Blonde wigs and colour wigs in South Africa: 613, burgundy, ombre
A blonde wig is usually 613, the lightest standard blonde, but South African stores also sell burgundy 99J, ginger, ombre and bright fantasy colours. When we checked 27 South African hair stores on 6 Oct 2026, the 16 cheapest coloured wigs we found, at most two per store, cost R544 to R1,320 per wig. They come from 9 stores, so this is where colour wig prices start and not what a longer, fuller or customised wig costs.
Four things to decide before you buy a blonde or coloured wig
Where the lace sits
The standard frontal: lace from ear to ear, 4 inches deep. Enough for a natural hairline and side or middle parts.
How long is 18 inches?
18 inches falls to about the bust when straight. Curly and wavy hair hangs shorter.
180%. Fuller. A common choice for everyday glam.
Blonde and colour wig prices across SA stores
The two cheapest coloured wigs per store, cheapest first, 16 rows. Prices checked 6 Oct 2026. Stock and prices change, so confirm on the store's page.
Colour and care
- 1Do a strand test
The AAD says to test hair colour before you use it and to follow the maker's instructions. Test on a hidden section of the wig, not the front. - 2Hand colour changes to a stylist
The Wig Factory recommends a professional stylist for colour changes on its human hair wigs. Dyeing or bleaching a wig can also end its return rights. - 3Wash gently
Hair City advises sulphate-free shampoo, lukewarm water and conditioner for its coloured wigs, then air drying. - 4Keep heat low
Human hair: 120C (250F) or lower with a protectant, per Hair City. Synthetic fantasy colours: never above the maker's limit.
Stylists who colour and fit wigs, by city
City pages go live once three stylists there are verified.
Blonde and colour wigs, explained
Which blonde: 613, honey blonde and platinum
613 is the code most wig and bundle sellers use for their lightest blonde. One guide to 613 hair calls it the universal industry code for platinum blonde at level 10 to 12 on the hair colour scale, the lightest, most lifted tone sold in wigs, weaves, extensions and braiding hair. The same guide says 613 hair is made by chemically lifting, or bleaching, dark hair to its lightest state. That is why shade names vary: Virgin Human Hair calls its 613 bob honey blonde, while the guide calls the shade platinum. Go by the code and the photos, not the name.
In the table, Hair City's 10 inch straight lace frontal in colour 613 is R999 and Universal Dealers' 8 inch 613 frontal is R1,200. Remore's lace pixie in blonde is R599, and Virgin Human Hair's highlight blonde water wave fringe wig is R1,199. A 613 base has one advantage: the guide says its fully lifted base accepts virtually any colour put on top.
Burgundy, 99J and red
99J is the code for a deep burgundy. Hair City's own page for its colour 99J wig calls it a deep, rich burgundy for a statement look, and Virgin Human Hair, Universal Dealers and Takealot all use the 99J code in their titles. Takealot's 99J burgundy full frontal bob is R587, Universal Dealers' 8 inch 13x4 #99j wig is R1,200, and Shara Hair has burgundy bobs at R1,200 and R1,250. A deep red bob at Takealot is R544. Codes are shorthand, and stores use them differently, so check the photo against the shade you want.
Ginger, ombre, highlights and fantasy colours
The Wig Factory and Shara Hair both list orange or ginger wigs. Ombre and highlighted wigs are easier to find at lower prices: Remore's ombre wig is R699 and Virgin Human Hair's ombre curly frontal is R959. For pink, blue and purple, the table includes two Manic Panic synthetic wigs, the Short Cut Glam Doll in Blue Valentine and the Long Cut Super Vixen in Amethyst Ombre. Hair Health and Beauty has them at R690 and R790, while Hair House Warehouse has the same two at R1,035 and R1,027, so compare stores before you buy. Remore also lists an ombre pink bob, and The Wig Factory lists silver grey lace frontals.
