✼ The Official Wig and Hair Extensions Thread ✼

Mermaid hair comes in many styles, lengths, and many colors- there's no wrong way to do mermaid hair! However, a lot of mermaids want more or different hair than what they have. That's what wigs and hair extensions are for! Here we'll cover some basics on wigs how to wear them and other extensions in the water.

There is TONS of information on wigs and extensions out there- from what kinds to buy, to how to wear them, to proper after care after wearing them. Since there's so much information, I'll be providing links to pages and videos.

First off though, assuming we're talking about temporary wigs and hair extensions, not ones you wear for weeks or months at a time. I will tell you that when it comes to water wear, synthetic hair is the best way to go for multiple reasons. Firstly, natural hair is not only very expensive, but it's more easily damaged by factors such as chlorine and salt water, the same as the natural hair on your head. Also for style reasons. Human hair will not hold it's shape underwater, so if you want it to look styled, the easiest solution is to use synthetic pre-styled wigs or extensions, as plastic will hold it's shape. So whatever extra hair you're looking for, keep in mind that you probably want to be looking at synthetics.

There are some wig companies that only sell pre-made wigs, while others you can have your wig custom made just for you! This means you can control the length, style, color, and more! So if you don’t see a wig you love, seek out a wig company that will make one to your liking.

(Below I'm bolding what different paragraphs are about so you can skim to what you're looking for in different areas.)


Full Wigs:


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Full wigs come in several types, but we’ll go over the two most popular options- regular also sometimes called “fashion wigs”, and lace front.
All wigs have some king of cap on the inside to hold the shape, for comfort, and typically adjustable elastic straps and sometimes also wig clips or wire wig combs as well.

Regular wigs are just the hair and the cap inside. Lace front wigs have, in the front, hairs that are tied on individually to the lace- this gives the illusion that the hair is growing out of your scalp.
Regular wigs are more popular as they are the cheapest option, and lace fronts are more expensive.

You should know up front- not all synthetic hair is created equal. Some are higher quality than others, and therefore look better, don’t tangle as easily, and are easier to manage in general. Halloween wigs are not good quality at all- I would not advise you to get wigs from a Halloween or costume shop. Online it can be harder to know which sites are better quality. The best you can do is read up on the company- read reviews and ask around. Also just because a wig comes from China does not mean it’s automatically lower quality- in fact in my case, I found that wig was a much better quality than one that had come from the US. One way to tell is how shiny is the wig? Lower quality synthetic hair tends to be more shiny (just think of how shiny the cheap halloween wigs are).

Also, in terms of length and style- a good thing to know is that, generally, longer and more styled wigs are harder to care for. Especially if you’re wearing them swimming. For example, a 28” wig is going to be more prone to tangles than a 15” wig. Same with styling- a wig that is curly is going to be more prone to tangles than a straight wig. But then again, the tangles may not be as obvious in a curly wig when you’re wearing it (depending how how bad the tangles are of course) as they would be on a straight wig.

Wigs also come in different densities. The average wig density is 120%. Everyone is different, but typically the average human head is between 100-120%. You can get wigs up to 200% density. Here is a great visual guide to what different densities look like: http://www.sassysecret.com/densitychart-s/73.htm

Wig cap sizes should also be something to consider. While some companies only sell “standard” one size fits all wigs, other companies you can customize your wig with bigger or smaller sizes. This can be important, because if the wig doesn’t fit you, it’s not going to look good! Or worse, it can be very uncomfortable or cause circulation problems. I know one wig I wore, it made me feel faint, and I almost passed out! I was only in it for 30 minutes before it became an issue- feeling like the floor shaking, woozy, tunnel vision, the whole bit!
My advice would be to check the measurements of your head before ordering. If you’re around the standard size, you can use the adjustable elastic inside the wig to fit it to your head nicely. But if not, consider going with a company that sells or will make a wig in your size.


Lace front wigs:


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Lace front wigs come with a few inches of extra lace coming down from the wig’s hair line. When you get it, you trim the extra lace yourself. Generally, you want to trim pretty close to the hair line. If you feel nervous, there are lots of videos on YouTube on how to trim lace front wigs. One thing you should know, is that all of the professionals insist that using pinking shears to trim the lace is the best way to go. Pinking shears are scissors that cut in a zig-zag pattern. You can find them in sewing supply stores such as JoAnns. Using these is best for three reasons. 1) It keeps the lace from fraying. Pinking shears are mainly used in sewing to keep easily frayed fabrics from unraveling. 2) It helps blend the lace in with your skin so it’s not as easily spotted. The zig-zag shape is not as easily spotted as a straight line going across your forehead. 3) It gives you a little bit of extra lace that you can secure, rather than if you had trimmed a straight line across the hair line.

