Frequently Asked Questions, Policies, and General Information

Wig Selection Guide

• What is a braided wig?

  A braided wig is a wig that is made into braided strands, with or without adding hair attachments, by weaving or twisting the hair on a wig base into one of the following types of braided strands: cornrows, braids, locs, and twists. Cornrow and braid strands are woven, while twist strands are twisted. Locs strands are made by first weaving the hair into braids, which are then wrapped with locs hair.

  Cornrow wig strands start as cornrows of various styles and end as braids after running attached to the wig cap for varying lengths, while braid (plaits) wig strands are only attached to the wig cap at the starting point of the strands and hang freely all the way to their tips. Locs and twist wig strands, like braid wig strands, are also only attached to the wig cap at the starting point of the strands and hang freely all the way to their tips. For locs wigs, each strand is wrapped with a special hair extension to achieve the locs, while twist wig strands are made by twisting the hair. For wigs, the wig cap represents the scalp.

  Braided wigs, therefore, comprise cornrow, braid, locs, and twist wigs. Note that using this nomenclature, braid wigs (that is, wigs that have been made into braids) are a type of braided wigs.

• What is the difference between a lace closure, a lace frontal, and a full lace wig?

  Lace Closure Wigs

  A lace closure is a piece of thin lace with attached hair fibers. Generally, the measurement of a closure is usually 4 by 4 inches. The lace closure piece is sewn to a wig-making cap, and then braids, cornrows, or twists are added to the hair fibers of the closure piece and throughout the cap. There is a limited number of braid, twist and cornrow styles that can be achieved using a closure. 

  Except for micro twist wigs that are generally lightweight, lace closure braided wigs are heavier than frontal lace and full lace wigs since the lace closure is just 4 by 4 inches, hence more braided strands are needed to cover the cap sufficiently. Depending on the style and length, closure styles weigh from 1.5 to 1.8 pounds.

  Frontal Lace Wigs

  A frontal lace (or lace frontal) is an ear-to-ear stretch of lace with attached hair fibers. The size is usually either 13 by 4 or 13 by 6 inches. The lace frontal piece is sewn to a wig-making cap, and then braids, cornrows, or twists are added to the hair fibers of the frontal piece and throughout the cap. 

  Except for micro twist wigs that are generally lightweight, frontal lace wigs are heavier than full lace wigs since the portion of lace is just 13 by 4 (or 13 by 6) inches, hence more braided strands are needed to cover the cap sufficiently. Compared to lace closure wigs, more braid and cornrow styles can be achieved using a frontal lace. Depending on the style and length, they weigh from 1.3 to 1.8 pounds.

  Full Lace Wigs

  A full lace human hair wig has hair fibers hand-knotted onto the entire lace, which covers the whole scalp. Generally, the crown area has a stretchy fabric, so the cap is adjustable. The color of the stretchy fabric can vary between dark brown, dark beige, and light purple. A full lace human hair wig is transformed into a braided wig by making braids, cornrows, twists, and locs from the hair fibers of the wig. Most braided styles can be achieved on a full lace wig. For braided styles that accommodate ponytails, you can wear the braided wigs in a ponytail when they are constructed using full lace wigs. Because of the intricate the construction of full lace wigs, they are more expensive than lace closure and frontal lace wigs. Depending on the style, density, length, a full lace braided wig weighs from 0.6 to 2.0. pounds.

  Video

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU-gETxzOWI

  Caution

  It is important to note that a similar style made on a full lace, frontal lace, or lace closure will look a little different on each lace type because of the lace size and construction method of each type.

  

  

  

   

• Why do I see excess lace on my wig?

  Our wigs are generally constructed with excess lace. The length of the excess lace varies from 1 to 4 inches. For full lace, the excess will be throughout the circumference of the wig. For frontal and closure wigs, the excess lace will be only in the front of the wig. It is not uncommon to see small holes in the excess lace since that part of the lace is affixed to a mannequin during the wig-making process.

• Can I wear my braided wig in a ponytail?

