#pixiepadlock

First off, please make sure that your wigs are all washed, dried, combed and cut, and if you missed my post on how to detangle an old wig you can read it here  before continuing with the post.

What will you need beside a wig?

- Zip lock bags (because I’m a cheap bitch)

- A pen and markers

- Labeling paper

- Wig caps

How do I label wigs?

I like to label them in always the same order:

Color, length, texture, bangs/no bangs.

For example:

Brunette/Long/Straight/Side bangs

I recently started adding a color with the marker because it’s easier to pack them if I have multiple wigs out, I can easily find the zip lock bag for it by looking at the color.

For some low-quality wigs, I like to add shiny/plastic/thin references if I have multiple similar wigs. For instance, I have two brown long straight wigs, except one is very shiny and thin, and the other one is thick and looks more natural. On the one I like more I put a ♥ on the label.

How to pack cosplay wigs?

- Hold the bottom of the wig, fold it towards the top, and gently put it into a hair net, before placing it in the bag.

- Make sure that there is always a wig-cap inside the bag. When packing for conventions it’s easy to forget smaller things, so it’s always good to have one in the bag with a wig. When I didn’t have enough wig caps I would just put them in the wigs I used most often.

- I don’t have any wigs that are styled big right now. If the wig is styled then you can keep it on a wig stand so it can keep it’s shape before the convention.

How to store them?

I’ve seen a couple of ways that people store their cosplay wigs and as of now, mine are packed like this because of my small storage space. Zig-zag on top of each other, with the wigs I use most at the top.

One thing I also liked for storing cosplay wigs is putting them into zip-lock bags and then clamp them into hangers. This way you can easily browse through them.

You can also install expandable pipes into your closet and keep the wigs at the top, and costumes at the bottom.

If you found this helpful share it with your cosplay friends, this way I also know to make more similar posts. Thank you for helping the llama pack grow! 

Read next: ♥ How to fix an old cosplay wig / ♥ All wig related posts / ♥ All posts

First step: Evaluate

Figure out what you are working with. Is this wig cheap? What is it made from? Is it dense? Most synthetic wigs are made from kanekalon and can withstand temperatures up to 70°C (158°F).

Important: When buying a wig - quality, density and length have a price. So if you can, invest into it because low quality wigs will have more tangles, fallout and will be harder to style.

This wig had a lot of tangles and it’s been stored with a hair tie around it so it lost it’s shape. It was in a box and we can also see it has some sort of residue on top once we comb it.

Step two: Combing

This will take the most amount of time, but it’s one of the more important steps. Hair brushes that are made for humans are designed to pull out loose hair that fell out during the day - so it’s best to use a wide tooth comb on your wigs so they won’t shed as much.

I use this one, that I bought for 2$.

• How to comb a wig?

If you DO have a styrofoam head - Place the wig on it and secure it with pins around the face frame and behind on the neck to keep it in place. You can also add a couple on the crown (center of the head). 

If you DONT have a styrofoam head - You can use any round object to place the wig on, ask your friend or relative to wear it while you comb, but you can also just use your knee as well.

- Section out the hair into smaller sections and work piece by piece.Separate into 3 big layers and then make those into smaller sections as well. This way you can thoroughly comb it and it will be easier to manage.

* This is a very professional drawing in paint because my PC died.

- Work from the bottom of the hair to the top slowly. Be gentle! This way you won’t stretch the hair out and your wig will hold the shape longer.

If you hit a big tangle, you can use scissors to cut a strand or two to detangle it easier, but try to save as much hair as you can so finger detangle. 

Step three: Washing and “conditioning”

* All the shampoos on the picture above are silicone and sulfate free

Q: How often should I wash a wig?

A: Usually, you can get around 20 wears until you have to wash a wig. But wash your wig caps more often because they are in direct contact with your scalp.

I use a shampoo with no silicons (like Dimethicone) or harsh detergents, like sodium laureth sulfate.

Most shampoos that are made for humans have some sort of harsh sulfate and/or silicons in them. Dimethicone can’t dissolve in water and will build up on the wig fibers over time, making it more difficult to style and weighing it down.

• Fill a washbowl with lukewarm water just to cover the wig and a dime size amount of shampoo. Put the wig in slowly, not disrupting the shape (so you don’t make new tangles) and then gently rub in the water and the shampoo into the wig cap and the hair. Rinse out, fill the washbowl with new water and shampoo  it again. Then rinse!

Once you washed it, fill the same washbowl with half water and half fabric softner and leave it for a few hours to soak. Some people soak it for 4 hours and some over night. You will see what works best for your specific wig. After the soaking, make sure to rinse it well because it can cause acne and dandruff.

Step four: Drying

This part depends on whether you have a styrofoam head or not. 

If you DO have a styrofoam head - place the wig on it, secure it with pins, rinse it again with warm water (be aware of how much heat the wig can take,if you want it straight) so you get the original shape once it’s placed and then wait for it to air dry. Make sure that it’s not touching any surface so the ends don’t dry weird. Place a towel underneath and change it once wet. 

If you DONT have a styrofoam head - place a towel on a flat surface and place the wig sideways on it, making sure that it’s placed straight and not curling weird. Change the towel once it gets wet and then switch sides after a few hours to dry the other side.

Step five: Cutting & Styling

Once the wig is dry, comb it again, then cut all the “dead ends" that couldn’t get soft with the fabric softener. They are most likely too damaged and will get stuck in your costume or props more easily, causing more tangles and disrupting the wig.

Now you will do all the gluing, shaping etc. That depends on what you need the wig for so I will skip on that part for now.This wasn’t my wig, so I didn’t want to cut it any more than needed.

Step six: Storage

For storage, if the wig is specially styled and you need to use it soon, place it on the styrofoam head until you need it.

If you DONT have a styrofoam head - If the wig doesn’t need special styling, I put it in  a zip-lock bag and keep them in order. You can see how I organise and label them > here <

If you have any tips for wigs or if I left something out leave it in the comments. And follow me on Instagram  now so you can vote on the upcoming posts! ♥