The nicer synthetic wigs I would recommend are
Raquel Welch line. Lots to choose from at about $175 - $300. They are very light weight and adjustable to fit a range of head sizes. The hair is not too shiny. The wigs that say they are "mono top" are nicer and will look like a scalp part. They even have ones now where if you don't have bangs, the hairline looks like it grows right from your head. It's amazing!!! I always wear bangs, but Mom has some w/ the hairline thing and it's mind boggling how completely real that hairline looks.
This is where I've ordered that brand from, but there are other sources, too:
http://www.wigs.com/ and
http://www.wigsalon.com/
Then there's another line I like called
Forever Young. That's what my most recent wigs are and I love them, but they are not as light weight. However, they are MUCH less expensive (under $50... actually like $35!!!). I order them from here:
http://www.voguewigs.com/
I'd recommend starting with the lesser expensive wigs, but realizing if you really like the looks of them but find them too hot (I don't), the Raquel Welch ones are nicer and much lighter weight.
From eBay (way cheaper), I would get wig clips. They're less than $10 for 40 of them and you want the bigger size, not the little tiny ones (get 1" or bigger, will have to convert it to metric measurements when shopping). I sew one clip on either side, and one in the back. The clips are tiny little metal combs, and they will grasp your real hair and hold the wig firmly on. I could do cartwheels (well... as if) and the wig would not come off my head. These are clips I ordered a few weeks ago and the size is perfect:
http://cgi.ebay.com/...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT
If you have high speed internet, you can look on YouTube and search for the Forever Young wigs, Raquel Welch wigs, how to sew in wig clips, etc. That's the best way to get a feel for them other than if you have a friend who can show you in person or a salon that sells them (more expensive, but that's how I got my first ones -- it did help because the styles I thought would look good on me didn't really in person).
The synthetic wigs are so easy and to wash them, I just use a shampoo with conditioner in one. You put shampoo in the sink, fill it with cool - luke warm water, and put your brushed out wig in. Swish it around, let it set about 10 minutes and rinse in cool water. Set it on a stand or form to dry and then brush. It's style and curls will come right back on its own.
Now when I get ready in the morning, I shower and do my make up, then I pin my real (still wet!) hair up with a barret (just pull like a pony tail, twist a few times, and pin to the back of my head) and clip on whatever wig I want that day. I switch it around because I want to, but I think if I stuck with one color and length, people wouldn't know it's a wig. So easy to get ready now in the morning!
PS the synthetic wigs are ready to wear right out of the box or bag, except that I would recommend sewing in those clips. Nothing else holds the wigs in place as well. But as far as how they look, it's like take them out, shake them, and put them on. You're ready to roll!
