Buying a Pre-Owned Wig: What to Check

A pre-owned wig has its own cut, wear, and history. The most useful comparison is the exact piece in the listing: its cap, measurements, condition, and the way you would like to wear it.

Read condition before comparing price

Look for the seller's description of wear, thinning, repairs, or changes to the cap. Check the inside as well as the styled front view. A shorter fringe, added color, or an altered cap may matter more to your choice than the original model name.

In the Fortune Pre-Owned Consignment Shop, pieces are cleaned and inspected by the Fortune salon. That does not make a worn piece new or erase the condition details in its listing.

Check the length that remains

A pre-owned wig may already have been cut or styled. Read its current measurements and look at the shortest layers as well as the longest. Do not apply the length guidance for a new, uncut wig to a piece that has been altered.

If the listing leaves you unsure, ask how the length was measured and whether the front or layers have been shortened. A photograph of the look you want can help explain your question.

Compare the cap and hairline

Check the cap size, top construction, and any noted repairs. A lace top and silk French top create different finishes, and the inside photographs can show details that the styled view cannot.

Our lace and silk top comparison explains the construction. The individual listing tells you the condition of that particular cap.

Ask before planning a change

Previous cutting and coloring affect what a stylist can do next. A dark piece cannot be assumed to lighten safely, and removed length cannot be restored by styling.

Agree on any proposed work before it begins. If you are deciding whether to keep the piece, leave it in its original received condition while you review the return terms.

Keep the return conditions in view

Fortune Pre-Owned pieces have the same 10-day return window from receipt as new pieces, not counting shipping time. They must be unworn and unaltered, with tags attached, in their original received condition. Original shipping is non-refundable.

If you have the piece cut, styled, or colored, it cannot be refunded. Read the current return terms before making changes.

Send us the listing and the detail you would like to check. A clear answer about the actual piece is a better starting point than guessing from a photograph.