How Should a Male Wear A Wig for Beginners? [Step by Step]
One point in a man’s life that he isn’t excited to experience is a time when he begins to lose his hair. However, many men cannot escape this reality, which opens them up to the option of managing it.
If you’ve begun to notice hair loss, that’s the time to make a serious decision. Will you accept your hair loss and go about with your natural hair, or what’s left of it? Or will you depend on a male wig to cover the balding areas of hair and give you the full head of hair you once had?
If you’re considering getting male wigs, there are many things to consider, beginning with the most basic question on the minds of many men ‘Is it okay for men to wear wigs?’
Should Men Get Wigs?
Many men are reluctant about getting wigs, and we cannot blame them because male wigs are not as commonly used and accepted as female wigs. However, this doesn’t mean that it is a crime for men to wear wigs.
Thanks to natural and undetectable wigs, men can comfortably wear wigs without getting found out or feeling like they look funny.
Whether synthetic hair or human hair, men’s wigs are looking natural and stylish. Many of them come in great quality that is long-lasting and easy to style naturally.
So, should men wear wigs? The answer is a big YES! If you want to wear wigs, go ahead and do it comfortably without any second thoughts. Just be confident about your decision, get a great male wig, and you’re good to go.
What Is a Male Wig Called?
Men’s wigs have been called several names, even though it is okay to simply call them men or male wigs.
They are often referred to as hairpieces, non-surgical hair replacement systems, male hair systems, or toupees, so, be aware that you’re still talking about the same male wig when you hear these names.
Many people don’t like the term ‘wig’ because they believe it depicts something fake, but with the great quality wigs available in the market, the name doesn’t matter, provided you get a wig that looks natural and feels comfortable.
How Long Does a Male Wig Last?
The lifespan of a male wig depends on several factors, and cannot just be pinpointed in itself. Although a male wig can last anywhere from 3 months to 12 months, factors like the hair quality, base material, and maintenance will determine how long your male hair system will last.
Let’s discuss a few of these features:
1. Hair Quality
Many male wigs have a short lifespan because the production companies use low-quality hair to produce the wigs. Such poor hair systems will only amount to a wig that looks old in no time, begins to fall apart, or fail to hold style properly.
Sometimes, the level of processing that occurs in the creation of the wig can affect the longevity of the wig. For instance, curls, light colors, and the like can make the lifespan of one wig different from the other.
However, give or take, a wig with good quality hair will last for an average of 6 months.
2. Base Material
The base material of a male wig largely affects how long the wig will last. It is important to consider the base material when buying a male hairpiece.
Your wig could have a mesh, lace, or monofilament base, and these options will somehow indicate how long the wig will last or how fragile it will be.
For instance, you can expect a monofilament base to last longer than a lace base because the lace base is quite fragile.
3. Wig Maintenance
After investing in the best quality of wigs you can find, your lifestyle and wig management practice will affect how long you can enjoy that wig. It is important to find out all that you can about the proper maintenance your wig requires. It is also necessary to research before buying products for your wig or engaging in wig styling methods.
The more you care for your wig, the longer it lasts, and vice versa.
Pay attention to these factors if you want your wig to last long and remain natural during this time.
Here’s a general guide that you can consider
- Polyurethane wigs (9-12 months)
- Mono and Poly hair wigs combined (6-9 months)
- French Lace wigs (4-6 months)
- Swiss Lace and Thin Skin wigs (4-6 weeks)
How Should a Male Wear A Wig for Beginners?
If you’re new to male wigs, you might be confused about where to start and how to wear your wig. No worries, we will show you how to do that below:
Required Items
- Tape
- Scissors
- Male wig
- Leave-in conditioner
- Spray bottle
- Glue
- Adhesive remover
- Kitchen roll
- Moisturizer
- Alcohol hand sanitizer
- Hand dryer
- Brush or a wide-tooth comb
- Flat brush
Process [Step by Step]
- Apply the tape to the circular ring of your wig. Place it as close as possible to the edge.
- Leave some space between each tape you apply throughout the wig to allow air and water to through when you have the wig on. Tape often holds the wig down on your head stronger than glue around the edges. However, we will still use glue in front where we need the hold to be transparent.
- Ensure you press the tape down properly into the wig, after which you can then peel off the top side covering the sticky side.
- Apply an alcohol hand sanitizer on your head and then dry it off with a hand dryer.
