How to Make a Synthetic Wig Look Natural and Real

How to Make a Synthetic Wig Look Passable for Crossdressing

As many of you know, the cheaper the wig you buy the less passable it seems. It looks like you bought it from your local party or halloween warehouse shop. The color often looks tone dimensional, the shine of the wig looks too shiny, the hairline eerily straight, and so many other things. Wigs can transform your entire look with minimal energy. There are times where we cannot afford those expensive human hair wigs that are pre-plucked, pre-sewn, and full lace, but you can transform even the cheapest of wigs into a work of art. With a bit of effort, we will turn even the cheapest of synthetic wigs to natural, passable one.

Make Your Wig Less Shiny

Dry Shampoo

A must have tool of hair styling even for natural hair. It can take the shine off of a synthetic hair wig also! Just spray the product on your wig to dull the shine away. Dry shampoo works by absorbing excess sebum, dirt, and oils that are built-up on the root of the hair wig. When used on shiny natural or synthetic hair, it removes the unnatural shine to create a more natural appearance.

Before working with the shampoo, you should wash the wig a couple of times as usual. If it is the first time using hair wigs, learn how to shampoo the hair system first. Wash the hair with the right mild shampoo. Let it dry completely.

Now, apply dry shampoo. Shake and spray the product directly on your wig, then give it another brush through. Smooth it over the hair. You can see the clear difference of your hair before and after spraying dry shampoo.

How to Apply Dry Shampoo to a Synthetic Wig:

  1. Don’t spray too close the hair system because the dry shampoo can not be evenly distributed.
  2. Use a little bit at a time. Less is better. Too much dry shampoo can make the hair look too dulled.
  3. Only apply on a dry wig, never to wet wig.
  4. After spraying the product on the synthetic hair wig, don’t rub it in immediately. Wait and let it dry on the wig.

Baking Soda

Another method to help reduce the shine on your wig is baking soda. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate which tends to strip away dirt, oils, and things like that. Synthetic hair wigs are not going to be harmed by the baking soda, so give it a try to dull the shine. You need baking soda, shampoo, conditioner, a measuring cup, and a towel.

How to Make a Wig Less Shiny with Baking Soda:

  1. Brush the wig so that the baking soda can reach all the surface areas of those fibers.
  2. Fill the sink with cold water and put about a half of a cup of baking soda in the water.
  3. Agitate the water to dissolve the baking soda until there is no granular in the water.
  4. Lay the wig down in the sink, submerge into the water with the cap side up. Make sure that all of the fiber is covered by the baking soda solution.
  5. Soak it for at least 2 hours.
  6. After soaking, rinse the hair wig thoroughly.
  7. Then shampoo and condition as normal.
  8. Allow the wig to fully dry.

Baby Powder or Talc Powder

An easy and quick trick to remove shine from a wig is apply powder to achieve a more realistic look. Similar to powdering your nose, the baby powder also takes the shine off the synthetic hair fibers. This powder works well on light hair colors like blonde, white, or light brown. If you don’t have baby powder, you use talc powder instead.

How to Make a Wig Less Shiny with Powder:

  1. Place the dry wig on a wig stand.
  2. Lightly sprinkle the top of the wig with baby powder
  3. Use a wig comb to dispense the powder throughout the locks.
  4. Once done, shake the wig out to remove any excess powder.

Fabric Softener

Wigs don’t have real moisture like human hair, so they tend to be very dry. Fabric softener acts as a great conditioning agent, combating static electricity in synthetic wigs. Once the fibers in the wig are no longer dry, static cling is under control, frizz is prevented and those pesky fly-aways are kept at bay. It can also help your synthetic hair wig look less shiny. There has been reports that it can damage your synthetic wig. Beware if you do choose to use this method, proceed with caution.

How to Make a Wig Less Shiny with Fabric Softener:

  1. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and fabric softener and shake.
  2. With your wig on a wig stand, spritz the hair with the solution.
  3. Gently comb through the wig with your fingers to disperse the solution.
  4. Let your wig air dry.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Some synthetic wig wearers will use apple cider vinegar to dull the shine of their synthetic hair. The abrasive nature of apple cider vinegar works to wear down the outside coating on each hair strand, leaving your wig looking more realistic. Proceed with this method at your own risk.

How to Make a Wig Less Shiny with Vinegar:

  1. Fill a spray bottle with water.
  2. Add 1-2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and shake.
  3. With your wig on a wig stand, spritz the hair with the solution.
  4. Gently comb through the wig with your fingers to disperse the solution.
  5. Let your wig air dry.

Mimic the Imperfection of Natural Hair

Trim your wig a little with layering shears

Anecdotally, people are not completely satisfied with a new haircut until it has grown out a bit. To mimic that natural, grown out look, take your wig and using thinning and texturizing shears. Although most wigs come pre-styled and you should definitely choose the one that you like best, it still might not be perfect for you. Place the wig on a wig stand and cut it slightly to create the perfect hairstyle that fits your needs. If you are uncomfortable with this process, take it to your trusted stylist. You can also apply the wig and go to a salon to have it cut.