There are two types of lace- french lace and swiss lace. French lace is more durable, and swiss lace finer and softer and also less detectable. It’s typically recommended that someone who is new to wigs start off with french lace and “graduate” to swiss lace. However, if you educate yourself on how to take good care of your lace, don’t hold yourself back from your perfect wig just because it’s swiss lace. What it really comes down to is personal preference.
Lace can also come in different colors. Some wig companies offer different tones to pick from so you can more easily match your skin complexion. Some wig companies only sell in a standard “nude” color. You may have to pay more to have a different lace color on your wig.

Quick tip: Two ways to to make your part look natural on lace front wigs. 1) Line up the part with your natural part under the wig. This will help your scalp show through if you’re using a netting wig underneath. 2) Take some concealer (preferably one lighter than your skin tone by 1-2 shades) and apply lightly with a concealer brush right on the “scalp” of the part and blend it with your finger. This will help it look like your real scalp is showing.

Hair lines: Some wig companies offer widows peak options for their lace front wigs. But even with regular lace front wigs, some people will actually pluck some of the hairs out of the hairline of the wig to make it look more natural, since natural hair lines waver and aren’t so perfect looking. It’s purely preference.

With all wigs, but especially lace front wigs, be careful with how you apply and remove adhesives. Most wig tapes and wig glues need solvents/removers to remove them without damaging the lace- or your hair line! Yup, that adhesive can rip out some of your hair line, or your baby hairs on your forehead- ouch!


U-Part Wigs and Half Wigs:


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U-Part wigs (also known as a u-shaped wig, 3/4 wig, or an invisible part wig) and half-wigs are an in-between between wigs and extensions.

U-Part wigs are wigs that have a gap in the shape of a U, and in that gap your natural hair will come through, letting your natural part show and making it look very realistic. U shaped wigs can have it so you part in the middle, or on either side depending on what you prefer.
Half wigs are wigs that only cover the back half of your head- meaning your natural part and front of your hair are showing. These may not be optimal options for those with thin hair who want to wear it wet, as you will need to cover the seam of the wig, and when your hair gets wet the seam could show. However, you could easily cover the seam with a head dress or head dress band, head band, or hair scarf.

These options are obviously if you want your extensions to be the same color of your hair, and you just want added length and/or thickness. Or if you want the wig to start as the same color of your hair, and have an ombre or different colored look farther down.

Typically U-Part wigs that are made with natural hair are more popular- synthetic options are available, although you may have to search a little harder to find them. Usually the application of a U-Part involves braiding the hair and clipping or sewing the wig into place. However, this tutorials shows an alternative method that will allow a great secure fit that would stay put underwater.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7TBdhN99h0

You can also opt to make your own U-Part wig. With synthetic hair it will be much cheaper, and you can make it in any color! You can also make a u-part wig from a regular wig. There are tons of tutorials on how to do that, and it actually looks pretty easy!

How to make your own U-Part wig:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hii7YVM6hHE


Extensions:

Clip-in Strips:

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Clip in strips are the easiest and most popular way to get extra length or little touches of color. It's essentially just synthetic hair sewn onto pressure sensitive clips. Though some larger one-piece extensions have multiple clips and wig netting to support the structure of the piece.

For that extra splash of color, little (1-3 inch) clips can be found in all kinds of places on and offline. Even shops like Hot Topic and Claire's sell them. You can get them at short or long lengths, and trim to match your length. If you get good quality synthetic, you can even style them!

A good way to get a fuller head of hair with clip-in extensions is to use multiple wefts (or strips) of extensions that you secure on different places on your head. Just keep in mind that if you have thin hair, and plan on swimming with them in, you shouldn’t go too far up on the back of your head. Otherwise, when the hair gets wet, it will flatten down and gap, and the extensions clips may become visible.

If you have thin hair, there are some things you can do to get your clip in exertions to keep from sliding out.
Check out this video for tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVBIJ2HPOyU
And this video to see those tips in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jxjXrYcmIk

There are TONS of videos and tutorials on how to make your own hair extensions, so if you're crafty and thrifty, check 'em out!