  This will depend on the style and lace type. For example, the top portion of a small box braid frontal wig can be worn up and a full lace wig box braid can also be worn in an updo. Generally, full lace braided wigs can be worn in a ponytail. But you may have to secure the wig with an adhesive or with a second elastic band in the nape area to prevent the wig from lifting. The product descriptions on the product pages have more information about wearing the wigs in a ponytail.

• What is baby hair on a wig?

  Baby hair is the small portion of hair left out in front of the wig or throughout the wig circumference for concealing the lace. Generally, if you purchase or request a wig with baby hair, the baby hair will be cornrowed. You will need to unravel the cornrow and customize the baby hair using the directions in the wig guide. Seek professional assistance if needed. The thickness of the baby hair is about 80% (light density) to 120% (medium density) while the length varies from 8 to 12 inches. In some instances, the baby hair on our ready to ships wigs has been unraveled and cut.

• Would I need to cut the ear tabs of the wig?

  Depending on the style and the fit of the wig, you might need to cut the ear tabs for a custom fit. We recommend you have a professional assist with this.

• Are braided wigs heavy?

  If you have ever gotten your hair braided with synthetic hair extensions, you will agree that braids, locs, and twists have some weight and that their heaviness depends on the extension type, length, style, and density. This is no different for braided wigs. The factors that determine the weight of a handmade braid wig are the style, length, lace type, and density. 

  Style

  The braided strand size of some styles is larger, so such styles are heavier. For example, a large box braid wig is heavier than a small knotless box braid wig because more hair extension is needed to achieve the strand size for the large box braids. Styles with more individual braids will not be as lightweight as those with mostly cornrows. Locs styles are not lightweight because of the technique for making the style. That said, generally, our wigs are not heavy and are some of the most lightweight in the industry.

  Length

  More hair extensions are needed to achieve long braided wigs. However, if the style is generally lightweight, the additional length will not add significantly to the weight. 

  Lace Type

  In making a full lace braided wig, braided strands are added to the existing hair throughout the lace. We have the flexibility of adding fewer braided strands (while ensuring it still has enough strands to look natural) because the cap is made of lace, which mimics the scalp. In contrast, for frontal and closure wigs, there is no such flexibility since more braided strands are needed to sufficiently cover the cap, which is not made of lace. Micro twist wigs are generally lightweight regardless of the lace type used.

  Density

  Full density braided wigs have about 20 braided strands more than standard density wigs, so this will impact their weight.

• My wig is heavy. What can I do?

  Our wigs are generally lightweight but if you select specifications that result in a wig that is heavy for you, you have options. If the style has some individual braided strands in the back, you can opt to remove some to reduce the weight. For frontals and closures, cut off some strands in the back. The better option, however, is to invest in a full lace braided wig. Our full lace wigs are generally the most lightweight. If the full lace style selected is still too heavy for you, loosen some braided strands and pluck off the hair. These actions must be taken carefully to avoid damage to the wig. We recommend you seek the assistance of a professional.

  See the weight guide to get an idea of how much your wig will weigh.

• Weight Guide Information

  Light Weight Wigs (0.30 - 1.43 pounds) 12 to 28 inches	Medium Weight Wigs (1.46 - 1.7 pounds) 12 to 28 inches	Not Light weight Wigs (1.8 - 2.50 pounds) 12 to 28 inches
  Knotless Box Braid (Full Lace, Standard Density)	Knotless Box Braid (Full Lace, Full Density)	All Locs above 20 inches (Full Lace)
  High Ponytail Styles (Full Lace)	Large Knotless Box Braid (Full Lace)	Large Box Braid (Full Lace)
  Spring Twist (Lace Closure)	Small Box Braid (Full Lace)	Braid Styles (Lace Closure)
  Micro & Tiny Twist (Lace Closure)	Medium Box Braid (Full Lace)	Cornrows Styles (Lace Closure)
  Micro & Tiny Twist (Frontal Lace)	Bob Locs (Full Lace)	Cornrows Styles (Lace Closure)
  Micro & Tiny Twist (Full Lace)	Bob Locs (Frontal Lace)
  Double Cornrow (Full Lace)	Goddess Box Braid (Full Lace)
  	Bantu Knots (Full Lace)
  	Bob Braid Wig (Full Lace)
  	Small Box Braid Styles (Frontal)
  	Knotless Box Braid Styles (Frontal)
  	Cornrow Styles (Frontal)
  	Other Full Lace Cornrow Styles

• What is the difference between human and synthetic hair?

