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Making a Wig 
By: Marquetta Breslin
You have probably seen a wig before and didn't even realize it. The art of wig making has been around for many centuries, and requires skill and practice to master. If you have ever purchased a wig, you may be wondering about the benefits of making your own wig. Often, store-bought wigs don't look right or don't fit correctly. Making your own custom wig gives you the ability to not only fit the head you are making the wig for, but it also lets you be as creative as you want when it comes to style and color.
There are many type of wigs, but the wig we are all most familiar with is a basic store-bought wig. These wigs can be made of human or synthetic hair. Since they are relatively inexpensive, basic wigs normally are made by machine and don't carry high quality hair. Wigs can take be seen in a basic wig form, a toupee (a small wig used to cover only a portion of the head), hair piece, or lace wig.
One of the most detailed and beautiful wigs that you can purchase or make is called a ''lace wig.'' A lace wig (or lace frontal) is a wig made out of fine lace onto which each strand of hair is individually placed by a process called ''ventilation.'' This results in the most undetectable wig, giving the appearance that the hair on the wig is actually growing out of the client's head.
There are several products that you need to start making a wig. The first thing you will need is a mannequin head to complete the wig on. A mannequin head can be made of wood, Styrofoam, or a number of other materials. You'll also need a wig cap, or lace, to serve as the base of your wig. A wig cap is higher quality than the netted cap you'll find on store-bought wigs, and of course, lace is the highest-quality base.
When you have your materials, it's time to pick out the hair that will be attached to form the wig. You want to shy away from hair made for braiding and weaving, and stick with either 100% human or 100% synthetic hair. Human hair has a more natural look and will be easier to work with when it comes to the process of making the wig.
Each wig is different, so you'll probably need additional tools to complete different parts of the wig. You can buy most of your supplies at your local beauty supply store. If they don't carry what you're looking for, there are numerous facilities online that always have wig making supplies in stock.
Considering making (and wearing) your first wig? Check out these facts:
1. Although human hair is the more natural choice, wigs made of synthetic hair are known to hold their style better in adverse conditions, such as heat and rain.
2. Make sure you always wash and care for your wig with special wig shampoo. Regular shampoos are too harsh on the wig and can cause the hair to lose its luster quickly.
3. Wearing a wig can leave the top of your head feeling hot and sweaty. To avoid this, apply a little bit of cornstarch-based baby powder.
4. If you have lots of hair that you can't seem to fit under a wig, try putting on a wig cap before putting on the wig. A wig cap basically works like a swimming cap - it holds all the hair tightly underneath.
5. If your wig seems to be a bit too big, or doesn't fit snugly in certain places, try using wig tape to hold the wig in place. Remember, small pieces of adhesive go a long way.
Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles
Marquetta Breslin has been braiding and weaving hair for almost 15 years. For instructional DVD's on wig making, visit Marquetta at www.braidsbybreslin.com.
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which means you may freely reprint it, in its entirety, provided you include the author's resource box along with LIVE VISIBLE links (without "nofollow" tags).
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