Questions and answers about wigs - Zehava Weitzman answers

I am Zehava Weitzman, a custom wig maker with 30 years of experience in the craft. Over those years I have guided thousands of women through choosing a wig, matching the hair, and caring for it over time.

The clients who come to me ask a lot of questions. Is a wig made of natural hair? How long does it last? What is a lace wig? How do you wash a wig? And can it damage your own hair?

In this article I have gathered professional answers to the most common questions about wigs, drawn from the experience I have built making, fitting and dressing wigs.

How long does a wig last?

I like to compare a wig to a car: the more you use it, the more it wears and the more maintenance it needs. A wig is the same - a woman who wears hers every day, morning to night, will wear it out faster than a woman who only wears hers on Shabbat, at events, or a few times a week.

The lace too - the fine, delicate fabric at the front of the wig, at the forehead - needs proper care and maintenance. It is the most fragile part of the wig, so it matters that you protect it and renew it when the time comes.

A quality wig is not something you rush to throw away. Like a car, it can be maintained, renewed and upgraded: treat the lace, add hair where it has thinned, refresh the color, change the style. I have clients who have kept their wigs for many years thanks to proper care.

It is worth remembering that a wig is also a fashion item. Over time the colors, lengths, volumes and styles change. Sometimes the wig is still in good condition, but the client simply wants to refresh it and bring it up to date.

So there is no single number of years that fits every wig. Its lifespan depends on the quality of the hair and the workmanship, how often it is worn, and the care it receives.

Is a wig made of natural hair?

In the past, many wigs were made from a blend of natural and synthetic hair. Today most wigs are made of natural hair, but it is important to know that the words natural hair do not, on their own, promise that the hair is good.

In the wig industry there is natural hair that has gone through heavy chemical processing. In that process the cuticle is stripped from the strand - the natural protective layer - and then color is forced in and the texture is altered.

At first the hair may look smooth, shiny and beautiful, but within a short time it can turn coarse and less natural. Sometimes Chinese hair that has been chemically processed is sold under the name Brazilian hair, even though that is not where it truly came from.

In the wigs I make I use mainly Russian hair and hair from South America. I import the hair myself from steady sources, so I know exactly where it comes from.

I insist on virgin hair - hair that has never been chemically processed and has kept its natural structure, texture and quality. Whenever I can, I also look for hair that came from children, because it is exceptionally fine, soft and beautiful.

Even the label Russian hair does not, by itself, guarantee that the hair is good or right for a wig. Someone without experience can buy Russian hair, but will not necessarily know how to judge its quality or how to use it well.

This is where my knowledge and professional experience come in: knowing how to choose the strand thickness, the texture, the softness and the tone that suit each client. Already during production I am thinking about how the wig will dry after washing, so that it returns naturally to the texture the client chose - straight, wavy or curly.

What is a lace wig?

A lace wig is a wig with a very fine, delicate tulle panel set into the front. We know similar fabrics from bridal gowns and evening dresses, where part of the fabric is almost invisible because it is sheer and matched to the skin tone.

In the wigs I make I use quality Swiss lace, strong and durable for how fine it is. Choosing the right shade of lace and matching it precisely to the client's skin color is essential. When the match is right, the fabric melts into the skin and is almost impossible to see.

Then comes the professional stage: my seamstresses hand-tie the strands into the lace, one strand at a time. The tying is not uniform or artificial - it mimics the natural growth of the client's own hair, which differs from woman to woman.

I match the hair density, the strand thickness, the tone, the growth direction and the hairline to the structure of the face and the natural look of each woman. The goal is a front line so fine and natural that no one can tell it is a wig.

A good lace wig is not simply hair attached to fabric. It is quality raw materials, lace in the right shade, carefully chosen hair, a personal fit, and precise professional handwork.

How do you care for a wig, and do you wash it?

You absolutely do wash a wig, and proper care matters enormously. If you wear your wig every day, I recommend washing it every two to three weeks.

It is best that the wash is done by the wig maker you bought it from. She knows you, she knows the construction of the wig and the type of hair, and she knows how to treat it correctly.

In many cases, washing it yourself without the right technique can cause damage. So where possible, it is better to return to where the wig was made and have it washed there. This is one of the important secrets of proper care.

Beyond that, comb the wig gently before putting it on and after taking it off. Never wear a wig on wet hair, and keep it away from strong heat sources, like a grill or the heat and steam that rise while cooking.

When the wig is not in use, set it neatly on a wig head to preserve its structure and its style.

A good wig is not just hair. It is quality raw materials, a personal fit and precise handwork, together.

What does it mean for a wig to dry naturally?

When a client comes in for an appointment, I assess her hair type and the look that suits her, and together we decide which wig she wants: straight, wavy or curly.

