Thread: Need advice for long wigs...

I have waist-length hair of my own, but with all the performing I do (getting sweaty, trying to fix hair again between shows) and the grabby bits on costumes (that catch and rip at hair), it's getting a little hard on my hair. So, I'm planning to start wearing "spare hair" more often to protect my own from damage.

I have found a long pony and a 3/4 wig (both very similar in length and color to my own, both sythetic, both have some curl). So, that's a good start.

Here's the thing: I'm a total idiot. I can't figure out how to anchor them down so I can comb/brush them out. Because of the length, style, etc, I'd like to use both hands, but then the whole thing comes flying at me and re-tangles. I have a foam wig head, but it's useless--I can't even store the 3/4 on it because the wig is too heavy and knocks the head over. I tried hanging it over a door knob or something, but no dice--they just pop off when I hit a tangle. Having my nine year old nephew hold it for me while I brush is one idea but a.) he actually lives out of state and b.) I suspect he has things he'd rather be doing.

I know some of you have/wear beautiful pieces and have been doing so for years...any advice for how to comb out a long piece?

Also, any advice for the care, storage and maintenance of synthetic hair?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

To anchor: Draw the hair you want pulled up into a ponytail. BACKCOMB at the base of the ponytail. Wind the rest into a tight bun and pin securely. Clamp ponytail onto that. (More detailed demonstrated tutorials on the DVD).

To care/store: Brush gently before and after use. Use the packaging material it comes in, or get hair nets and store inside the hair net. If you want to re-enhance the curl, you can spray damp, apply a mousse or styling lotion & gently comb through, set with curlers, and allow to air dry. If it's synthetic do not treat with heat.

How do they attach? I'd probably MacGyver something using whatever the attachment anchor is and some kind of ropey thing and a chair or somesuch.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Azhia

To anchor: Draw the hair you want pulled up into a ponytail. BACKCOMB at the base of the ponytail. Wind the rest into a tight bun and pin securely. Clamp ponytail onto that. (More detailed demonstrated tutorials on the DVD).

LOL--I actually meant how to anchor it to brush it out when it's NOT on my head.

As far as how they attach...

Pony--no clamp (which is good, because I have a big bun of my own to fit under it.) It actually has an elasticized base, and a dome shaped "net" that the hair is fixed to. There's a small comb in front that I hook under my bun and then I pull the elasticized net over the top and pin in place to hold it down.

3/4--flexible headband like "comb" from ear to ear over top, another comb in the back.

Both are synthetic.

Yup, back comb base of ponytail for pony hair piece. Back comb section of hair into which the headband comb goes into for the other.

I hold it in one hand and style w/ the other. Would that be known as a "strange"? Sorry, I was watching Chappelle's Show... ..l;,

Elasticized base...You can't hook it over your toes and grip with them while you comb with your hands?

Actually that might work for the other too...

The other option is to get a wig head and use big tailor pins to pin it in place.

{{{HUGS}}}

Clip it on someone else's head so your hands are free to style it?..l;,

I'll be watching this thread with interest, as I also have a 3/4 that I have a heck of a time trying to comb out. The "hold in one hand/style with the other" technique really doesn't work so well for me. I need both hands for detangling & smoothing.

I have a ponytail and a 3/4 wig. For the ponytail, I hold it in one hand. For the 3/4, you are gonna laugh, I haven't used it yet but I needed to style it so it is ready for me to use, I pinned it to a teddy bear head, it worked great.

Originally Posted by Samirah-NH

Clip it on someone else's head so your hands are free to style it?..l;,

I'll be watching this thread with interest, as I also have a 3/4 that I have a heck of a time trying to comb out. The "hold in one hand/style with the other" technique really doesn't work so well for me. I need both hands for detangling & smoothing.

..l;, Maybe I'll make my husband wear them. Never mind...his head's waaaay to big.

I'm with you--the hold in one hand doesn't work. maybe for a shorter pony/shorter 3/4, but I deliberately bought them to look similar to my own waistlength hair, so I need my hands. The toe-hooking idea is interesting, but I don't think it'd work that well unless I held my legs up in the air and laid on my back trying to comb...(which I suppose, I could always video tape, s6stick on YouTube and hope to create the next fitness craze....)

Azhia--for the pony I NEVER backcomb. ;-) I have a good knot to anchor it too just putting my hair in a bun--it holds well and no need to rough up my hair. In fact, for me, part of the point of wearing these is to use less product and backcomb my own hair less. for the 3/4, I'm thinking of french braiding my hair in a coronet around my head and pinning the wig into that to hold it on. Anyone else tried that? Did it work?

I'm of the hold in one hand, brush with the other school of synthetic wig care. Most importantly, because combing by starting at the top creates more tangles further down the hair piece, thus shortening it's life and making it look ratty. You also put more stress on the "roots" of the hair piece and speed up the process of rattiness.

I suggest holding the fall or ponytail in one hand, combing with the other starting at the ends and working your way up. Then, once it is combed out, pin it to the styrofoam head or teddy bear or whatever, and style as needed, shaping curls or whatever.

Be sure to use a wig brush and some wig lustre/conditioner to keep curls in shape and keep the wig looking good. With curlier pieces, I find I need to wash them more often to get the curls to snap back into place - fill your sink with lukewarm water and a squirt of shampoo. Brush out first, swirl in the water, rinse a few times, roll up in towel to blot, then shape curls on towel and leave out to air dry.

I don't back comb my hair for ponytails either since I also use the ponytails that wrap around a bun. For 3/4 falls, I prefer to create 2 or 3 little ponytails where I want the fall to attach, so the comb hooks into the little ponytails - I find it holds better than back combing and is a lot more gentle to your hair.