Your goal, unless you're putting together a Halloween costume, should be for your wig to have a smooth and natural appearance at all times. To the point where nobody even questions whether or not it's real because it's so natural. However, there is a distinction between desiring a perfect fit and actually achieving one in practice. The only thing that has the potential to help bridge that gap is having your wig customized. This indicates that you will need to pluck your wig in order to make it specifically tailored to your hairline. Doing so is the most effective way to make it appear as natural as possible.
And just in case you were wondering what it means to "pluck your wig" and how exactly one goes about doing that, you don't need to worry about it anymore because classes have started back up again. I thought it would be helpful to provide you with a primer on wig plucking, so I contacted Brittany Johnson, a stylist who is certified by Mayvenn Hair. In the following paragraphs, Johnson will explain in detail how to pluck your wig, so make sure you take notes!
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Why do you pluck a wig?
When it comes to lace-front wigs, the hairline is the most important factor to consider. According to Johnson, the process of "plucking a wig" involves removing any excess hair that may be present around the hairline of a lace-front wig by using tweezers. Imagine a wig that hasn't had its hairline trimmed or plucked; in these cases, the hairline is extremely straight, which basically screams, "Not my real hair!" When you examine your natural hairline, you'll notice that the individual hairs aren't all the same length. This is completely natural. Johnson claims that new hairs are constantly growing in, which explains why this is the case. If you do not want your wig to give the impression of a helmet being worn on your head, then go ahead and grab those tweezers to get rid of the excess bulk.
Are synthetic wigs able to be plucked?
Yes, it is entirely possible to pluck a synthetic wig. According to Johnson, in case you need a reminder, wigs made with synthetic hair are less expensive overall but require more maintenance than those made with human hair. However, they have a less realistic appearance, and you cannot heat style them in any way. It is really up to you (and your finances, of course) to decide which style of wig would be most suitable for you. Do you think bleaching the knots in your wig would help?
That's right. If you look closely at the lace that is inside your wig, you will notice that there are a number of tiny black dots. According to Johnson, this can look a little unnatural against your scalp, so some people choose to lighten the knots in order to get a more flesh-toned shade that blends in with the color of your scalp. Alternatively, you could also bleach the knots. However, it is not as simple as it sounds because excessive bleaching can be harmful to your wig. If you don't bleach your hair on a regular basis, Johnson suggests skipping this step in favor of either (1) hiring a professional to do it for you or (2) applying some foundation inside the lace to achieve a more natural-looking shade. If you don't bleach your hair on a regular basis, Johnson recommends skipping this step.
The first thing you need to do is place your hair on the wig stand.
According to Johnson, you are going to want to use pins in order to secure it. When you use tweezers to work on your hairline, this will prevent your wig from sliding all over the place and make it easier for you to work.
Step 2: Comb through the hair in the front of your head using a comb.
Make sure that your hairline is free of knots and tangles by running a rattail comb along it and then smoothing it back. According to Johnson, you should then use the hand that is less dominant to pull the hair back and away from the hairline.
3. Begin to carefully remove individual hairs from the wig.
Johnson recommends grabbing the tweezers with the hand that you use most often and beginning to pull individual hair strands directly back, away from the face. According to Johnson, you'll be making short strokes as you go into the arena. She suggests picking out roughly every other hair in order to ensure that there is adequate distance between each component (this also helps you avoid bald spots). According to Johnson, you should begin at the hairline, which is the area right above your ear, and work your way to the middle.
She also suggests taking your time, as there is no turning back if you pluck too much of the hair. You should also make sure that you are picking the hair and not the lace when you are doing this. If you get too close to the lace with your tweezers, there's a chance you'll rip it (not great).
Step 4: After adding additional layers of hair, repeat the procedure described in the previous step.
It is important to keep in mind that when you pluck your hair, you are not only removing hair from the part of your hairline that is closest to your forehead. According to Johnson, in order to achieve the desired result of making the entire front of the wig appear less dense, you will need to pluck several layers of hair.
Therefore, once you have completed step three, the next step is to comb out the excess hair that you have plucked. Then, starting at one ear and working your way to the other, separate a small section of hair and flip it forward (over the head of the wig stand). Plucking that layer will assist in reducing the fullness that is present. When you are finished with this layer, Johnson recommends that you repeat this step approximately three to four more times. The number of times you repeat this step will depend on how deeply you want your wig to be plucked.
You'll have a hairline that looks more natural after you brush out all of the hair you've removed with your tweezers.