Wearing a wig to grow out a short cut?

I've worn wigs before, but not for that purpose.  I just wear them for fun, or if I'm having a really had hair day.  If my hair is having a style transition, I usually just try to use accessories to ease it.

I've never owned a mono wig, but from what I know of them, they're meant to be good.  But even a less expensive wig with a fake skin part can fool a lot of people.

If you plan to wear your wig every day, springing for a good, quality one might be worth it.  If you only plan to wear it once in a while, though, you'll be perfectly fine with one costing maybe 1/3 of that.

Update: I went wig-shopping and discovered that to duplicate the finer,
straighter texture of my own hair I really did need a microfilament wig. I
found one I really love. I ordered it from a good wig store. They had to
order the color I wanted from the manufacturer. It should be delivered in
a few days, then will need to be sized and cut. I am so excited about
having another option other than suffering during the six months or so in
the grow-out process when the length and layers get really weird and
nasty. Thanks so much for the feedback. I've been talking to other
women and have been surprised at the number of them who have worn or
considered wearing a wig and don't think it is a silly idea at all. If I'm
feeling really brave, maybe I'll even post a picture once I get used to my
new look.

Thanks for asking for an update. It has been a fun and fascinating
process delving into the world of wigs. Overall I would say that I LOVE
LOVE LOVE having the option to pop on my fake hair and, in about a
minute, look absolutely fabulous! It makes that run to the grocery store
when you've been schlepping around the house in mattress hair all day so
much less of a hassle.

The hardest part for me has been getting the knack of wearing a wig
comfortably. I have a large head and the first wig I bought (yep, I have
three now!) was a little small. I've had it blocked to make it larger and it
fits more comfortably. (Wigs 2 and 3 came larger and are more
comfortable even now.) Still, it takes some getting used to having
something on your head. I sewed little clips into my wigs to hold them
more securely, and sometimes they catch in my hair and sort of pull a bit.

Also, finding the best way to get my own hair out of the way under the
wig was a challenge. The wig store gave me a wig cap which is a net-like
elasticized thingie to put over your hair. I found with my fine hair that
the net slipped up over time under the wig and would pull on my hair.
What has worked great for me is one of those plastic round stretchy comb
things. I put it around my head like a halo and use it to pull my own hair
up. Then the wig fits over this and the whole thing is secure and pretty
comfortable. Wearing the wig initally, I found it to be a little hot and
itchy, but after a few days this didn't bother me anymore.

As far as what kind of wigs I got and what I've learned, the first thing I
discovered is to BE SURE to go to a good wig shop and try on wigs before
you buy. You will see a wig online or on a wig stand and think it would
look great on you. Then you try it on and you look ridiculous! Personally,
I was hypersensitive about looking foolish or having funny wiggy-looking
hair. I ended up trying on about ten before I found one I liked. I think
that you're best off finding a wig that matches the approximate texture of
your own hair. Because mine is fine and straight, a straight wig with
much less hair than many of them have looked so much better.

I was also surprised to find a wig color (a deep Level 2 Auburn with Level
4 red highlights) that I liked better than my own hair color...so much so
that I've had my colorist match my natural hair to my wigs. Be willing to
experiment with what color looks most natural and flattering on you.

The next thing I found out is that after you've picked out a wig at the
store, you can probably save a LOT of money finding the one you've
chosen online. I bought my first one from the wig store and paid way too
much but am happy with the wig. The second one was a HUGE mistake. I
just saw one online on sale and bought it. It arrived and was really weird
looking. Unfortunately, when you buy wigs online it is expensive to
return them. Most places have a 45% restocking fee for return. Rather
than return the second wig, I have it at the wig shop being restyled. I'm
hoping that when I'm done I will be able to wear it. My third wig was by
far the smartest purchase I've made. I went to the wig store and found a
style similar to the first one but a bit longer that looked good on me.
Then I went online and found the wig for about $225 less than in the wig
store!

Some other things to know -- any wig you get will need some cutting and
styling once you get it. I think it is better to buy a wig that is very close
to what you are looking for to be sure it will look right when it is done. I
had my first wig slightly styled at the wig store and am really happy with
how it looks. I was afraid that people were going to laugh, but have had
the most amazing responses. Most people respond, "Wow! Your hair
grows fast!" This is a hoot because my hair was a short pixie two months
ago and my first wig is a choppy chin-length bob with bangs and a little
flippy thing in the back. I have had so many women, when they find out I
am wearing a wig say that now they too want to get one!

As far as what kind of wig to get, I would say definitely go the synthetic
route initially. Good human hair wigs are really expensive and require
tons of regular grooming. Synthetic doesn't need styling once you've got
it set in the style you want. It feels totally natural and looks sexy and
shiny and great.