  Synthetic hair fibers are fine threads manufactured to resemble human hair. The hair cannot be recolored. Human hair offers a natural look and feel. It is remarkably soft and has a shine and movement that is not easily duplicated in synthetic hair, also it can be recolored.

• What kind of hair do we use for making our braided wigs?

  The lace closure, frontal lace, and full lace wig bases are made from virgin human hair, while the braided strands are made from premium synthetic kanekalon braiding hair. If you experience allergic reactions to synthetic hair, we recommend you wait until we launch our 100% virgin human braided wig collection to place your order. Some women have been able to reduce or eliminate allergic reactions to synthetic hair by applying a certain kind of vinegar mixture on the hair before wearing it. Do your research and seek medical professional advice before attempting to use this mixture.

• Do you offer 100% virgin human braided wigs?

  We will be launching our premium line of 100% virgin, twist, braid, cornrows, and locs wigs very soon. Stay tuned! 

• What do bleached knots and plucking mean?

  Since the hair fibers in the lace bases are hand-knotted to the lace, each fiber has a tiny visible dark knot at the lace. Bleaching or 'lightening' reduces the visibility of the hair knots. Bleaching the knots gives the lace a more natural look. Plucking ensures the lace hairline mirrors a real hairline since it is designed to remove the lace hair that lies outside of the natural hairline.

• Wig Cap Measurement

  We want your new wig to fit your head properly. Please follow the instructions below to take your head measurements.

  Circumference

  Start measuring by placing the tape at the center of your front hairline, then run the tape around your head, passing it behind one ear, through your hairline at the nape of your neck, and behind your other ear to the starting point at the center of your forehead.

  Ear to Ear Across Forehead

  Start measuring from one ear (where glasses rest) across your forehead to meet the other ear, at the same point.

  Helpful Hints for Taking an Accurate Measurement

  If possible, have someone else measure it for you. When measuring, keep the tape flat against your head, not allowing twists to develop on the tape. Measure a few times to crosscheck measurements and ensure accuracy.

• Wig Length

  How we measure the lengths of our wigs.

  Wig Type	How to Measure Our Wig Lengths
  Braids, Twist, and Locs	Measure with a measuring tape, starting from the crown area and stop where the hair ends.
  Cornrows	Measure with a measuring tape, starting from the point where the single braids begin to the hair ends.

  To best determine how long you want your braids, twist, or locs wig, use a measuring tape to measure from the crown of your head and stop at the point you want the braids to end. For cornrow wigs, look at the style on our online store to determine the place where the single braids will begin on your head and then measure from this point and to the point you want the braids to end. Note: braid, twist, and locs wigs are made in layers, so the braids in the back will not be the same length as the ones in the front or middle.

• Hair Color Information

  Color Chart Selection

  For custom wigs, select your color from the color chart in the Hair Color options section on the product page. If there is a special color you need that is not in the chart, please send an email to style-me@instantarewahair.com with the color details.

  Color Chart and Wig Color Appearance

  On-screen color accuracy may vary depending on your monitor's gamut.

  The Hair Root/Base of Our Wigs

  Our wigs are made with a human hair base in colors 1B, 2, or 4. You have the option of selecting your preferred color from the root hair color options.

  Depending on the style you select, the root of the wig will be a lace closure, lace frontal, or full lace. Using the wig base in colors 1B, 2, or 4, or another root color that you selected, your wig will be constructed with the color extension you have chosen.

  For braid and cornrow wigs, the first 6 inches of your unit might be lighter or darker than the rest of the wig if your chosen hair extension color is darker or lighter than your chosen base color, respectively. For locs and twist wigs, the roots of the unit may be lighter or darker than the rest of the wig if your chosen hair extension color is darker or lighter than your chosen base color, respectively.

• Custom Versus Ready-To-Ship Wigs

  For our custom wigs, you can select your specifications (lace type, wig color, length, etc.) of choice for any wig style we offer in custom form. These wigs are not stocked and would be created for you after your order. Ready-to-ship wigs have their specifications already fixed and can only be purchased when in stock.

