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Revised 10/29/26
wig guides
Can I Make a Wig Out of My Own Hair?
Yes, a wigmaker can turn your own hair into a wig, but it takes months, more hair than one head grows, and more money than most ready-made wigs. We walk through the time, the cost and the hair it takes, and the other ways your own hair can still play a part.
Your hair is how you have known yourself in the mirror your whole life, so of course you want to keep it.
We are asked fairly regularly whether a wig can be made from a person’s own hair, or from the hair of someone she loves. We understand why. A wig made from your own hair offers a particular kind of comfort, especially when you are facing temporary or long-term hair loss.
The answer is a little more complicated than you might think. Instead of a simple yes or no, let’s call it a “yes, but.” Having a wig made from your own hair is possible. It also has real drawbacks, and there are other options that may suit you better in the long run.
Short on energy? skip to using your hair to color-match a ready-made wig, or call us at 1-800-264-4287 and a person will talk the options through with you.
the short answer
Yes, a custom wigmaker can make a wig from your hair, but it will not be only your hair.
8–12 weeksto make the wig, and some take longer, so ask when the clock starts
$1,600–$2,500+for a full hand-tied wig, depending on the wigmaker and the length
about 300 gramsof cut hair to start with, often two to three heads’ worth
10+ inchesof length for most wigmakers, and the wig comes out 2 to 3 inches shorter
Every wigmaker quotes differently, so treat these as typical figures and ask yours for theirs.
Cut it while it is still on your head. Most custom wigmakers can only use hair that was banded into ponytails or braids before it was cut, with every strand still facing the same way from root to tip. Hair that has already fallen out, or been gathered from a brush or a pillow, tangles once roots and ends mix, and most wigmakers cannot use it. If there is any chance you will want your hair later, for a wig, a keepsake or a color match, have it banded and cut before it starts to shed. If a custom wig is on your mind, get the wigmaker’s cutting instructions in writing first. If shedding has already begun, ask whether the hair still on your head can be cut and used.
how long it takes
and what that means if you are starting chemo
A custom wig usually takes 8 to 12 weeks to make, and some wigmakers take longer, so ask whether the clock starts when you pay or when they receive your hair. That can feel like an ultra hot minute to wait. Keep in mind that each wig is made by hand, with the wigmaker tying individual strands of hair to a lace cap, a process called ventilating.
For long-term hair loss, that wait can be worth it. During chemotherapy the timing is tighter. Hair usually begins to fall two to four weeks after the first treatment,1 and a course of chemotherapy commonly runs three to six months, though yours may be shorter or longer.2 Even if your hair is cut and sent the week you start, the wig is likely to arrive several weeks after your own hair has gone.
If your treatment runs closer to six months.
A wig made from your hair can still be a workable choice, as long as everything else lines up and the cutting and sending happen early.
If it runs closer to three months.
The wig may arrive around the time treatment ends. Hair usually starts growing back within several weeks after that,1 and some women keep wearing a wig until it grows out, which means the wig would not go to waste. You would spend most of treatment without it, though.
Your care team can tell you how long your plan is likely to run and whether hair loss is expected with it, which makes the timing much easier to judge.
And you do not have to go without while you wait. A soft chemo hat, a scarf or a ready-made wig can cover the weeks until it arrives.
what it costs
and how that compares with a ready-made wig
Some people expect a wig made from their own hair to save money. Usually it does not. Expect to pay about $1,600 to $2,500 or more for a full hand-tied wig made from your hair, depending on the wigmaker and the length.
That price pays for the handwork, sizing a cap to your head and tying each hair to it one strand at a time. If your hair falls short of what the wig needs, most wigmakers add hair of their own to make up the weight. Some include that hair in the price and some charge for it, so ask. Other services may be included, depending on who makes it.
For comparison, most of our synthetic wigs fall between $145 and $275, and cap features like a monofilament top or a lace front take a synthetic to around $450. Full human hair runs from about $570 to $1,550 and up, so a ready-made human hair wig can cost close to, or less than, a custom one. What wigs cost, and why.
Ask about insurance either way.
