To be confident in wearing a wig, you have to not be afraid of it falling off. Last week I talked about wig adhesives – wig tape and wig glue - that can be used to secure a wig on a bald head.
This week we are going to talk about ways to secure wigs if you have hair.
Bobby pins are the most classic way to secure a wig to your head if you have a lot of hair. They don’t work as well if your hair is thin. You will want to use bobby pins that match the color of your wig, so they are not visible. Bobby pins are an inexpensive way to secure you wig and are good for people with sensitive skin. You will want to make sure to use enough bobby pins to secure the wig or your wig can come loose. To use bobby pins, tie down your hair and use hairspray or gel to settle any flyaway hairs. Place the front of the wig on your head and pull it down working towards the nape of your neck. Lift sections of your wig, starting at the front of the wig, and place the bobby pins through the wefts and into your hair.
Wig clips are either already sewn into the cap when you purchase it or you can sew then into the cap. Wig clips last the length of the wig and are a great long-term solution. You can purchase wig clips and sew them in starting at the front of the wig and working towards the back. You will want to leave one inch of space between them. Pull your hair back to the nape of your neck and use hairspray or gel to get rid of any flyaways. Then starting from the front, slide the clips into your hair. Shake your head to ensure everything is secure and once you are confident it is, you’re done. It’s important to note that it does take some skill to sew in the clips so that they don’t damage the wig and to make sure they are secure.
One of the best ways to secure a wig if you have if by using a wig cap. You wear wig caps underneath your wig and grip to your skin. Wig caps help keep your hair in place underneath your wig and create a barrier between your scalp and wig cap. Wig caps can be hot and get dirty if not cleaned. They do stretch over time and need to be replaced. The most common type of wig cap is a nylon cap and are best used with bald scalps or with shorter hair. Mesh caps are best for longer hair and wig grip caps are best for sensitive skin. To use a wig cap, you simply need to place the wig cap on your head and then place your wig on top of the cap.
Lastly, we are going to talk about wig grips. Wig grips can be used regardless of whether you are bald or have hair. Wig grips are made of double-sided velvet that grips your hair on one side and your skin on the other side. Wig grips have a strap that can be adjusted to fit your head and are easy to take on and off. Wig grips will not pull out your hair. Wig grips can stretch out and will need to be replaced. To wear the wig grip, you will need to secure your hair, if you have any, and flatten any flyaways. Put the wig grip on the top of your hairline and use the Velcro strap to adjust the grip. Place your wig on top of the wig grip and shake your head to make sure the wig grip and wig are both secure.
If you are new to wearing wigs, it’s best to try several different methods for securing your wig to see which one feels the best to you. I am essentially bald, except for peach fuzz so my favorite tool to use to secure my wig is wig glue. If I am wearing a wig with a monofilament top, I don’t use any wig adhesives. I haven’t found that I needed to. I like wig glue the best because I don’t like wearing layers on my head. I just want the wig on and nothing else. I hope this review on securing a wig has helped at least get you started on your wig wearing journey.
by Penny Jane Love