• Do you apply a scent on your braided wigs?

  Yes, we apply a mild scent to our braided wigs. If you don’t want any scent on your wig, feel free to send an email to orders@instantarewahair.com.

• What do I get with my braided wig package?

  Your wig, a wig guide, and any other item you purchased.

• How do I care for my Instant Arẹ̀wà Hair Wig?

  Please see the wig care guide in your package on how to care for your wig. If you have further questions, feel free to send us an email at contact@instantarewahair.com.

Payment

• What payment methods are available?

  We accept PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, Shop Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and JCB. PayPal and Shop Pay offer payment in interest-free installments.

• I have some questions regarding my installment payments.

  Please reach out to the servicing company. For example, if you paid via PayPal, reach out to them with your questions. While our website has information showing the installment payment providers that we accept (PayPal and Shop Pay), we have no control over the payment process.

• How can I confirm that my payment went through, and my order was received?

  An automatic confirmation notification will be emailed to you within a few minutes of your purchase.

Processing Time

• What do you mean by processing time?

  For custom wigs, the processing time is the period required for the creation of the wig and all the processes that lead up to order fulfillment. This starts from when the payment was received, continues through production and final quality control checks at our fulfillment center in Dallas, up until order fulfillment, but excludes the shipping duration, which is determined by the carrier.

  For ready-to-ship wigs and other stocked items, it is the time from the receipt of payment through the warehouse processes leading up to order fulfillment. It also excludes the shipping duration, which is determined by the carrier.

• How long is the processing time?

  Because of the significant amount of manual effort involved in the braiding and quality control processes, our regular processing time for custom wigs is 4 to 6 weeks. Express processing time is between 2 to 3 weeks and can be selected from the options during the order. It attracts an additional fee. Processing time for ready-to-ship wigs and other stocked items is 5 business days.

• Order Status

  For custom orders, a status update is emailed to you every 2 to 3 weeks from status-updates@instantarewahair.com until your wig is shipped out. Please check your junk mail if you haven’t seen any of these updates.

  Ready-To-Ship Orders 

  Ready-to-ship wigs and other stocked items are shipped within 5 business days after order placement. You will receive a shipping confirmation email once such an item is shipped. It is important you understand this 5-day wait period for shipping out ready-to-ship wigs. For example, if you selected priority shipping, we would ship your package within 5 business days via Priority Mail and once the carrier receives your order, they should ship it using the method you selected and paid for, Priority Mail, in this case. If you have not received a shipping confirmation after 5 business days of your purchase, please send an email along with your order number to orders@instantarewahair.com. After the package has been handed to the carrier, the shipping duration is determined by the carrier. We have no control over this. Tracking information is provided in your shipping confirmation email.

  Custom Orders

  If you have not received a shipping confirmation email after 6 weeks for regular processing and 3 weeks for express processing, please send an email along with your order number to orders@instantarewahair.com.

Cancellations

• Can I cancel an order I just placed?

  You may cancel your custom order within the first 48 hours after the order was placed by sending an email to orders@instantarewahair.com. A full refund will be issued and should post within a few business days. We cannot cancel after 48 hours since the processing of your custom order would have commenced.

  For ready-to-ship wigs and stocked items, cancellation must be done within 24 hours of order placement. A full refund will be issued to your account and should post within a few business days. We cannot cancel your order after 24 hours since its processing would have commenced. This also applies to clearance and non-braided wig items.

Shipping Information

• How do you deliver the wigs?

  We deliver through UPS, USPS, and for some international deliveries, DHL. Shipping duration is usually 3 to 5 business days for local US deliveries. International deliveries will be through international couriers, within reasonable shipping durations. Shipping durations are not within our control.

• How long will it take to receive my custom wig after I place an order?

  To determine the estimated time of arrival of your ordered custom unit, add the processing time of 4 to 6 weeks (or 2 to 3 weeks for express processing) to the shipping duration of 3 to 5 business days. For ready-to-ship units, add the processing time of 5 business days to the shipping duration of 3 to 5 business days.

