Can You Cut a Wig? What to Do Yourself, What to Leave to a Hairdresser, and How to Find One

Yes, you can cut a wig shorter, soften its fringe or have it reshaped. The change is permanent, so start with a clear idea of what you want. At home, keep adjustments small: an isolated stray fibre or a tiny trim to an existing fringe. For shortening the overall length, adding layers, thinning or changing the shape, choose a stylist experienced with your type of wig. Some hairdressers offer wig cutting; others don’t. Before booking, explain whether your wig is synthetic, heat-friendly synthetic or human hair, and ask about their experience and pricing.

A cut can make a wig shorter, lighter, softer and more yours. It can’t make it longer or fuller, and it can’t be undone. Within that, a lot is possible.

Do It Yourself or See a Hairdresser? A Decision Table

The rule we use here at Simply Wigs: if the job changes the shape of the wig, book it in. If it tidies what’s already there, you can probably do it. A few more things tip the balance.

• How much the wig cost you. A £20 fashion wig is a fine place to learn. A £200 wig you wear every day is not.
• Whether you can see what you’re doing. The back of your own head, in a mirror, with scissors, is how most DIY cuts go wrong.
• Whether it’s synthetic. Synthetic ends have to be point-cut or they look blunt and fake, and the style can’t be adjusted with heat afterwards unless the fibre is heat-friendly. Human hair is more forgiving.
• Whether you have a spare. If this is your only wig and you need it on Monday, don’t start experimenting on Sunday night.

Synthetic and human hair wigs need different handling. Tell your stylist exactly which type you have, and bring any care instructions supplied with it.

Synthetic wigs arrive pre-styled: the shape is set into the fibre at the factory, so a cut doesn’t need styling afterwards, and the wig holds its style through washes. That’s the good news. The rest is that synthetic fibre is thicker and more uniform than hair, so a straight cut across the ends looks like a straight cut across plastic. A stylist will point-cut (snipping into the ends with the scissors held vertically) or use thinning scissors to soften them, and will cut a little longer than the final length because the fibre springs. Once cut, a standard synthetic wig can’t be reshaped with heat; a heat-friendly wig can, within limits.

Human hair wigs cut like your own hair, which means they also need blow-drying or styling after a cut to see the result, and every wash afterwards. A hairdresser will usually be more comfortable with them, because the techniques are familiar. The hair has often been processed before it reached you, so it’s more fragile than hair on a head and shouldn’t be razored or heavily thinned. Browse our human hair wigs if you’d like the flexibility.

Either way, tell the hairdresser which you have before they start. It changes the technique.

For a substantial change, book a wig stylist. Cutting the back, creating layers or removing bulk is difficult to judge on yourself, and mistakes cannot grow out.

• If you decide to make a tiny adjustment to an existing fringe:

1. Position the wig exactly where you normally wear it.
2. Make sure it is dry and gently arrange it into its usual style.
3. Work in good light with suitable haircutting scissors.
4. Trim only a very small amount, keeping your fingers and scissors away from your eyes.
5. Let the fringe settle and check it before removing any more.
6. Our guide to wigs with a fringe has the full method.

Stop if you cannot clearly see what you are cutting or feel unsure about the result.

• For an isolated stray fibre, check that it is not simply out of place before trimming it. Leave widespread frizz, thinning and changes to the overall length to a specialist.

• Does the lace need trimming?

Check the instructions supplied with your wig first. Many lace fronts arrive ready to wear. If yours needs trimming and you are unfamiliar with the process, ask the supplier or a wig specialist to demonstrate it. Avoid cutting into the hairline or knots. Our guide to lace front wigs explains the construction.

• Does it need thinning?

Our guide to thinning out a wig shows where and how much.

If you’ve weighed it up and you’re going ahead with more than a tidy, here’s how to give yourself the best chance. This is for a wig you can afford to get wrong.

