The Five Wits is a geeky traveling business belonging to Ruth and friends. Maybe you met us at one of our many conventions, or maybe you stumbled across us on the Internet. However you got here, welcome! We’re artists, costumers, writers, and geeks of many fandoms. If any of this sounds familiar, you’ll feel right at home.
We started out in 2003 selling cloaks by Jessica and sculptures and art by Ruth, along with assorted trinkets. These days we mostly sell wigs, but all sorts of things can be found at our booths- teas, books, plants, jewelry, and more. Our art and writing site is The Five Wits Press, and our non-wig sales are made on our network site, The Five Wits.
If you’ve got any questions about the wigs themselves (sizing, material, etc); they’re answered in the FAQ below.

FAQ

How do I contact you?
It’s easy to get in touch with us, and we’d like to hear from you! Make sure to check our frequently asked questions below to see if your question has already been answered there first. If your question isn’t answered in the FAQ, you can email us at thefivewitswigs@gmail.com. You can also contact us through our social media accounts on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and YouTube.

Who does the photography?
A lot of the photos were taken by Ruth, The Five Wits’ owner. Some photos were taken by our friend J.R. Blackwell in a setting more professional than our backyard. Both J.R.’s photography and wigs featuring customer photos are tagged as such. If you want to submit to us photos you’ve taken of your cosplay, please email them to us! We love seeing what people have done with the wigs.

Are you going to be at (this convention)?
On the right sidebar of most pages you can check out our list of events, which we update as soon as we know for certain that we’re going to be going to a given convention, and our next show is listed on the header of every page. If you’re going to be at one of them you can purchase wigs without worrying about shipping costs.

When do you ship?
We try to mail your order within a business day of receiving it, and Priority and Express orders always go out the very next business day. Our business days are Monday through Friday. We ship each day’s orders by 10 AM Eastern Time (UTC -5) each business day.

Where do you ship from?
We are located in Vermont, USA and ship via USPS, the US Postal Service.

Where can you ship to?
Our domestic shipments are in the US. We try to ship everywhere, but there are some exceptions. (Last updated February 28, 2025- you can check here for USPS’ up-to-date list.)
We currently cannot ship to to the following places due to packages not being accepted by the USPS, our shipping service: Afghanistan, Belarus, Bhutan, Haiti, Israel, Mauritius, Niue, Russia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Yemen.
We cannot ship to these countries as it’s illegal to ship wigs to them: Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
We cannot ship to nations with shipping requirements that are beyond the scope of our small business, such as GPSR and VAT: the UK and the EU (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden).
We also can’t ship our liquid wig care products- wig shampoo, wig conditioner, and wig detangler- internationally.

How much does shipping cost within the US?
If you live in the US and choose USPS Ground Advantage shipping, it will be $5-9 for a single wig. For Priority Mail shipping, it will be $8-11 for a single wig. For Priority Mail Express shipping it will be $25-50 for a single wig. The exact cost of shipping depends on the weight of the total order, which you can calculate from your cart.

How long does it take to ship within the US?
First-Class Mail shipping usually takes about 3-5 business days to locations in the continental US. Priority Mail shipping will take about 1-3 business days. Priority Mail Express shipping is guaranteed 1-2 business days. If you live in Hawai’i or Alaska, please allow a little more time for shipping.

How much does shipping cost to Canada?
We offer First Class Package Service International, Priority Mail International, and Priority Mail Express International shipping to Canada. You can probably expect the least expensive method to be between $16-$24 to most locations. The exact cost of shipping depends on the weight of your total order, which you can calculate from your cart.
However, if you’d like domestic shipping costs, Cactus Mafia sells our wigs in Canada!

How long does it take to ship to Canada?
When using First Class Package Service International shipping, most of our Canadian customers have received their order within 10 business days. Priority Mail International arrives in 6-10 business days, and Priority Mail Express International shipping to Canada arrives in 3-5 business days. Exact shipping time depends on where in Canada your order is being sent to. Also, Canada may impose additional customs times and import fees on products received. We can’t control this and aren’t informed of how much potential customs might cost.

How much does it cost to ship to countries other than Canada and the US?
We offer First Class Package Service International, Priority Mail International, and Priority Mail Express International shipping to all international locations. You can probably expect the least expensive method to be between $20-$37 to most locations. The exact cost of shipping depends on the total weight of the order being shipped, which you can calculate from your cart.

How long does it take to ship to countries other than Canada and the US?
When using First Class Package Service International shipping to international destinations other than Canada, most of our customers have received their order in 10-20 business days. Priority Mail International shipping arrives to most locations in 6-10 business days. Priority Mail Express International shipping arrives in 3-5 business days. Much of the time of shipment depends on customs wait times in your country, which are beyond our control. Also, your country may impose additional customs and import fees on products received. We can’t control this and aren’t informed of how much potential customs might cost.

