After being in the business for a while, we have realized that a lot of customers do not do enough research on this product before they purchase and therefore end up asking a lot of the same questions. So we have decided to compile some information so that you won't have to do a lot of research.  We hope that you find this information helpful.

What Are Lace Wigs?

Lace Wigs are wigs made to appear as your own growing hair.  They are usually custom made to your own head measurements but can also be purchased pre-made (also called stock wigs).  Each wig can normally take between 4-8 weeks to be made and shipped out to the customer depending on the market.  They are made of the Highest Quality Indian, Chinese, or European Remy Hair (your choice of which), where the hairs are handtied onto a fragile lace base.  Indian & Chinese Hairs being used to achieve African American Textures and European Hair being used to achieve Caucasian Texture (Indian Hairs may also be used for this texture as well).  Each hair type can be chemically textured to your desire when placing your custom order.

Each of the hairs are hand-tied onto the lace, which is flesh-toned, to give the appearance of hairs growing out of your scalp when properly applied.  Each of the handtied knots are bleached to aid in the illusion of the hairs growth.  Think of a pair of pantyhose.  You are able to go into the store and purchase them in any skin tone you like (just as you can do with the different caps of the lace wigs), then when you place them over your leg, it blends as your own skin, (also like the lace wig when placed over your head).  Although the lace used for making lace wigs is fragile just as pantyhose, it is more durable than pantyhose, but the idea is still the same.  Imagine each little hole on the pantyhose being used to tie single strands of hair onto.  Then if you placed it over your skin, it would appear as your own skin, only with hair hanging down.  Add a flesh toned wig cap underneath to cover your own hair if you have any and you now have the concept of the lace wig!

These wigs are seen on television, movies, and stageplays quite often.  Many of todays hottest celebrities are wearing them from Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Patti LaBelle, Mary J Blige, and even Jennifer Hudson!  These wigs were very big in the movies Dream Girls and White Chicks where the Wayans Brothers played two beautiful women and wore blonde wigs.  Yes, they were lace wigs!

These wigs are perfect for hairloss patients, women on the go, women in the entertainment industry, or any woman who just wants a change without dealing with the stress on their own hair.  Imagine getting beautiful hilites without damaging your hair, or even a hair cut without cutting your hair!  A Lace Wig can work wonders for you!  The versatility these wigs provide is unmatched.  They are so versatile that they can even be pulled into high ponytails without showing that its not your own hair!

But don't think of them as hair extensions... Think Hair System, a system of beautification!

Who Makes Them?

As many lace wig companies do, we have a factory located in Asia whom we have a great working relationship with who makes our wigs and hair extensions.  On average, it takes any where from 70-90 hours to make one lace wig.  This does not include the process of constructing the caps, gathering the hair, cleaning the hair, coloring the hair, texturing the hair, and so on.  Each wig is hand tied by factory workers who put in long hours to construct each wig carefully and correctly.  So you see, it is hardly likely for every company to have a factory here who can make their wigs and extensions for them.  This would result in higher costs for the wigs, and longer wait times as well.  So many products that we have in the U.S. are made in other countries and our hair is no exception.  Thus, we are very honest with you and let you know that we do not make the wigs ourselves, but instead contract the work out to Asia.

The Hair... What is Remy Hair?

Often when educating yourself on a new product there are certain terms you may not understand.  With Lace Wigs, the most common term used is 'Remy Hair'.  So what is Remy Hair?  Remy or Remi Hair is very high quality human hair that has been cut from the donors head and has been minimally processed so the hairs' cuticles are still in tact.  It is beautiful, soft, silky, but has body, and is tangle-free.  This type of hair is very expensive because its some of the highest quality hair in the world.  Its in high demand for wigs and is not as easily obtained as lesser quality hair.

How Long Do They Stay On?

How long the wig stays on your head depends on the adhesive you use and how it interacts with your skin. There are many different types and brands of adhesives out there and more are being created or being found to be used for this technique, everyday!  Some of the popular names are Blue Liner Tape; a double sided tape cut into strips to be lined at the hairline of the wig itself and bonded to your skin (vice versa) and Ultra Hold; a very strong adhesive, but can be very difficult to use for beginners because of its very stringy mixture.  Other popular names are Spirit Gum; a theatrical makeup adhesive used in stageplays and movies and Safe Grip; an adhesive most like Elmers School Glue, with its pasty effect.  There are many more adhesives, we only name a few.  Each adhesive differs as far as its hold time, its strength, and its effect on your skin.  So actually there is no real way of a seller judging which adhesive will work best for you.  No one adhesive is a work for all because there are too many things that may come into play with each.  To avoid an issue with adhesives, it is best that you purchase an adhesive package which is a combination of 2 or more different adhesives so that you have options and are not stuck with only one option.  Either way, what needs to be kept in mind when wearing these wigs and choosing your adhesives, the focus does not necessarily have to be on the hold time per say because it is wise to have a removal schedule where you remove your wig, clean your scalp, and reapply.  This should have every week to week and a half at the least.  This is to keep your own hair and scalp properly cleaned.