In the US, health insurance may pay toward a wig for medical hair loss, and your doctor can write a prescription for one.1 Plans usually call it a cranial prosthesis, and coverage varies, so ask before you choose. How wig insurance coverage works.
how much hair it takes
usually more than one head grows
You might think a full head of your own hair would be plenty for a wig. It covers your own head, after all. Many wigmakers, though, ask for about 300 grams of cut hair, often two to three heads’ worth, to make a full wig.
It is not just your hair. It is your hair plus a lot more hair.
Length matters too. Most wigmakers want hair at least 10 inches long, though a few accept a little shorter, and you should expect to lose 2 to 3 inches of that in the hand-tying, so a 10-inch ponytail becomes a wig about 7 or 8 inches long, before any finishing cut.
Part of the reason is what happens before any tying starts. The wigmaker combs out short, broken and damaged strands so only the longest, healthiest hair goes into the wig, and a good share of a ponytail never makes it in. One ponytail on its own is often enough for a smaller piece, not a full wig. In many custom wigs, your own hair ends up as a third to a half of what is there, and the rest is hair the wigmaker adds or hair from other people.
if you come up short
Most custom wigmakers can add hair to yours if you fall a little short, matched to your color and texture. Another option is to ask friends and family for theirs. It is a lovely thing, both for the people who give it and for the woman who wears it. The hair just needs to be close to yours in color, texture and length. If a child offers theirs, leave room for them to change their mind, and let them know the wigmaker may not be able to use it.
a smaller piece from your own hair
If a full wig is more than your hair, your timeline or your budget allows, a smaller piece may be the way to wear it. A halo puts hair at the sides and back under a hat, and bangs sit at the front under a scarf or turban. Either takes far less hair than a full wig, and some wigmakers will make one from your own ponytail for much less than a full wig costs.
If you would rather not wait, ours come ready-made, in halos and bangs for hats, and our guide to hair halos explains how they work.
“I want to cut my [hair] off for a friend who is losing her own through radiation.”Tammy, reader comment, June 2025
If you are the friend offering your hair.
Talk to her first, then to her wigmaker before anyone picks up scissors, because each one has its own cutting instructions. Most want the hair banded into several small ponytails and cut above the bands, which keeps every strand facing the same way. If the wig itself is your gift, choose it with her, or give her a gift certificate so she can pick, and save a cutting of her hair for the color match.
making one yourself
possible, and a craft that takes years to learn
Yes, it is possible to make your own wig. Making one from your own hair may sound amazing, but the cost and effort may not feel like much of a payoff in the end. A wig takes a ton of work and patience, and like any other craft, wig making is a trade skill that takes lots of time to master. If you would like to learn the craft, practice on purchased hair first, and hold off cutting your own until you know how it needs to be collected.
how a wig is made from your own hair
Knowing how a wig made from your hair comes together explains a lot of the price and the wait.
Sorting the hair.
The cut hair is combed through a bed of fine metal pins, called a hackle, to line up every strand root to tip and pull out the short and broken ones. What is left is tied into small bundles.
Building the cap.
Your head is measured, and a cap of fine lace or net is built to those measurements on a wooden head form.
Tying in the hair, a few strands at a time.
With a tiny hooked needle, the wigmaker pulls hair through the cap and knots it, one hair at a time along the hairline and part and up to about eight at the crown. A full wig takes 30,000 to 40,000 knots and around 40 hours of tying.
Finishing.
The knots are set, then the wig is cut and styled, by the wigmaker or by your own stylist.
All those knots are why a custom wig costs what it does, and why it takes months.
if you would rather have one made
Ask the wigmaker these before anyone cuts:
- How should my hair be banded and cut? Ask for the instructions in writing, because every wigmaker’s are different.
- Will only my hair go into the wig? If you need to add hair, how much, what does it cost, and can I approve it first?
- How much length and fullness should I expect to lose?
- When does your timeline start, from payment or from the day you receive my hair, and how long will it take?
- Does the price include the final cut and styling, or will I need a separate appointment?
- How will you keep track of my hair?
- What happens to any hair you cannot use? Will you return it?
- What will the cap feel like on a bare or sensitive scalp, and can the fit be adjusted later?