How do I add a note about my order?
There’s a text box that appears during checkout titled ‘Order Notes’- just add your questions, comments or concerns there!

Did you get my order? When do I get a confirmation email and tracking number?
You will receive a confirmation email when we have received your order and one when it has shipped. Please note that we don’t usually ship on Saturday and Sunday, so if you’ve ordered after 10 AM on Friday, it’ll be shipped on Monday. The cut-off time for our business day is when we mail the wigs at 10 AM Eastern Time (UTC -5), so be sure to send your order in before that time if it’s urgent.

Can I track my order?
Yes! The US Postal Service tracking number will be included in your confirmation email, which we send you after your order has been mailed. So if you ordered on a weekend, please wait until Monday when we’re able to mail your order for your confirmation.

Can you help me if my order has not arrived or got lost in the mail?
If your package has not arrived in 2 weeks (US orders) or 6 weeks (international orders) and your local post office/postal carrier cannot help you find it, please email us and we can re-ship it for you.

Can I pay using a money order?
You can. Email us at thefivewitswigs@gmail.com for our current billing address, and we’ll let you know where to send the money order. Upon receiving the money order here, we will immediately ship your wig! When you mail us the money order, please include a note mentioning your email and which wig you wanted so we can send you a confirmation email.

What are the wigs made out of?
They are made from high quality heat-resistant synthetic fibers. We use two varieties of fiber, one more styleable that we use for our wigs, both short and long, that are meant for spiking, and one more sleek that we use for wigs that are meant to lay smooth. Both varieties of fiber can be styled with heat tools such as straighteners, curlers, and blow dryers.

Do you make these wigs yourselves?
No. We only wish we had these awesome wig-making skills. We design the wigs and special order them wholesale from a wig factory, and then pass them along to you.

What size are the wigs?
They are one size fits most. There are adjustable straps at the back of all the wigs to make them fit on bigger or smaller heads, and the cap is pretty stretchy. We test them on a model with a 23″ head circumference and waist-length (but thin) hair. If your head is quite large or you have a lot of thick hair we suggest completely unfastening the adjustable straps for the largest possible size.

Are these wigs heat-resistant? Can I use styling tools on them?
Yes! We’ve styled them with regular hair styling tools- straighteners and curlers bought from any old beauty supply store or drugstore work just fine, you don’t need to shell out for anything fancy. The wigs’ fibers have withstood up to 350° Fahrenheit (180° Celsius), but lower than that is both safer and will style them just fine. Start with a low setting and then raise it until you find which setting works best. Also, y’know, don’t throw your wigs into bonfires, furnaces, volcanic cracks of doom, etc. They’re heat-resistant, not fire-proof.

How do I wash my wig?
You shouldn’t have to wash it very often, and the more you wash it the faster it will wear out. When you do need to wash it, you can use ordinary gentle shampoo (tear-free kinds) or wig shampoo. Wash it in the sink with lukewarm water and then rinse it off. Put it to dry on a wig head if you have one. If not, bunch up some towels in the shape of a head and put the wig on that. Never brush or comb it while wet. Once it’s dry you can brush and style it.

What can I use to style my wig?
You can use straighteners or curlers because the wig fibers are heat resistant. Hairspray works great for making soft spikes or getting little spoinks. Many of our customers use hair glue, such as Got2B Glued, for stiff spiky styles like Roxas and Sora. Don’t use hair wax- it will never come out. Hairspray washes out just fine if you don’t like how it turned out. Because our wigs are so thick, many of them style well using just your fingers.

How do I fix my tangled long wig?
All long wigs will tangle, just like ordinary long hair. Try to untangle it first with your fingers, gently. Then use a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends and slowly working up the length of the wig- again, gently. Vigorous brushing with a wire brush will eventually fray the ends of the wig and will pull out some of the fibers, so avoid using a brush, and be very gentle even with your wide-toothed comb. Wig conditioner can help your wig stay nice, as can wig detangler. Follow the directions on the bottle. When you aren’t wearing the wig, store it neatly in the bag, wrapped in the black net just like it was when you bought it, or store it on a wig head.

Can you get me a floor-length wig?
Most cosplayers agree that for characters who are shown with floor-length hair, a wig that goes down about to your thighs will give a similar enough impression without the hassle. The longer a wig is, the heavier it is, and the more likely it is to want to slide off your head or give you a headache. Also, the longer it is, the worse it will tangle. We suggest getting wigs that are 40-50 inches long rather than going all the way to the floor, unless you intend to wear the wig only for a single photoshoot and then take it off again.