• Which locations do you ship to?

  We ship globally.

• Will I be notified when my order is shipped?

  Yes, we will notify you via email with the tracking information.

• Can I change the shipping address after I have placed my order?

  Yes, you can change your address before the shipment of your order. Please send an email with your order to orders@instantarewahair.com. Once the package has been shipped, your address can no longer be changed.

• Can orders be delivered to a PO Box or APO/FPO address?

  Yes, we can deliver to PO Box or APO/FPO addresses through USPS only.

• What is the shipping fee?

  All shipping is done from our fulfillment center in Coppell, TX. We offer free shipping within the US for orders of $100 and above. For orders below $100, the shipping fee is calculated at checkout, once you have entered your address.

• Do I need to sign for my package?

  Signatures are required for all our products of $100 and above.

• Undelivered Shipments

  It is highly crucial you provide an accurate and complete mailing address. Instant Arẹ̀wà Hair will not be responsible for packages delivered to the wrong address that you have provided.

• I missed my shipment delivery. What do I do?

  If a delivery attempt was made and you were not home, check the shipping notification and your email for how to arrange for a pickup or redelivery. Please note that we have no control over this process. Once the package is in the hands of the shipping carrier, they become responsible for the safe delivery of your items. 

  If you do not make arrangements to get your package, it will be shipped back to us. Upon receiving the package, if you want us to resend it to you, a $35 redelivery fee will be applied. If you decide that you no longer want the package, a refund will be issued minus a $60 restocking fee.

• I received a notification that my shipment was delivered but I don’t have it.

  If the shipping tracking information states that your package has been delivered, but you have not received your package, ask your neighbors and those in your household if they received a package on your behalf. If you still cannot locate your package, send an email to contact@instantarewahair.com. We will open a case to begin an investigation. You will be required to sign an affidavit to agree that the information you have provided is accurate.

  Per the law, the submission of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement may result in imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $10,000.00. In addition, a civil penalty of up to $5,000.00 and an assessment of twice the amount falsely claimed may be imposed (31 USC 3802). Any fraudulent claims will make the shipper and/or consignee liable for any prosecution for mail fraud under the federal criminal code.

Returns Policy

• Do you accept returns?

  To ensure the highest customer satisfaction, all our products pass a rigorous quality assurance process before shipment. The safety of our customers is also our top priority. 

  Due to the sensitive nature of the personal hair products that we sell, we don’t accept returns on our products. All sales are FINAL. Exchanges will be provided only for braided wigs, if we send the wrong or a defective product.

   