1. Wear it. Put the wig on, adjust it to exactly where you wear it, and cut it there. A wig cut on a stand sits differently on a head; a wig cut in your lap sits differently again.
2. Cut dry. Synthetic fibre must be dry; wet fibre stretches. Human hair wigs are usually cut dry too, so you see the real length.
3. Comb it into its style first. Cut the wig the way it falls, not pulled straight. Pulling fibre taut and cutting it is how layers end up shorter than intended.
4. Section it. Clip the top up and start underneath and at the back, working forwards and up in small sections. Use the first section as a guide for the rest.
5. Point-cut, never blunt-cut. Hold the scissors vertically and snip into the ends. It takes longer, it hides small errors, and it’s the difference between a wig that looks cut and a wig that looks chopped.
6. Take off far less than you think. Half a centimetre, check in two mirrors, repeat. You can always cut more.
7. Leave the shape alone. Shortening is one thing; changing the silhouette (a long wig to a graduated bob, say) is a stylist’s job. The angles are hard to see on yourself and impossible to correct.
8. Finish and check. Shake the wig, comb it through with a wig brush, check it in daylight. If the ends look blunt, point-cut them a little more.

In our experience, most UK salons charge about the same for a wig trim as for a trim on your own hair, typically somewhere between £20 and £40, and a little more for a full restyle. Some charge extra because a wig takes longer: a careful stylist works slowly on synthetic fibre because there’s no second chance. We’d rather you paid for the extra ten minutes. Here in Slaithwaite, trimming and shaping is part of our wig services and included when you buy a wig from us in person; book an appointment and we’ll shape it while you wait.

This is the question we’re asked most, in the shop, on the phone and in the comments on this page from Manchester to Kansas. A few ways to find someone good wherever you are:

• Ask us. We keep a list of hairdressers our customers have recommended across the UK. Ring us on 01484 844557 and we’ll tell you if we know someone near you. 
• Ask where you bought the wig. Any wig shop with a fitting room will know local stylists, and many have one on the premises.
• Ask a hospital or support group. Salons near cancer centres often have wig experience, and Alopecia UK‘s local groups will know who in the area understands hair loss.
• Search for “wig fitting” plus your town rather than “wig stylist near me”. Salons that offer it tend to say so on their services pages, and the word “fitting” filters out the ones that don’t.
• Our Leeds recommendation. If you’re in West Yorkshire, we’ve recommended Rob Eaton at Russell Eaton Hair in Leeds for years. He specialises in fitting and styling wigs and hairpieces and is as kind as he is skilled. 

Whoever you find, run through the five questions above first. If you’ve found someone brilliant, tell us and we’ll add them to the list for the next person who asks.

If your wig feels bulky at the back or rides up, check the fit before cutting any hair. The cap size, positioning and how it is secured may be contributing to the problem. Start by checking its position and adjusting the straps according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If it still feels uncomfortable or insecure, ask your supplier or a wig specialist to assess it. Some caps can be professionally altered, but the options depend on their construction. Avoid cutting the cap or removing wefts yourself; ask a specialist whether an alteration is suitable.

• Adjustable straps. Most caps have Velcro or hook tabs at the nape. Tighten them a notch before you do anything else.
• A wig grip or tape. A silicone wig grip band or two strips of wig tape at the nape stops riding up without altering anything.
• The right size. If the cap is too big even on the tightest strap, it’s the wrong size. Measure with our wig size guide; you may need a petite cap, and many styles come in one.
• A nape tuck. A wig specialist, or a confident seamstress, can take a small tuck in the cap at the nape or remove a weft to reduce bulk. It isn’t a hairdresser’s job and it isn’t something we’d suggest trying with scissors, but it’s a real option for a wig you love in a cap that doesn’t fit. Ask us; we can often advise or do it.

Our article on why a wig rides up at the back has helped a great many people with exactly this, and the comments under it are full of fixes.

Sometimes the wish to cut a wig is really a wish for it to look new, or to sit differently. Before anything permanent:

• Refresh it. Five ways to refresh your wig and removing the shine can make a tired wig look new without losing an inch.
• Restyle it. A different parting, tucked sides or a wave through the ends change the look of a wig more than most people expect. Our ultimate guide to wig styling is the place to start.
• Check it suits you first. If the shape isn’t right for your face, a cut may not fix it. Our face shape guide will help you decide whether to shape this wig or choose another.