Santa Beards and Wigs: How to Choose One, Make It Stay On, and Keep It Looking Real

Ask any kid what makes Santa look like Santa and they will not say "the boot tops." It's the beard. A suit can be spot-on, but a thin, shiny beard sitting crooked on your chin gives the game away. The good news is that a proper wig and beard set is one of the cheaper upgrades in the Santa wardrobe, and it lasts for years if you treat it well. Here's how we help first-time Santas pick one from our Santa beards and wigs collection, keep it put, and keep it looking real.

The Beard in the Box vs. a Dedicated Set

Several of our complete suits include a beard. The Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit ships with white gloves, a beard, and a hat with attached hair, and the Adult Economy suit includes a beard as well. For a Christmas-morning reveal or a school party, that's often plenty.

The moment to upgrade is when Santa is the main event: a mall or tree-lighting appearance, a paid visit, or the family photo that ends up on the card. Our premium suits assume you'll do this. The Velveteen and Plush Rental Quality pages say outright to add your own wig and beard, sold separately. A dedicated set gives you fuller hair, a wig that covers your own hairline, and in the deluxe sets, a mustache that holds its shape.

The Line-Up, From Regular to Jumbo

Prices below are at time of writing.

• Regular Santa Wig & Beard ($62.99): long wavy wig and beard strands, one size fits most adults. The honest starter set.
• Professional Santa Wig & Beard Set ($80.99): professional-grade synthetic fiber in a natural color, fully washable, individually boxed, one size fits most. This is the one we'd hand a first-time "real" Santa.
• Majestic Santa Wig & Beard with Wired Mustache ($109.99): natural-color synthetic fiber, fully washable, with an extra-full curly design and a wired mustache you can shape. Individually boxed.
• Super Deluxe Extra Large Santa Wig and Beard Set ($134.99): made of Kanekalon fiber with a skin-topped wig, an extra-large wig cap, and a thicker beard with an attached wired mustache. Built for larger head sizes. Glasses not included.
• Jumbo Santa Beard and Wig Set ($151.99): a very long wavy beard with wired mustache and a skin-top wig. Can be hand washed, comes boxed, one size fits most adults. Spectacles not included.

If you're choosing between the Professional and the Majestic, the difference is volume and the wired mustache. If your head runs large or you've fought with tight wig caps before, skip straight to the Super Deluxe XL.

What "One Size Fits Most" Really Means for a Wig

Every set above is listed as one size fits most, with the Super Deluxe calling out its extra-large cap. In practice that means a stretch wig cap meant for an average adult head, not a custom fit and not a child's size. If you have a very full head of hair, flatten it down first; the wig sits better on a smooth base. If a costume wig has ever ridden up and exposed your hairline, that's your sign to choose the larger cap.

Finishing Touches: Eyebrows and a Mustache

Two small items turn a good beard into a convincing Santa. The Deluxe Santa Eyebrows ($18.99) are full, natural-looking synthetic brows that you apply with spirit gum (not included). Dark eyebrows over a snow-white beard is the single most common giveaway, and this fixes it for under twenty dollars. For a mustache with real presence, the Santa/Viking Yak Mustache, Extra Long White ($36.99) is natural yak fiber on a lace backing in a natural white color, again applied with spirit gum that's sold separately. Pick up spirit gum ahead of time so you're not hunting for it on the morning of.

Washing: Only What the Pages Say

We get asked this constantly, and the answer depends on the set. The Professional and Majestic sets are described as fully washable synthetic fiber. The Jumbo set says it can be hand washed. The Regular set and the yak mustache don't carry washing instructions, so we wouldn't dunk them. For any washable set, think gentle: cool water, a small amount of mild shampoo, no wringing, and let it air dry on a towel or a wig stand, never near a heater. Comb it out with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb once it's dry, not while it's wet and fragile.

Storage: Keep the Box

The Professional, Majestic, and Jumbo sets come individually boxed, and that box is the best storage you'll get. Let the beard dry completely after a busy evening (it picks up breath moisture), then lay it back in the box the way it arrived. What you want to avoid is a crumpled beard at the bottom of a plastic bin for eleven months, because a crushed synthetic curl is hard to bring back.

Important: Beards and Wigs Are Not Returnable

This is the part we need everyone to read twice. Under our refund policy, wigs, beards, and facial hair are not returnable, full stop, and several beard pages repeat the rule. So before you order, read the fiber, the "one size" note, and the mustache details, and if you're between two sets, ask our customer service team. We'd much rather answer a question than tell you a beard can't come back.

Building the Rest of the Look

Still deciding on the suit itself? Start with our complete guide to choosing a Santa suit, and if you're taking bookings this year, Professional Santa 101 covers the rest of the kit. Top it off with a hat from Santa hats, and browse every suit in Santa suits. A great beard makes a Santa believable, and a believable Santa is what the kids remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wash a Santa beard?

Only if the product page says so. The Professional and Majestic sets are described as fully washable synthetic fiber, and the Jumbo set says it can be hand washed. The Regular set and the yak mustache don't list washing instructions, so we'd air them out rather than wash them.

How do I keep a Santa beard from slipping?

Wear the wig and beard as a set so the beard anchors under the wig, then put your Santa hat on over the top. The Super Deluxe XL has an extra-large wig cap for bigger heads. Eyebrows and the yak mustache are applied with spirit gum, sold separately.

Can I return a Santa beard or wig?

No. Under our refund policy, wigs, beards, and facial hair are not returnable, and several beard listings repeat this on the product page. Read the size and fiber details carefully before you order.

Do Santa suits come with a beard?

Some do. The Men's Complete Velour and Adult Economy suits include a beard, and the Kids Plush Santa Suit includes a beard and mustache set. The velvet, velveteen, and Plush Rental Quality suits don't; their pages say to add your own wig and beard.