Make the Wig a Little Messy

When something looks too perfect, especially with wigs. It’s usually a sign that that thing is fake. Most wig companies haven’t learned this yet and as a result most wigs come out of the box with eerily perfect and unnatural parts when you wear them.

As soon as your new wig arrives, take a pair of tweezers and carefully pluck out a few strands. Then, using baby scissors, cut a few strands so that they look like they’re just growing out. Last, choose a couple of hairs to place on the ‘wrong’ side of the part. A little bit of imperfection will make it look more realistic. Remember not to go overboard with the tweezing. Avoid removing too many hairs from a particular spot, since that can make the wig look bare.

How to Pluck Your Wig to Make it More Realistic:

  1. Take a few pictures of your natural hairline or where you want your natural hairline to be. The best way to do this is to straighten or stretch your hair and pull your hair back. Make sure the photos are clear so you can use them as your guide.
  2. Pin your wig onto a wig stand. Make sure it’s nice and tight so it does not move.
  3. Brush the wig out so you can see what you are working with.
  4. Take a good look at the wig hairline, you will notice that it is pretty dense and that’s what you want to avoid. Start plucking some hairs from one side and work your way to the other.
  5. Pluck The Lace by using tweezers to pluck out excess hairs around the frontal to make it less bulky. Part the hair on your lace front wig in two sections and take your fave tweezers and start to pluck the hairline towards you in order to get a more natural look.
  6. Create Your Own Part but be careful when you tweeze the part. If you pluck too hard, you can poke a hole in the lace. It’s not a big deal if you do though. Some wigs come with a pre-made part down the middle, to the side, with multiple parts, or with no parting at all. If your wig has no part, you will get to choose where you want your part to lay and create it. Just play around with the parting, create a fun hairstyle or keep it down for a more sophisticated and trendy look.
  7. Create Natural Edges by adjusting your wig accordingly. Don’t forget the make baby hairs. For this step separate a small section of the hair from the hairline that you want to use as baby hairs. Use a razor to cut the hair down until the hair is at your desired baby hair length.
  8. Optional – some girls also bleach the lace slightly so that its color matches their scalp more naturally. Some lace wigs are made out of very dark mesh material which can look unrealistic.

Line Up Your Wig With Your Natural Hairline

Line up your wig with your natural hairline otherwise your wig will never look natural. That’s why it’s super important that each time you put on your wig, you take the time to line it up properly.

How to Line Up Your Wig with Your Natural Hairline

  1. Put your wig on your forehead just above your eyebrows.
  2. Slowly slide the wig back over your head, adjusting as you go, until the bottom of the wig hits the nape of your next.
  3. Slide the wig forward just a bit until it hits your natural hairline and secure the straps
  4. Style it.

Remove kinks in the hair by steaming the wig

How to Remove Kinks in Your Wig by Steaming:

  1. If you want to style a synthetic wig, use a handheld steamer on a low setting, and comb or brush the hair as you run the steamer over the fibers.
  2. For curls, put the hair in curlers and then run the steamer over each curler for 5-10 seconds to set the hair. Make sure the wig is completely dry before you remove the curlers and put on the wig.

Other Synthetic Wig Tips

Know Your Wig Size

Finding the right size wig for your head will make your wig feel more comfortable, it will also help your wig look more natural.

Steps to Figure Out Your Wig Size:

  1. Take out your tape measure.
  2. Starting at the front of your hairline, wrap the measure behind your ear to the nape of your neck, around to your other ear, then match the measuring tape back to the other end at the front of your hairline.
  3. To make sure you measured accurately, repeat the process to make sure you get the same number each time.

Flatten Your Hair, Wear a Wig Cap, and Set it

When it is time to put on your wig, make sure your hair is as flat as it can be. If your wig comes with adjustable straps then adjust them to your liking so that your wig fits snug on your head. Some wigs come with or without combs inside as well to help secure your wig to your head. So be gentle with putting on and taking off your wigs.

Make sure that your ears are covered, and your hair is behind your ear under the wig cap. And then spray a water-soluble glue made for wigs along your hairline and a little bit over it. You can use a blow dryer on a cool setting so that it can dry faster.

Apply Foundation

Dot some foundation on top of the wig cap so when you put on your wig, it will blend in and look like your scalp underneath. If you have some hair underneath the cap, you want to make sure that you dot it along your hairline or however deep you think your part will be. Try to get that coverage.

Also apply some foundation powder inside of the lace. The reason you should do this is that is to avoid bleaching the knots of synthetic wigs. Do it so it will blend even nicer with the foundation on your wig cap.