Can YOU tell the wig from natural hair? FEMAIL tests out ultra-modern hairpieces that claim to be so realistic you won't be able to spot the difference

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With social media fueling fast fashion, wigs have also become big business as another accessory for an overhauled look.

American socialite Paris Hilton, 38, recently revealed that she owns over 800 wigs, admitting that she uses them as a disguise when going out in public.

Other celebrities who've openly spoken about wearing wigs include Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campell and Keira Knightley. 

With the fake hair industry estimated to be valued at over a billion-pounds by 2023, FEMAIL challenged Nuolawigs founder Eniola, celebrity hairstylist Carl Bembridge and online store Lulla Bellz to give three volunteers a hair makeover using their latest wig collections. 

Founder of Nuolawigs Eniola (pictured left), online retailer Lulla Bellz and celebrity hairstylist Carl Bembridge (pictured right), gave three FEMAIL volunteers a make over using a range of wigs from their latest collections

Eniola who specialises in wigs for people who've experienced hair loss, believes that wigs have increased in popularity as they've become easier to customise and now look more realistic. 

'Years ago wigs were very "wiggy" and unnatural but now they're made to look modern and stylish. 

'You can get wigs that actually have a hairline, you can get a wig that looks realistic and can be made to a certain colour or style', she said. 

So, would you be fooled by these modern wigs? 

HAYLEY 

Hayley (pictured before) who has naturally blonde hair, was styled in wigs of varying colours including a brown style worth over £1000

Carl styled Hayley (pictured wearing a wig styled by Carl Bembridge) in a brunette human hair wig to show contrast with her natural hair colour

Carl Bembridge's advice for buying a wig:' It depends on your price range. Human hair wigs can be expensive but you can always opt instead for synthetic or fibre hair wigs. It depends on if you want the wig just for fun, a natural look or for a night out. 

'If you want a more natural look then you want human hair. You should try different ones on. If you want it for fun or a change of colour, fibre wigs are great. 

'I feel like wigs used to look wiggy and were frowned upon, but now there's so many talented people, techniques and brands around. You'd be surprised to find out whose wearing them. I got into wigs because I loved the fact that you could go from black to blonde or short to long without it looking like a wig. 

'I've been hairdressing for 13 years and styling wigs for around three to four. Kylie Jenner and Cardie B's wig maker, Tokyo Stylez came to the UK and I did a masterclass with him and ever since then I've been making hair headlines with my celebrity clients. There's been an increase in people wearing wigs because you get the wow factor and it's another part of your outfit. We all love a new lipstick or dress, it's a new hair and another accessory.'

Carl Bembridge: 'For Hayley I wanted to show contrast because she's got naturally blonde hair. I went for a nice brown just to show that you can change your look with a wig. 

'It makes you look so different, when going from short to long or blonde to brown. I wanted to show a change in colour can be a quick and easy way to change up your look. 

Hayleys verdict on Carl Bembridge's wig: 'I think I have an unusually large head for a woman, and a rather large mane to fit underneath it, so having not had a proper fitting which I know is a service Carl provides, the wig felt a little snug, as if it was pulling back from my hairline.

'I thought the parting looked very realistic, and it was fun to see myself with dark hair, having never been brave enough to go brunette. The hair itself was nicely styled, though I struggled to adapt to seeing myself without a fringe!

'There was certainly a lot of hair in this wig – it came right down to my hips – so I’m not sure I’d go for this for an everyday look as I feel it would have looked more realistic and been more manageable if it was a little shorter. I also wasn’t as keen on the lighter low-lights.' 

Price: £1000+  (human hair) 

Eniola who specialises in wigs for hair loss, chose a brown wig with highlights to give Hayley (pictured wearing a wig by Eniola) a sun-kissed look

Eniola's advice for buying wigs: 'It depends if you're buying natural hair or synthetics, things to look out for include the lace material and the lace colour. 

'Make sure you get a lace that matches your skin tone and isn't too thick. That helps it to blend in with your skin tone.'

Eniola of Nuola wigs: 'The style I've chosen for Hayley is an ash blonde wig with  highlights to show the diversity in colours that can be worn.

'It's a very modern style that gives her a natural sun-kissed look.' 

Verdict on Eniola of Nuola wigs: 'This was closer to my natural colour, but a very different style to my normal hair as, again, it was a severe centre parting with no fringe.

'I was pleasantly surprised once this wig was on, as the ash/silvery tones were more flattering than I expected, however I wasn’t as keen on the grown-out dark roots.

'I also didn’t like how high this one sat – it was right on my hairline, which I felt accentuated my forehead a bit.

'It felt lighter than the previous wig, due to there being less hair, and I liked the way it was styled, but the ends were a bit thin – I felt like it needed a good trim!'

Price: £600 +  

Hayley who was styled in a brown wig with dark roots, ordered from Lulla Bellz, said she would be tempted to shop from the budget-friendly online store in the future

Online store Lulla Bellz, specialises in glamorous hair extensions and lace front wigs. 

The brand which has been operating for the past five years starts prices at around £50 and has thousands of views on YouTube for their wig tutorials. 

Verdict on Lulla Bellz wig:  'This one definitely didn’t feel as luxurious as the other two – the hair was synthetic, and you could tell. I felt like, particularly from a side-on view, it was a bit bulbous on my head.

'Again I wasn’t keen on the colour when it was off, but once it was on I was pleasantly surprised and I think, from more of a distance, it did still look quite realistic.

'Given this is a much cheaper option at £55, I’d be tempted to have a look on the website to see if there are any shorter, choppier brunette wigs, as it would be fun to mix up my style now and again! Though if I was feeling flush, I’d probably give Carl a call!'

