The question gets asked as either-or, but that's rarely how it works. Most of our customers have both and switch depending on the day. Still, you have to start somewhere, so here's what actually separates them.
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, it needs no styling, and it costs little enough that you can have several and wash them in rotation.
Above all, it makes nothing of the situation. You put it on and go. On the days when your energy is short, that matters more than you'd 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 glances. At work, at parties and in photographs, that's the whole reason for many people.
It also gives back a silhouette you recognise in the mirror. That's a different thing from covering your head.
What actually differs
- Warmth. A wig is warmer. In summer and in warm rooms you notice it clearly.
- Time. The turban is on straight away. A wig takes a few minutes and sometimes a little adjusting.
- Skin. Both work on a sensitive scalp, but that depends on flat seams and no glue being used. Our wigs are glueless.
- Cost. A turban costs a few hundred kronor, a wig from around two thousand upwards. See what a wig costs.
- Upkeep. A turban goes in the machine. A wig needs more care, especially in human hair.
How most people do it
A common pattern looks roughly like this. Wig at work and for occasions where you want hair. Turban at home, at appointments, in the garden and when it's warm. A sleep cap when your head gets cold at night.
The first weeks after the hair has gone are often when the scalp is most tender. Many people choose the turban then, even on days they would otherwise have reached for the wig.
When only one is needed
Some people never want a wig. They find it feels foreign, or they simply prefer a turban. That's a perfectly good choice and not one 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 the freedom to choose, not an obligation.
Prescriptions in Sweden
The regional grant is primarily intended for wigs. Some Swedish regions allow it to be used for a turban or scarf as well, others don't, and a few have a separate amount for head coverings. What applies where you live is set out on our page for your region, and we're happy to help you read your prescription. If you're ordering from outside Sweden, this doesn't apply to your order.
Three questions that usually decide it
What will you be doing in it? Working among people who don't know, or being at home in peace? The first points to a wig, the second to a turban.
How much energy do you have? The more tired you are, the more there is to be said for something that goes on in three seconds.
How does your skin feel? If the 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 have to order anything the same day. We're in Stockholm and Uppsala, and we're just as happy to do it as a video call if you're not up to travelling.
See turbans and head coverings and wigs for hair loss and cancer treatment. If you've just been given a diagnosis, the practical side is gathered in our guide to head coverings during cancer treatment.