Hair Pieces and Ponytail clips:


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One of the easiest ways to achieve the illusion of length is with ponytail clips. You simply pull your hair up into a ponytail or bun, then clip on the ponytail extension (with a claw clip or hair combs) over it. (Mermaid Melissa is known for her ponytail clip.) You can buy the in curly, wavy, or straight, and at different lengths from short to very long.

There are also clip in braids, clip in buns, even clip in bangs!


Halo/Flip In Extensions:

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There is a type of hair extensions called Halo or Flip-In hair extensions. They're great for giving volume and length, and very easy to put in and take out. However, basically the way it stays on your head is by a wire that goes over the top of your head and relies on tension to keep it in. Therefore I highly doubt they would stay put in the water. However they may be a great accessory for dry gigs.


Braided headbands:

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Braided headbands are cute accents to give a little bit of a mermaidy look! You can get them thick or thin for whatever look you prefer. Just be sure to pin them in well if you're wearing them in the water


Caring for your synthetic wig or hair piece:

First off, you should know that normal hair care products are not going to work very well on synthetic hair. Normal hair is protein, synthetic hair is plastic. Regular detangling spray or conditioner is not going to have the same effect on synthetic hair as it does natural hair.

Believe it or not, your best friend when it comes to detangling synthetic wigs is fabric softener! You can mix water and fabric softener in a spray bottle and use it as a detangler. Or, if your wig is really tangled, you can soak the whole thing in water with fabric softener to tame it! There are also specific products made to detangle wigs. Some say that you can use hand lotion, straight or mixed with water and sprayed on, to detangle wigs as well.

If you have a really long wig, and/or if the wig is not a great quality of fiber, that may not be enough. For those instances, the two things I’ve heard good things about are 3 IN 1 Silicone Spray Lubricant (found at hardware stores) or Motions Oil Sheen Spray (found in ethic hair care sections of some stores). The silicone spray apparently has very strong fumes, while the Motions spray is said to smell like almonds.

In the case with either of these, you want to spray the wig ends lightly (so it doesn’t end up looking greasy), brush through the fibers to distribute evenly, then let it sit for 24-48 hours to dry. This is supposedly not only great for detangling wigs, but also to keep them from tangling as easily in the future. If you’re swimming with the wig, you may have to reapply every few swims. (We’re in untested waters here, so report back with your findings!) I’ve heard better things about the silicone spray since- again, motions is meant for real hair, and silicone is meant for plastic.
With the silicone, be sure to use in a well ventilated place, or if possible, outside. Avoid spraying on smooth floors, because that will make your floor a very slippery situation! But if you do, rubbing alcohol can help you remove it.

When you get your wig wet, or you wash and/or “condition” your wig, when you’re done, be sure to: squeeze out the excess water by hand, blot it with a towel, and then leave it to air dry COMPLETELY before detangling it. If you don’t wait until it’s completely dry, brushing it will stretch out the hair and mess up the texture, ruining styling and make it far more prone to tangling and just looking poor in general. Also it can make the wig shed a lot more hairs. I recommend a day or two to let your wig dry completely.
As a bonus, doing a fabric softener soak can also help take away the shine of wigs to make it look more natural! Always use luke-warm, cool, or cold water to wash or soak your wigs. Using warm or hot water can damage the fibers and adhesives.
Be sure to remove all adhesive build up on your wig as well, as leaving it can cause excessive shedding of hairs.

I also don’t advise you use a regular brush to brush out your wigs. Special wig brushes and combs are available that are made for that very thing. They’re not expensive, usually around $5. Using a regular comb or brush can pull on the fibers and stretch, damage, and pull out hairs. So a wig comb or brush is well worth the investment!
Of course be sure to brush your wig from the tips to the roots, and be gentle with it! Pulling too much or too hard can cause breakage and excessive shedding. Brush out your wig in smaller sections to minimize excessive pulling.

A wig head is also a good investment. Wig heads help keep the shape of the wig when it’s not in use, and allow for easier styling and detangling. You can find them at beauty supply stores for cheap. The styrofoam ones are the cheapest, and they’re also very handy because you can use sewing pins to secure the wig to the styrofoam, so it won’t slide around when it’s being stored, styled, or brushed. If you store your wig flat for a long time, it can develop a crease in the wig cap. These can come out over time, but if you pull it out just before an event, the crease will be there.


