The natural hair care movement continues to go strong. And the resources available to sisters on their journey to natural grows with each wave of the movement. We now have our pick of influencers to follow, and our product selection has gone from the sad bottom shelf to center-aisle displays and umpteen options online.
But let’s face it, caring for our splendid kinks and coils takes work. And time. And money. One solution that can help? Natural hair wigs. As more and more sisters embrace the hair we were born with, the wig industry has upped its game. Gone are the days when wearing a wig meant having hair that looked nothing like yours. Today’s wigs mimic our own crowns and glory, giving us multiple options for length, style and color.
So, if you want to give your hair a break with a protective style, don’t love the in-between phase as you transition to natural or want to rock a larger-than-life Afro one day and slay in two-strand twists the next, wearing wigs is a great option. Plus, in this day of working from home, they can be a lifesaver for that early morning Zoom call.
From inexpensive but well-made synthetic units to human hair wigs that require a small investment, there are plenty of Afro-textured wigs to choose from. We’ve rounded up some options from Black-owned businesses. So, no matter your curl pattern, budget or reason for wearing a wig, you’ll find one — or five — just for you.
Natural Girl Wigs
This is a one-stop shop for Afrocentric wigs, clip-ins and locs. With a selection of over 50 styles — in both a synthetic premium fiber and virgin human hair — there’s something for every taste and budget.
One of the company’s best sellers, Wig Toke, is a 4B/4C textured Afro, available in three sizes — mini, regular and glam — for when you’re feeling a little extra and you want the hair to match. Other popular styles include their Faux Naturale U-part wig, made in their premium synthetic fiber, and the Kinky Blow Out U-part wig, made from virgin human hair. If you’re a wig newbie, the company has a convenient quiz to help get you started (naturalgirlwigs.com).
Shown: Wig Toke – Glam 4B/4C Afrocentric hair, $75
Toni Daley
This is a source for budget-friendly wigs, most priced under $60. Made from 100 percent kanekalon fiber, each unit is hand-curled, giving them a realistic look. The company’s best selling style is Gabrielle, which mimics a voluminous 4b twist out.
Other options include the Blow Dry wig, a natural blowout, and the Toni wig, chunky 4C twists available in multiple colors. In addition to an affordable price tag, each unit comes with complimentary earrings and a tube head wrap — total slayage on a budget (tonidaley.com).
Shown: The Gabrielle wig, $59
Conscious Curls
Angela C. Styles, celebrity hairstylist and author of the children’s book series, The Pretty Curls Club, is the creator of this line of premium crowns, the company's preferred term for wigs. With price points starting at $450 for closure styles, they are not cheap. But neither is their quality. Handcrafted from 100 percent virgin human hair, Conscious’ crowns last several years with proper care.
Best sellers include Ashley, a layered kinky-curly look and, Sydney, a wavy bob. The company offers a variety of textures and options you can combine to create a truly customized crown (consciouscurlshair.com).
Shown: Ashley/Power 18”, $900
Heat Free Hair
Give your locks a break with Heat Free Hair’s wide selection of natural textures. The company offers five collections, covering 3B to 4C curl patterns. Their wigs are made from 100 percent virgin human hair, so you can cut, color and style them as you wish. There’s a lot to choose from, so be sure to use their hair-matching tool to help you get started (heatfreehair.com).
Shown: "For Kurls" queen wig, $509
Hair for the Girls
With four textures to choose from — curls, coils, kinks and straight — shopping this line of wigs is pretty straightforward. All styles are made with human hair and are made-to-order. You can even request some customizations according to your preference. Their best selling style, Coils for the Girls, is a voluminous crown of 3c to 4a coils (hairforthegirls.com).
Shown: Coils wig, $249
Big Chop Hair
If you’re looking exclusively for natural textures made from human hair, peep the selection at Big Chop Hair. All of their wigs can be colored and heat-styled and come in multiple lengths. The company’s best selling texture, Corkscrew Curl, gives you an abundant crown of curls. (bigchophair.bigcartel.com).
Popular: Corkscrew Curl U-part wig, $240 – $590
