How Much Should I Pay for a Human Hair Wig in London?

Short answer: expect to pay between £400 and £2,400 for a quality human hair wig in London. 

Where you land in that range depends on four things — the origin and grade of the hair, how the wig is constructed, its length and density, and how much customisation it needs to look like it grew out of your own scalp.

That's the honest range. Anything advertised well below it is almost never what it claims to be, and we'll explain why further down.

At Simmys Wigs London in Hendon, we've been fitting wigs for twenty-five years. In that time the single most common thing we hear on a first consultation is some version of "I had no idea what a fair price was." This guide is written to fix that — whether you buy from us or not.

The quick version

Wig type	Starting price	Typical range
Closure wig	£400	£400 – £900
Lace front wig	£400	£400 – £1,600
Full lace wig	£600	£600 – £2,400

Prices reflect 100% Remy human hair. Longer lengths and higher densities sit at the upper end of each band.

You can see the current range in our human hair wigs London collection, where each piece is listed with its construction, length and density so you can match the specification to the price rather than guessing.

What actually drives the price

1. Hair origin and grade

This is the largest single factor, and it's where the biggest quality gap between suppliers hides.

We use 100% Remy human hair exclusively. Remy means the cuticles are intact and all aligned in the same direction, exactly as hair grows. That alignment is what stops a wig from tangling and matting after a few months of wear. Non-Remy hair has been stripped of its cuticle and coated in silicone to feel smooth in the shop — which works beautifully until the third or fourth wash, when the coating goes and the hair turns coarse.

Brazilian hair is thicker with a naturally dense body, which suits fuller styles and holds a curl well.

European hair is finer, lighter and silkier, with a texture closest to Northern European hair types. It's harder to source and priced accordingly, but for many clients it's the only thing that reads as genuinely their own.

The difference between these two isn't a matter of one being better. It's about matching the hair to your own texture, and it's a large part of what a consultation is for.

2. Construction

How a wig is built determines how it moves, how it parts, and how convincing the hairline looks.

Closure wigs use a small section of lace or silk at the crown to create a realistic scalp appearance where you part the hair. The parting is fixed, which means less styling flexibility but also less daily maintenance. From £400.

Lace front wigs have a lace panel across the front hairline, so the hair appears to grow directly from your forehead. You can part and style the front freely and pull hair back from the face. From £400.

Full lace front wigs are built on a lace cap throughout, which means the hair can be parted anywhere and worn in a high ponytail or updo without revealing a base. This is the most labour-intensive construction and the most versatile. From £600.

3. Length and density

Longer wigs cost more for a simple reason: more hair, and longer hair is rarer and harder to source in a single donor batch.

Length	Price range
12 – 14 inches	£400 – £650
16 – 20 inches	£650 – £900
22 – 30 inches	£900 – £2,400

Density — the amount of hair on the cap, expressed as a percentage — moves the price within each band. We work between 130% and 200%.

Most people instinctively ask for more density than they need. A 130% to 150% density reads as natural on the majority of head shapes, because real hair simply isn't as thick as most wigs are made. Going to 180% or 200% is right for some styles and some face shapes, but it costs more and it's the most common reason a wig looks like a wig.

4. Customisation

An off-the-shelf wig and a fitted wig are different products, and the work in between is where a lot of the value sits.

• Bleaching the knots so the points where hair is tied to the lace don't show as dark dots against the scalp

• Plucking the hairline to thin the front density and create the irregular, slightly sparse edge that real hairlines have

• Cutting and styling to your face — the same wig cut two different ways looks like two different products

• Colouring to blend with your existing hair, or to a shade that suits your skin tone

  
  

Human hair or synthetic? The real cost comparison

A good synthetic wig costs a fraction of a human hair wig — typically £150 to £400 — and for some people it's absolutely the right choice. But comparing the two on sticker price alone is misleading.

A synthetic wig has a fixed style. It can't be restyled with heat, it can't be recoloured, and it will typically last four to six months with regular wear before the fibres lose their finish. A human hair wig, cared for properly, lasts two to three years in daily wear and considerably longer if you rotate between two.

Run the numbers over three years. Three to six synthetic wigs at £250 each is £750 to £1,500. One human hair wig at £700, with occasional professional refreshes, sits in the same territory — and behaves like your own hair throughout.

Cost per wear is the number that matters. A £900 wig worn daily for two years works out at roughly £1.20 a day. That framing tends to be more useful than the price tag when you're deciding what to spend.

Synthetic still wins in specific cases: as a second wig for gym or holiday use, for someone going through treatment who wants something low-maintenance for a defined period, or where the budget genuinely doesn't stretch. There's no snobbery in it.

What you get at each price point

£400 – £650. A shorter closure or lace front wig in Remy hair, 130% to 150% density, 12 to 14 inches. This is a real, wearable, natural-looking wig — not an entry-level compromise. For a client who wants a bob or a shoulder-length style, it may be all you ever need.

£650 – £1,000. Mid-length, 16 to 20 inches, with more scope on construction and density. This is where most of our clients land, and it's the range where you can start specifying European hair on shorter lengths.

