If you've ever gone wig shopping, then you know that wigs range drastically in price, from $9 wigs on sites like Amazon, to $6,000+ wigs. Are more expensive wigs really worth the money?
Maybe you're a medical wig wearer that wants to make sure no one will even question if you're wearing a wig. Or maybe you're just looking for a fun style to wear for fashion or cosplay. Here is what you'll get for each price point, and how to figure out which category will work best for you.
(Read below, or watch the video!)
Chapters:
Note: this page contains affiliate links, which really helps support the channel! I would never suggest a wig or product I would not wear myself.
Criteria
Fiber Type
Human hair wigs will typically cost more than synthetic wigs. However, this does not necessarily mean that human hair wigs are "better" than synthetic wigs. Each fiber type is ideal for different scenarios.
As a daily wig wearer due to alopecia, I personally tend towards synthetic fibers for day-to-day wear because they require almost no maintenance– unlike human hair wigs, which will require more styling.
Fiber type is completely up to personal preference, but it will affect the price. However, even within the two categories, there are vast price differences.
Human Hair Wigs
High-quality human hair wigs can range from $1,500, to $6,000 or more. For the average person, there's no need to go towards the high end of that range unless you want to and can comfortable afford it!
Although human hair wigs are typically more expensive than synthetic wigs, a high-quality human hair wig tend to last longer. So the price can even out.
Synthetic Wigs
Synthetic fibers also range drastically in quality depending on which price point you're looking at. For those unfamiliar with wigs, synthetic fibers get a bad rep for being shiny and more prone to tangling– but that is only the case with low quality synthetic fibers.
A high quality synthetic wig can last for 4-6 months of daily wear with proper care.
Whereas with a low quality synthetic wig, some very cheap wigs are practically single-use, and look destroyed after one wear. But don't assume that is the case with all synthetic wigs!
Cap Construction
The cap construction is a major factor when it comes to the cost of a wig. Surprisingly, you can find some pretty decent synthetic wig fiber on a cheap wig, but the cap construction is what will prevent it from looking realistic.
Cheaper wig caps are machine-made. When looking at higher-quality wigs, the hair is sewn in by hand on part, or all of the wig cap. Therefore, these are much more labor intensive to make, thus the higher cost. But features like this are what allow the wig to look extremely realistic.
A higher-quality cap will also feel more secure and comfortable. This is particularly important for someone wearing wigs due to hair loss, and may not be as much of a priority to someone wearing them for fashion of cosplay.
Some elements of the cap construction are up to personal preference, but a high-quality cap construction may include features like:
Monofilament top:
Allows you to change the parting of the wig, and creates the effect of the hair growing directly out of your scalp
Lace-front:
Creates a natural looking hairline along the front of the wig cap. The quality of a lace-front will also range drastically. Some cheaper lace fronts may be tied in with larger knots, looking a bit less realistic. However, a high-quality lace front will be nearly undetectable.
Cheapest Tier $10-$30 Wigs
Not everyone that's looking for a wig is looking for a wig to wear daily. Wigs are also fun for costume & cosplay purposes, where the goal isn't necessary for the hair to look realistic!
Although I'm a daily wig wearer due to alopecia, I also love wearing cheap wigs as accessories, for cosplay, and for raves.
There are a lot of wigs out there sold on sites like Amazon, AliExpress, and even Shein. I generally avoid shopping at Shein in particular; but typically, these sites likely carry wigs that come from the same factory, sold on different sites for different prices.
When browsing wigs like these, I highly recommend reading reviews and looking at customer review photos. The wig shown on the product page may not even be an actual image of the product. So review photos are the best way to get an idea of what the wig will actually look like.
Wigs shown in the video:
Green long bob
I bought this wig in 2021 and couldn't find the exact listing, but are a few similar options
Green wig – similar longer version
Green wig – similar, wavy version
Green wig – similar, shorter option
Long Blue Wavy Wig
The exact option that I bought is no longer available, but here are some options that look similar.
I have something similar to this that I love! But again, not going for realism with a style like this.
This is the cheapest (and worst) wig in my collection!
MapofBeauty is known for their ultra cheap cosplay wigs on Amazon.
Wigs like this are cheap for a reason. I wouldn't wear them for daily wear, and probably personally wouldn't bother with them for cosplay. However, with extensive cosplay wig styling, this can also be a great starting point to create something cool for a costume. These are also great for people who want to get into cosplay on a budget!
I've seen some people do amazing things with cheap wigs like this, but personally, I think I've been too spoiled by high-quality wigs as a daily wig wearer.
Middle Tier Wigs $50 - $100
You'll see a wide range in quality within this price tier. These are typically the wigs I like to wear for cosplay or to raves. You can also find some really fun fashion styles for this tier without breaking the bank.