- Have you made wigs from clients’ own hair before, and can I see some?
Bring photos of your hair from the front, the sides and the back, and talk through the part, hairline and fullness you are used to.
using your hair as a color reference
if you choose a ready-made wig
If you choose a ready-made wig, you can still match it to your own hair. Save a small cutting before it goes if you can, since a cutting is the most accurate color reference there is. If your hair is already gone, a photo or a wig color you have worn before still gives our cosmetologist a place to start.
That is what our free wig color consultation is for. Choose your wig, select Consultation Requested from the color menu at checkout, and mail us your cutting. Our cosmetologist holds your hair against the actual swatches for that wig in daylight, emails you photos of the closest matches, and nothing ships until you approve the color. If none of the options feel right, you can cancel for a full refund before you approve one.
how to cut and send your cutting
Snip a small piece of hair from the top front.
Take a section at least 1.25 inches long and a quarter inch across, from the top front of your hairline. Hair underneath is often darker than your overall color.
Tape it to plain white paper.
Unlined paper, with the cutting taped down securely.
Add your details.
Write your name, email and order number on the paper.
Mail it to us.
Headcovers Unlimited, Attn. Wig Consultant, 214 S. Iowa Avenue, League City, TX 77573. You do not need to wait to hear from us first.
If you are planning to cut short or shave before treatment, that is the moment to save your cutting. Our guide to shaving your head before chemo walks through the timing, and if you would rather choose the color yourself, how to choose a wig color shows you how.
Keeping a lock just to keep it.
Some women save a ponytail or a braid simply because it was theirs. Band it before it is cut so it holds together, and store it dry in an envelope or a small box.
There are more than 1,000 wigs to choose from, and your own cutting can choose the color.
why a ready-made wig may suit you better
cost, time, quality and color
Not having to part with your hair completely is an appealing idea, and for some women it is not a cost- or time-feasible option. A ready-made wig has a lot going for it.
- Cost. The price of treatment and medication can be a huge stressor. Synthetic wigs are the most affordable, with most of ours between $145 and $275, and human hair wigs or Remy human hair wigs run from about $570 to $1,550 and up, close to or below what a custom wig costs.
- Time. A wig ordered from us usually arrives in about 7 to 10 business days by standard shipping, and faster shipping is available. Allow a little longer if you ask for a color consultation.
- Quality. Wigs today are not the wigs of your grandmother’s time, or even your mother’s. Synthetic wigs are designed to look and feel like real hair, and many people cannot tell the difference between synthetic and human hair.
- Color matching. To get as close to your natural color as possible, our cosmetologist can work from a cutting of your hair or a photo and help you choose the best match in the style you pick. Learn more about wig color consultations.
If you would like a place to start, these three are among our best sellers.
Breezy Wavez by Rene of Paris
Our best-selling wig, a wavy bob with wispy bangs in heat friendly fiber.
shop →Nova by Cardani
Our own Cardani design, a textured pixie with soft fringe bangs.
shop →Tandi by Envy
Our best-selling human hair blend, a sleek bob with a monofilament crown.
shop →
What the same money buys instead.
For what a custom wig usually costs, you could often own a human hair wig and a synthetic one for everyday, with no months of waiting, and still keep a ponytail of your own to treasure.
We hope this sheds more light on our “yes, but” answer. The real answer is always the one that is right for you and your situation. If you decide on a custom wig, get an assessment, a written quote and a timeline before anyone cuts. If you or someone you love has had a custom wig made, we would love to hear how it went: tell us about it.
hair for hats in this guide
Ultimate Fringe
Detachable synthetic bangs that tuck under a hat, scarf or turban.
shop →Cardani Human Hair Bangs
Detachable bangs in real human hair, for hats, scarves and turbans.
shop →Perfect Style Fringe by Cardani
Heat friendly fiber you can style with a low-heat tool.
shop →Long Hair Halo with Bangs by Cardani
Hair at the sides and back, with bangs for the front, worn under a hat.
shop →Instant Hair Headband
Holds any of the three bangs, so they move from one hat to the next. Hair sold separately.
shop →common questions
open the one you need
can I use the hair that falls out during chemo?