This is where the choice of quality raw material and the right hair really matters. A wig built from good, well-matched hair should return to the chosen texture after washing, with no need to restyle it.

If the client chose a curly wig, after washing it will dry naturally curly, with no curling iron and no blow-dry. If she chose a straight wig, it will dry straight with no blow-dry and no flat iron.

Of course you can add a light touch at the end with a dryer or a curling iron, but there is no need to restyle the whole wig after every wash. That means less exposure to high heat, better hair quality, and a longer life for the wig.

To reach that result, the hair has to be chosen correctly back at the production stage. Its quality and natural texture are what let the wig dry, every single time, into the look the client chose in the first place.

Can you treat a wig like natural hair?

A wig made properly from good natural hair can look and feel almost like your own hair. You can comb it, style it, and enjoy the look and movement of real hair.

But there is an important difference: a wig has clear rules of use and care that you have to know. Combing, washing, touching the hair, putting it on, taking it off and routine maintenance all need to be done correctly. The wrong handling can harm the hair, the lace and the structure of the wig, and shorten its life.

This is why a wig maker's job does not end at the sale. She has to explain to every client personally how to use the wig and look after it, according to the hair type, the construction of the wig, and how often it is worn.

With me, every client gets clear, personal guidance on how to put the wig on, take it off, comb it and care for it properly. Alongside that guidance she receives a video and a written set of care instructions on WhatsApp, so she can come back to them any time and keep the wig looking beautiful and natural for years.

What is a medical wig, and is it only for women who are ill?

There is no wig made solely for women who are ill. The term medical wig refers to a wig made to measure for a woman coping with partial or complete hair loss, with particular attention to comfort, scalp sensitivity, and her sense of security.

The fitting is done with personal guidance and in full partnership with the client. Because there is no hair beneath the wig, I sew it specifically to her head measurements, so that it sits precisely and steadily and she can feel certain it will not shift or slip.

In the medical wigs I make I do not use clips. Instead I use special fabrics that help the wig hold to the head comfortably and securely. The precise fit to the shape of her head adds to that stability.

I make sure the inner cap is made of elastic cotton, light and breathable, to give the scalp softness and comfort through the day. At the same time I carefully match the hair type, texture, color and density to her natural look.

Where possible, we work from photographs taken before the hair loss. My seamstresses tie the hair at the forehead to follow the natural hairline she used to have, to recreate her previous look as precisely as we can.

My goal with a medical wig is not only to make a wig that is light, comfortable and stable, but to give a woman back the face she knows - so that she feels natural and secure, and no one can tell she is wearing a wig.

Can you sleep in a wig?

You can rest in your wig on the sofa, especially if you would rather not take it off around your family. Sleeping in it every night, however, is not advisable and is usually not comfortable either.

During sleep the wig rubs against the pillow, which can cause tangles, dryness, breakage, and wear to the lace and the inner structure. It is also important to take the wig off from time to time during the day, to let your own hair and scalp breathe.

Some women still want to sleep in their wig, and it has been done. It is possible, but understand that sleeping in it increases the wear. In that case, gather the wig's hair gently and try to sleep as still as you can, to reduce movement and friction.

With me, every client receives a wig head to set the wig on once she takes it off. Before bed, take the wig off, comb it gently, and set it neatly on the wig head. That is how you protect the hair, the lace and the shape of the wig over time.

Will a wig ruin my natural hair?

A wig that is properly fitted and properly worn should not ruin your own hair. Damage tends to come when the wig presses, pulls on the hair, or creates constant friction in the same spot.

Do not tie your hair tightly beneath the wig, do not wear it on wet hair, and take it off from time to time so your hair and scalp can breathe. Be gentle putting it on and taking it off, and do not pull at your hair.

Over the years I have met more than a few clients whose hair was damaged by prolonged use of extensions and bonding. When they stopped the things that pulled and loaded the hair and moved to a wig that was fitted correctly, the hair and scalp finally had a chance to rest and recover. In many cases I saw the hair grow back stronger.

It is important to understand that a wig itself is not a medical treatment for hair growth. Its advantage is that it lets you avoid extensions, bonding and repeated pulling on your own hair, and so gives it better conditions to recover. How fast and how fully varies from woman to woman, and depends on the condition of the hair and scalp.

In summary

A good wig is not just hair. It is quality raw materials, a personal fit, lace in the right shade, professional hair selection, precise handwork, and proper care over time.

Everything here is written out of my 30 years of making and fitting wigs for women. The more you understand about your wig and the better you care for it, the longer it will stay natural, beautiful and comfortable.

Zehava Weitzman - custom wigs from natural hair, Bnei Brak.