Price: £55 

CHLOE

Chloe (pictured before) who has naturally blonde hair was given the opportunity to try different shades and lengths using the wigs

Chloe (pictured wearing a wig by Carl Bembridge) says she was shocked by Carl Bembridge's fibre hair wig and felt comfortable wearing it  

Carl Bembridge: 'I chose this wig for Chloe because I wanted to show how realistic a fibre wig can look. She's naturally blonde but I wanted to change the tone, as we're all curious about going platinum or honey blonde. 

'This one is a honey blonde and she's got quite light blonde hair naturally.

'I wanted to show her how different she could look with length. The wig's changed the warmth with just colour and length. It can make her look and feel so different.'

Verdict on Carl Bembridge's wig: 'I was shocked at just how natural and real wig number one felt and looked. I loved the loose wave style as that is what I would normally go for so I felt super comfortable in it. 

'I’ve opted for the same blonde highlights for as long as I can remember so it was great seeing what my hair would look like if I’m ever brave enough to take the plunge. 

'It’s a much warmer colour for winter and not something I would be opposed to. If I fancied mixing up my look for a special occasion, I would definitely consider this wig.'

Price: £95+ (fibre hair) 

Chloe (pictured wearing a wig by Eniola) says although she loved the white blonde colour chosen by Eniola, the length of the hair felt too long 

Eniola of Nuola wigs: 'I chose Chloe's wig because she already has naturally blonde hair and I thought a different shade of blonde would really suite her. 

'I also thought about her blonde hair being mid-length, adding length would add more volume than her natural hair.'

Verdict on Eniola's wig:  'I’ve always been too scared to go a white blonde as my root regrowth comes through quite strong, so this wig was a great way for me to make that transformation in a matter of minutes – without the pricey maintenance. 

'Again, I loved the style but if I was to really tailor it to my preference, I’d cut a few inches off. 

'Saying that, I’ve always been disappointed that my hair refuses to grow any longer than shoulder-length, so just like wig one, it did enable me to feel like Rapunzel – even if just for a few moments!'

Price: £675+ (excluding VAT)  

Chloe (pictured wearing a wig by Lulla Bellz) says that she felt out of her comfort zone wearing a straight style by Lulla Bellz, whose wigs are priced from £50 +

Tips for wig maintenance 

Eniola and Carl (pictured) both recommend treating human hair wigs in the same way as your natural hair 

• Treat human hair wigs like your natural hair, using conditioners and treatments
• Avoid using a lot of heat
• Use heat protecting spray if using hot styling tools 
• Wigs can last one to two years, depending on how often their worn 
• Don't sleep wearing wigs as this can make the hair become tangled 
• Pre-styled fibre wigs should be brushed, but don't need to be washed  

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Chloe's verdict on Lulla Bellz wig: 'Unfortunately number three was my least favourite, but that’s purely because I never wear my hair straight. 

'I have naturally curly hair which has gradually become wavy over time, so I felt quite out of my comfort zone. 

'This wig also felt a lot more wiry than the other more natural-looking two. 

'I wouldn’t be surprise if people picked up on the fact this one was a wig, whereas the other two could pass for my real hair.' 

Price: £65 

DEBORAH 

Deborah (pictured before) whose hair is naturally black, was given a range of colours and lengths to try by each stylist

Deborah (pictured wearing a selection of wigs by Carl Bembridge) says she preferred the black wig Carl chose to the icy bob as it's perfect for everyday 

Carl Bembridge: 'I chose this icy wig for Deborah because it's completely different to her natural hair and I wanted to show how crazy and different the looks can be. 

'The white icy bob completely changes up her look. I also chose a long black fibre wig to show contrast.'

Verdict on Carl Bembridge's icy wig: 'I love the fit of this wig, however the colour didn’t seem to fit my complexion as well as the other wigs. 

'Despite that, the cut and the style of this wig was very complementary to my features. It’s definitely a wig I would opt for during the colder months, because it gives off a winter look.'

Verdict on Carl Bembridge's black wig: 'I loved this wig because it’s straightforward and perfect for an every day wear no matter the season. 

'It’s the type of wig that never goes out of style and goes with every outfit. 

'However the length was not my favourite and would’ve preferred if it was cut and styled differently however the jet black wig gets a yes from me.'

Deborah (pictured wearing a wig by Eniola) says the wig chosen by Eniola was her favourite as the colour perfectly complimented her complexion 

Eniola of Nuola wigs: 'For Deborah I chose a brown wig with lots of dimensions in the colours, also face framing highlights.

'I went for some layers in the wigs to give it some bounce and the colouring style is called balayage.' 

Verdict on Eniola's wig: 'This wig was by far my favourite one, the colour of the wig and the golden toned highlights went so well with my complexion. 

'The length and style was perfect, so I would probably reach for this wig all year round. However, I do see myself wearing this wig more during the summer months.'

Verdict on Lulla Bellz wig: 'I really enjoyed this wig because it’s a complementary colour for every skin tone, so it can be worn all year round, however I would prefer looser curls on the wig but aside from that the length and colour are beautiful.'

Price: £55 

Deborah (pictured wearing a wig by Lulla Bellz) says she would wear the wig by Lulla Bellz all year round, but would prefer looser curls

Celebrity hair stylist Carl Bembridge, has recently launched his own fibre collection in addition to his range of human hair wigs. He is also set to debut a new luxe collection. carlbembridgewigs.com and carlbembridgehair on Instagram

Nuolawigs doesn't charge VAT on wigs for those with medical hair loss and also provides them with 10 per cent discount. nuolawigs.com and nuolawigs on Instagram

www.LullaBellz.com