First wig? We’ve got you.

If this is your first wig, the number of terms can feel overwhelming. It comes down to five decisions: length, texture, color, cap size and construction. Everything else is detail.

Work through them in that order. Length and texture decide how the wig looks. Cap size decides how it feels. Construction decides how long it takes you to put on.

If you want the shortest possible route, start with a Five Minute style in a length you already wear your own hair. It is the easiest way to learn what you like without committing to a big change.

You need a soft measuring tape and about three minutes. Take each measurement with your hair flat against your head.

• Circumference. Around your head, following your hairline and around the nape.
• Front to nape. From your front hairline straight back to the nape.
• Ear to ear across the forehead. Around the front hairline.
• Ear to ear over the top. Over the crown.
• Temple to temple around the back.
• Nape width. Across the base of the neck.

Most people fall into small, medium or large. If your measurements sit between sizes, send them to us and we will help you choose, or build a custom cap.

Length is measured from the top of the cap straight down when the hair is pulled straight. Curly and wavy hair will always look shorter than the number suggests, because the pattern takes up length.

• 8″–12″ Short. Chin-length bobs and above.
• 14″–18″ Medium. Shoulder to just past the collarbone.
• 20″–24″ Long. Mid-back.
• 26″–32″ Extra long. Past the waist on most people.

A good rule: if you are new to wigs, go shorter than you think. Short lengths are easier to manage and far easier to make look natural.

Length is the decision most people get wrong first, and it is the hardest one to undo.

Start from how you wear your own hair now. If you have never worn past your shoulders, a 24 inch unit will feel like a costume for the first week. Going one step longer than your natural length reads as a great hair day. Going four steps longer reads as a wig.

Then think about the day you are dressing for. Anything you have to keep sweeping out of your way will annoy you by mid-afternoon, which is exactly why the On-Shift collection stops at 20 inches.

If you want length without commitment, buy short first and add a longer unit once you know how you like to wear it.

Lace is the fine mesh at the front of a wig that the hair is tied into. It is what creates the appearance of a hairline.

Regular lace is slightly thicker and more durable. It is easier to handle and holds up longer, but can be more visible against some skin tones.

HD lace is much finer, so it sits closer to the skin and is harder to see. It is more delicate and needs a gentler hand.

Neither is better. HD lace is more forgiving visually. Regular lace is more forgiving physically.

Glueless means the wig is designed to be worn without traditional adhesive. Instead of glue, it relies on an adjustable band, combs and sometimes an elastic strap to hold in place.

The practical difference is time. A glued install involves adhesive, drying and cleanup. A glueless unit is put on, adjusted and worn.

Glueless does not mean it will never move. Fit matters more with glueless units, which is why measuring properly is worth the three minutes.

Straight is the most versatile and the easiest to maintain. It shows shine well, ties back neatly and needs less product.

Body wave has a loose S-pattern that adds volume and movement. It hides shedding better and looks fuller at the same density, but it needs more care to keep the pattern defined.

If you tie your hair back often, straight is usually the easier choice. If you want fullness without extra density, body wave gets you there.

Density describes how much hair is on the cap. It has nothing to do with length or texture, and it is the single setting most first-time buyers get wrong.

• 150% — Natural. Light, everyday fullness. Closest to most people’s own hair.
• 180% — Full. More volume while still reading natural. The most popular choice.
• 200% — Fuller. Noticeably full. Photographs beautifully.
• 250% — Extra full. Very dramatic. Best for statement looks rather than daily wear.

If you are unsure, 150% or 180% will almost always look more natural than you expect, and higher densities are heavier to wear through a long day.

Not every density is offered on every wig. Each product page lists what is actually available for that unit.

Straight is the most versatile and the least work. It shows shine, ties back neatly, needs the least product, and it is the easiest texture to make look like your own hair.

Body wave has a loose S-pattern that adds volume and movement. It looks fuller at the same density, hides shedding better, and photographs beautifully. In exchange it needs more care: no brushing while dry, and a rewet to bring the pattern back.

If you tie your hair back most days, choose straight. If you want fullness without paying for higher density, choose body wave.

Treat it like hair that cannot repair itself, because it cannot. It has no blood supply, so anything you damage stays damaged.

• Wash with cool water and a sulfate-free shampoo.
• Condition from the mid-shaft down, never at the roots of the cap.
• Never brush curly or wavy hair while dry.
• Air dry on a stand where possible.
• Use heat sparingly and always with a heat protectant.

Long days are hard on hair, wig or not. A few habits help.

• Choose a length you can secure. Anything you have to keep pushing back will annoy you by hour four.
• Keep a small brush or comb in your bag for a thirty second reset.
• Avoid touching the hairline repeatedly. Hands carry oil and sanitizer.
• If you wear a head covering, put the wig on first and settle it before the covering goes on.

Nights are their own problem. You get ready in the dark and come home in it.

• Lay out your unit before you sleep so nothing is rushed.
• Glueless is your friend when you are getting ready half awake.
• Keep a satin bonnet at home and use it, even for daytime sleep.
• Wash on your longest stretch off, not on a turnaround.

Store it on a wig stand or mannequin head. It keeps the cap shape and stops the hair from creasing.

If you are travelling, turn it inside out gently, place it in a satin bag and avoid packing anything heavy on top. Never store a wig damp.

Frequency depends on wear. As a general starting point, wash after seven to ten wears, sooner if you use a lot of product.

1. Detangle gently from the ends up, before any water touches it.
2. Rinse with cool water, running it in one direction from cap to ends.
3. Shampoo the hair, not the cap. Do not scrub the knots.
4. Condition mid-shaft to ends. Rinse fully.
5. Press out water with a towel. Do not wring.
6. Air dry on a stand.

1. Buying too long. Extra length is harder to manage and harder to make look natural.
2. Skipping the measurements. A wig that does not fit will never feel right, whatever it cost.
3. Choosing density too high. Very full hair reads less natural on most people than a moderate density.
4. Over-washing. Human hair wigs dry out faster than your own hair.
5. Cutting lace too close. Leave a margin. You can always trim more.

Rotate between units if you have more than one. Hair that gets a rest lasts longer.

Keep heat low and infrequent. Seal the ends with a light oil. Store it properly every single time, not just when you remember. And handle the lace as though it will tear, because eventually it will.