So, you’ve spent thousands of dollars on a premium human hair wig, you try it on thinking surely it will look like it’s growing right out of your head, and to your dismay, it looks totally wiggy. What now?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!!!
In this helpful guide, we’ll go over the 5 most common reasons a wig looks fake, how to determine which one is the culprit for your wig, and how to fix it so that your wig looks so natural, people will think you grew it yourself.
Reason #1: Density
One of the most overlooked reasons your wig may look "wiggy" is density of hair. Particularly if you’re someone that doesn’t (or wouldn’t) naturally have ultra thick, dense, or voluminous hair, a wig where you're swimming in hair is a dead giveaway. When a wig is too dense, especially if it’s on the longer side, it will more closely mimic the look of a head of bio hair with hair extensions than the look of a natural head of hair without. It always depends on what look you’re going for and what your desired end result is, but as a general rule, for a more natural appearance to your wig, lower density is the way to go.
The fix?
Remove density! If your wig is from Milano, our team of in-house seamstresses can add or remove density from any wig in our collection as needed. This is a service we perform often, however we also carry wigs in our collection that come lower density as-is, such as our Ponytail Wigs, and all of our Processed Euro Wigs. The lowest density piece we carry is our Princess Wig, which was specifically designed to have an ultra natural look!
Reason #2: Cut/Color/Style
This one is fairly straightforward. If you wear a human hair wig that is super high quality, has a nice part and hairline, and is an appropriate density, but something still looks off, it may be that the cut or color don’t look natural for your complexion, age, or personal style. Sometimes a wig in a color that looks starkly different from your natural hair color draws attention to your hair and the fact that something looks off, or just creates a visual dissonance that you can feel even if you can’t place exactly what’s causing it.
The fix?
To determine what look WOULD be natural for you, there are a few factors to consider. If you don’t have any hair or have partial hair loss, think about what your bio hair would look like based on your age, skin complexion, genetics, etc. Our in-house stylists and colorists can cut, color, and style any wig to fit your desired look, and if what’s missing from your wig is some grey strands mixed in throughout, our seamstresses can perform an alteration to add those!
This is an area where we definitely recommend a consultation with our specialists, who can work with you to determine the perfect color, haircut, and style that will make your wig look like your real hair!
Reason #3: Cap Construction/Hair Quality
You may not like this answer, but the truth is, quality does make a big difference. The reason our wigs look so realistic is that we use premium quality, Remy human hair, meaning the cuticle is intact and the hair is all facing the same direction. Our wig caps are meticulously designed and constructed to ensure they mimic the look of real hair and feel so comfortable that you forget you’re wearing them. Oftentimes, it’s the little details that can take a wig from looking cheap to looking realistic, but the overall quality of your wig is hard to overlook.
That being said, swapping out your wig for a Milano doesn’t always have to be the answer if this is the reason your wig looks like a wig. You may even be someone having this issue with a wig that is from Milano. This is because the other part of the equation is hair type. We carry three types of human hair: Premium Processed, Processed Euro, and Virgin Euro. Virgin Euro is the highest quality- it hasn’t been dyed, lightened, or otherwise chemically processed. It has a silky-smooth feels and a glossy look, and if you want a wig with a color service like highlights, toning, or balayage, a virgin wig will result in the best-looking finished product and the healthiest hair. Our processed wigs are still premium quality, however they’re made of hair that is the color it is by result of being dyed, and therefore have limitations on color services that can be done on them.
The fix?
If your wig looks unnatural because it’s poorly constructed or made of low-quality hair, the only real fix is to get a new wig altogether.
But, if the construction issues are specifically features that your wig is missing- like ear tabs, a widows peak, or baby hairs on the temples- or, if it’s damaged and needs the lace patched and hair replaced in certain spots, those are things that our seamstresses can help you with!
Reason #4: Hairline and Part
When you look at yourself in your wig, If you can just tell something is immediately off, even if you can't exactly pinpoint what it is that you're noticing, it’s often the hairline. If the hairline is too dense, if it’s a straight-across line, or if the knots where the hair is tied to the lace are very visible, it’s a tell-tale sign that your wig is, in fact, a wig.
Similarly for the part, if the knots are visible, the part is too close together, or the “skin” color of the part doesn’t match the color of your scalp, your wig will read as a wig immediately.
The fix?
Luckily, there are multiple options if this is what’s stopping your wig from looking natural!
If the color of the part doesn’t match your skin-tone, an easy DIY fix is our Scalp Illusion single duo or palette. They're like skin-tone makeup, but for your wig and scalp! They come with a hairline brush that you can use to blend the colors and lightly dab to blend along your part-line.
For more long term fixes, if the part is too narrow, our seamstresses offer a service where they can strategically remove hair on either side to widen it.
If the hairline is the issue, our seamstresses also offer a service that removes density along the hairline for a hyper-realistic look.
Our colorists can also perform a color service where they can bleach the knots of a wig to lighten their appearance, but just be mindful that we are only able to perform this service on certain wigs. Typically, only virgin hair lifts reliably enough to perform a scalp illusion service. To determine whether your wig would be eligible for this service, our colorists would likely need to perform a strand test to see how the hair lightens, and then based on that they would let you know whether it’s possible to move forward with the service. This is something we are also able to do with human-hair wigs that don’t come from Milano!
Reason #5: Fit and Security
This tends to be the most overlooked reason on this list, but it’s a super important one! Anything that makes a wig not sustainable to wear for a full day straight without needing to fix or adjust it instantly gives it away as a wig. When a wig is secure and fits you perfectly, you should forget you’re wearing it. If a wig is loose on you and you find yourself constantly fixing it, repositioning it, or being restrained in your movements so as not to mess it up, it becomes very clear that you have a wig on. Similarly, if a wig is too tight, and it’s giving you headaches, or pulling or causing tension on your skin, it may cause visible irritation on your skin or hairline, require constant adjustment, or not be comfortable to wear for a full day at a time.
The fix?
If the fit of your wig is an issue, our seamstresses can perform a cap-size adjustment to make your wig looser or tighter as needed.
If your wig fits you correctly but you haven’t found a method of securing it that keeps it on your head, we have a full collection of wig and hair topper-securing accessories that can be worn with any wig/topper, including ones that aren’t from Milano!
Questions?
If you aren’t sure which of these problems applies to your wig, or you are but don’t know the best way to go about solving it, we strongly recommend a consultation with one of our specialists!
We offer them both in person out of our four showrooms OR virtually from the comfort of your own home! In a consultation, our specialists can look at your wig, determine exactly what’s keeping it from looking natural, and tell you what the appropriate measures or services would be to fix it.
