After 17 years of working with wigs, we've heard it all: it slips, it itches, it looks like a wig. We don't see these as problems – we see them as questions with answers, and almost all of them can be solved in the salon or with the right product at home.
Here are the eight issues our customers contact us about most, and what to do about them.
1. The wig slips or feels insecure
Nine times out of ten this comes down to fit, not to the wig itself. A wig that's one size too big will move, no matter how much you adjust it.
How to solve it:
- Tighten the adjustable straps at the nape – most wigs have two or three settings.
- Use a wig cap or a grip band to create friction against the skin.
- If you have your own hair underneath, flatten it evenly, ideally in flat braids, so the surface is smooth.
- With hair loss or a completely bare scalp, friction is what's missing. A velvet or silicone grip band replaces what your own hair would otherwise do. All our wigs are glueless – you should never need glue or tape to keep a wig in place.
- Our Comfort Cap has no clips or combs at all, just adjustable drawstrings and a thin edge. It suits a sensitive scalp especially well, and anyone who finds clips uncomfortable. Unsure which cap suits you? See our guide to finding the right cap.
If none of that works, the wig is simply the wrong size. Then it's worth replacing – a wig you don't trust is a wig you won't wear.
2. It itches and rubs
Itching usually happens when the material sits directly against a sensitive scalp, often combined with heat and sweat. It's particularly common with hair loss after treatment, when the scalp is already fragile.
How to solve it:
- Wear a thin cotton or bamboo wig cap underneath.
- Wash the wig more often if you wear it daily – old sweat and product residue irritate the skin.
- Avoid alcohol-based sprays near the hairline.
- Keep your own scalp soft with a mild, moisturising product from our range for scalp problems.
3. It looks like a wig
This is rarely the hair's fault. It usually comes down to three things: too much density on top, a hairline that's too straight, and a shine that doesn't exist in natural hair.
How to solve it:
- A cut. A wig straight out of the box has a factory cut. Have a hairdresser cut it to your face – it's the single biggest difference you can make. We do it as part of our wig services.
- The hairline. Short, uneven baby hairs along the edge bring the line to life. On a lace wig, the hairline can be plucked to a softer density by a professional.
- The parting. A light powder or foundation in your skin tone across the parting removes that sharp white contrast.
- The shine. Dry shampoo or a light mattifying spray tones down excess gloss, especially on synthetic hair.
4. The lace shows or doesn't match your skin
Lace should disappear against the skin. If it doesn't, it's either too dark, too light or too long.
How to solve it:
- Trim the lace close to the hairline, in small uneven cuts rather than one straight line.
- Tint the lace with a light foundation or powder in your skin tone.
- Choose the right construction from the start: a half lace is enough for most people, while full lace gives you the freedom to wear the hair up. See the difference between lace closure and lace frontal, and read more about our wig models.
5. The hair tangles at the nape
Friction against collars, scarves and shoulders. It affects long wigs in both real hair and synthetic, and it shows underneath first.
How to solve it:
- Brush from the ends upwards, always on dry or lightly damp hair, never hard on wet hair.
- Use a leave-in or a light oil on the ends, not at the base.
- Braid or pin the hair up when you're wearing winter clothes and when you sleep.
- A silk or satin pillowcase noticeably reduces tangling over time.
6. It loses its shape after washing
A wig isn't a hairstyle that falls into place by itself. Left to dry in a heap in the sink, it comes out flat on the head and bulky at the ends.
How to solve it:
- Wash with a gentle shampoo and conditioner made for wigs in lukewarm water, always from the ends upwards.
- Squeeze the water out, never rub.
- Let the wig dry on a wig stand so it keeps its shape. A wig stand with an opening for a hairdryer dries it from the inside out, quickly and without you having to hold the dryer.
- Synthetic hair should air dry and needs haircare made for synthetic fibre. Real hair tolerates heat, but use heat protection.
7. Headaches and pressure
If the wig is strapped too tightly, or if you're tightening the straps to compensate for the wrong size, you'll feel pressure at the temples after a few hours.
How to solve it: loosen the straps a notch, switch to a model with a soft edge, and check the size. A properly fitted wig is one you can forget you're wearing.
8. The colour isn't right
Screens lie, and the same shade looks different in daylight and under lamplight.
How to solve it: a real-hair wig can be toned darker by a hairdresser. Going lighter rarely works well – bleaching already processed hair is a risk we advise against. If you're unsure about the shade, book a fitting rather than guessing.
Most things can be solved
We've seen wigs that the customer was ready to put away for good become favourites again after a cut and the right care. What feels like a hopeless problem is usually one detail – the fit, the care routine, or a cut that never happened.
In the webshop you'll find wig stands, wig caps, accessories and haircare for both real hair and synthetic.
If you'd like help in person, you're welcome at any of our locations:
- Fairwithwigs by Fairwithhair, Norrtullsgatan 26B, Stockholm – our wig shop with real hair only, plus accessories, turbans and wig services. By appointment only, weekdays 10.00–19.00, weekends by arrangement.
- Fairwithhair Odenplan, Norrtullsgatan 26A, Stockholm – salon and shop, Monday to Friday 10.00–19.00, Saturdays by arrangement.
- Fairwithhair Uppsala, Skolgatan 49 – by appointment.
We're also an approved supplier for wig prescriptions (rekvisition) in all 21 Swedish regions, and have been for many years. If you have a prescription from your region, we'll guide you through the whole process.