Can I pay you to style my wig?
We’re not professional stylists- we prefer not to risk our armchair styling skills on other people’s wigs, and we are certainly not up to spiking your Cloud Strife wig. If you are a professional wig stylist or can recommend one, email us and we will post handy links.

What are the strings on the ponytail wig clips for? Can I cut them off?
The strings are elastic laces that hold the ponytail’s hair onto the claw clip. If the claw clip should ever break, you can loosen the strings, slide the wig fibers off the clip and onto a new clip. To make the strings not show when you wear the wig, tie them in a bow and tuck them inside the clip. You can cut the tips a little bit shorter, but don’t cut the strings entirely off.

Is (this wig) in stock?
If there’s a “Add To Cart” button then yes, it’s in stock and can be ordered. If it’s out of stock, there will be text saying so and no button. We don’t do backorders, so if you’re able to purchase it, it’ll be shipped out the next business day.

The wig I need is out of stock! When will you have it again?
We normally restock within 4-5 months. Also, if you sign up for our newsletter, news of restocks and new arrivals are emailed directly to you.

Can I request a wig for (this character)?
We welcome wig requests! We love a challenge. But we can’t fulfill them all. To request a new style, please send us an email with the character’s name and series, along with your favorite screenshots or art of them so we know exactly the sort of style and color you have in mind. If the wig style you’re after works for more than one character, we’re more likely to carry it, so mention if you know any other characters it works for. If we decide to carry a new style and are able to get it made, it’ll take about 4-5 months to get it in stock, so it’s not an ideal process for a cosplay you’re going to make next month.
If the wig you’re requesting is very like a style we already have in stock, go ahead and request it, but understand that if it’s a minor step away from something we already carry (i.e. with shorter bangs, ½ inch shorter all round, dyed one shade darker) we will probably refer you to a wig stylist, and be unable to carry a new redundant style.

What happened to (this wig)? I had it bookmarked but the whole page is gone!
That probably means that the wig style is discontinued, and we’ve taken down its page and will not restock it. We have limited edition wigs, and when they’re gone they’re gone for good. We reserve the right to discontinue wigs at any time, though we pretty much always wait until a wig sells totally out of stock to do so.

Can I return the wig if it doesn’t work out?
We can only do returns for wigs that were sent to the US and Canada. As long as it is in the original packaging and you have not worn it or modified it in any way, we accept returns within three weeks of purchase. Please email us from the account you used to make the order, so we know to expect the returned wig. If you put the wig back in the bag it arrived in, reseal it, write ‘return to sender’ on the outside of the envelope, and put it with your outgoing mail, it should be mailed back to us at no cost to you. If that doesn’t work you will need to pay the return postage. Once we receive it back here we can refund you the cost of the wig (from when you first ordered it) to the card you used to pay with.

Do you do sponsorships?
Yes! We offer sponsorships of a free wig to cosplayers with significant social media followings who are willing to review and model a wig, and send us photos that we can use on our website. We will credit you in the photos. We only do a couple sponsorships each month, and we’ve been getting a whole lot of requests, so we’re now asking people to fill out this form to request a sponsorship. If we pick you, we’ll be in touch with you at the email you listed on the form. You are welcome to apply for a sponsorship once a year- we update our form (currently 2024) each year, and continue to consider the applications made using that form all year. So if you applied last year, whether you got a sponsorship or not, feel free to apply again! New system of sponsorship and rewards coming soon!

How does your reward points system work?
When you purchase through our website using a registered account, you can earn 1 point per dollar spent, and then redeem those points at the rate of 20 points=$1 discount. The points don’t expire. You can view your current number of points in your “My Account” page. (Note that the points for an order won’t appear in your account until the order reaches “Completed” status, meaning it’s shipped out to you.) You also get 40 points when you first register on our website, and 20 points by reviewing a wig you’ve purchased through your account (Important! You must be logged in to your account when you make the review in order for the points to automatically credit).

How do I use my points I got from purchases?
To use Witty Points, you are basically going to create a coupon code by doing the following:
1. Make sure you’re logged in
2. Go to ‘My Account’
3. Click ‘Loyalty and Rewards’
4. Click ‘Witty Points’
5. ‘Unlockable Rewards’ will let you see and unlock whatever you need.
6. Here you will create a one-time use coupon code that you can enter at checkout. Be careful, because once you use it it can’t be used again; make sure you are ready to check out when you use it!

Friends Of The Wits
J.R. Blackwell has given us some lovely wig photography. Cactus Mafia sell our wigs for us in Canada. Our logo was created by Roach.

Media and Reviews