How to Put on a Wig: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
How to put on a wig: one thing we often hear from salons and wig stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc., that have been working with us is that some of their clients, after buying a wig or two, still don’t know how to work their wig properly.
For many wearers, it was either the hairline or the parting that corrugated or easily moved out of position that gave them away. After a few tries, they couldn’t get it right, so they gave up their wig. And you lose a client.
Anyway, putting a wig on isn’t difficult, even for beginners. Let’s not worry about that. However, you must wear it correctly so the alternative hair remains secure on the head and constantly looks real and natural.
In this post, we’ll show you the easiest ways to wear a wig for beginners with various natural hair lengths and discuss whether a wig cap is necessary in our frequently asked questions.
Not sure where to start? Let’s start with a 1-minute video demonstration on how to put a wig on. It may not cover everything we cover in this post, but it will show you straightforwardly how easy it is to wear a wig!
How to Put on a Wig for Beginners
How to put on a wig for beginners: If your clients are new to wearing wigs, here are some easy steps for putting one on. These steps work for both synthetic and human hair wigs.
Step One: Preparing Your Scalp – Oil-Free Is Key!
Some of you may want to apply tape or adhesive on the scalp to secure the wig in place. Some, however, may want to use medical wigs for cancer patients, which are secured to the head with anti-slipping silicone strips.
Make sure that wherever tape adhesive or anti-slipping pads are applied, the client’s skin or hair underneath must be oil-free. Because tape won’t stick if there’s oil on the skin or hair it is sticking to. Plus, a sweaty or oily scalp makes it hard for silicone strips to grip.
Wipe the area of the scalp where the tape or adhesive will be applied with an alcohol-saturated cotton pad. A thorough cleaning of the scalp ensures perfect adhesion.
Step Two: Preparing Your Hair of Scalp – Length and Volume Matter!
What to do before putting on a wig? Well, it depends on how much hair you have on your head. Some may have short hair, some long, and some little or no hair. Let’s break these down and explain separately.
Short Hair
Before putting on a wig, brush your hair back and away from your face. To secure the hair, pin your hair in place (with bobby pins) and add a spritz of hairspray for extra hold (be sure not to spray on your wig).
Longer Hair
As the hair is fairly long, to keep the hair away from the face, it’s crucial to pin your hair away from the face and keep it as flat against the head as possible. You can either tie hair into two French braids, crossing them at the nape of the neck, clipping them to your head, and securing them with grips. To make it extra flat, you can even sleep on the curls.
Little or No Hair
A hairless scalp could be slippery for the wig to stay secure. Even with anti-slipping silicone pads or adjustable ear tabs, it still doesn’t give your client perfect peace of mind. A wig cap allows for optimum friction between its surface and the underside of the wig, making the wig feel much more secure on the head.
Step Three: Fitting Your Wig on Your Head
Now, the hair and the scalp have been prepared for wig attachment. Get your wig out and follow these steps for a hassle-free wig-wearing experience!
One
Stand in front of a mirror, ensuring it’s positioned properly, and you can stand comfortably in front of the mirror.
Two
Hold your wig at the nape of your neck (where the label usually is) with both of your hands, just above your head.
Three
Tilt your head a little forward, position your wig just above your eyebrows, and slip it onto your head carefully from front to back.
Four
Gently shuffle the wig around, adjusting it, and making sure it’s placed just below your natural hairline.
Five
Use the ear tabs on both sides to center the wig by placing the tabs in front of each ear, but do not cover them.
Six
Adjust your wig according to the part you want to achieve – some wigs have pre-made partings that can’t be changed; you might have to play around with it until your desired style shows up.
Seven
If your wig has adjustable straps or bands with hooks, adjust them, making sure the wig is tight enough and comfortable, and also, make sure the wig stays in place.
How Do You Apply Wig Glue or Tape?
How to put on a wig with glue or tape used? Some clients may prefer to secure their wig using adhesive or tape around the front hairline for an extra strong hold. That’s fine. Apply these steps after fitting the wig to your head, and your wig will stay nice and secure.
- Prepare a small makeup brush, some wig tape or adhesive, and a fine-tooth comb.
- Dip the makeup brush into the wig adhesive, and brush a thin layer of liquid adhesive around the front hairline, or apply tape along the front hairline on the underside of the wig.
- Wait for a few minutes till the adhesive or tape turns tacky, and then press it down with the fine-tooth comb.
- Wait for at least 15 minutes for the wig to set before styling the hair.
Step Three: Styling the Wig
Most of our premium human hair wigs are semi-finished. Call it this way because the hair hasn’t been styled. As a hairstylist, you can further style the hair to help your client achieve her desired style.
