Whether you are wearing a wig because of hair loss or you simply want to have fun with a new hairstyle, you need to learn how to put on and style your wig. A well-styled and proper fitting wig looks so natural that no one will guess that it is not your real hair.
Step 1
Visit a hairstylist who specializes in wigs, for a fitting and haircut. For a natural look, a wig should be fit, cut and styled according to your face shape. Look Good Feel Better, a public service program for cancer patients, recommends wearing your wig while having it cut and styled for the first time. This will ensure that the haircut and style best suits your face shape.
Step 2
Wear a wig cap under your wig if you have long hair. A wig cap compresses hair so that it does not look bulky under the wig.
Step 3
Adjust your wig after you have put it on so that it sits on your head correctly. Line up the center part of your wig with the center of your forehead. Pull the wig down completely in the back, so that it fits correctly on your head.
Step 4
Crimp the roots of the wig hair using a crimping iron (natural hair wigs only), to create a softer and more natural looking hairline. This wig styling trick comes from the British award-winning hairstylist Charles Worthington in his book, "The Complete Book of Hairstyling."
Step 5
Style your wig in the same manner that you would style your own hair, with one exception---do not use hot curlers or hot blow dryers on synthetic hair wigs. Synthetic hair wigs melt under hot temperatures. Aim for a not-so-perfect look when styling your wig. Natural hair is not perfect, so neither should your wig be. "Milady's Standard Cosmetology," an educational textbook for cosmetology students, warns against smoothing wig hair down perfectly, because it looks fake. If your wig looks too perfect, mess it up a little bit.
Step 6
Accessorize your wig with hair clips, a headband or a scarf, on days that you do not have time to style your wig or whenever you want to add a little flair to your hairdo.
Step 7
Bring your wig back to a stylist for a fitting whenever your hair length significantly changes. A change in hair length affects the way your wig fits. If your wig does not seem to sit properly on your head anymore, it is time for a fitting.
Tips and Warnings
- Wash your wig regularly using wig shampoo, according to the wig manufacturer's directions. This will keep the wig looking fresh, shiny and healthy.
Things You'll Need
- Wig cap
- Crimping iron
- Hair accessories
References
- Look Good Feel Better: Wig Styling
- The Complete Book of Hairstyling; Charles Worthington; 2002
- Milady's Standard Cosmetology; Arlene Alpert, Margrit Altenburg; 2002
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