Whether this is your first cosplay, or your millionth cosplay, chances are you've had to style a wig or will need to style one in the near future.
Wigs can be challenging, I know this is personally my least favourite thing to do because it's not something I've had a lot of experience with. But by following tutorials and with lots of practice I find ways to get the job done! I wanted to share with you the few things that I have learned about wig styling and also give you a few resources that you should definitely check out! 1. Should I use product on my wig? - Absolutely! You will need to use products on your wig in order to get it to hold it's shape and also to detangle it. You won't need to use a lot of products like moose, or volumizing spray or anything like that, but you will need a good strong hairspray and a good detangler. I would recommend getting yourself a can of Got2B Glued and also Mane and Tail detangler. 2. How do I get my wig to "defy gravity"? - In order to make those awesome spikes or gravity defying bangs, you will need strong hair spray, a blow dryer, a flat iron or curling iron, a comb and a lot of patience. You will need to do a lot of back combing on the wig in order to get the fibres to bunch at the bottom and make a strong base. Don't be afraid to use a lot of hairspray either, but also try not to cake it on. If you spray too much in one area, it just starts to make the wig look like plastic. 3. How do I get my ponytail to look right? - If the wig you are using isn't built for a ponytail, as many aren't, you may either need to make your ponytail lower on the wig, or you will need to sew more wefts into the wig in order to cover up the wig cap. You can check out this great Arda Wigs tutorial here. 4. My wig is too big help! - If you are buying a bagged wig, chances are you won't be able to choose the size of wig you are buying, you just have to hope it fits. If you need to make the wig a bit smaller to fit your head, you can trim some of the elastic out of the wig cap and stitch the gap together. But this is definitely something you should do with a tutorial, don't just wing it. Last thing you want is to cut the wig and not be able to fix it! This is the tutorial I would recommend for resizing your wig. You can also size a wig larger if needed, but again, it's best to follow a tutorial. 5. Heat on synthetic fibres? - Synthetic fibre loves heat! But be careful how much heat you use! If you use a heating iron or blow dryer on medium to low setting, the fibres of your wig will become more relaxed and easier to handle and style. DO NOT use a heat gun! I tried this years ago on a wig, and managed to melt the front of it together. Needless to say, it's a bad idea. So stick to hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons and low to medium heat! 6. My wig isn't the right colour, can I dye it? - You can definitely dye a wig! There are a few ways to do it as well. You can use markers like a Sharpie, or you can buy fabric dyes such as Rit. Each of these have different methods to get the colour you want and there are lots of tutorials online to show you how! 7. How do I wash my wig? - This is a tricky one. Cosplay and costume wigs are not made with real human hair, and so if you wash them with regular shampoo, the fibres will deteriorate quickly, or become frizzy, or lose their colour and sheen. It's best to use a synthetic fibre shampoo to keep your wig in good quality for a long time. The only problem with synthetic fibre shampoos are they are either expensive or hard to find. This isn't the typical product you will find at just any drug store or grocery store. You'll need to go to a wig shop or somewhere that sells wefts and wig products most likely. As an alternative, you can use a very mild detergent or soap on your wig. You can use products like sunlight laundry detergent, or very mild shampoos such as suave. I personally have not tried the sunlight or the suave, but I have seen tutorials and blogs that do use these products. Arda Wigs & Kinpatsu Cosplay are my two favourite go-to's when it comes to styling wigs. They have fabulous tutorials, step by step instructions and Kinpatsu's book on wig styling is a must have for any cosplayer!! Good luck on your hair styling endeavours!
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