Can I Apply the Same Steps to Every Wig?
The steps of the wig attachment process are basically the same across different types of wigs. However, there are slight variations we must consider. Take lace front wigs as an example. The lace at the front is very delicate. Be very gentle when putting them on.
Lace front wigs are one of our most recommended choices, thanks to their front hairline being very subtle, allowing styles to be worn away from the face, creating a super natural look. The process of attaching a lace front wig only differs if the wig hasn’t been cut.
If the front of your wig is in monofilament lace, and this is your first time putting on a lace front wig, take extra precautions. Make sure you don’t damage the monofilament at the front of the wig cap. Avoid bending, folding, or stretching the monofilament lace at the front while securing your wig, as the lace is very delicate.
How to Put on a Wig if the Wig Hasn’t Been Cut?
No worries. You can follow the same steps of the wig attachment process. But, since your wig is uncut, there will usually be a large section of lace at the front hairline.
If your wig is uncut, it usually comes with a large section of lace at the front hairline. Trim the excess lace at the front of the wig and make it look natural. Be careful so that no fibers are unpicked when cutting the front lace.
You or your clients have all been wig-wearing beginners at one stage or another. Now you know how to put on a wig as a beginner and are confident about trying one out for your client or yourself. Putting on a wig takes practice, and it may even take a little while at first. But it will become second nature very soon!
Discover some of Newtimes Hair’s finest medical-grade human hair wigs, crafted for clients experiencing any type of hair loss. Each piece combines luxurious texture with a secure, comfortable fit, all while being hypoallergenic for complete peace of mind.
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MELODY 100% Hand-Tied With Double Fine Welded Mono Front$519.00 -
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HEATHER Fully Hand-Tied Lace Wig With Fine Mongolian HairOriginal price was: $635.00.$603.00Current price is: $603.00. -
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NATALIE 100% Hand-Tied Lace Wig With Diamond Lace TopOriginal price was: $578.00.$549.00Current price is: $549.00.
About Newtimes Hair
How did we know how to put on a wig professionally? Newtimes Hair has been a full-stack manufacturer and supplier of top-notch human hair wigs. All our products are made with purely premium human hair. We work closely with over 2,000 salons and wig stores worldwide.
To ensure all our partner salons and stores run a successful business, we work with and get first-hand tips from top hair pros and stylists to ensure all our partner salons and wig stores offer their customers the best wearer’s experience.
Newtimes Hair provides more than just hair, but all the necessary tips to run a successful hair business. Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Put on a Wig
What is the four finger rule for wigs?
If your client finds it hard to determine where her natural hairline starts, especially if she hardly has any bio hair remaining. Introduce the four-finger rule. Measure four fingers (or four finger widths) above the bridge of your nose or eyebrow bone. This measurement indicates the location where the wig’s hairline should be placed for a natural look.
How do you keep a wig from slipping?
There are various ways to keep your wig from slipping or moving. The most frequently used methods are tape, adhesives (for the front hairline), and bobby pins.
How do you secure a wig with bobby pins?
Sure! This is also one of the most practical and simplest approaches to secure a wig:
A. Use bobby pins to flatten and hold your natural hair in place before putting on your wig.
B. After styling your wig, lift sections and pin through the wefts into your natural hair.
C. For non-wefted wigs, secure the wig at the sides and temples with bobby pins.
D. The number of pins needed varies—try different amounts to see what feels secure.
Do you need a wig cap to wear a wig?
Wig caps are optional and not mandatory. Many hair pros suggest wig caps, and many don’t. The debate is ongoing. For new wearers, it can be confusing for them to decide whether they need a wig cap or not. However, a wig cap does help secure the wig, allowing for a comfortable wearing experience, especially if you have a sensitive scalp. A wig cap provides extra comfort, preventing irritation.
Despite your client’s natural hair length, a wig cap can be used. It’s all about personal preference, as long as it works for you. For a detailed tutorial on how to put on a wig cap, especially putting long hair in a wig cap, check out our video offered in this post.
How long does it take to get used to a wig from Newtimes Hair?
All our wigs are made with premium human hair, giving your clients a smooth, luxurious look. Most of your clients get used to them within a week or so. The wigs are highly breathable and feature anti-slip mechanisms—especially our medical wigs, which many find comfortable almost immediately. You can put them on and take them off whenever you like.
Whether you’re wearing your first wig to try a new style or you’ve chosen to wear one for medical reasons, the time it takes to adjust varies for everyone.
If your client is feeling nervous or self-conscious, encourage them to wear their wig at home first to get used to how it feels. Then, when they are ready, consider stepping out somewhere low-key or wearing it around a supportive group of friends.
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