Are Lace Wigs Worth The Investment?

"Lace wigs are the Rolls Royce of wigs" - Essence November 2011 Issue

The above statement from Essence is soooo true and should answer the surface of the question on if lace wigs are worth the investment. I am writing this post because I am always finding myself educating others on why lace wigs have such an high price tag. I had a client the other day tell me that she was looking for a 16" or longer full lace wig with Indian Remy hair under $100. For as long as I have been wearing lace wigs I have not ever seen an Indian Remy full lace wig over 16" priced under $100. Not even the manufacturers overseas will go that low! After educating the client about lace wigs, she had a whole new view about them and no longer consider them as a regular wig.  

Lace wigs are incomparable to machine wigs because they are designed to look like the hair is growing from your scalp. The creation of lace wigs are labor intensive because the hair is knotted by hand strand by strand to a lace base, and can take between 30 to 60 hours to complete.

Benefits of Lace Wigs

For individuals like myself who suffer from Alopecia, lace wigs are worth the investment! I've been wearing wigs for a total of nine years and five of those years I have been wearing lace wigs. When I was introduced to lace wigs, I immediately became addicted because I was able to see all the benefits of wearing them. I instantly regained my confidence from losing my hair and I was able to style the hair they way I wanted. I was no longer limited to wigs that didn't fit properly and couldn't style. Below are the benefits of lace wigs and why they are worth the investment. 

• Light, Breathable, and Undetectable
• Natural hairline
• Can instantly change your style and color any time you want
• Easy to maintain and care for
• Can wear in a ponytail and updos
• Fit for any lifestyle
• Last up to a year or longer (depending on care)
• When averaging yearly cost, a lace wig is more affordable than weaves and machine wigs. 

Pricing of Lace Wigs

The actual price of a lace wig varies because it depends on the components that make up the complete lace wig package. The cost of a lace wig depends on the of the hair quality (synthetic, virgin, remy), hair texture, hair type,  length, density, cap type, and hair color. Inside of Essence's November 2011 issue was a resource guide to help you understand the pricing of lace wigs:

• Under $100 -  Short styled Synthetic lace wigs
• $101 - $400 - Long Synthetic and Human Hair Lace front wigs
• $401 - $700 - High-end Human Hair in a full lace and lace front wig
• $701 & above - Consulting a stylist to customize a unique lace wig

From looking at the list above, if you find a long Human Hair full lace wig priced under $100 who should question the seller before buying. As the saying goes...You will get exactly what you paid for.

Benefits to Wearing a Lace Wig

When I first developed Alopecia Areata it was easy to hide my hair loss by wearing ponytails. But over time my hair loss became extensive to the point where there was nothing I could do to hide it besides turning to a wig. My initial thoughts of wearing a wig scared me because all I knew at the time were the regular synthetic ones. I was filled with so many emotions from losing my hair that I thought I was losing my identity of who I was. I was literally forced into a wearing a wig because I could not leave my house or go to work in the corporate world without a decent hairstyle. Within a day I went from having medium length natural hair to a short synthetic two-tone color wig. This wig took all my confidence a way because it looked just like a wig and everyone knew I wearing one. Years later (2008) I was introduced to lace wigs from a friend. My whole world changed and I could feel my confidence coming back everyday from wearing my first lace wig made with real remy human hair. I could not believe all the things I could do with my lace wig! I was able to wrap it, curl it, restyle it, color it, put heat to it, throw it up in a ponytail, and people actually thought it was my hair. The lace wig was also much lighter on my head compared to the regular wigs. Most of the time, I forget that I am even wearing a wig. I received so many compliments wearing my lace wig than I did with my regular wigs. I actually had people ask for the stylist name that did my hair. Now that blew me away!

I just named most of the benefits of wearing a lace wig, and the other benefits are:

• Longevity - Lace wigs are very durable and properly taken care of they can last longer than a year. 
• Price Advantage - I realized my cost savings with my first lace wig purchase. Prior to my purchase I spent between an average of  $80/month on regular wigs because they never lasted longer than a couple of days or weeks. My first lace wig cost me about $450 for a 12" Indian Remy, which included the cost of installation. I wore this wig for a year and half, which saved me $510! My stylist actually gave me a mini-session on how to apply & remove my own lace wig to save more money. So  as you can see, lace wigs can save you money. You can still visit your stylist to have your wig washed and styled for much less than it would cost for natural hair.  
• Versatility in Activities - You can play any sport (work-outs, swimming, boxing, basketball, etc) in your lace wig and it will not fall off. Experiment with color and protect your natural hair from the use chemicals. 
• Versatility in Hairstyles - I fell in love with this benefit of wearing lace wigs. You can switch your style quickly by going from straight to curly and back to straight. Lace wigs come in so many different lovely hair textures and colors. 

If you are in the process of deciding to wear a wig, I highly recommend that your first wig be a lace wig. Start with a style similar to how your natural hair was style, so it will be easy for you to become comfortable with it. If you are not ready for a full lace, try a lace front wig which will give you similar benefits as the full lace. The lace front only has lace in the front of the wig, while to back has the same design as a regular wig. Lace wigs offers so many great benefits, that when you wear one you will never go back to a regular wig!  

French or Swiss...Which Lace is best?

Lace wigs are made with a number of different type of laces ranging from German, French, and Swiss. I am sure there are others that I did not mention. The two laces that will be spoken about within this post are the French and Swiss. These two are the primary laces that are used to make undetectable wigs. French lace is very durable, allows ventilation to your hair, and undetectable when adhesive is applied. Swiss lace is similar to the French, but is very thin and delicate. Swiss lace gives a more natural look than the French. Both laces can be matched to any skin tone to get the undetectable look. If you are a first-timer in wanting to wear laces, I recommend the French over the Swiss. When purchasing a lace wig at Couture Lace Crowns, you have a choice between French or Swiss lace. 

Source: Amidbeauty.com  French Lace

Source: Amidbeauty.com  Swiss Lace

Visit Couture Lace Crowns today to purchase your lace wig!

Need an Alternative Style during your in-between stage?

Lace crowns (wigs) are great alternatives for when you are in the in-between stage. You can still rock the hottest styles while giving your real hair a rest from heat styling, use of chemicals, and wearing ponytails. Lace crowns also helps to keep your hair moisturized. Protect your tresses by purchasing a 100% Premium Remy human hair lace crown. Contact us today! 

Me & My Eyebrows

I was struggling this morning trying to free draw my eyebrows. This is the part of having alopecia that I struggle with at times because I used to have nice full eyebrows. Anyway, I got it together and drew a semi-perfect brow. I was satisfy with my work. I am contemplating getting my brows tattooed on, but I am liking the fact that I can draw any shape I want for my brows. So I am going to leave the tattooing on the back burner for a while. Anyway below is a pic of my look today with my new KA'OIR lipstick in Love U & a touch of gloss.

Wig Tip Monday: Protect Your Tresses from Heat

I am so against using excessive heat on lace wigs because it will damage the hair. If heat is necessary to style the unit, please use a heat protectant.  Heat protectants will help in creating a barrier between the hair and curling/flat iron to guard the cuticle from straight heat.


Visit www.couturelacecrowns.com to shop for your lace crown.