As a hairdresser, a typical day involves creating a few looks for some clients on their natural hair. However, once in a while, you’ll get that request to work on some wig one of your clients recently bought, and there are specific rules and practices to follow when doing so.
Wigs cannot be treated like natural hair. While human hair wigs don’t stray farther from the normal practices, a bit of expertise is still needed to work through the strands. Wendy Dessler from EvaWigs explains everything you need to learn.
Synthetic Hair and Natural Hair Wigs Are Handled Differently
Wigs are not created equally. Generally, they are divided into two classes – synthetic hair wigs and human hair wigs.
Synthetic hair wigs are the cheaper of the two. However, that comes at a styling cost.
It’s hard to style synthetic hair wigs into a natural look. The most you can do once a client comes knocking at your door is cut the wig to fit the shape of their face or add a bit of fluff to the curls. Using heated styling tools will lead to disaster.
On the flip side, natural hair wigs lend themselves to styling. Since they’re made out of natural hair, you can be more creative with them, subjecting them to heated styling tools such as blow dryers, curling irons, and colour.
Proper Tools and Products Make the Difference
A hairdresser is as good as the tools they use, and as far as wig styling tools go, you should be armed with this basic paraphernalia if you’re to work out amazing hairdos. Essential tools include sulphate-free shampoo, a paddle-brush, wide-tooth comb, hair-cutting and fabric scissors, tweezers, heat styling tools and lace tint or foundation.
Unlike normal hairdressing where you can be a bit vigorous with the hair given its tightly rooted to the scalp, wigs require more gentle care. Their construction is mainly made of strands of hair looped through a lace. Thus, extra vigour can pull the hair out and create bald spots.
Cleansing and Detangling Always Come First
You’ve researched online and figured out the perfect style for your client. So, what next? Cleansing and detangling is the next pivotal stage of wig styling.
For cleansing, this is where the sulfate-free shampoo comes in. Alternatively, you can use any other shampoo well-suited for human hair wigs. These shampoos not only remove dirt and sweat but also help prolong the wig’s life and reduce wear and tear.
Once this is done, you can detangle the wig using the paddle brush or wide-tooth comb.
The working technique here is important. Start with the hair ends, working up to the wig’s crown. Make sure your hands are steady and that each section is knot-free. This opens up the wig for the hairdressing work you’re about to do on it.
Blow Drying Techniques Are Essential
You should never attempt hairdressing a wet wig. This damages the wig’s construction while reducing its durability. As such, here is the blow drying technique you need.
First, section the hair into two layers. Clip the top layer and secure it to the crown, leaving the bottom layer exposed. Now, start drying the bottom layer. Ensure the blow dryer’s nozzle is pointed downwards and use a comb to keep the hair taut.
Next, unclip the top layer and combine it with the bottom one. Using the same technique for the bottom layer, blow-dry the top layer.
Remember to have the blow dryer set to medium or low heat, if you want to avoid heat damage.
Creating Parts Depends on the Wig’s Construction
Parts are the cherry on top of most natural hair wig style. And if you want to get a natural-looking part, consider whether you are working with a lace-front or 360 lace wig.
360 lace wigs allow you to section or part the frontal perimeter, making them perfect for ponytail hairdos. On the flip side, lace-front wigs offer more versatility, allowing you to try braids, cornrows, and plaits.
For more information visit www.evawigs.com
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