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wig guides
Where to Buy a Wig Online
You can get this right without trying it on. We've been helping women with hair loss do it since 1995.
The hesitation is real, and it has answers.
If this is your first wig, there's usually a moment where it feels like a big decision. You're making it without being able to try anything on. What if the color is wrong? What if it doesn't fit? What if it just doesn't look right when it arrives?
Women buy wigs online successfully every day. Where you buy is one of the most important choices you'll make.
the short answer
fitMost women wear average cap size. A two-minute measurement takes most of the guesswork out.
colorColor can be matched with a photo or a small hair swatch before anything ships.
returnsEvery wig order includes one free exchange if it's not quite right.
helpAsk for a free color consultation, and your order is held until you confirm your color.
what the best place to buy wigs online should offer
not all online wig stores are the same
Hair loss is hard enough. The retailer you choose should make this part easier, not harder.
- People who actually know wigs. We've been helping women with hair loss since 1995. Our team handles wigs every day. They are the heart of what we do, and that shows in the accuracy of our descriptions and the quality of our advice.
- A phone number that someone answers. If you can't reach a person, you can't get help when something goes wrong. We're based in League City, Texas, and our team picks up the phone at 1-800-264-4287 (HATS).
- Authorized dealer status. Buy from authorized retailers only. Unauthorized sellers may be selling counterfeit or previously worn wigs. Every wig we sell is brand new and comes directly from the manufacturer, and we're an authorized retailer for every brand we carry.
- Pricing often far less than a shop. Without the overhead of a retail location, online wig prices are usually well below what you'd pay in a brick-and-mortar wig shop. Same wigs, same brands, same quality.
- Overnight that means overnight. If you need your wig by a certain date, ask what a store means by fast: quicker processing, or quicker delivery. We offer true FedEx Overnight and 2-Day Air on wigs. Order by noon Central time on a business day, and it typically ships the same day.
- Real customer reviews. Look for reviews that mention fit, color accuracy, and customer service, not just "looks great." Those details tell you what the buying experience is like. Ours are on our customer reviews page.
- Color matching support. The best online wig retailers offer a way to match your color before you buy: a swatch service, a photo consultation, or both. Color is the hardest thing to get right online, and good retailers know it. Ours is the free wig color consultation.
Where would you like to start? Browse all women's wigs, wigs for cancer patients, wigs for older women, wigs for Black women or human hair wigs.
where you can buy a wig
your options, side by side
If this is your first time looking for a wig, you may have no idea where to start. It's important that your wig not only matches your style, but is also comfortable enough to wear every day and manageable for you to maintain. There are pros and cons to each place you can buy one. Choose the option that best meets your needs and circumstances.
| where | try it on first? | selection | price | help choosing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| online wig store | No | Largest | Lower | By phone or email, at the good ones |
| wig shop or salon | Yes, from what’s in stock | Small; exact styles usually ordered | Higher | In person, and it varies |
| beauty supply store | Sometimes | Small | Varies | Very little |
| your hair stylist | Usually not | Ordered from a catalog | Higher | Knows your hair |
| online marketplace | No | Large, unverified | Often lowest | None |
is it better to buy a wig online or in a store?
Each has a real advantage. In a shop, you can try a wig on and see the color in person, and some shops are able to adjust or customize the wig for you. If there's a good wig shop near you, that matters. You'll be choosing from what the shop has in stock, though, and that's usually a small number of styles and colors.
You also deserve to find what you're looking for, at your own pace, without pressure. That's what buying online makes possible. We carry more than 1,400 wig styles, averaging about 22 colors each, for more than 30,000 combinations in all. A wig boutique carries a few dozen to a couple hundred wigs. Online, you can find exactly what you want: the right length, the right cap construction, the right color, the right brand. In a shop, something that specific usually has to be ordered for you, so you can't try it on first anyway. Online, with overnight shipping, the wig you choose can be at your door the next business day.
The price is also lower than you'd usually pay in a physical wig salon. Without retail overhead, we can offer the same brands and the same quality at significantly lower prices.
For women going through hair loss, the privacy matters too. You can take your time, read everything carefully, and make the decision on your own terms. And if you want someone to walk through it with you, our team is here. If you ask for the free color consultation, your order waits until you confirm your color.
online wig store
- Pros. Convenient: you can shop from home, at your leisure, any time of day. The largest selection, and lower prices.
- Cons. You aren't able to try the wig on before buying. A free exchange and real help with color are what make up for it, so look for both.
wig shop or salon
- Pros. Wigs can be tried on in person, and some wig shops are able to adjust or customize the wig for you.
- Cons. Higher prices. Smaller cities may not have a wig shop at all. Most shops stock only a small number of styles and colors, so if you want something exact, the shop will likely have to order it for you. The expertise of the staff and the overall experience can vary greatly. There can be high-pressure sales and pushes to upsell.
Some shops sell wigs that are not the name brand they appear to be. Check for authentic hang tags attached to the wig, then check the wig manufacturer's website to make sure the shop is an authorized seller. Some wig shops will also push you to order a custom wig. We recommend avoiding this, especially as a first-time wig wearer.
beauty supply store
- Pros. May be available in towns too small to have a wig shop.
- Cons. A smaller selection, and very little help from the staff in choosing. Quality may be lower than other options, although some stores carry name brands. You may not be able to try the wig on.
your hair stylist
- Pros. Your hair stylist knows your hair and can help you choose a color and style.