After swimming in chlorine:

Like anything else, wigs can too be damaged by chlorine. The fibers aren't pourous, but damage still happens. Be sure to rinse your wig thoroughly in cool water, and then soak it to remove as much of he chlorine as you can. Typically we advise a baking soda soak for helping with this (to combat the acidity), because it’s cheap to use in large amounts for helping with care of tails and accessories- which you typically need a bathtub full of water to do. but For wigs, since you only need a little water to soak and neutralize the chlorine, there are a few other options. The fist method the cheap and natural way, which is using vitamin-c (aka Ascorbic Acid) powder or crystals.
The other way would be to use a neutralizer made for conditioning tank water for fish. There are lots of brands of dechlorinators out there, that can be found in local pet stores. But many of them do other things than remove the chlorine (like removing heavy metals and ammonia), and that makes them more expensive as well. So get one that JUST dechlorinates- API Aquarium Tap Water Conditioner is cheap ($4-$6).

Chlorine can also weaken elastic over time, so be aware that you may need to replace the elastic in your wig (if you use it) as time goes on. Fortunately there are tutorials on how to do this.


Styling the wig:

When you first get your wig, the first thing you should do is take it out the box and put it on a wig head. The styling can look a little off (sometimes looking too puffed-up)- this is especially true for the hair around the hair line in lace front wigs. Leaving it a few days on the wig head will help them settle.

So we’re just going to go over super basic styling tips here. If you want to get more into styling your wig, there is tons of information about it online!

Lace front wigs can typically be parted in any direction. Use a comb with a pointed end to make the parting process easier. Part it where you want it, and gently brush the strands down both sides so it can help settle the new part there. If it’s giving you trouble, try lightly wetting the hair.

Most wigs are made of heat resistant fibers, and can be styled with light heat. Be sure to check if it is heat resistant and up to what point FIRST! For example I know that my wig’s hairs are heat resistant up to 150ºC/302ºF.
Real hair can take heat in the 300-390ºF range for flat irons, and 300-340ºF range for curling irons. So you do not want to use your heated styling tools on the same settings as your real hair, or you could melt your synthetic wig fibers! If you want to style your wig and your heat tools do not have adjustable settings, you may want to look into buying one that does, or look up in the manual (or check with the manufacturer) as to how hot your particular tool gets before proceeding with wig styling.

In general, steam based styling is probably the safest (and arguably the easiest) way to style your wig, since it uses light heat and moisture. Meaning using hot curlers instead of a curling iron. You can use a hand held steamer to straighten or curl the hair. There are lots of videos and methods on YouTube.

Braids can be fun, but keep in mind that if you leave the braid in and get it wet and it dries- or if you leave it in for a long time- it can make the wig hair wavy. The waves may fall out over time, or you may have to use heat to remove them.

In terms of dying/coloring synthetic wigs, it’s not advisable to dye your own wig if you’re going to be wearing it in the water. You dye synthetic wigs with acrylic ink, alcohol ink, or fabric dye. Dying synthetic hair the color may not hold, or bleed in the water. It’s better to buy the wig in whatever color you want it in.
But if you do want to dye synthetic hair and wear it swimming, please report back on how it holds up in the water! So far I’ve only seen people who don’t wear wigs swimming dye them.


Securing your natural hair under a full wig:

When you’re wearing a wig, you want your hair to be as flat as possible against your head. If it’s too bulky it can make your head look lumpy and unnatural. If you have short hair, this won’t be too hard at all. But if you have long or thick hair, it can take more effort to do! In the end, you want to have somewhat even distribution around your head, but the bulk of your hair is more easily fit and hidden at the nape of your neck.
Here are some suggestions on how to do that:
Braid your hair and wrap it around the top and back of your head, pinning it place. If you have a lot of hair, try pulling your hair into a high ponytail and sectioning it into multiple strands (4, or more if you need) and then braiding and securing those. You might end up with a full helmet of hair under there depending on what your natural hair is like. This is the easiest way to flatten your hair if it’s long.
You can also: put your hair in cornrows; use “pin curls” by sectioning your hair into smaller sections, then twist the hair into “curls” and pin the curls flat; pull your hair into a low ponytail and then pin your hair forward; french braid and pin the ends up. There are probably a few more I’m not thinking of, but those are some basic methods!

