If you’re new to wearing wigs, especially if you choose a synthetic one, it may feel totally intimidating. Why? The most annoying thing about wearing a synthetic wig is that it will look unnatural if not handled properly. We are not saying that synthetic wigs are not good, actually, they are cheap, colorful, and easy to maintain.
But the truth is that you get what you pay, a $30 artificial wig will never look as good as a quality human hair wig.
Don't worry, we are here to help. These 13 pro tips will help make your fake hair look as authentic as possible.
Tip 1: Before Buying a Wig, Measure Your Head.
While average size fits 95% of heads and many wigs have adjustable strap. There are also cases where you may need a certain size wig.
In that case, it’s helpful to have your measurements handy to get the best fit. Follow these steps to measure your head with a cloth measuring tape:
- Measure from ear-to-ear over the top of your head, and across the hairline at your forehead.
- Measure the circumference, wrapping the tape from the forehead, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck.
- Measure from your hairline at your forehead to the nape of your neck.
Tip2: Reduce Shine
Synthetic wigs with too much shine appear fake and unnatural. To avoid a wig from being too shiny, sprinkle some hair powder on the wig and then brush it to make it look more natural.
This is understandable in synthetic wigs, as they are made of shiny fibers. Don’t worry though – our regular clients have a two-step trick to fix this:
- Simply, apply some dry shampoo or talcum powder to the wig.
- Gently rub it in so that you can’t see any of the product, and done!
This instantly minimizes the shine while ensuring that your wig isn’t too dull (make sure you don’t apply too much product). Check out our how to make synthetic hair look real guide for a full explanation on the various methods you can try to make your synthetic wig appear as real as possible.
Tip3: Flatten Your Natural Hair
Knowing how to make a wig look real starts before you put it on. This step may seem obvious, but it really is SO important. The flatter your natural hair, the better your wig will fit. How you flatten your natural hair will vary depending on the length, density, and texture of your hair. Additionally, many women choose to wear a stocking cap or other wig cap to secure their natural hair. The most common ways to prepare your natural hair for the perfect lace front wig install includes: • Braids • Cornrows • Low bun
Tip 4: Pluck Your Wig
Pre-plucked lace wigs have hairlines that are thin giving them the look of a natural hairline. In fact, many Lace Wig and Hair's full lace wigs on the market that are pre-made will usually feature pre-plucked hairlines.
A pre plucked wig means that your wig will have a natural hairline and the baby's hair has been plucked.
If you have bought a wig that is not pre plucked, do not despair. Good news is that you can do it yourself and save some money. Plucking your wig is very easy and it is a great customization that everyone should do.
As soon as your new wig arrives, take a pair of tweezers and carefully pluck out a few strands.
Take a look at your natural hairline and where you part your hair. You can usually see some scalp as the hairs become sparser near the hairline. Plucking the hairs gives a more natural look.
To pluck, grab your tweezers and place the wig on either your head or a mannequin head. Please take a little bit of a mousse and start applying it around the hairline. Using a curling wand to do this will help the hair to push back. If the wig is pre-plucked, you needn't to do more plucking, but if you don't like it, be sure to cut off the so-called “baby” hair before proceeding.
- Take some clear pictures of your natural hairline to use as your guide.
- Put the wig on a stand and use pins on the wig to pin it down.
Start at your hairline near your ear and pluck hair away from your face, towards the back of your head, being careful not to pluck the lace.
4) Space out plucking so that it’s not too close together. For reference, consider the distance between the teeth on a wide-tooth comb.
5) Pluck hairs so that there is no obvious line where the lace starts. There should be a gradient effect, so hair goes from less dense around the hairline to full coverage.
6) If the hair is too dense at the part (and the part won’t change), lightly pluck to create a more natural-looking part.
Tweezing only the front does not remove any extra hair that may add to the bulk, and the final look would be compromised.
Be sure to tweeze carefully and not concentrate on any one area for a long time, as excess tweezing can lead to bald spots.
Here is the tutorial video with more details:
Tip 5: Trim the Lace to Fit Your Face
A simple tip for how to make a wig look real is to cut the lace while the unit is on your head. Why? Lace wigs come with extra lace that covers your forehead so you can easily place and secure the unit. You’ll cut the excess lace before you secure the wig. To look like your natural hair, place the wig on your head and follow these steps:
1) Clip the hair back, away from your forehead so you can clearly see your hairline.
2) Cut the corner close to ear off
3) Adjust the unit until it’s placed where you want to secure it later.
4) Make your first cut in the middle of your forehead towards the hairline, being sure not to cut any baby hairs you want to keep.
5) As you cut along the hairline, avoid doing so in straight line. Follow your natural hairline and its curves.
