Why do people wear wigs? There are several reasons and the most relevant reason is to hide a bald head and show a stylish, fashionable and aesthetic profile. Wigs are mostly made of horse-hair, human hair or synthetic hair. Wig is a short form for the 17th century English word “periwig”. Actors wear wigs to get the nearest resemblance to the character they portray. Wigs have been used since ancient times. Egyptians used wigs to protect their clean shaven head from the sun. Romans, Greeks, Phoenicians and Assyrians also used wigs for style and to cover their head.
Wigs contain the cap which is its base, where the hair is attached. Caps are available in different types and hair is stuck to the cap using numerous different techniques. Hair is attached in wefts on the wig. Hair strings doubled over and closely sewn together in longer strands is the process by which wigs are made.
Wigs made from human hair have a very natural look. Depending upon the personal tastes, the human hair wigs can be colored, styled, cut or “permed”. These wigs need lot of care and they are more expensive. Similar to human hair, the wigs are also to be cleaned with shampoo, dried, and conditioned to preserve its natural look and feel. People who do not have the time or inclination to do these chores have the option of a synthetic blend wig resembling human hair.
Most of the good quality synthetic wigs are identical to human hair wigs. They are not very expensive and need very little care and maintenance. The synthetic wig retains the curl, wave, texture and volume due to the “memory” of the monofilament fiber hair. They get damaged when hair dryers, curling irons or hot rollers are used to get a wave.
What should be the correct size of the wig? Most of the wigs fit a head circumference of 21.5 inches to 22.5 inches. The wig should be worn on the natural hairline, nearly four fingers above the eyebrows. In the back, pull down the wig to the natural hairline. Using the elastic tab and Velcro provided in the back, adjust the wig to get a comfortable and secure fit.
Nearly 10 to 30 percent of excess hair is provided in most wigs so it is advisable to avail the services of a professional hair stylist to fine tune the wig so that it suits your features and gives a stylish look.
The wigs should be stored on a wig stand or a mannequin when it is not used so that the shape is properly preserved.
Perspiration, environment and lifestyle are some of the factors to be taken into account when deciding the frequency of cleaning the wig. Normally it is advisable to clean the wig after a fortnight’s use. Strictly follow the guidelines given by the manufacturer, for cleaning and conditioning the wig.
There are special styling accessories such as conditioners, hair sprays and shampoos to keep the wig clean. Cool water should be used to rinse the wig after the conditioning process. Leave the wig to dry naturally and avoid scrubbing the wig.