The question is often asked as either-or, but that's rarely how it works in practice. Most of our customers have both and switch depending on the day. Still, you have to start somewhere, so here's what actually sets them apart.
What a turban is good at
It takes three seconds to put on and weighs almost nothing. It doesn't get warm in the same way, needs no styling, and costs so little that you can have several and wash them in between.
Above all, it doesn't make a big deal of the situation. You put it on and go. On days when your energy is low, that matters more than you might think.
What a wig is good at
It looks like hair. That sounds obvious, but the point is social: with a wig you get fewer questions and fewer looks. At work, at parties and in photos, that's the main reason for many people.
It also gives you back an outline you recognise in the mirror. That's something different from covering the head.
What really makes the difference
- Warmth. A wig is warmer. In summer and in warm rooms you'll really notice it.
- Time. A turban is on in an instant. A wig takes a few minutes and sometimes a little adjusting.
- Your skin. Both work with a sensitive scalp, as long as the seams are flat and no glue is used. Our wigs are glueless.
- Price. A turban costs a few hundred SEK, a wig from around 2,000 SEK and up. See what a wig costs.
- Care. A turban goes in the washing machine. A wig needs more care, especially one in real hair.
What most people do
A common pattern looks something like this: a wig at work and on occasions where you want to have hair. A turban at home, at medical appointments, in the garden and when it's warm. A sleep cap when your head gets cold.
In the first weeks after the hair has fallen out, the scalp is often at its most tender. That's when many people choose a turban even on days they would otherwise have worn their wig.
When you only need one
Some people never want a wig. It feels unfamiliar to them, or they simply prefer a turban. That's a perfectly good choice and nothing you need to justify.
Others wear a wig every day and never use a turban. That's common too. The point of having both is freedom of choice, not obligation.
The requisition
The grant from your Swedish region – a requisition (rekvisition) – is primarily intended for a wig. Some regions allow it to be used for a turban or scarf as well, others don't, and some have a separate amount for headwear. What applies where you live is on our page for your region, and we're happy to help you read through your requisition.
Three questions that usually decide it
What will you be doing in it? Working among people who don't know, or relaxing at home? The first points to a wig, the second to a turban.
How much energy do you have? The more tired you are, the more it makes sense to choose something that's on in three seconds.
How does your skin feel? If your scalp is tender, most people start with a turban and add a wig once the skin has settled.
Try both before you decide
The consultation is free and you don't need to order anything on the day. We're in Stockholm and Uppsala, and we're just as happy to do it as a video call if you don't feel up to travelling.
See our turbans and headwear and wigs for hair loss and cancer treatment. If you've just received the news, we've gathered the practical information in our guide to headwear during cancer.