How to Wear a Wig: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Wigs are fun, and sometimes a necessary accessory. Whether you really need it or just want to be stylish, wearing a wig can be neither easy nor complicated. Here are some practical steps you can follow to wear a wig to make it look natural and resemble real hair.

Step

Part 1 of 2: Preparing Your Hair and Head

Step 1. Choose a type of wig

There are three main types of wigs: full lace, partial or front lace, and non-lace. There are also three main materials that can be used to make wigs, namely human hair, animal hair/hair, and synthetic hair. Each type of wig has its advantages and disadvantages so make sure that you buy the best one.

Full lace wigs are equipped with a head covering in the form of a net material, and the wig is sewn through the layers of this head covering. This type of wig gives a natural hairline look, is mostly made of human hair or animal hair/hair, and is easier to style because you can part it at any point. This type of wig also feels more comfortable when worn because there is still breathing room for the scalp. But unfortunately, these wigs are usually more expensive than other types. This type of wig is also more easily damaged because it is not made of durable materials.
Partial or lace front wigs are made with a mesh layer that only covers the front of the head (not the entire head). This type of wig gives your hair a natural look in the front, and is made of a more durable material on the main part of your head. This type of wig can be made of any material and is cheaper than a full lace wig. Unfortunately, these wigs don't look as natural as full lace wigs and are more difficult to style due to the less/unnatural nature of the material.
Non-lace wigs are made with a mesh-like section of nylon. This type of wig can be made of any type of hair material, is more durable, and cheaper than other types. Unfortunately, this type of wig does not look as natural as other types of wigs and does not easily blend into the user's natural hairline like other types of wigs.

Step 2. Prepare your hair

You need to prepare your hair so that there are no protruding or uneven areas when wearing the wig. Whether you have long or short hair, you need to make sure that all of your hair is pulled back from the hairline, so that it is not visible when wearing a wig.

If you have long hair, you can separate your hair into two sections and twist them, and cross the sections at the back of your head. Pin the two crosswise up and down with hair clips.
If you have thick, long hair, you can twist your hair 2.5 cm wide and pin it around your hair. Take a section of hair, about 2.5 cm wide, and twist the ends using your index finger. Make a circle with a diameter of 2.5 cm, then pin it with hair clips to form an X on the circle. Do this all over your hair. This will give you an even surface and you are ready to wear the wig.
Short hair only needs to be combed and pinned from the hairline. You can also wear a bandana made of cloth or other similar material, to smooth the hair from the direction of the hairline.

Step 3. Prepare your skin

Clean the skin around your hairline with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove oil and dirt, so the glue or adhesive tape can better adhere to your skin. Then, apply a scalp protection (which can be in the form of a spray, gel, or cream) on the area around your scalp. This will protect your skin from irritation and damage from the glue or adhesive tape.

Even though you may have no hair at all (bald for some reason) or have skipped the previous step, be sure to prepare your skin

Step 4. Put on the wig cap

You can use a mesh wig cap or a leather-colored nylon wig cap. Mesh lining caps provide more breathability than leather-toned nylon wig caps. To put it on, carefully stretch the layer cap over your head and trim it according to your hairline, making sure all your hair goes inside the layer cap. Secure it with hair pins around the edges.

Whether you have long or short hair, a wig cap is required before wearing a wig. If you are hairless, this step is optional. This layering cap prevents the wig from “slipping” (slipping) and falling off, but it doesn't work to even out the surface area of your hair

Step 5. Apply glue or apply adhesive tape

To apply wig glue, dip a makeup brush in the glue and brush it lightly around your hairline. Let the glue dry for a few minutes. You'll know when the glue is ready, which is when the glue isn't looking thin and not wet, but feels sticky. To apply adhesive tape, carefully apply double-sided tape around your hairline, to protect your skin. Leave a little space between each piece of tape to ensure that you have room to drain the moisture when you sweat and this evaporation flow won't peel off the entire adhesive tape. You don't have to wait for the tape to dry.

To ensure that the wig and upholstery don't come off, apply glue or tape to the edges of the upholstery. This will glue the wig, upholstery, and skin together, making the wig more stable.
You can use a combination of these two methods. Just decide what's best for you.
You don't need to apply glue or tape to the entire outline of your head, but make sure to apply glue to the forehead and sides of the forehead. This is an important area for a wig to look natural. Next, you can select other areas that you think are necessary and apply adhesive to those areas.

Part 2 of 2: Wearing a Wig

Step 1. Prepare your wig

Before you put on a wig, you need to make sure that the hair on the wig doesn't get caught in the glue or adhesive tape. Make sure that you have pulled all the hair into a ponytail. Or, if your wig is short, clip the hair closest to the edges.

If you are wearing a full or partial lace wig, trim the edges of the lace to match your hairline. Leave a little at the edges so that it can be glued to your head so that the result looks natural.
Ignore styling your wig at this stage. The wig will look messy during the wearing process. You can set it after the use process is complete.

Step 2. Place the wig on your head

Press the wig area against the center of the forehead with your fingers. Place the wig over your entire head and carefully trim it around your scalp, pressing the wig against the center of your forehead with your fingers. After this, carefully pull the entire wig up to your head. Make sure that the sides of the wig don't touch the adhesive, so they don't stick together before you're done wearing them.

Do not wear a wig with a bent position. This will skew your wig and will allow some of the wig to adhere to the adhesive before you straighten it.
If this is your first time wearing it, allow enough time to adjust the wig position before you leave the house. It takes practice to get used to wearing a wig perfectly.

Step 3. Tighten the wig

No matter what type of adhesive you use, you will need to secure the wig to your head. When you've styled the wig to your desired style, use a fine-toothed comb to gently press the front end of the wig. If you are wearing a lace-up wig, make sure that the lace is flat against your head so that the hairline looks natural. Once the front half of the wig is in place, wait 15 minutes for it to fully secure. Next, follow the same steps for the back half, as for the front half. Wait 15 minutes before you style it to make sure your wig is firmly in place.

You can also use hair clips to secure your wig. Clip the hair clips to the top of the wig, clip them to the backing cap and hair inside, and clip them in the middle to hide the curls.
Once the wig is in place, check to see if there is any visible glue residue under the wig. If it still is, clean it by rubbing it with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
If you find that the wig is not attached properly, carefully remove the wig from the adhesive on your skin using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Reposition your wig and reattach it.

Step 4. Style the hair on the wig and add accessories

Once the wig is in place, you are free to style your hair however you want. You can decorate your hair however you like. You can braid, curl, or add any accessories to the wig until you're satisfied. However, if you're wearing a synthetic wig, don't use a heated styling tool. The heat will make your wig melt or break.

You can cut the wig according to the model that fits your face, before putting it on. This way, the wig will suit your personality and will look natural when worn.
Remember that the simpler the style the better. Whether your wig is made of human hair, animal hair/hair, or synthetic material, don't apply too much styling product to the wig, as this will leave product residue on your wig.