Always wear a wig cap, even if you don’t have that much hair. The wig cap helps the wig grip and stay on your head! There are different kinds of wig caps- the main ones are either nylon (like pantyhose) or netted (like fishnet stockings). Both are stretchy and breathable. The netting is more breathable, and also it allows room for bobby pins or wig clips to slip through and grasp your real hair. But in the end it’s whatever you prefer!


Protecting your hair under the wig:

For many of us mers, wigs are a good tool because they can keep damage to you real hair to a minimum. You want to follow the same advice as is listed on the mer hair care thread. Before you braid or otherwise flatten your hair under the wig, you can put it something to protect your real hair. Having less surface area in the water will already be a bit of a help, but you can take it a step further and put in something like coconut oil or conditioner before you secure your real hair to your head. Just be sure if you’re using adhesive on the scalp area, to not get the oil or conditioner there. Best to leave a few inches at least of un-treated hair so he adhesive has the best chance of bonding and staying put.

Another method of protecting your hair while slicking it back is a old trick that synchronized simmers use. Gelatin! Synchronized swimmers mix boiling water and gelatin together and either brush it on thick, or leave it thin and spray it with a spray bottle over the hair. This is also called “knox”ing since the brand of knox gelatin seems to be a favorite. The gelatin will keep your hair in place, protect it, and washes out/dissolves with warm water. There are tutorials on this if you’re interested in trying it out, here’s one if you’re curious: http://synchroswim.isport.com/synchr...ng-competition


Securing your wig to your head:

The first thing you need to do to make sure the wig will stay on securely, is to tighten (or loosen depending on how tight it is) the elastic on the inside of the wig cap. Different wigs come with different types or systems of elastic, but most all wigs have these. Please NOTE that elastic is notorious for loosening once submerged in water. So if you notice your wig loosening up in the water, this is why. So while it’s better to put it on the snug side if you’re swimming with it, don’t make it TOO tight! Again, with the whole possibility of circulation issues.
Here’s a quick video showing how to adjust some of the different kinds of wig cap elastic closures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra1yQI7f8PQ

Most wigs come with wig clips or wig combs already sewn into the wig cap. Use them! There are people who use just the wig clips alone that say that they stay on fine in the water. You can also add extra wig clips or combs into your existing wig easily. All it takes is the wig clips or combs (which can be found in packs at beauty supply stores) and some needle and thread to sew them in. There are lots of tutorials on how do do this as well.

A basic way to secure the wig to your head is with pins. Bobby pins are popular, and u-shaped hair pins are both good choices- which is better is a matter of personal preference. For this to work, you need a lot of pins, and you need to slip it through your wig into your real hair (which should be secured to your head). For this method to work best, having your natural hair in braids or corn rows under the wig will provide the most “grip” for the pins latch into. Using pins going multiple directions (not just all in the same direction) and/or making X s with two bobby pins, can help make the hold more secure.

Better ways to secure a wig for swimming is to use adhesive of some kind. There are wig glues and also wig tape. You may wonder, will this really stay put in the water? But a good quality wig tape or glue can stay put for WEEKS. A few tips: clean the area you want to adhere with rubbing alcohol to remove oils from the skin first. Apply the tape or glue as directed, press in place, then take a scarf or length of fabric and wrap it around your head quite snug and leave it for about 15 minutes. This will ensure a good bond!
Be sure to use the remover when you take it off, or you could end up damaging the wig, ripping out your own baby hairs, or even pulling up some of your skin!

Another method, which I thought was pretty genius, and I believe will work great for water wear- is pairing up snap clips and wire wig combs. The wire wig combs are sewn inside of the wig, and you pin the snap clips to your own hair. Then you slide the wire wig combs under the snap clips! This video shows how to do this. It is shown on a U-part wig, but I imagine it could be used for any kind of wig or extension. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7TBdhN99h0


To end with, here’s a list of wig sites that some fellow mers, and cosplayers, recommend:

http://www.wigisfashion.com/ (This company can make custom wigs to order)
http://www.arda-wigs.com
http://www.epiccosplay.com
http://www.amphigory.com
http://www.shop.cosplay.com
http://www.lockshopwigs.com/



I hope this thread is useful to anyone looking into buying wigs or hair extensions, or anyone who has some that's looking for information on how to wear them or maintain them. Here's wishing you fabulous mermaid hair, and happy swimming!