Some companies that carry wigs in this tier include Weekend Wigs, UniWigs, and IMStyle wigs.
IMStyle Wigs - Rainbow Wig
Although I didn't show this wig in the video, I wanted to mention it here as a fun wig in this tier! This website has some incredible, unique color options, as well as some more natural looking colors as well. (Full review coming soon!)
(Use code Abby40 for 40% off your order!) 💜
This wig is a fantastic middle tier wig! It has a nice lace front that you can work with to make look more realistic by trimming the lace and tweezing the knots. This site has some absolutely gorgeous, unique styles. While I love these wigs, they're typically not the first I would reach for if I wanted to achieve a realistic look.
(Image gallery: scroll to the right)
Middle Tier Wigs $100 - $200
MUSE COLLECTION WIGS (Rene of Paris)
Wigs Shown in video:
Silky Sleek (Color: Smokey Forest)
Mod Sleek (Color: Grape Burst)
These wigs are from the Rene of Paris Muse collection. Rene of Paris has a few different wig lines that range in price. The Muse collection is a fantastic middle ground for high quality wigs, with a few features that also help to keep costs down.
This wig also has some fantastic limited edition color options!
You can also check out the Rene of Paris Orchid Collection and the Alexander Couture Collection for wigs in this price category.
Where to buy: (Info below)
High Quality Synthetic Wigs $300+
AMORE COLLECTION (Rene of Paris)
Wigs Shown in video:
Arden (Color: Dark Chocolate)
(Arden Wig in Spring Honey T)
Codi (Color: Dark Chocolate)
The Rene of Paris Amore collection is a line of wigs designed specifically for hair loss. That doesn't mean you have to have hair loss to wear them, but they focus on features for comfort, realism, and security. I've been wearing Amore wigs almost daily since I was around 12 years old because they make wig wearing feel effortless.
Some of these high-end synthetic wig features include:
Monofilament wig cap: allows you to change the part, and gives the appearance that your hair is growing directly out of your scalp.
Lace front (optional): Not all lace front is the same! A high quality lace front cap will be nearly undetectable when worn properly.
Synthetic fiber that looks very similar to human hair.
Minimal shine & tangling.
The synthetic wigs in this collection require very little maintenance, because synthetic wigs hold their style (unlike human hair wigs, which require more upkeep). However, these synthetic fibers look just as natural as human hair, and don't have any of the same issues that a cheap quality synthetic wig might have (such as looking shiny, tangling easily, etc.)
In my experience, these high end synthetic wigs can last around 4-6 months of daily wear.
They also allow for a cheaper alternative for those that want to avoid the high cost of a high-quality human hair wig. However, the Amore collection does also offer human hair wigs. Fiber type is up to personal preference, and both are a fantastic option!
You can also check out the Rene of Paris Hi-Fashion line for other wigs in this price range.
Where to buy: (Info below)
High-Quality Human Hair Wigs
There are benefits to both synthetic and human hair wigs. If you want to learn more about choosing a fiber type, you can read my post about that here (coming soon!)
For those that want to opt for a human hair wig, there are lots of options out there. The "most expensive" wig that I showed in my video costs around $2,300, but prices can go up from there tremendously, up to $6,000 or more. But the good news: you don't have to spend that much to find a high quality option.
High quality human hair wigs can also last much longer.
So although the cost might seem daunting (because I know it is for me!), the cost breakdown between human hair and synthetic evens out. So it really depends on which fiber type you prefer, and if you are someone that would rather have a larger connection of multiple synthetic wigs, or one human hair wig that you can wear for years.
I advise against buying human hair wigs for prices that seem to good to be true, because cheap human hair wigs are cheap for a reason. These wigs will not give you the same benefits as a high quality human hair wig. The sourcing of hair can also sometimes be sketchy for dirt-cheap human hair wigs. (Remember: human hair on a wig was once growing out of someone's head!) You want to feel secure knowing the hair wasn't treated with harsh chemicals that can cause skin reactions and will cause the hair to wear out quickly; and wasn't sourced in a sketchy way.
The Fair Fashion line and the Amore line are both a great place to look for a high-end human hair wig.
For full transparency! I work with Rene of Paris, and have only tried their human hair wigs that they have gifted to me over the years. Frankly, that's because human hair wigs are typically out of my personal price range! But I am grateful to have these wigs in my collection to show you a proper comparison of the different options that are out there.
Wig shown in the video:
Emily (Rene of Paris - Fair Fashion Collection)
Where to buy Rene of Paris Wigs:
Multiple retailers carry Rene of Paris wigs. You can find verified retailers on their store locator (including lots of online wig shops). I usually like to compare the prices on different sites, and look for a site with a good return policy if it's a style I'm uncertain about. Prices across retailers will typically be pretty similar, but keep an eye out for sales!
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