How to Put On a Wig (2024)

The idea of putting on a wig can bring anxiety and apprehension to first time wig wearers. Holding your wig for the first time, it may seem foreign to you. For women experiencing hair loss it represents a big change. Your wig will give you back a feeling of control in a situation where it seems you have none. Over time, you may even find wearing a wig liberating. With this helpful guide, you will soon be putting on your wig like a pro.

How to Put On a Wig With Hair

Putting On Wigs with Cap Liners

How to Put On a Wig

How to Keep My Wig From Slipping

How to Make a Wig Fit Tighter

Pro Wig Wearing Tips

How to Put On a Wig With Long Hair

If your hair is long, you will need to prepare your biological hair to fit inside of your wig cap.

Dampen hair with a spray bottle of water. This is optional but this can help eliminate flyaway hairs as you braid or pull your hair back.
Prepare your hair. You have three options:
1. Put your hair into a low ponytail and either pull the ponytail up over your head..
2. Braid your hair. You can start with two braids, but if your hair is thick, 4 or more braids may work better. Wrap the braids (as evenly as possible) around your head and secure with bobby pins or toupee clips.
3. If you have Afro hair, we suggest putting your hair in cornrows .
Put on your wig cap, secure it with bobby pins and put on your wig.

How to Put On a Wig With Short Hair:

Dampen your hair with a spray bottle of water. This is optional but it makes it easier to pull your hair cleanly into the wig cap.
Put a wig cap over your head, covering your ears and then pulling it back to the hairline at the forehead.
Pull each side of the wig cap behind the ears, pulling your hair back behind the cap.
Scoop any hair outside of the wig cap uby using toupee clips all the way around the perimeter of the wig cap. The clips will secure the wig cap to your head while preventing those short hairs from coming out of the wig cap.
Put on your wig.

How to Put On a Wig Without Hair

Putting on a wig when you are bald is the easiest way to wear a wig because you don't have to secure biological hair. With a bald scalp, you can put on your wig with or without a wig cap. A wig cap will keep your wig fresh longer, add comfort and will also eliminate friction on your scalp as your hair grows back.

Experiment with which wig cap is most comfortable for you.

Putting on Wigs with Wig Caps

Before putting on your wig, we recommend putting on a wig cap liner. Wig cap liners offer many benefits to wig wearers:

Protection: They can help protect your hair by reducing the friction between the wig and your own hair. This will prevent hair loss from sheer friction against the scalp.
Comfort: Cap liners can make the wig more comfortable on your scalp.
Sanitizing: They can keep the wig more sanitary, allowing you to wash the wig less frequently.
Longevity: They can extend the life of your wig by eliminating oils that make contact with your wig.

Types of Wig Cap Liners:

Mesh or Nylon: Thin and sheer, ideal for wig wearers who have hair or for wearers who prefer a thinner option.
Cotton: Breathable, soft on the scalp, ideal for those with hair loss.
Bamboo: Moisture wicking, cool and comfortable. Ideal for bald scalps.
Aloe Vera: Nurturing on the scalp, cool and comfortable.

How to Put On a Wig

Starting Out:

Put on your wig cap. Gently shake the wig to fluff the style. If it’s a curly wig, use your fingers to “free the curls up” a bit. If it’s a straight wig, use a wide tooth comb or pick to get any tangles out.Notice the adjustable tabs inside of the wig. They can be adjusted if the fit is too loose or to tight.

Orienting Your Wig:

Identify the front and the back of the wig. The label always goes in the back. Place your wig on a flat surface in front of you so that you are looking down inside of the wig. The label should be at the top (the back of the wig).

Putting Your Wig On:

Grasp the wig by the ear tabs (on the side of the wig) and flip the wig over the top of your head. Tilt your head forward. Slip the wig on, starting at the front hairline and working towards the back.

Adjusting Your Wig:

The front of the wig should sit where your hairline is (approximately 4 finger widths from the top of your eyebrows). Gently rock the wig back and forth until it is sitting on your front hairline. Make sure that the ear tabs on your wig are in front of your ears (and not covering your ears up).

Be Gentle:

Do not grab the wig by the hairs, but handle the wig from the base of the cap. Be especially careful of hand tied areas and do not pull on these areas when putting on your wig.

Fit:

Your wig should feel secure, but not tight. Re-adjust the tabs inside of the wig to achieve a comfortable fit.

How to Keep My Wig From Slipping

Wig wearers often worry that their wig will slip or fall off after putting it on. Fortunately, the adjustable tabs inside of the cap allow the wig to fit securely. For wearers who want additional security, we recommend the following products:

Cushion Band: This is a gel filled headband that not only keeps your wig securely in place, it also relieves pressure points, making your wig more comfortable to wear.
Wig Gripper: This adjustable headband is made of a fabric which adds friction around the hairline. This allows your wig to stay securely in place without slipping.
Toupee Clips: Toupee clips are secured to the wig and then clipped into your own hair to hold your wig in place.
Adhesives and Tapes: Double sided tape or roll on adhesives can be applied to hold your wig in place.
Scarves:On a windy day, a scarf can be tied over your head and underneath your chin to hold your wig in place.

How to Make a Wig Fit Tighter

If you find that the wig is too big after putting it on, there are a few options:

Choose the Correct Size

You may have chosen the wrong size wig. Learn to measure your head here.

Adjust Tabs

Secure the tabs inside of the wig cap. They will either have a Velcro or slide adjuster.

Take It In With a Needle and Thread

Like a pair of pants or any garment, you can take in a wig with a needle and thread to make it fit better.

Buy Wig Accessories

Wig caps worn under a wig can make it more snug. Cushion bands or wig grippers make the wigs more secure.

More Wig Wearing Tips

It is helpful to have one wig to wash and one to wear. Having two will extend the life of your wigs and make your routine easier.
Make sure that your wig is the correct size. There are 3 basic sizes - petite, average and large.See our How to Buy a Wig Guide to learn how to measure your head correctly. If your wig rides up in the back, it is probably too small. If it moves around excessively or has pockets, it's probably too big.
Don't forget to adjust the tabs inside of the wig to achieve a more custom fit.
Cushion Bands can make wearing your wig more comfortable. These gel filled headbands are put on underneath your wig to remove pressure points onthe scalp and help keep a wig from slipping.
Headline It! Wig Liners can be worn inside of your wig to wick away sweat and moisture. Many women who are hot natured find these disposable liners a life saver.
Wig Grippers are a customer favorite. These comfortable velour headbands are put on underneath your wig to make it more comfortable and eliminate slippage.
When your hair starts to grow back, consider having one of your wigs cut in a shorter hairstyle to help transition to when you will stop wearing wigs. This will give the appearance of a more gradual change in hair length for the big reveal.
Finding the right wig is key in wearing a wig successfully. Here are Headcovers, our cosmetologist will help you select the perfect color and style for you.
There's nothing more attractive than wearing confidence!

Also see our helpful guide: How to Wash and Care for Your Wig

Additional Resources:

How to Wash a Human Hair Wig

How to Buy a Wig

How to Make a Wig Look Natural

Human Hair vs Synthetic Wigs

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Looking for a qood quality synthetic wig reasonably priced.. (Posted on 06/17/2022)

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