- Place the wig on your dry scalp and ensure that it sits on the ridges of the lines of your head, which is naturally where your hairline will start.
- When you place the front of the wig in position, study it from all angles to be sure that it’s sitting in the middle and is exactly where you want it to be.
- Gradually press the wig on from the front to back with enough pressure for the glue to hold firm to your scalp.
- Apply some water in a spray bottle to wet your wig so that it will be easy to style it the way you want it to be.
- Spray some leave-in conditioner on the wig for extra moisture and to let the wig sit easier where you want it to.
- Use a brush or a wide-tooth comb to brush your hair down working from the ends upwards. Using a tiny comb could get your strands all knotted up. Hold the hair system with your hand as you brush through the wig.
- Use your hair dryer to dry your wig towards the direction you want the style to go, whether backward, forward, or to either side.
- Get a glue to hold the front of your wig down, apply the wig to your scalp while holding your wig back to avoid the hair coming in contact with the glue. Then, spread the glue out using a flat brush. Wait for a few seconds when the glue becomes transparent and then apply the glue again and brush.
- Leave the glue for a minute as it gets tacky, push the front of your hair forward so that it rests on the glue and sticks. After ensuring that all the hair sticks to the scalp, give the wig a few minutes to dry.
- Spray some solvent remover on a kitchen roll (don’t use cotton pads or tissue papers) and apply it to your forehead while removing errant hair strands.
- Add more moisture to the wig using a moisturizing spray to ease the dryness caused by the hairdryer and restore the natural wave.
This process works well for most male wigs, especially lace wigs, but for non-lace wigs, you simply have to put them on, tighten the wig using the adjustable straps inside the wig, and you’re good to go.
Precautions & Aftercare
Once you have installed your male wig correctly, hair maintenance and aftercare is the next thing to pay attention to. Here are some simple aftercare tips and precautions to follow:
- Avoid messing around or tampering with your wig too much, especially after using a bond on your wig. It often takes as much as 24 hours for the wig bond to cure, so messing with it during this time can negatively affect your bond longevity.
- It is normal to experience some lifting around the edges of your wig when you first install it. However, you can fix this by adding a little more adhesive to these areas.
- If you have any reason to trim or cut your wig, especially if it is too long, be careful with the trimming because any careless mistake can damage your wig. What’s chopped off cannot be replaced, and you might need to get a new wig.
- Wash your wig once to twice a week with the right shampoo and conditioner that delivers the oil your wig needs to look healthy. Don’t overuse the shampoo, and avoid running the hair in a circular motion when washing. Smooth the shampoo through your hair gently in a given direction and then detangle the strands with a wide-tooth comb if necessary. Do the same for your conditioner.
- Avoid using water that’s either too cold or too hot when washing the wig to avoid stripping off the moisture and breaking down the adhesives. Your best option is lukewarm water.
- Avoid excessive exposure to heat when drying your male wig. Instead, use press a towel on your hair gently to collect as much water as possible. You can allow the wig to air dry for the rest of the time or place your hairdryer in a cool setting and dry the wig with it.
- During your day-to-day usage, it is important to only brush your wig with the right brush, which should either be a wide-tooth comb or a vent brush with nodules on the end. Any other brush can cause damage to the hair strands and membrane.
- Always brush your hair gently from the ends up to the root when detangling, and avoid pulling out tangles from your wig.
- When you want to brush or style your dry wig, apply a hydrating spray or spray with water to dampen the wig and make it easy to restyle.
What Is the Average Cost of A Male Wig?
The cost of a male wig varies depending on factors such as hair material, wig type, and wig base.
However, a high-quality synthetic wig can cost anything between $200 and $400 for custom construction, while ready-to-wear wigs sold online can be as cheap as $20 to $200, depending on several factors.
A custom-made wig costs between $275 to $800.
Generally, male wigs can cost anywhere between $50 and $3000 on average.
Popular Male Wigs
Final Words:
Male wigs offer men a quick, cost-effective, and easy way to make up for hair loss and create the appearance of a full head of hair.
A good wig can cover up bald spots and look just like your natural hair, thereby boosting your physical appearance and confidence.
If you’re suffering hair loss and don’t want to seek medical alternatives to regrow your hair, or you need a temporary solution, male wigs come in handy.
Remember, you have no reason to feel discouraged, ashamed, or sad about your hair loss. Just make the best of it, and do what makes you happy. Even if you want to embrace your hair loss and go without wigs, that is a great decision, provided you’re comfortable with it.