You can probably find a decent inexpensive synthetic wig for under $100
online (don't forget to try it on at the wig store first!) Because I was
looking for a soft, fine, straight, very natural looking wig I've opted for
microfilament wigs. What these have is a very natural looking top section
that can be styled or parted in any different way without looking funky. I
paid a LOT for my first one -- $375 plus blocking and styling. The
second one was $75 on sale but I've paid a bunch trying to get it into a
style I can deal with and may not end up wearing that one at all. Number
3 is fabulous! It has long swept to the side bangs and long curvy layers
around the face. The back is shoulder length and very swishy and soft. I
saw it at $375 in the wig store and found it online for about $150! This
one I had my stylist cut and I am having so much fun wearing it!

Needless to say, I have become an addict to having fuller sexy hair with
body and shape. My plan when my own grows out to approximately the
style of my first wig is to buy some really good clip-in human hair
extensions and have them dyed and cut to fit into my style so that I can
have the same hair experience without a wig. I still plan to have a wig or
two on hand though. They're great for that bad-hair day, when I haven't
gotten my roots done recently, or for that trip to the store when I just
don't want to mess with my real hair.

This is probably the funniest part of my experience: I've had very short
hair for several years and had noticed in passing that I wasn't getting
much attention from men. I've been happily partnered for a long time so
this wasn't much of an issue for me. However, since I've gotten my new
hair, I am amazed at the amount of male attention I'm getting! I'm still
getting used to being stared at -- I still look around to see what in hell
the guy is looking at before I realize it is ME! Woo hoo! Not bad for a
woman turning fifty next month! There is a cute twenty-something dude
who works at the Whole Foods store near me who flirts with me every
time I'm in there. My significant other really liked my short black hair but
has really fallen in love with the new me. He says that having more
feminine hair has brought out a softer, sexier dimension in me. I'm even
looking at those clip-in pony tail things to be able to pull off an up-do
when my own hair gets long enough to be mostly pulled back! I've never
worn an up-do in my life. I can't wait!

So...all in all, if you've got a little money to play with and some time to
experiment and are willing to feel a little self-conscious until the
compliments start coming in, I say go for it!

Edited by kristie m

Kev,

Interesting discussion you started, and yep, I do agree with you. What
I've noticed is that a lot of the more attractive, classy, well-preserved
women in their fifties and even sixties seem to look prettier and more
youthful with slightly longer, softer hair styles. I loved my spiky little
pixie cut but was noticing a LOT of older women in their fifties and sixties
wearing it. It seems to almost be turning into the new "middle-aged
woman" cut but I'm not so sure it is the most flattering on many women
over forty. It IS a grand improvement on the "old lady" do that women my
mom's age seemed to think they needed to get by their late forties --
that short, curling-ironed poofy poodle-looking cut you see so often on
elderly women. (Many of them seem to have pet poodles to match their
hair as well...laffin.)

I'm so glad to be a Baby Boomer who has been presented with an
alternative approach to aging and as well as some amazing role models of
women fifty, sixty and beyond who look and feel fabulous. Certainly
many if not most women of my mom's generation didn't make exercise a
part of their lives from the time they were in their twenties, nor did they
have any problem sitting in the sun roasting their skin while chain
smoking. I know my mom just assumed by the time she was 50 she was
old and has lived from that point with an old lady hairdo and the mindset
to go with it. And yep, she had a matching poodle too!

On my thirtieth birthday I resolved to not go easily into old age and have
been making every effort to keep myself youthful and healthy, inside and
out. My new hair is just the next step in what I hope will be a long,
energetic life. Next step? Probably some new boobs and a little lipo to
match my pretty new hair! Woo hoo!

I have worn wigs before in an attempt to grow out my short hair underneath and destroy the evidence of having short hair, but what I realized is that after wearing wigs for at least 5 months or more I was losing my own hair on both temple sides of my head and I will never do it again. I know that if I had continued to wear the wigs I would have gone bald in those two spots, then I would have really cried. So I suggest with short hair to not wear a wig and if you are a hair freakazoide like me then find some kind of style you can manage with and it will gradually grow out.

I've been wearing mine now for about four months and haven't noticed
any negative changes to my hair. However, I only wear my wigs a few
hours a day, a few days a week. My own hair is now at a length that
actually looks pretty cute if I take the time to style it, but I prefer the look
of longer, fuller hair when I go out.

I've mostly been hanging out in the Extensions forum lately. What an
exciting place that is! I had no idea with the right DIY extensions I could
have longer, thick hair. I am currently about to purchase the materials I
need to make a good set of clip-ins to help get me to the point where I
can wear longer extensions.

I've fallen in love with myself with hair and don't think I'll go super-short
ever again, especially after seeing some pictures of myself last summer
with my pixie cut and then pictures from Thanksgiving with my longer
wig. I'm one of those people who, because of my fine, straight hair, just
learned to like short hair because I thought I had no other options. Now
I'm hoping for a shoulder-length layered cut like my favorite wig. I think
it will be possible to do decent extensions myself that won't damage my
hair and shouldn't cost more than $200 or so a year.