6) Clip the ear tabs, cutting away excess hair and lace. Make sure to stay close to the ears for the most natural look.
Tip6: Buy Rooted Wigs
Unless you naturally have very dark hair, it’s unlikely that your hair is just one color without any gradients .
Most hair has a level of dimension to it, which your stylist calls “dimension.”
And that’s why wigs dyed with single color look really fake.
Wigs with rooted colors, on the other hand, mimic the natural gradients in bio hair by blending several colors, which are a great option if you are looking for a natural effect,
And if your favorite wig happens to be a flat color, you can ask your hairdresser to style your wig with highlights and lowlights away from the wig’s base color.
Tip7: ALWAYS Line Up Your Wig With Your Natural Hairline
If you don’t line up your wig with your natural hairline, your wig will never look natural. That’s why it’s super important that each time you put on your wig, you take the time to line it up properly.
To correctly line up your wig with your natural hairline, first put your wig on your forehead just above your eyebrows.
Next, slowly slide the wig back over your head, adjusting as you go, until the bottom of the wig hits the nape of your next.
Last, slide the wig forward just a bit until it hits your natural hairline, secure the straps, and style away!
When considering how to wear a wig and make it look natural, you need to make sure that the wig is positioned properly on your head, by lining it up with your natural hairline. It may take a little longer to put on, but it’s worth it to achieve as natural a look as possible. Follow these steps below to ensure it is lined up correctly:
* Place your wig on your forehead just above your eyebrows.
* Slide the wig over your head as usual, until you can feel the wig reach the nape of your neck.
* Then, shuffle the wig forward slowly until it reaches where your natural hairline lies.
* Secure the wig in your preferred way, and then you are good to go!
Tip8: Blend It Out
If you want to know how to make a wig look natural, this simple step is a game-changer. Using powder and concealer you already have, lightly brush along the hairline and part. Then you can gently blot or dab the concealer into the lace with a makeup brush or even your fingers to get a more natural-looking hairline. This will blend the lace with the color of your skin to give a more natural look and hide harsh edges.
Tip9: Look for Lace Front Wigs and Monofilament Tops
How did she keep everyone in the dark about her hair?
With lace fronts and monofilament tops.
Lace front wigs create the illusion of a natural hairline, making it look like your wig hair is growing right out of your head.
Monofilament tops do the same thing, but for the wig’s part. Each hair of a monofilament top wig is individually sewn into the wig, rather than being machine applied. This allows the wig hair to move freely and lets you to part the wig anywhere you want.
How to Blend Your Natural Hairline With a Lace Front Wig
Step 1: Place your wig an inch or two farther back on your head than you typically would, exposing your natural hairline.
Step 2: Fully attach the wig.
Step 3: Spray a little dry shampoo into your hairline and along the part of the wig, and use your fingers to tease everything together.
TIP: Ultimately, the key to a flawless installation is maintaining perfectly-manicured edges. if you have long baby hairs, your wig should probably have them, too. Mimicking your own edges is one major key to achieving a flawless illusion. It keeps people guessing.
NOTE: If you’re going to try this trick, it’s super important that your wig color matches your natural hair color.
Tip10: Choose a Wig With Fringe
As explained, the hairline of a wig can be a dead giveaway. To avoid this and the hassle of lining up the wig; if you want something you can put on easily, choosing a wig with a fringe is a good option! Whether you choose a full fringe or not, having hair at the front conceals the line of the wig. If you have chosen or fallen in love with a fringe-less wig, take it to the hairdressers and let them work a bit of fringe magic!
Tip11: Mess Up The Part
When something looks too perfect, especially with wigs. It’s usually a sign that that thing is fake.
Most wigs come out of the box with nearly perfect parts that scream, “This isn’t my natural hair!” when you wear them.
Then, using baby scissors, cut a few strands so that they look like they’re just growing out. Last, choose a couple of hairs to place on the ‘wrong’ side of the part.
Imperfection never looked so perfect.
Tip12: Experiment with A Loose Hairstyle
Styling a loose up-do is a great way of styling a wig. This can make a wig appear more natural as the idea is to keep the style a little messy. This will look even better if you’ve snipped a few wispy bits into the wig. Avoid a ponytail that is too high or tight as this makes the hairline a little too visible and unnatural.
Tip13: Replace Your Wig Regularly
The best way to broadcast to the world that you’re wearing a wig is to wear an old smelly wig.
Unfortunately, no one has invented a wig that grows new hair yet, so we’re stuck with wigs that lose their quality over time. No matter how hard you wish, no amount of wig styling products or cap adjustments can save a wig that’s past its prime.
Plan to replace your synthetic wigs every 3 to 6 months and replace your human hair wigs every 6 to 12 months.