Color and light are intrinsically linked. Color is the effect of any form of light reflecting off of pigment. Pigment, as you likely already know, is simply what the natural coloring of something is—which means the actual pigment of a wig and the color you see when you look at that wig aren’t always the same!
The same color wig could look very different depending on how much light is reflecting off of the wig. Just like with natural hair, wigs tend to look brighter and more detailed outside under a full sun, and darker and less textured inside or late at night.
Naturally, this can make choosing the right wig for you somewhat challenging. So read on to learn how to make the right choice when choosing your wig color!
The Best Wig Color For You
Before you pick the color, you need to pick the right type of wig for you. Do you want a human hair wig, a synthetic wig, or a heat-friendly synthetic wig? This choice is important, because the same color on each type of wig will look slightly different! If you’re searching for an auburn colored wig, the same auburn color will look warmer on human hair wigs and cooler on synthetic wigs. And if you want a heat-friendly synthetic wig, you’ll need to examine the wig in person or talk to an expert: these types of wigs largely vary in warmth depending on the manufacturer.
Wig Color For Your Skin Tone
Picking a wig for your skin tone is simple enough when you get the hang of it, but it can be tricky to start. In general, you want to choose colors that are no more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair color—or, to be really safe, stay within your natural shade for your first few wigs. When you want to go much lighter or darker, change the color gradually so that you can get used to it.
Of course, you don’t have to stick with just one color! Feel free to play within the color range of your hair’s temperature. All hair has a warm tone or cool tone. While you’ll want the base to be within two shades of your natural hair color, you can absolutely pick a wig with much lighter or darker highlights to spice things up. Just be careful if you’re considering investing in a human hair wig. Make sure it’s a color that’ll work for you for a long time!
Understand Wig Color Descriptions
If you’re buying your wig online, choosing a color can be a challenge! With over a large variety of colors to choose from, your decision may seem impossible. Plus, each color description has all those seemingly illogical letters and numbers. What’s a wig wearer supposed to do?
Contrary to how it may look, the color system is actually pretty simple once you get the hang of it:
● Blacks range from 1 to 1B.
● Browns range from 2 to 12.
● Blondes range from 14 to 26.
● Natural reds range from 27 to 33.
● Vibrant reds range from 130 to 134.
● Grays range from 34 to 60.
So when you’re choosing a color, you’ll know you’re picking a darker shade if it has a higher number in its particular range (and vice versa). Now all you have to do is find a wig you like, and you’ll be all set for picking the right color!