£1,000 – £2,400. Long lengths, full lace construction, higher densities, and European hair on longer pieces. At this level you're paying for scarcity of raw material as much as for craftsmanship — 24-inch single-donor European hair is genuinely difficult to source.

Red flags: what a cheap "human hair" wig usually is

If you see a 20-inch human hair wig advertised at £120, one of the following is true, and often several:

• It isn't Remy. The cuticles have been stripped and the hair silicone-coated. It will tangle badly within weeks.

• It's mixed. A percentage of synthetic fibre blended in, which is why it won't take heat.

• It's mixed-donor. Hair collected from many sources and blended, so the textures never quite match and the wig ages unevenly.

• The lace is cheap and thick, so the hairline sits on your forehead rather than disappearing into it.

• There's no fitting. You'll receive a wig cap in a box with a style that hasn't been cut to your face.

The cost of the mistake isn't the £120. It's the £120 plus the money you then spend on the wig you should have bought first.

Sheitels, bandfalls and specialist fittings

A significant part of our work is fitting sheitels for the Jewish community, and the pricing considerations there overlap with everything above but add a few of their own — cap construction for all-day comfort, hairline placement, and the way the piece sits under a headband or hat.

We fit sheitels, bandfalls and falls, and the sheitel fittings we do at our Hendon salon are consultation-led from the first appointment. If you're considering a bandfall specifically, our bandfall wigs range covers the standard constructions.

Wigs for medical hair loss

If you're facing hair loss through alopecia, chemotherapy or another medical cause, the buying process is different — often more urgent, usually more emotional, and sometimes partially funded.

We're a partner of Alopecia UK, and we fit for clients at every stage of hair loss. A few practical points:

• The NHS provides vouchers toward wigs for some patients. Eligibility and value vary by trust — ask your specialist nurse.

• Some private health insurance covers a hair prosthesis. Check your policy wording for "cranial prosthesis" or "hair prosthesis" rather than "wig".

• Cap construction matters more when there's no hair underneath. A comfortable, well-fitted cap on a sensitive scalp is worth more than an extra inch of length.

• Come before you lose the hair if you can. Matching to your natural colour and texture is far easier with the original in front of us.

  
  

What's included when you buy from us

The price of a wig at Simmys covers more than the wig.

• A free consultation where we look at your hair, face shape and lifestyle before recommending anything

• Fitting the cap so it holds securely without pressure points

• Cutting and styling the piece to your face

• Aftercare guidance, in person, on washing and daily handling

• Ongoing servicing — wigs need refreshing, and we do it

We're at 8 Parson Street, Hendon, London NW4. Consultations are by appointment so that you have the room and the time without being rushed.

Making it last: protecting the investment

Wash sparingly. Every seven to ten wears is enough for most people. Over-washing is the fastest way to age a wig. Use a sulfate-free shampoo and a conditioner, and never rub — smooth downward.

Condition the ends, not the roots. The hair isn't receiving natural oils from a scalp, so the ends dry out first.

Protect from heat. A human hair wig can be heat-styled, which is the point of it — but use a heat protectant every time and keep tools at a moderate temperature. The hair doesn't repair itself.

Store it on a stand. A mannequin head or wig stand holds the cap's shape and stops the style collapsing. Never store a wig damp or folded in a drawer.

Rotate if you can. Two wigs alternated will each last considerably more than twice as long as one worn daily.

Frequently asked questions (Human Hairs Wigs London)

How much does a human hair wig cost in the UK? Between £400 and £2,400 for quality Remy human hair, depending on construction, length and density. Shorter closure and lace front wigs start at £400; long full lace pieces in European hair reach the top of the range.

Why are human hair wigs so expensive? The raw material is the main cost. Ethically sourced, single-donor Remy hair of consistent length and texture is scarce, particularly above 20 inches. Beyond that you're paying for hand-tied construction, which is slow skilled work, and for the fitting and cutting that make the piece look like yours.

How long does a human hair wig last? Two to three years in daily wear with proper care, and longer if you alternate between two. Synthetic wigs typically last four to six months of regular wear.

Can I dye a human hair wig? Yes, though we'd strongly recommend having it done professionally. Wig hair has already been processed and doesn't respond to colour the way hair on a scalp does — going lighter is particularly risky.

Can I wash a human hair wig at home? Yes. Use cool water, a sulfate-free shampoo, and don't rub or wring. Let it air dry on a stand rather than blow drying it wet.

Is a lace front or a full lace wig better? Neither is better outright. A lace front gives a natural hairline at a lower price and is the right choice for most people. Full lace costs more but lets you part anywhere and wear the hair up, which matters if you want a ponytail.

Do I need an appointment? For a proper fitting, yes. It means you get the room, the time, and someone's full attention rather than being served between other customers.

What density should I choose? Most people look most natural between 130% and 150%. Higher densities suit particular styles and face shapes, but over-density is the most common reason a wig reads as a wig.

Come and see the difference

The honest truth about wig pricing is that you can't judge it from a screen. Two wigs at the same price can look completely different once they're on, and the fitting matters as much as the specification.

Browse the current human hair wigs range to get a feel for the constructions and price points, then book a consultation at our Hendon salon and we'll find the one that suits your hair, your face and your budget.

Twenty-five years of fittings, and we still think that's the only way to do it properly.