the computer? Obviously, these two activities will imply different levels of physical exercise, sweatiness, movement, and all these will impact the look and condition of your wig. So you also want to think about the kinds of activities you’ll be wearing your wig for, in order to make the best choice.
4. The best texture for you…
You also need to put some thought into your toupee’s texture. Say, for example, that your natural hair is flat, going with flat might work best in appearing natural, and like nothing’s changed. On the other hand, you might opt for a wavy hair wig or a curly one, since this can also be a time for experimentation. Who knows, maybe you’d look better with wavy hair, and you never knew…
So before choosing your piece, we also recommend deciding if you want to maintain a low-key approach to this whole wig business, or if you might want to try something new.
Bottom Line – Visit a Wig Store.
If this is your first time buying yourself a wig, we strongly recommend that you start by browsing an online wig store. This can help you get a general idea of what’s on offer out there. It also helps to have some visual stimulants, since it’s far easier to picture yourself with a hairpiece when you have it before your eyes, rather than just talking about it, in theory.
Lastly, make sure you take your time. This is a choice you’ll have to live with every day for the foreseeable future, so you want to make sure you pick something that satisfies.