11 Best Lace Wig Adhesive For Swimming

Best Lace Wig Adhesive For Swimming in 2023

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Purchasing a Lace Front or Full Lace Wig

A simple introduction to the world of lace wigs. Including, the advantages of lace over regular wigs, advice on selecting a vendor, synthetic versus human hair and an overview of the various options available when ordering a custom lace wig.

The advantages of a lace wig are many; for most women the main advantage is the natural appearance and the ability to have glamorous, long hair. People who have worn regular wigs, will understand the difficulty in finding a wig that looks natural in terms of density and hairline. The lace wig offers the option of having a beautifully natural looking hairline, as well as giving the wearer the option of sweeping their hair back and off their face, not having bangs and, in the case of full lace wigs, being able to have ponytails and up-dos.Generally there are two types of lace wig: the lace front wig and the full lace wig. The lace front wig is just that, in that it has a regular, wefted back combined with a lace top section meaning that the lace part is found only across the front of the wig. The lace front portion goes across the front of the hairline from ear to ear and it is bonded only around the front hairline, with the nape having adjustable straps to ensure the wig has a snug fit.

Whereas, the full lace wig is a wig made entirely of lace, with no wefts, which necessitates bonding around the entire perimeter of the wig. The full lace wig has a very snug fit to the head and can, therefore, be made with a stretch panel from ear to ear or in the crown area, which allows slightly more room for error if your head measurements are a little inaccurate (by approximately a quarter of an inch).

The wigs can be made entirely of human hair, a mixture of human hair and synthetic or purely of synthetic. Most lace wigs are made with human hair, however, it is possible to pick up cheap synthetics for under $100. The problem with synthetic hair is that it usually does not feel as nice as human hair especially when it is long and it has a tendency to tangle and frizz with the friction rubbing against your clothes. Synthetic hair can also become quite static and hot and it does not usually (unless it is a special type) tolerate any form of heat appliance being used, which limits styling. The benefits of synthetic hair are that it is very easy to care for and of course, it is cheaper than human hair. Some people have reported finding that the actual lace on a synthetic lace wig is not such good quality as with human hair lace wigs, so this is something to be mindful of when making a purchase.

The human hair used to make lace wigs is not always the best quality. It is usually marketed as remy or cuticle hair, which means that the hair has been collected and ventilated (tied to the wig) in a way that ensures that the cuticles of the hair shaft are all facing the same way. Theoretically this ensures that the hair does not become tangled, as if the hair is not collected and ventilated in this way, the cuticles snag against each other when wearing and particularly when washing the wig and this leads to a matted ball of un-wearable hair. Unfortunately, the reality is that demand outstrips supply and with the increasing popularity of these types of wigs, there is not enough good quality hair available to meet the high demand. This situation has resulted in wigs being made from poorer quality hair that is stripped of the cuticle through dipping in acid baths, with the hair then being coated in a silicone coating to seal it. The problems with this type of hair is that it looks great upon first inspection, really shiny and smooth, but after wearing it for a while and washing it a few times, the silicone coating wears off and you are left with a tangling, matted mess of hair. Typically most vendors and manufacturers will market this hair as being remy without any reference to its true origins so: buyer beware.

If you do not wish to opt for synthetic hair, then virgin, remy human hair is your next best bet. Virgin hair is hair that has never had any form of processing, which means that it is uncoloured and untreated (exposed to no chemicals such as perming or relaxing). Despite the hair being designated as virgin hair, you would also want to verify that the hair was remy or cuticle hair because there is no point in purchasing a wig made of virgin hair unless the hair had been collected with the culticles aligned correctly to avoid tangling, matting and snagging. The downside of opting for virgin hair is that most of the virgin human hair types available in lace wigs come only in dark colours from a #1 to #2, which roughly translates as black to a very dark brown. Whilst it is possible to obtain virgin European hair that comes in colours as light as blond, this hair type tends to be used only on regular wigs because it is very expensive and lace wigs are seen to be more fragile and less long lived than regular wigs (which with good care can last several years). Unfortunately unscrupulous vendors and manufacturers will often try and market hair as being European for example, when in fact they mean European-type texture. As their definition of European usually means that the hair originates from another non-European country and has been over-processed through stripping the hair shaft to appear thinner and then dyed to a lighter hair colour. The same issues exist with this type of treatment as with hair that is passed off as remy hair, when it is in fact not.

