In an effort to continue my protective style kick, I decided I wanted to make a wig! Crochet styles are great for protecting my hair, but lacked the versatility and glamour of extensions that I love so a wig was my best option; versatility, glamour, and NO heat damage.
What I thought was going to be a quick process turned into a 2 week ( give or take a few days) to finally get my life and this wig together. This post is all the things that Youtube DOES NOT tell you about making your own wig! Here is what I learned and all the videos that helped me along the way.
DISCLAIMER: I know little to nothing about hair. Never dealt with bleach, only done 3 sew-in's on myself (mediocre), and never worn/bought a wig. I am a true beginner!
TIP 1.
|If you're trying to avoid the "wiggy" look, then just don't do a wig|
My biggest struggle! If you don't want to look like you're wearing a wig, I would avoid lace fronts, wigs, etc. altogether. At times it may look like a wig, and that is OKAY! As long as it's not falling off, then your wig (and it's "wiggy" look) are fly!
TIP 2.
|Do your research|
Watch as many videos/tutorials as possible. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Plan for the worst, so if it occurs you are prepared. Everyone completes this process in their own way, so your best bet is to watch them ALL, then add your own spin.
TIP 3.
|Make sure you have plenty of time to complete this task and take your time|
From start to finally finish, this process has taken me two weeks, give or take a few days in between. I don't recommend taking that long, but I would say not to stop tweaking until you are genuinely happy with the final results.
TIP 4.
TIP 4.
|Invest in ALL the necessary materials|
Don't be cheap because this is not an inexpensive venture. I spent roughly $250, including the weave, on making this unit. Here are the things that I used that made creating this wig easier for myself:
- Styrofoam head
- Mannequin head holding clamp
- T-Pins
- Squirt bottle
- Tweezers
- Razor comb
-Spoolie
-Plastic butter knife
- Styrofoam head
- Mannequin head holding clamp
- T-Pins
- Squirt bottle
- Tweezers
- Razor comb
-Spoolie
-Plastic butter knife
TIP 5.
EnvoguemeHairTV- 360 lace frontal install! NO GLUE, TAPE, OR GEL
TIP 6.
|If this your FIRST wig or lace front, don't try a 360 frontal|
Not sure why I chose a 360 when I have never even used a closure, but I did. Needless to say, nothing about this unit is 360-ish, but only because I ended up cutting it so short. The stitching was not as hard as I imagined. Still, start small then work your way up. This task is not for the faint of heart.
TIP 6.
|Don't trip if the knots aren't bleached perfectly or if you mess up|
I bleached the knots on my frontal 4 times trying to get it right. All I got from it was bald spots from the hair being so damaged. If your roots are brassy or orange, put a little powder foundation on that part and keep it pushing. If you get tripped up over the small stuff, your wig will NEVER be right.
TIP 7.
|If you want to dye the hair a different color, BE CAREFUL|
DON'T let the hair dye tough the lace, no matter the color. You would think this tip wasn't necessary and so common sense, wellllllll whatevaaa! People make mistakes (i.e. myself). Use a spoolie when you're getting close to the root; it allows you to pay attention to detail and avoid touching lace.
IAMBSoUnique- How to Fix Over Bleached Lace Closure/Frontal
|If you want to dye the hair a different color, BE CAREFUL|
DON'T let the hair dye tough the lace, no matter the color. You would think this tip wasn't necessary and so common sense, wellllllll whatevaaa! People make mistakes (i.e. myself). Use a spoolie when you're getting close to the root; it allows you to pay attention to detail and avoid touching lace.
TIP 8.
|Don't cut the lace around the hairline until the very END|
I made a mistake and cut my lace too early, which made the entire process much harder. I was still able to finesse it and make it work, but by cutting it too soon I added more work for myself. I wouldn't cut it until you are ready to actually glue your unit down (if you choose to use glue)
|Don't cut the lace around the hairline until the very END|
I made a mistake and cut my lace too early, which made the entire process much harder. I was still able to finesse it and make it work, but by cutting it too soon I added more work for myself. I wouldn't cut it until you are ready to actually glue your unit down (if you choose to use glue)
TIP 9.
|In an effort to make the hairline realistic, don't OVER PLUCK|
Two words to avoid...bald spots! I know you want that hairline to look natural, but if you overdue it, you will have hair missing and NO ONE wants a naked hairline; real or fake. Part out the baby hairs, pluck BEHIND them, then trim and thin out the baby hairs to your liking.
Two words to avoid...bald spots! I know you want that hairline to look natural, but if you overdue it, you will have hair missing and NO ONE wants a naked hairline; real or fake. Part out the baby hairs, pluck BEHIND them, then trim and thin out the baby hairs to your liking.
|Make sure the wig is as tight and secure as possible BEFORE adding gel/glue to make it stay|
Don't rely on glue to make sure your wig is fitting securely. Buy an elastic band, tighten the wig cap, etc. Whip your head around a few times to see if it slips off. The gels that are being used for security are not fool proof, so it's best to make sure your unit is good without them.
Don't rely on glue to make sure your wig is fitting securely. Buy an elastic band, tighten the wig cap, etc. Whip your head around a few times to see if it slips off. The gels that are being used for security are not fool proof, so it's best to make sure your unit is good without them.
TIP 11.
|Too much gel can be a bad thing, a really bad thing|
It starts out great, but when that gel dries......chilllleeeeee you are in for a rude awakening. Hot mess express. Make sure your unit is secure as possible BEFORE adding any gel/glue, etc. Tighten your wig cap, buy an elastic band to go around the back of your head for security, do what ever you have to do! Don't be out in these streets with a loose wig. I tried ALL three of the popular glues/gels that I have seen floating around Youtube and they ALL dry crusty, so just pick one. The hold is decent on them all, but I removed my wig every night to let my hair breathe, so I can't be a true judge on longevity. I will say that it the ____ lasted an entire weekend away without reapplying, but it still got crusty.
TIP 12.
|Don't give up until you have a unit you are proud to wear|
I may have worked on this wig for about 2 weeks, but it was worth every minute! I am proud of myself and I am proud of my wig. This is only the beginning. More wigs are coming and they will be snatched!
Peace and snatched frontals, beautiful people!
xo,
BLT
TIP 12.
|Don't give up until you have a unit you are proud to wear|
I may have worked on this wig for about 2 weeks, but it was worth every minute! I am proud of myself and I am proud of my wig. This is only the beginning. More wigs are coming and they will be snatched!
Peace and snatched frontals, beautiful people!
xo,
BLT