How to put on a lace wig

Wigwork and postiche

Blocking and Putting on a lace wig, 30/10/15 and 6/11/15

To block a lace wig firstly you need to place it on a manikin head making sure it sits correctly as it would if it was on a person.

Then place a strip of slightly damp glune along the edge of the lace and pin it using a lot of small pins. Put the pins in staggered so that there is more support when you are pulling on the hair as you brush it. Make sure you pin the sides of the wig at the ears so the wig is not damaged when you style it.

Style the wig and then remove the pins and glune carefully just before you put the wig on your models’s head.

Putting on a lace wig

Prepare the hair by putting in pin curls, wrapping the hair and putting on a stocking cap exactly the same as you would for putting on an acrylic wig.

Then place the wig on the models’ head, starting with the front and ask your model to help you do this.

Then make sure the wig is sitting correctly on the head.

You may need to trim the lace if it’s the first time the model has worn it. For theatre some of the lace is left on at the front and glued down but for television and film the lace is usually cut a lot closer to where the hair starts on the wig.

Then secure using pins, go through the wig and under the edge of the stocking cap.

Then use mastix spirit gum to glue the lace at the front of the wig to the head. Apply the glue to both the lace and the face to make it as secure as possible.

Pull the lace slightly as you are sticking it down to make it as snug a fit as possible and also use a pad to help press the lace onto the face. You can make a pad using tights and cotton wool.

To remove the glue use spirit gum remover and apply it with a baby wipe or cotton wool. Leave it to dissolve the glue for a few minutes before applying a bit more and then gently peel the lace away from the face.

The red haired wig I had originally done the 1940's hairstyle on was very small and did not fit my model because she has very long thick hair so I borrowed another wig someone else had styled to practice putting a lace wig on.