Overall, the benefits of a lace front wig as opposed to a regular wig are that the wig has a much more natural hairline, it also has a realistic part line and can be worn without bangs, with all manner of hair clips and accessories, and of course, because it is bonded at the front, it helps to keep the wig securely attached. The benefit of a lace front over a full lace wig is that the amount of work involved in bonding the wig is a lot less, as it only requires bonding at the front. The downside of this is that the hair cannot be easily worn in a low ponytail and it cannot be worn in any form of high ponytail or up-do. The open wefted back is not always to everyone's taste and can be somewhat uncomfortable, is just depends on personal preference. It is worth noting that some Chinese manufacturers do offer a lace front that has a back made of a monofilament or lace type fabric with the nape and sides being constructed like a regular wig with adjustable straps. This is worth investigation if you are seeking to purchase a lace front because it does away with the open wefted back. Unfortunately, I have yet to see an American or English vendor offering this type of wig construction, which means you would need to source and purchase directly from the Chinese factory.

In turn, the benefits of a full lace wig over a regular wig are that the lace is much more comfortable than a regular wig because the lace feels much softer and lighter-weight and, of course, it is more realistic in terms of hairline and part line. In addition to the benefits listed for the lace front wig, a full lace wig can be completely exposed at the back, which enables the wearer to have a low or high ponytail, braid or an up-do such as a French pleat or bun. With regards to the hair issue, there is nothing wrong with buying a wig made from, what has been touted to be, remy hair even if it turns out to be stripped hair that has been coated in silicone, so long as you are prepared for this and the care regime that having a wig made from that type of hair involves. The maintenance of lace wigs will be covered in a separate article.

Once the decision to purchase a lace front or full lace wig has been made, then comes the tricky part: deciding who to purchase from! It would be fair to say that this is a very difficult task because there are many unprofessional lace wig vendors both online and offline. To enable a choice to be made, it is worth researching whether you wish to purchase directly from a Chinese vendor or from an American or English vendor.

There are plenty of Chinese and American vendors who tout their wares on the Internet, although it is fair to say there are far less English or European based lace wig vendors. Most, if not all, American and English vendors purchase their wigs from the Chinese manufacturers and this coupled with the fact that the Chinese prices are a lot less often sways purchasers to buy directly from the Chinese factories. Many people wonder what the point of going to an American or English vendor is, when they can just cut the middle man out of the equation and get exactly the same product for a cheaper price. Of course, there are downsides to purchasing from a Chinese vendor and these need to be taken into account. For example, there is often little or no pre-sales or after-sales support, which combined with less than fluent English can leave you wondering if you are going to get what you ordered or envisaged. Some of the vendors do not accept credit cards or payment services such as PayPal, which necessitates Western Union or Moneygram payments to be made and the fees involved with using these companies can definitely increase the overall price. Consumer rights with regards to a lack of delivery, a sub-standard wig or the wig not being made according to specifications can often be deficient and you are at the mercy of the Chinese vendor as to whether these types of problems are rectified.

Theoretically purchasing a lace wig from an American or English vendor should be safer in terms of your consumer rights and pre and after-sales care. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and the geographical location of the vendor should not be taken as a guarantee of quality or service-level, although it definitely does help increase your chances of getting what you want and receiving good customer service. Payment is generally through methods such as PayPal or Google Checkout and ideally, particularly if using a credit card, these methods may offer more protection than paying cash via a money transfer service. There are some sites on the Internet, such as The Lace Wig Connection, who offer forums or lists of approved vendors or vendors who are seen to be offering good quality and good service lace wigs and it is definitely a good idea to check these out when researching your purchase. It also helps if you can get recommendations from people who have actually purchased a wig or wigs from a vendor that they are happy with. It is a good idea to check if the business is registered with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Once you have decided on a few vendors who you feel might be correct for you, send them an email or visit them in person to request a quote for the wig you want. In the case of a custom full lace wig, this would usually require you to know a detailed amount of information and the types of options you will need to know about are dealt with below. In addition to asking for a quote, also take the opportunity to ask the vendors plenty of questions, as this will give you a feel for how well they know their products, how helpful they are and a general idea about the level of customer service you might expect to receive should you purchase from them.On the whole, purchasing a lace front wig is easier than purchasing a full lace wig. This is because lace front wigs can be purchased without the need for customized measurements to be taken into account, so most lace front wigs are stock items that it is possible to purchase either from an online or store-front wig or beauty supplier. It is certainly a good idea to try and see either the wig or a sample in person before committing to the purchase, so in that respect finding a local store that enables you to see the product is ideal.

Full lace wig vendors do tend to keep a selection of stock wigs for purchase; this also helps them to showcase what is on offer and gives you the opportunity to see the quality of their wigs, as well as the different options available. Many people find that their individual head measurements do not fit well with the stock sizes, which tend to run from a small through to a large. As a result, most vendors offer the option to purchase a custom made wig, which is constructed according to your own measurements and requirements. If you do not opt to purchase a custom wig and this is your first wig purchase, make sure to choose a stock wig with either a stretch panel from ear to ear, or stretch lace at the crown. This means that if your measurements are slightly incorrect, the wig should still fit as the stretch element gives a little.