For most adhesives, you get a better hold by allowing the adhesive to dry first, then bonding the lace into the adhesive.  This could mean when the adhesive has turned clear or is tacky depending on the choice of adhesive.  Usually the most difficult place to keep a good hold is at the nape of the neck.  This is becuase this is where most of the hairs oils tend to clog and will result in the loosening of the adhesives bond, ending in the lifting of the lace.  This forseen problem may call for the use of 'adhesive combinations'.  Using a combinations of adhesives will not only give you a longer hold, but a stronger hold as well.  This is needed because it is not unusual for one to have to 'touch up' their adhesive application from time to time, even with some of the best applications.

How Will It Fit Me?

How the wig fits depends on your measurements.  The measurements are the most important part of your custom ordering process. You must measure your head at 6 different points with a flexible tape measurer which can be found at any craft store.  1.) Circumference 2.) From Front to Nape 3.) Ear to Ear Across Front Hairline 4.) Ear to Ear Over Top of Head 5.) Temple to Temple 6.) Nape of Neck.  In order to conduct the measurements successfully, you must prepare your head as if you were actually ready to apply the wig.  This means that the way you anticipate wearing your hair once the wig is received is the way you should wear it for the measurements.  You have a few choices; braided going straight back, in a circular pattern like a beehive, using gel going straight back, or using gel to do a hard wrap. 

When conducting your measurements, the idea of where the adhesive will lay comes into play.  Lets say you have a larger than desired forehead and wanted to create a new hairline.  You are able to start your measurements from where you want the new hairline to start, then when you receive the wig, remember where you started the measurement and that is where you will lay the adhesive.  Your objective is to not allow the adhesive to touch your own hair.  So this may result in adding a few centimeters to your measurements if necessary.  Some may find this annoying considering their hairline may look awkward, but you must keep in mind that these wigs were designed for women with hairloss, so if you aren't experiencing hairloss, you will have to readjust.

Stock Vs. Custom

Many customers contact us asking if we have any wigs in stock.  A great deal of those customers are first time buyers who have no idea what lace wigs are but are so anxious to get one that they simply don't want to wait out the production time.  Ordinarily we do not keep wigs in stock.  Why, you ask?  Stock wigs are wigs that are pre-made to certain measurements that may not necessarily be your own.  Above, you have read about the measurement process but now I would like to tell you how important your measurements are.  On average, each lace wig will cost you anywhere from $300 and up depending on where you go and some places even $1000's.  So with that type of investment, you would want to make sure that you are investing your money properly and not throwing it down the drain due to your impatience.  Now some sellers will tell you that purchasing a stock wig is okay just as long as your circumference is the same, well, if that was the case, there would be no reason for 5 other points of measurements.  Each point of measurement is important because each persons head is shaped differently. Susan may have the same measuremnts as Tammy around her head, but at the nape of the neck be totally different.  So when Susan goes to try on a wig that was made to Tammy's measurements, she finds that it isn't snug enough for her.  This is because it was not made to Susan's measurements, but Tammy's instead.  This is what you get when you purchase Stock Wigs.  Now this is not to say that we dont ever carry in-stock wigs because we do, or to say that you wouldn't fit a stock wig.  This is to say that stock wigs aren't for everyone and you need to know this before you purchase, and more than likely, you will have to 'make due' with a stock wig rather than it fitting your head exactly like it should when your spending that amont of money on it being a new buyer.

How Long Will It Last?

How long the wig lasts actually depends on you and how well you take care of it.  Keep in mind that it is human hair so it needs to be cared for properly.  Continue good maintenance and it can last as long as you'd like it to.  This means months to years!  Always remember that this is an investment, so maintenance is key! 

Misconceptions

The most inaccurate misconception about lace wigs is that they are a 'solve all' solution to unwanted hair maintenance.  That is not true and actually they are the total opposite.  As stated above, maintenance is key, so you will need to properly shampoo, condition, color retouch, apply, remove, and conduct application touchups.  When purchasing a lace wig, unless you are completely bald you should start out small then work your way up to build up your comfort level.  This will not only perfect your application skills but also shield you from a major investment at first if you later find that it is not for you!  We suggest starting out with our lace frontal and matching wefts or lace front wig which only require you to apply the front hairline with adhesive.  The downfall to that option is not having the versatility to pull your hair up into a high ponytail.  The next step is the Full Lace Wig With Stretch Lace.  Basically you are able to apply the wig but still have a little bit of room for error by having the stretch lace just incase you gave incorrect measurements.  Then you can move up to the full lace. 

We hope that this guide has educated you a great deal.  One thing we are very big on, is product knowlege.  If you don't know what you're purchasing then you don't know where your money is going, and you always want to know where your money is going!