How colour is done on human hair, and what it costs the hair
A coloured human hair wig gets its shade in one of three ways: the hair is coloured before the wig is made, a plain black or brown wig is coloured afterwards, or you buy 613 and put a colour over it. The cost is to the hair. The American Academy of Dermatology says lightening hair by more than three shades requires higher volumes of peroxide, which causes more hair damage. Going from black to 613 is far more than three shades, which is why lifting is best left to the maker or a stylist, and why 613 wigs come already lifted.
If you colour a wig yourself, follow the AAD's advice to test the colour first and follow the maker's instructions. The Wig Factory recommends a professional stylist for colour changes on its human hair wigs. Plan for the return terms as well: the same store says it does not accept returns on worn or altered wigs, and Hair Majesty says customised wigs cannot be returned. A guide to 613 hair says synthetic 613 cannot be toned or dyed at home.
Bleached knots: what they are and the risk
On a lace wig every hair is tied into the lace, and the tied points are called knots. On dark hair the knots can show as small dots against a light scalp, so some wigs have them lightened. That is what pre-bleached means. Dolce Looks lists an 8 inch bob as pre-bleached and pre-plucked, and describes its customised wigs as having a plucked hairline and bleached knots.
The risk is to the wig, not just the colour. Unice, a wig seller, says bleaching knots can improve how a wig looks but carries risks such as weakening the knots and over-bleaching. Sisdore says over-bleaching can cause shedding, weakened roots and lace damage, and that professionally bleached knots are safe, which is why it says buying wigs with factory-bleached knots is often better than bleaching at home. Nadula says weakened knots shed easily, that knots should be bleached within 15 to 30 minutes, and that you should check about every ten minutes. If you are not sure, leave the knots to the maker or a stylist.
Before you pay
Run through these checks before you buy a blonde or coloured wig:
- The shade code and photos, not just the name on the listing.
- Whether the colour is natural, dyed, or lifted and toned, and who did it.
- Whether the knots are bleached, and whether that is included in the price.
- The fibre. For synthetic fantasy colours, ask for the heat limit in degrees.
- The returns terms. Altered or customised wigs may not be returnable.
Blonde and colour wigs: questions
What is a 613 blonde wig?
613 is the trade code for the lightest standard blonde. One guide to 613 hair calls it platinum blonde at level 10 to 12, made by lifting dark hair to its lightest state. Stores name the shade differently, for example honey blonde, so check the photo. Hair City's 10 inch 613 lace frontal is R999.
What does 99J mean on a wig?
99J is the trade code for a deep burgundy red. Hair City's page for its colour 99J wig calls it a deep, rich burgundy for a statement look. Takealot, Universal Dealers and Virgin Human Hair also use the code. Codes are shorthand, so match the photo to the shade you want.
Can I dye a human hair wig blonde myself?
You can, but it is risky. The American Academy of Dermatology says lightening hair by more than three shades needs higher volumes of peroxide, which causes more damage. The Wig Factory recommends a professional stylist for colour changes. The safer route is to buy a wig that is already 613 or already blonde.
What are bleached knots, and are they safe?
Knots are the points where each hair is tied into the lace, and bleaching lightens them so they show less. Sisdore says professionally bleached knots are safe, but over-bleaching can cause shedding, weakened roots and lace damage. Unice warns of weakened knots and over-bleaching. Buying factory-bleached knots is the lower risk option.
Can I dye a synthetic wig?
Usually not at home. One guide to 613 hair says synthetic 613 cannot be toned or dyed at home. Synthetic wigs also have heat limits: HairUWear says plain synthetic fibre must never be heated, and Jon Renau says its HD fibre can take 350F with 270F to 280F recommended. Buy the colour you want.
How much does a blonde or coloured wig cost in South Africa?
On 6 Oct 2026 the 16 cheapest coloured wigs we found, at most two per store, cost between R544 and R1,320. Seven of the 16 rows were R999 or less. Prices go up with length, fullness, lace and customising, so confirm on the store's page.
Can I return a wig after I colour it?
Probably not. The Wig Factory says it does not accept returns on worn or altered wigs, and it only takes back unworn wigs with uncut lace within 7 days. Hair Majesty says customised wigs cannot be returned. Check the store's return terms before you bleach, dye or cut anything.