- Cons. Higher prices. Your stylist will probably order through a catalog, so you won't be able to try the wig on. Stylists often buy their wigs through online companies for their clients, who pick them up at the salon a week or two later.
You can save money by ordering the wig directly yourself, then asking your stylist to cut and shape it. Choose a stylist who is experienced in cutting wigs, and wait until you're sure you're keeping the wig: once it has been cut or styled, it can't be returned.
online marketplaces
- Pros. The lowest prices.
- Cons. The risk that what you buy is a knockoff, or a used or refurbished wig, when the seller isn't authorized by the brand. No personalized help in choosing.
Be aware that you can't reliably expect to receive what you see in the product photos. Seeing the same photo of a Raquel Welch wig that you saw on another website doesn't mean you'll receive that wig, because an unauthorized seller can post any photo. Buying from a brand's authorized seller is fine wherever you shop. The risk is a seller who isn't on the brand's list.
Wherever you buy, it helps to know the three types of wig hair: synthetic, heat friendly and human hair. Our wig buying guide explains each, and our human hair vs. synthetic guide goes further.
how to tell if a wig website is legit
checks that take a few minutes
A few minutes of checking before you order protects you from the sellers who make buying wigs online feel risky.
- Check the brand's authorized retailer list. Only buy from authorized resellers that are listed on the wig manufacturer's website. If a store isn't on the list, the wig may not be what it claims to be.
- Find a real address and phone number, then call it. Only buy from online wig shops that have a physical address and phone number clearly listed on their website. We highly recommend calling that number to discover who you actually get on the other end of the line.
- Read the return policy before you order. A written policy you can find easily tells you whether you can exchange a wig that isn't right, and what it costs.
- Be wary of brand photos at a price far below everyone else's. Unauthorized sellers often use the brand's own photos, so the photo alone tells you nothing about the wig you'll receive.
- Check reviews from a variety of sources. Look for reviews that mention fit, color accuracy and customer service, on more than one site.
- Make sure the wig is new. Wig outlet stores often sell refurbished wigs: returns that were worn, washed and put back on sale. Designer wigs bought outside authorized retailers may be knockoffs or refurbished.
Where we stand. Headcovers is an authorized retailer for every brand we carry, and every wig we sell is brand new.
the three things women worry about
and what to do about each one
what if it doesn't fit?
Wig caps come in standard sizes and most women wear Average. Measure your head circumference before you order. It takes two minutes and removes nearly all the guesswork. Our wig buying guide walks you through exactly how to do it.
what if the color is wrong?
Matching color from a photo or a swatch is what our consultants do, and we have a lot of tricks. Send us a photo of your hair in natural light, or mail us a swatch from the top of your head. We work with you one on one until we get it right. Read our color guide.
Do this now. If hair loss is ahead of you, cut a small hair swatch from the top of your head before your hair is gone and keep it somewhere safe. It helps color matching more than anything else you can do.
what if I don't know where to start?
That's what the free color consultation is for. Choose your wig, then select Consultation Requested from the color dropdown at checkout. Our licensed cosmetologist matches your color from a swatch or photos, and your order is held until you confirm it. If you're not sure about the style yet, call us and a person will talk the options through with you. You don't have to figure this out alone.
questions about buying wigs online
open only the one you need
is it safe to buy a wig online?
Yes, when you buy from an authorized retailer. Check the brand's own list of authorized retailers, look for a real address and a phone number someone answers, and read the return policy before you order. The risk comes from unauthorized sellers, whose wigs may be knockoffs or previously worn.
are wigs cheaper online than in a wig shop?
Usually. Without the overhead of a retail location, online wig prices are often far less than a shop's. An authorized online retailer sells the same wigs, from the same brands, as an authorized shop.
how do I know my wig color will be right?
Send a photo of your hair in natural light, or mail a small swatch from the top of your head. With our free color consultation, a licensed cosmetologist compares what you send against the physical swatches for your wig in natural light, and your order is held until you confirm the color.
The right wig is out there. We'll help you find it.
why we do this
a family business, since 1995
In 1990 my grandmother Carol was going through treatment for breast cancer. She was a hairstylist, and she still couldn't find anything comfortable or attractive to cover her hair loss. In 1995 she and my mother started Headcovers, so the women who came after her wouldn't have to search the way she did.
I've worked here for more than ten years, and I help design our wigs and headwear. When you call, you'll reach someone in League City, Texas, who handles these wigs every day: the kind of help my grandmother went looking for and couldn't find.
Ready to find your wig?
Our step-by-step buying guide walks you through head size, hair type, cap construction, style, and color, in the right order, so you get it right the first time.
keep learning
wig buying guideHead size, hair type, cap construction, style, color: five steps to your first wig.
how to choose a wig colorHow to send a hair swatch, use a photo, and get your color right the first time.
wig color consultationHow our cosmetologist matches your color before anything ships.
human hair vs. syntheticReal differences in styling, care, cost, and longevity, so you can decide before you buy.
wigs for cancer patientsOur full selection, with buying tips for cap types and scalp sensitivity during treatment.
hair growth after chemoWhen it starts, what to expect, and how to care for regrowth.
Something we missed, or a question this guide did not answer? We want to hear from you: write to us through our contact page.
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