  Product Type	Returns Policy	Cancellation
  Custom Braided Wigs	No returns or exchanges. Exchanges will be honored only if we sent the wrong product or a defective item. Send an email to returns@instantarewahair.com with pictures of the issue(s) within 3 days of delivery of the wig. Exchange requests after 3 days, even for wrong or defective wigs, will not be honored. A returned wig must be in the original condition with no alterations to it, the packaging, and its contents. We cannot accept any wig that has been altered. The wig should only be sent to us after we have asked the buyer to do so by email. This helps us to plan for receipt of the return. Customers will initially be responsible for the shipping and handling charges of these return items. We recommend you get tracking on your returns so that proof of delivery can be verified. If the package does not reach us in its original condition, or at all, we will not be able to provide you with an exchange. If we find upon our review that we sent a wrong or defective product, we will provide a replacement and refund the return shipping fee after the shipping receipt has been sent to us. If we find upon our review that we sent the right wig and it was not defective, we will return the wig only after a surcharge of $50 has been paid by the buyer.	You may cancel your custom order within the first 48 hours after the order was placed by sending an email to orders@instantarewahair.com. A full refund will be issued and should post within a few business days. After 48 hours from the order, there will be a $60 cancellation fee for custom regular processing orders and an $85 fee for express processing orders since the processing of your order would have commenced.
  Ready-To-Ship Braided Wigs	No returns or exchanges. Exchanges will be honored only if we sent the wrong product or a defective item. Send an email to returns@instantarewahair.com with pictures of the issue(s) within 3 days of delivery of the wig. Exchange requests after 3 days, even for wrong or defective wigs, will not be honored. A returned wig must be in the original condition with no alterations to it, the packaging, and its contents. We cannot accept any wig that has been altered. The wig should only be sent to us after we have asked the buyer to do so by email. This helps us to plan for receipt of the return. Customers will initially be responsible for the shipping and handling charges of these return items. We recommend you get tracking on your returns so that proof of delivery can be verified. If the package does not reach us in its original condition, or at all, we will not be able to provide you with an exchange. If we find upon our review that we sent a wrong or defective product, we will provide a replacement and refund the return shipping fee after the shipping receipt has been sent to us. If we find upon our review that we sent the right wig and it was not defective, we will return the wig only after a surcharge of $50 has been paid by the buyer.	Cancellation must be done within 24 hours of order placement by sending an email to orders@instantarewahair.com. A full refund will be issued to your account and should post within a few business days. We cannot cancel your order after 24 hours since its processing would have commenced.
  Clearance Items	No returns or exchanges. Exchanges will be honored only if we sent the wrong wig. Send an email to returns@instantarewahair.com with pictures of the item(s) within 3 days of delivery of the wig. Exchange requests after 3 days, even for wrong wigs, will not be honored. A returned wig must be in the original condition with no alterations to it, the packaging, and its contents. We cannot accept any wig that has been altered. The wig should only be sent to us after we have asked the buyer to do so by email. This helps us to plan for receipt of the return. Customers will initially be responsible for the shipping and handling charges of these return items. We recommend you get tracking on your returns so that proof of delivery can be verified. If the package does not reach us in its original condition, or at all, we will not be able to provide you with an exchange. If we find upon our review that we sent the wrong product, we will provide a replacement and refund the return shipping fee after the shipping receipt has been sent to us. If we find upon our review that we sent the right wig, we will return the wig only after a surcharge of $50 has been paid by the buyer.	Cancellation must be done within 24 hours of order placement. A full refund will be issued to your account and should post within a few business days. We cannot cancel your order after 24 hours since its processing would have commenced.
  Synthetic and Human Headband Wigs	No returns or exchanges.	Cancellation must be done within 24 hours of order placement. A full refund will be issued to your account and should post within a few business days. We cannot cancel your order after 24 hours since its processing would have commenced.
  Bonnets	No returns or exchanges.
  Accessories: Wig Caps, Elastic Bands, Eyelashes, etc.	No returns or exchanges.
  Human Hair Wigs	No returns or exchanges.
  Synthetic Hair Wigs	No returns or exchanges.

• What is a defective wig?

  This has nothing to do with the weight, length, color, and other specifications, or the usual construction of wigs and minor variations that are inevitable in handmade products. A wig that has different specifications from what was described on the product page is not defective but is a wrong wig. A defective wig is one that has problems in the construction.

• Disclaimer for Handmade Products

  Our product pictures offer an outlook of the products, and we work hard and maintain controls to keep the wigs consistent with the pictures, however, since they are handmade, there is always a slight variation in some parameters such as the spacing of cornrows. The specifications with measurements, such as hair length and cap size, are adhered to, nonetheless. In all, we have been able to keep our customers happy with the consistency of our products among other things, as shown in our reviews.

Others

• I would like to connect with you on social media.

  Please see the footer of our website for our handles.

• Do you offer wholesale or bundle deals?

  Yes. Please send an email to wholesalewigs@instantarewahair.com to join the program.

• I want a style that is not on the website.

  We have got you covered. If you want a style not currently on our website, please send a picture of the style to style-me@instantarewahair.com. We will inform you how much the style will cost within 48 business hours of receipt of your email.

  Any significant variation in our custom wigs will be redirected to the Style Me process, even if the custom wig has been purchased with the variations put in additional notes. It is in your and our best interests to email us first about the variation before placing an order.

• Where is your company based?

  Instant Arẹ̀wà Hair is based in Coppell, Texas, and is registered with Dallas County. Our wigs are made by skilled braiders in Nigeria. By shopping with us, you are supporting local braiders in Nigeria.

• Questions Not Covered

  If you have any other questions not covered here, kindly send an email to contact@instantarewahair.com.