Usually not. Most custom wigmakers need hair that was cut off in ponytails, with every strand facing the same way, which wigmakers call keeping the cuticles aligned. Hair that has shed, or been gathered from a brush or a pillow, tangles once roots and ends mix. If you want to use your hair, have it cut while it is still on your head.
can I use a ponytail I cut years ago?
Possibly. Hair cut years ago can often be used if it stayed banded or braided and was stored dry, without tangling. Ask the wigmaker to look at it before you count on it.
can a wig be made from someone else’s hair?
Yes. A friend or relative can add her hair to yours, or give it on its own, as long as it is close to the wearer’s in color, texture and length. Most custom wigmakers can also add hair of their own to make up the weight.
is a wig made from my own hair cheaper than buying one?
Usually not. A full hand-tied wig made from your hair typically costs about $1,600 to $2,500 or more, and some wigmakers charge extra for any hair they add. Most of our synthetic wigs fall between $145 and $275, and full human hair wigs run from about $570 to $1,550 and up.
how long does my hair need to be?
Usually at least 10 inches, though a few wigmakers accept a little shorter, so ask yours. The hand-tying takes 2 to 3 inches off, so a 10-inch ponytail makes a wig about 7 or 8 inches long.
how long does it take to have a wig made?
Usually 8 to 12 weeks, and some take longer. Ask whether the clock starts when you pay or when the wigmaker receives your hair, and allow time to cut and send your hair and to ship the finished wig back to you.
can gray or color-treated hair be made into a wig?
Yes, as long as it is healthy. Heavily bleached or damaged hair can break when it is combed out and tied, and the wigmaker removes those strands first. You may need more hair to start with.
will a wig made from my hair feel like my own hair?
Part of it will be your hair, and most custom wigs need a good deal of hair added, so ask how closely the added hair will match yours. Ask how the final cut and styling will be handled, since some wigmakers leave that to your own stylist. Once it is off your head, it no longer gets your scalp’s natural oils, so it needs the same care any human hair wig does.
can I have a halo or bangs made from my own hair instead?
Yes. Some wigmakers make halos and bangs from a client’s own hair. These pieces need far less hair than a full wig, so one ponytail is often enough, and they cost much less.
how is a wig made from your own hair?
The cut hair is combed and sorted so every strand faces the same way, a lace or net cap is built to your head’s measurements, and the hair is tied in by hand with a hooked needle, usually 30,000 to 40,000 knots. Then the wig is cut and styled.
will a ready-made wig match my natural color?
It can come very close. Most wigs come in about 15 to 20 colors, and there are more than 3,000 across the brands we carry. Our free color consultation matches a cutting of your hair, or a photo, against the actual swatches before anything ships.
should I save some of my hair even if I am not making a wig?
Yes, if you can. A small cutting of hair from the top front is the most accurate color reference you can have, and you can send it to us for a free color match. Some women also keep a ponytail or a braid because it was theirs.
can I donate my hair instead?
If your hair is long and healthy and you would like it to help someone else, donating it is a generous choice. Donated hair goes to whoever the organization serves, and most cannot set it aside for you or for someone you choose. Ask first if that matters to you. Our guide to donating hair covers what to know first.
why we care about this
specialists in hair loss since 1995
In 1990 my grandmother, Carol, went through breast cancer treatment and could not find anything comfortable or attractive to wear. She was a hairstylist, and she promised herself that if she came through it she would fix that for the women who came after her. In 1995 she and my mother, Danielle, started Headcovers together.
A hairstylist’s eye is still how we match color. Our cosmetologist holds your own hair against real swatches in daylight before anything ships, so even if your hair never becomes a wig, it can still choose the one you wear.
Keep a cutting, and let it choose your color.
Pick your wig, choose Consultation Requested at checkout, and mail us your cutting. Nothing ships until you approve the color.
keep learning
- Mayo Clinic, Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment. ↩
- Cancer Research UK, Your chemotherapy plan. ↩
All sources last checked October 2026.
This guide is for informational purposes only. It does not replace advice from your physician. If you have questions about your specific situation, please consult your care team.
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