When purchasing a custom full lace wig, you will normally be given a comprehensive order form which not only enables you to provide your measurements, but also gives you a number of options for how you want the wig to be made. When filling the form in, make sure to double check anything you are unsure of with the vendor. Now is the time to ask your questions and to explain what you really want to achieve in terms of look, quality etc. It is helpful and often appreciated if you include sample pictures (of either yourself or a celebrity whose hair you like) to show the type of hair length, density and hairline you are trying to achieve. Even sending pictures of the types of styles you want to achieve can be useful - for example, it helps the vendor to understand whether the density you are asking for is correct. The more information you provide the vendor with, the better case you have should the wig be incorrect when you receive it, so make sure to keep a copy of not only the completed order form, but also any emails you may have exchanged with the vendor and any photos you may have sent them.

When taking your measurements make sure to use a cloth tape and to measure each area at least 3 times to ensure that you are taking an accurate measurement. It is often a good idea to get someone to help you with this part of the process. Your hair, if you have any, should be secured the way you would be wearing it underneath the wig. This is vital if you have hair as otherwise the wig will not fit over your hair properly and will, most likely, be too small. A lot of women opt to wear their hair in cornrows, a braid, or wrapped around their head, with a stocking wig cap in a colour that matches their scalp over the top. This helps to keep the hair as flat as possible and ensure a snug fit and to give a realistic look, without unsightly bumps. When measuring, you should add an extra quarter of an inch to each of the measurements which allows room for bonding as, unless you are completely bald or have a shaved head, you will be bonding the wig just outside your bio (natural) hairline. Many vendors fail to mention this on the measurement instruction charts!

Generally, the options available to custom orders are:

Hair type - Most commonly seen are Indian, Chinese, Mongolian, Malaysian, Brazilian. Whichever you choose beware that if you want the hair to be stick straight, you need to choose Chinese as the other hair types tend to wave up when washed/wet. Bear in mind that different hair types have different individual hair strand thickness, with Chinese being the thickest.

Remy (Cuticle aligned) or Virgin Remy - If possible, opt for virgin hair, but remember that most virgin hair comes in darker colours.

Waves, curls, yaki (African American) texture - You can specify many different textures, ask for sample pictures to make sure that the texture or curl/wave type is what you envisage.

Hair length - this is self explanatory, but remember that hair is measured from crown to tip and unless you specifically ask for the hair to be all the same length, the wig will come in a layered style due to the way the hair is collected from the donors.

Density - most vendors offer from light to heavy. The most common density is light-medium, but density does vary from vendor to vendor so what constitutes light to medium with one vendor may be more sparse or more dense than when ordered from another vendor. If in doubt, ask for a density chart. You can also customize density, which means you can ask for less hair in some areas (e.g. the hairline) and more hair in other areas (e.g. the crown). Your vendor should be able to assist you with this process, if not, beware!

Lace type - most vendors offer French lace and Swiss lace, although some also offer options like thin skin (Polyutherane or PU - a type of flexible silicone/plastic) around the perimeter or to strengthen the seams. French lace is thicker and more durable than Swiss, but this means it is also more visible or detectable.

Lace colour - Lace comes in a range of skin colours, again these vary from vendor to vendor so if in doubt, ask to see samples to ensure a good match. Remember that your scalp colour is usually lighter than the skin on your face.

Part - Left side, Right side or Freestyle. Freestyle means that the hair can be parted wherever you like and is easily brushed back off the face into a ponytail. The way this is achieved is due to the way the hair is ventilated (tied) so if it is important that you can style the wig any way you like, you will generally want to opt for freestyle.

Stretch panel - You usually have the option of a stretch panel either from ear to ear or in the crown. Only opt for a wig without a stretch panel if you are sure your measurements are 100% spot on.

Baby hair - They can be wavy, straight, different lengths, around the entire perimeter, custom (e.g. only at temples or one side). For the most realistic look, attempt to get the baby hair customized to match your own (provide photos to illustrate). It is also a good idea to have baby hair at the nape because you would naturally find new hair growth there and it helps to create a more natural look.

Colour - Ask for a colour chart or ring. It is usually safer to match colour to your bio hair at first and remember blond colours do not have darker roots so can look a little fake.

Highlights - You specify the colour and the ratio. For example, if selecting 25% #8 highlights, then a quarter of the hair (evenly dispersed throughout the wig) will be in colour #8.

Bleached knots - If you have opted for a darker hair colour, you will want the knots to be bleached at the hairline as a minimum, although most vendors do offer the option of bleaching throughout the wig. Be aware that even though nearly all vendors offer this option, more often than not the bleaching is not overly effective and that with each attempt at bleaching, it causes the knots to weaken. If you know that your wig has had the knots bleached, but this has not worked, be very cautious if attempting to do it yourself for that reason. If the knots become too weak the hair will break and you will experience a wig that sheds excessively. There are non-permanent ways of disguising the knots, instructions for which can be found on lace wig forums.