It can be daunting when you first step your toes into the world of wearing hair. How do you purchase a topper online and make sure that its right for you? What do you need to know before you buy a human hair topper?

Before you dive in head first, these are 4 things you should consider.

1. What's more important to you? Longevity or price?

You may have read our article on the difference in quality between human hair toppers To make a long story short, lower cost pieces may not last as long as pieces with a slightly higher price tag. When I first started wearing toppers, I bought a lower cost piece (which is a totally great way to dip your toes into wearing hair), but this piece only last a few months before it felt dry and hair was falling out the cap. This piece still cost me $500!! You may want to consider investing in a higher quality piece which will last you up to 3 years. Either way, this decision is yours to make, just make sure you do your research and weigh up the pros and cons.

2. Cap Size, Length and Colour.

Next, you'll need to think about what cap size, length and colour you'll need. We've got some super handy videos on our instagram which can help you figure out the answers to these questions. But, I also suggest booking in a free chat with us for more advice.

How to Find the Right Cap Size
How to Find the Right Length
How to Find the Right Colour Match

3. Do you trust the company you are purchasing from?

I hate to tell you this, but there are SO MANY scams out there. I've seen it so often (and I've also fell victim to them myself), hair companies that magically pop their heads up offering the most irresistable offer and then once you've clicked the 'buy now' button, POOF, vanished into thin air. I've been there.

But I really don't want to scare you off. Because purchasing a piece online, for me, was how I truly changed my life. My local wig shop just didn't have the incredible quality hair that I could find online.

So what can you do to avoid falling for these scammers? Or getting a piece that just isn't how it was advertised?

Do you research. Check out the company you want to purchase from. Do they have an Instagram or facebook account? Are they active on there? Do you see real people and real faces? Or just eerie looking hair on mannequin heads?

Make sure that you can see real people behind the brand. And check their return policy! Do they have one? If you want to read Lusta's return policy, click here.

4. Would you benefit more from a wig?

Toppers are AWESOME, don't get me wrong, but for some women a wig may work better. If you're hair loss is a bit unpredictable (such as Alopecia Areata) a wig may be something you want to look into. The benefit of a wig is that it covers all your bases. If you lose more hair or a patch of hair suddenly decides to pack up and leave, you'll still be able to wear your wig no problems. Whereas with a topper, you'll need to have some hair at the front to blend with your piece. Neither option is necessarily *better*, but it's something to consider before purchasing.

If you have your own hair buying tips, let us know in the comments!